Retro POY 1957-58 (Voting Complete)

[JordansBulls]

Yes they dominated SRS which is why they should have won.

They dominated SRS in the regular season...with a healthy Russell. Hard to imagine Russell's injury wasn't a factor here.

*wonders how different this discussion would be if it were Jordan instead of Pippen who got injured in the '98 Finals*

And I'm sure you wouldnt have voted for Shaq #1 in 2002 had he shot 36% FG in the playoffs and 35% FG in the finals and got injured after the team was down.

[Doctor MJ]

Yes they dominated SRS which is why they should have won.

They dominated SRS in the regular season...with a healthy Russell. Hard to imagine Russell's injury wasn't a factor here.

Honestly not sure who I'm going to pick at this moment. I see good cases for both.

Well he had two teammates that were 1st team NBA while he himself was 2nd team All NBA. If you are the best in the league you shouldn't be 2nd team ALL NBA while you have not only 1 teammate make the 1st team but two of them.

Silly reasoning. Teammates are also adjusted for in MVP voting, where Russell beat Pettit handily.

I've got zero problem with anyone picking Pettit, but when a guy wins the MVP, speaking to his lack of accolades is not a valid line of criticism.

[Doctor MJ]

Hmmm, didn't realize Russell was injured. Any game-by-game analysis? I'd like to see what he was doing before his injury.

http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1958.htm

Broken down game by game here.

Russell played 2.5 games in the finals before leaving due to injury. He came back for game 6, but played only sparingly, clearly not himself.

Pettit was fantastic in the series. He's a worthy #1 pick. However, I think it's worth at least pausing to consider that this was the only playoff series Russell lost in his first 10 years in the league, and it was against a team with much worse record & SRS. Hard to imagine it's a coincidence it's also the only series where he missed most of the series to injury.

[semi-sentient]

he was injured the last 2 games. before that his defense was clearly a factor. Pettit shot like 40% TS in the first 4 games. (he shot 58% TS the last 2 games and 51.5% TS in the finals overall) you'd better be asking what did Russell do to Pettit and well, he f***** him up good before he was injured. league's top star pretty much was embarrassed before Russell was injured.

OK. What season are you referring to? We're on 1957-58.


Here's Pettit's game-by-game in the Finals:

Game 1: 30 PTS (.578 TS%), 19 REB (@Boston -- St Louis steals HCA)
Game 2: 19 PTS (.428 TS%), ? REB
Game 3: 32 PTS (.541 TS%), ? REB

Yeah, he was embarrassed alright. You know what's funny? Pettit had his worst game of the series after Russell went out -- and the Celtics won game 4 without him, and damn near won game 5 as well.


Game 4: 12 PTS (.275 TS%), ? REB
Game 5: 33 PTS (.539 TS%), ? REB

Then Russell comes back in game 6 and apparently played limited minutes. The Celtics lose by 1 point despite Pettit giving it to whoever was on him.

Game 6: 50 PTS (.616 TS%), ? REB (@Boston -- series clinching victory)


So the real question is, why shouldn't Pettit get #1 this year? What more should he have done? He had 2 absolutely huge games IN BOSTON, and that should count for a lot.

Didn't have enough DWS for you?

[semi-sentient]

* = led the league

Regular Season

Code: Select all

Player            GP   MIN    PTS    TS%    REB    AST    PER    WS
=====================================================================
Bob Pettit        70   36.1   24.6   .492   17.4   2.2    26.3*  11.0
Bill Russell      69   38.3   16.6   .465   22.7*  2.9    22.8   11.3
Dolph Schayes     72   40.5   24.9   .508   14.2   3.1    24.2   13.7*
Cliff Hagan       70   31.3   19.9   .513   10.1   2.5    22.6   10.0
George Yardley    72   39.5   27.8*  .505   10.7   1.3    23.3   12.3

Post Season

Code: Select all

Player            GP   MIN    PTS    TS%    REB    AST    PER    WS
=====================================================================
Bob Pettit        11*  39.1   24.2   .472   16.5   1.8    22.6   1.2
Bill Russell       9   39.4   15.1   .420   24.6   2.7    21.6   1.2
Dolph Schayes      3   43.7   26.7   .501   15.0   2.0    27.9   0.8
Cliff Hagan       11*  38.0   27.7*  .576*  10.5   3.4    27.5*  2.7*
George Yardley     7   36.3   23.4   .524   10.3   2.4    23.7   1.2

