Russell/Cousy or Wilt/West?

Laimbeer · Post #1 » by **Laimbeer** » Mon Jul 9, 2012 11:29 pm

Which pair do you build around, in their era? You get both as rookies and they stay long term.

ronnymac2 · Post #2 » by **ronnymac2** » Mon Jul 9, 2012 11:44 pm

Wilt/West. The gap between West and Cousy is large. Wilt and West mesh together well, too.

ahonui06 · Post #3 » by **ahonui06** » Mon Jul 9, 2012 11:49 pm

Russell/Cousy

Russell beat Wilt/West in 1969 wihout Cousy and that was his last year in the league. Not to mention, West was losing consistently to Russell's Celtics. It doesn't really matter who you pair with Russell because he made everyone better.

JordansBulls · Post #4 » by **JordansBulls** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:19 am

ahonui06 wrote:Russell/Cousy

Russell beat Wilt/West in 1969 wihout Cousy and that was his last year in the league. Not to mention, West was losing consistently to Russell's Celtics. It doesn't really matter who you pair with Russell because he made everyone better.

Cousy was a MVP player when Russell came into the league. Can't really say he made him better. Maybe you can use he made other guys better, but Cousy isn't one of them.

As far as the topic, I would take Russ and Cousy as well

Woodsanity · Post #5 » by **Woodsanity** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:21 am

Russell/Cousy no question.

GSP · Post #6 » by **GSP** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:29 am

ahonui06 wrote:Russell/Cousy

Russell beat Wilt/West in 1969 wihout Cousy and that was his last year in the league. Not to mention, West was losing consistently to Russell's Celtics. It doesn't really matter who you pair with Russell because he made everyone better.

He had Hondo tho. If this was Russell/Hondo Id take them, but Wilt/West over Russell/Cousy.

JordansBulls · Post #7 » by **JordansBulls** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:43 am

GSP wrote:
ahonui06 wrote:Russell/Cousy

Russell beat Wilt/West in 1969 wihout Cousy and that was his last year in the league. Not to mention, West was losing consistently to Russell's Celtics. It doesn't really matter who you pair with Russell because he made everyone better.

He had Hondo tho. If this was Russell/Hondo Id take them, but Wilt/West over Russell/Cousy.

How much better was Hondo than Cousy?

TheXFactor · Post #8 » by **TheXFactor** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:54 am

West and Wilt easily.

Russell and Cousy were surrounded by great talent around them like Lebron of today

ardee · Post #9 » by **ardee** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:09 am

Wilt and West no question.

Would rather one top 5 player and one top 11-12 player against one top 5 player and one top 25-30ish player.

Post #10 » by **rrravenred** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:45 am

Wilt and West. Russ is my GOAT, but Cousy is not a player I really want to be running my team in any sense of the word, whereas West...

ahonui06 · Post #11 » by **ahonui06** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:58 am

GSP wrote:
ahonui06 wrote:Russell/Cousy

Russell beat Wilt/West in 1969 wihout Cousy and that was his last year in the league. Not to mention, West was losing consistently to Russell's Celtics. It doesn't really matter who you pair with Russell because he made everyone better.

He had Hondo tho. If this was Russell/Hondo Id take them, but Wilt/West over Russell/Cousy.

If Wilt/West were above Russell/Cousy why couldn't the two of them ever beat Russell?

Dipper 13 · Post #12 » by **Dipper 13** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:38 am

If Wilt/West were above Russell/Cousy why couldn't the two of them ever beat Russell?

While Wilt did not play up to par in the '69 Finals, Van Breda Kolff threw the series not only by refusing to insert him late in G7, but inexplicably leaving West on the floor late in G5 (with the game already won) only to badly injure a hamstring. He could no longer effectively guard Sam Jones, who went wild. This is not to down Jerry West's performance, but watching the full 4th quarter, Chamberlain receives 2 touches in the pivot. As soon as Russell picked up foul number 5 very early in the period, Wilt goes down low next possession attempting to take him out. Had the coach brought him back in to finish the game there is little doubt they could have won, having cut a 17 point 4th quarter deficit to 7 before his exit. His defensive rebounding alone could have helped them win, especially had he fouled Russell out (who was clearly playing off him).

Celtics did force some bad outside shots after Russell seemingly got a bit excited with Mel Counts guarding him. They could have fed Chamberlain every time down as Bill Russell was clearly sagging off him, in hopes of fouling him out, therefore giving the Lakers a more decisive advantage on the glass with Russell out. The point is that Wilt was not given an opportunity to help his team win the championship at the end as noted by Sonny Hill below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESDFppbQ2zM&t=3m34s

'After Van Breda Kolff was gone, Chamberlain criticized his heavy drinking, his penchant for conducting farting contests, and his failure to prepare for games.'

Earl Strom: In a sense, I respect Butch for making one of the dumbest moves any coach has ever made.

JordansBulls · Post #13 » by **JordansBulls** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 12:53 pm

TheXFactor wrote:West and Wilt easily.

Russell and Cousy were surrounded by great talent around them like Lebron of today

They also had Elgin Baylor as well.