L.A.'s 1986 playoff loss to Sampson's Houston was the only time the Lakers missed the NBA Finals from 1982 to 1989.

"My heart was pounding so fast I thought I was having a heart attack" - Larry Bird on why Finals against Houston was the most intense series of his career originally appeared on Basketball Network.

You should always quit at your best, as the saying goes, and the iconic Larry Bird referenced that after winning the 1986 NBA Finals. The reason? He felt truly special about his final series ...