Awards Recognition / Misc

Code: Select all

Player            MVP     All-NBA   Team Record
================================================
Bob Pettit        4th     1st       41-31
Bill Russell      1st     2nd       49-23
Dolph Schayes     2nd     1st       41-31
Cliff Hagan       11th    2nd       41-31
George Yardley    3rd     1st       33-39

Early Rankings

1. Bob Pettit - Led his team to the 2nd best record in the league, and had a great post-season run, especially in the Finals against the Celtics where he had two huge performances at the Garden to steal HCA, then clinch the series. Had one of the best (if not the best) individual regular seasons, and while he apparently struggled against the Pistons, he tore it up in the NBA Finals -- even when Russell was healthy.

2. Bill Russell - Led his team to the best record in the regular season which earned him MVP honors, but came up short at the end against Pettit's Hawks. Despite the misinformation being perpetuated, he didn't do much to stop Pettit, and his injury, while costly, didn't guarantee the Celtics the title. The Celtics won a game in the Finals without Russell, and lost another close one that could have given them the series lead (although upon further reading, it wasn't close most of the game), so what that tells me is that the Celtics are a very strong <defensive> team even without him. Certainly he's still the best defensive player in the league, but when that doesn't translate over to titles he loses his advantage, IMO.

3. Dolph Schayes - Did the most with the least help. Led his team to the 2nd best record (tied with the Hawks), and didn't have anywhere near the support that Pettit and Russell had. Led his team in points, rebounds, was 2nd in assists, and ended up being the MVP runner-up. He was up there with Pettit as far as top regular season performers are concerned, and he definitely elevated his game in the playoffs in a major way.

4. Cliff Hagan - Had a very good regular season but played (by far) the least amount of minutes of all the candidates. Still, he put up some very nice numbers and was pretty clearly the best post-season performer. His playoff run had me thinking that he might be a higher pick than Russell this year, but as a whole I don't think he really deserves to be.

5. George Yardley - Had a very strong regular season and followed that up with a nice post-season run. His minutes dropped though so I'm not sure how to explain that. Injuries, maybe? Got decent consideration as an MVP candidate and finished 3rd overall, but the lack of team success puts him at the bottom of the "elites".

Edit: Moved Russell up to #2 based on the articles posted, and Schayes down to #3. Would still like to hear more about Schayes though.

[semi-sentient]

The Pettit over Russell case essentially comes down to 1 game. Which is fine, Pettit's Game 6 is a GOAT contender. But it's not enough to overcome the impact of Russ defensively for me, especially considering Pettit's overall playoff shooting % isn't that impressive. Hagan was the one going off

Just want to point out that Pettit's overall shooting is a result of the Detroit series (which they won 4-1, so it didn't particularly hurt). Against the Celtics, he had a .515 TS%, and if we take out that one really awful game (game 4, which Russell had nothing to do with), it jumps up to .565 (which means he was very good in 5/6 games).

I think Russell's impact is being overstated here, and the last 3 games of the NBA Finals is proof. While it's a very small sample size, the Celtics did win a game in the Finals without Russell (game 4), and they came very close to winning games 5 and 6 as well (lost by 2 points, and 1 point, respectively).

[semi-sentient]

BTW, here is what the Celtics defense did throughout the series, noting games 4 and 5 where Russell didn't play at all:

Game 1: 104 PTS, .417 FG%
Game 2: 112 PTS, .355 FG%
Game 3: 111 PTS, .422 FG%

Game 4: 98 PTS, .371 FG%
Game 5: 102 PTS, .349 FG%

Game 6: 110 PTS, .417 FG%

Doesn't look like they had any drop off defensively without Russell. In fact, dare I say it, they had their best two games of the series. I'd love to hear the counter for that.

[ThaRegul8r]

Hmmm, didn't realize Russell was injured. Any game-by-game analysis? I'd like to see what he was doing before his injury.

http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1958.htm

Broken down game by game here.

No contextualization, which makes it difficult to draw any kind of conclusion without knowing the events which resulted in those boxscores. Since my participation in this project, what I've tried to do is provide context for everything, in order to provide better understanding. If I've been able to do that in any way, then I feel good about being involved in this, since I usually miss these board projects.

NEW YORK (AP)—The vanishing athlete—the defensive basketball player—has returned in the person of big Bill Russell.

Although he has yet to play a full season in professional ranks, his coach, the Boston Celtics’ Red Auerbach, already hails him as the greatest defensive basketball player who ever lived.

Several rival NBA coaches are ready to agree with him, too. After Boston had ruined Detroit’s home opener with a victory last week, Piston coach Charley Eckman said: “Russell beat us all by himself—with his brilliant defensive play.”

Last Saturday night, after the Celtics had overcome a 14-point deficit to defeat the Knickerbockers 131-121 and spoil their home debut before some 13,000. New York coach Vince Boryla groaned: “Sure they had to score a zillion points to win, but it was Russell who beat us, nobody else. If he hadn’t batted down all those shots in the first half, we’d have taken such a commanding lead, they’d have given up.”

Actually, the former Olympic and University of San Francisco All-American, who carries 230 pounds on his spidery 6-10 frame, grabbed 23 rebounds, made three interceptions and nine spectacular blocks of seemingly certain goals which would have added 18 points to the losers’ total. He also added 25 points of his own.
(Joe Reichler. “Defensive Net Player Back in Bill Russell.” Park City Daily News. Oct 31, 1957)

“The professional basketball season is barely under way but already the Boston Celtics are making a farce out of what must laughingly be described as a “race” because of a guy named Bill Russell. Because of his absolutely amazing defensive abilities he may wind up as the most valuable player in the history of pro basketball.”

Russell is as awesome a player as basketball has ever seen and everybody now has given up hope of any strategy working against him steadily.

“We were the first ones to beat them this year,” Vince Boryle, the New York Knickerbockers’ coach, points out, “but it’s a terrific strain on your club. We try to get him outside, just like everybody said he should be played. But that’s easier to say than to do.

“We play Boston without a center. We put in two backcourt and three corner men. I use Willie Naulls, Guy Sparrow and Kenny Sears. They stay outside and shoot from there.

“So Red Auerbach has Russell guarding the one who isn’t hitting. In other words, if Naulls, for example, is off, Russell lets him shoot. Bill stays inside. We’re right back where we started.

“When he’s around the basket he demoralizes your team. A fellow gets by his man and goes in for an easy shot and—whoom!—up goes Russell and he blocks it. It happened to Sparrow eight or nine times in one game.

“To beat the guy, you have to have three fellows hitting from outside. Nobody can have a bad night.

“It’s a tall order. Another thing, you play without your center. Everybody else has to go that much longer without relief. If you’re lucky, you beat him now and then. But it whacks your club out.

“Bob Pettit does well enough against him but the rest—Neil Johnston, for example—get wiped out.

“George Mikan was tremendous. But he never made you change your style of play. We used to try and get George running some. That was all. He got his points and a lot of rebounds and all that

“But he never ran a game like Bill Russell. Nobody in history ever ruined you like Russell.”
(The Tuscaloosa News, Dec. 15, 1957)

November 15, 1957, Russell grabbed 49 rebounds in a 111-89 win over Philadelphia. February 12, 1958, Russell had 18 points and 41 rebounds in a 119-101 win over Syracuse.

36 Marks Broken In NBA; Yardley, Russell Set Most

NEW YORK (AP)—The National Basketball Assn., which closed its regular season Wednesday, reported 36 records were broken—14 more than during the 1955-56 season which was the previous high for revising the books.

George Yardley of Detroit and Boston’s Bill Russell grabbed the scoring and rebounding titles, creating most of the new individual records. Clyde Lovellette of Cincinnati collected 679 field goals, one more than George Mikan’s 1950-51 standard with Minneapolis, in 68 games.

In scoring 2,001 points, an average of 27.8 for 72 games, Yardley cracked Mikan’s mark of 1,932 also set in 1950-51. Yardley also attempted 808 free throws, breaking the 1952-53 record of 794 set by Philadelphia’s Neil Johnston. The Detroit star converted 655 free throws to crack the record of 625, set by Dolph Schayes of Syracuse in 1956-57.

Russell, in smashing every rebound record for season and game, was far ahead of the 1956-57 marks set by Maurice Stokes, with Rochester, before the franchise moved to Cincinnati this season.

Russell had 1,564 rebounds to 1,256 for Stokes, and his new mark of 22.7 per game compared with Stokes’ old record of 17.4. (The Tuscaloosa News, Mar. 14, 1958)

Eastern Division Finals - Boston Celtics (49-23) vs. Philadelphia Warriors (37-35). The Warriors “were the only team to play the Celtics to a 6-6 standoff during the regular season […]” (Gadsden Times, Mar. 22, 1958).

Boston won Game 1 107-98. Bob Cousy led Boston with 29 points, Bill Russell had 18 points and 25 rebounds (Gadsden Times, Mar. 22, 1958), Bill Sharman had 17, and Tom Heinsohn had 14 (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Mar. 19, 1958). “Boston outscored the Warriors 25-24 in the third period for an 84-69 lead and then coasted through the final quarter.” Woody Sauldsberry led Philadelphia with 25 points.

“It all depends on our rebounding,” said Philadelphia Warriors’ coach George Senesky. “If we can hold Bill Russell, we’ve got a chance against the Boston Celtics” (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Mar. 19, 1958).

Boston won Game 2 109-87 after a second-half rally.

Boston won Game 3 106-92. Bill Sharman led Boston with 27 points, Tom Heinsohn had 26, Bob Cousy 18 and 14 assists, and Bill Russell had 40 rebounds, giving the Celtics a 82-65 advantage on the boards (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 21, 1958). Paul Arizin led Philadelphia with 25 points, Jack George had 20, and George Graboski had 17 (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 21, 1958).

Boston, March 24—(AP)—The Boston Celtics set their sights on a four game sweep over Philadelphia today while the Warriors remained in awe of mighty Bill Russell.

Bothered by a throat ailment and coughing spells, Russell found time to pull down 40 rebounds, scored 14 points and play all but 30 seconds as the Celts whipped Philadelphia 106-92 to take a 3-0 lead in the best of seven semifinal series of the National Basketball Assn. playoffs.

The next game will be played in Philadelphia Wednesday night with a fifth contest back in Boston the next night, if necessary.

Joe Graboski of the Warriors said afterwards: “All I ever see on the court is Russell—Russell arms, Russell legs, Russell hands.”
(The Telegraph, Mar. 24, 1958)

Philadelphia won Game 4 112-97, led by Tom Gola, who had 31 points, 11 rebounds and four assists “in one of his best all around games of the season,” and Paul Arizin, who also had 31 (The Milwaukee Sentinel, Mar. 26, 1958). Tom Heinsohn led Boston with 20 points (Park City Daily News, Mar. 24, 1958).

Leading by only 45-41 at halftime, the Warriors caught fire in the first three minutes of the third period, spurting to a 13-point lead which the Celtics could never overcome.

Philadelphia boasted a commanding 62-49 edge with 7:52 to play in the third quarter and had the answers whenever the losers rallied. The Celtics managed to creep up to 71-67 with one minute and 45 seconds left in the third session but they could never get closer.
(Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Mar. 27, 1958)

Boston won Game 5 93-88, “[coming] to life in the final period after a lethargic start” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 27, 1958). Frank Ramsey and Tom Heinsohn had 22 points apiece, and “Big Bill Russell led the way with 18 points and 30 rebounds” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 27, 1958). Paul Arizin led Philadelphia with a game-high 28 points, and Tom Gola had 18.


NBA Finals – Boston Celtics (49-23) vs. St. Louis Hawks (41-31)

St. Louis won Game 1 104-102, led by Cliff Hagan, who had a game-high 33 points, and Bob Pettit, who had 30 points and 19 rebounds. Bob Cousy led Boston with 27 points, Bill Sharman had 25, Tom Heinsohn had 15, and Bill Russell had 14 points and a game-high 29 rebounds.

The Celtics played like champions only in spurts against the rugged Hawks. Boston went ahead by 11 points early in the second period but then began to slump by halftime, trailed 58-52.

Boston enjoyed a fine third period and led by as much as six points on one occasion. The Celtics were in front 83-80 as the final stanza opened but quickly fell behind and were far from a ball of fire in the last 10 minutes.

Too many defensive lapses and failure to come through in the clutch during the final two minutes ruined the Celtics.

Boston won Game 2 136-112. Bob Cousy led Boston with 25 points, Bill Sharman and Bill Russell had 22 (Reading Eagle, Mar. 31, 1958), the latter with a game-high 27 rebounds “and was excellent at the foul line with eight for ten” (Lodi News-Sentinel, Mar. 31, 1958), and Frank Ramsey had 20. “Rookie Sam Jones of North Carolina college, who had not played in Saturday’s opener with the Hawks, was a star for the Celtics Sunday with 16 points. He relieved Bill Sharman in the first and second halves, and beside his scoring, played a strong defensive game” (The Milwaukee Journal, Mar. 31, 1958). “I sent in Sam Jones on a hunch, and I’d be a liar and an egotist to say there was any planned strategy,” said Auerbach (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

“Boston offset a tremendous one-man performance by Cliff Hagan of the Hawks, who sank 10 baskets and 17 of 18 foul attempts for 37 points” (Reading Eagle, Mar. 31, 1958). “The Celtics held Bob Pettit to 19, but the most amazing individual of the playoffs—the Hawks Cliff Hagan—remained unstoppable” (The Tuscaloosa News, Mar. 31, 1958). “Boston’s fast break helped it make 48 baskets in 103 shots [46.6%]. The Hawks hit on 38 out of 107 [35.5%]. Boston had a big edge in rebounds with 85 to St. Louis’ 55 and Bill Russell of the Celts got 27 of them” (The Milwaukee Journal, Mar. 31, 1958). “While the Celtics sharpened their defensive efforts they took charge from the opening tap. Boston ran up a 6-0 lead and after the Hawks tied it 6-6, Tommy Heinsohn swished a jump shot from the corner to put the home forces ahead permanently” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

St. Louis won Game 3 111-108 to take a 2-1 series lead, led by Bob Pettit, who scored 32 points, 18 in the third quarter, where St. Louis scored 34 points, which “made the difference” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958). St. Louis went from being tied with Boston 49-49 at halftime, to leading 83-75. Bill Russell went down in the third quarter, “hurt[ing] his leg when he fell heavily on it after being charged with a goal-tending offense. He sat still for about four minutes and then the former San Francisco University star tried to play again but he couldn’t make it” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958). The Celtics tried to make a comeback, coming within two points five times in the last 3:05, “But the Hawks always put in that extra field goal or foul shot to stay in front” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

Frank Ramsey led Boston with 29 points before fouling out, and Bill Sharman had 21. Tom Heinsohn also fouled out with 11 points, and Cliff Hagan and Charlie Share for St. Louis. “Hagan, who tallied 70 points in the first two games, was held to 18 in this one. He was guarded part of the time by Russell, who scored 14 points for Boston. Russell played for 30 minutes and hauled in 13 rebounds” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

ST. LOUIS (AP)—Boston’s chances in the National Basketball Assn. championship playoffs well may rest on how quickly Bill Russell can recover from an ankle injury.

The 6-10 Russell injured his ankle last night in the third game of the series between Boston’s Celtics and the St. Louis Hawks. St. Louis won the game 111-108.

Russell was removed from the game and taken to Jewish Hospital. X-rays showed his ankle was badly sprained.

Dr. Stan London said, “We’ll start working on it first thing in the morning.”

He said Russell “might be ready for Saturday and probably will be in the game” April 9 at Boston.

Russell hurt the ankle when he came down on it hard in the third quarter.

Last night’s game put the Hawks ahead 2-1 in the best of seven series.
(Tuscaloosa News, Apr. 3, 1958)

ST. LOUIS—AP—The Boston Celtics faced the grim fact Friday their injured defensive star, Bill Russell, may be of little help against St. Louis Saturday night in the fourth game of the National Basketball Assn. championship playoffs.

The 6-10 rebounding genius continued to take physio-therapy treatments Friday for his badly sprained right ankle.

Dr. Stan London, Hawks team physician, said that if Russell does play at all he’ll be swathed in bandages.

Boston, behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, needs Russell underneath the boards to cope with Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan and 6-11 Charley Share of the Hawks—all slick rebounders. [The Hawks were the best-rebounding team in the league during the regular season. Bob Pettit was second in the league to Russell, Share was tied with Detroit’s Harry Gallatin for 14th, and Cliff Hagan was 18th.]

Russell is walking around on crutches to give the injured foot a rest. He suffered the injury Wednesday night, crashing to the floor after a play on which he was called for goal-tending.
(Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 5, 1958.)

Boston won Game 4 109-98. “The Boston Celtics, crippled by the loss of big Bill Russell, choked off the St. Louis Hawks tonight with clever slow-down tactics” (Reading Eagle, Apr. 6, 1958). Bob Cousy led Boston with 24 points, “16 of them in the second quarter when he played most of the time in the pivot. Cousy’s pivot play was just one of the surprises which Boston Coach Red Auerbach cooked up to compensate for the loss of the 6-10 Russell” (Reading Eagle, Apr. 6, 1958).

[Comment: How many people were aware that Magic wasn't the first all-time great point guard to play center for his team the game after their league MVP center went down to injury?]

“Auerbach shifted players constantly and the Celtics often slowed the game to a walk to throw the Hawks off stride. Bob Pettit, the Hawks’ top star, was off-stride all night and scored only 12 points” (Reading Eagle, Apr. 6, 1958). Cliff Hagan led St. Louis with a game-high 27 points.

BOSTON (UP) — Rebounding ace Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics Monday was declared out for the rest of the National Basketball Assn. championship playoffs with the St. Louis Hawks because of a severely sprained right ankle.

Dr. Edward R. Browne, Celtics team physician, said, “Russell is out for the rest of the year. We’re continuing to work on him but I doubt if he would be available within the next three weeks.”

The 6-10 Russell, who holds every rebounding record available in the NBA, injured the ankle last week at St. Louis. X-rays viewed Monday showed a “small chip fracture” inside the ankle in addition to torn tendons inside and outside the ankle.

Boston arrived home from St. Louis Sunday night with the best four of seven series tied at two games each. The Celtics won at St. Louis Saturday night without the services of Russell.

Despite the loss of the big center, who virtually controls the boards when he’s in action, the Boston club didn’t appear to be discouraged.

“Losing Russell hurts a lot in rebounding,” admitted Bob Cousy. “But if everyone is around that board to help out, I think we can get our share of the rebounds. It will eliminate our usual fast break almost entirely, but we took good shots the other night and we can do the same thing again,” he said.
(“Russell Declared Out of Pro Cage Playoffs.” The Deseret News, Apr. 7, 1958)

BOSTON, April 9—The injury-plagued Boston Celtics and the healthy St. Louis Hawks, all even at two games apiece, meet in the vital fifth contest tonight in their best of seven series for the National Basketball Assn. championship.

The Celtics, crippled by the loss of Big Bill Russell and minor injuries to other key players, hope determination and hustle will pay off as in the fourth game at St. Louis Saturday.

The Hawks, stung by their home court loss, mapped a more relaxed style of play.

“We were pressing too much so as not to make mistakes and the Celtics couldn’t do anything wrong in the last game,” St. Louis Coach Alex Hannum said. “We’ll be a different team tonight.” (The Miami News, Apr. 9, 1958.)

BOSTON, Mass.—AP—Arnie Risen and Jack Nichols—a pair of veterans closing out their playing careers—hold keys to Boston play-off hopes now that teammate Bill Russell has been ruled out of further action.

The defending champion Celtics meet St. Louis here tonight in the National Basketball association championship series now deadlocked, 2-2.

Russell, labeled “chairman of the boards” for his rebounding prowess, was told Monday he is out of the remainder of the best of seven competition because of two torn tendons and a small chip fracture in his sprained right ankle.

Take Up the Slack

Risen, the 6 foot 9 inch thin man, and Nichols, who will graduate from the Tufts university dental school this June, have got to take up the slack with Russell out. Big Bill hauled in 69 rebounds and scored 50 points in his two and a fraction games against St. Louis.

While Coach Red Auerbach admits all the Celtics must play their best to turn back the Hawks, he knows Risen and Nichols are needed to answer his frontcourt problem.

Only One Trusted

Boston defeated St. Louis 109-98 Saturday night without Russell and with 6-1 Bob Cousy playing much of the time in the pivot (24 points, 13 rebounds).

But Auerbach doesn’t figure he can successfully pull off that maneuver twice in a row against the aroused Hawks.

[Comment: Unlike the Lakers in 1980, the Celtics had more games to play.]

Nichols contributed 16 vital points Saturday night. Risen, in his 12th season of NBA competition, is the only player Auerbach has trusted to relieve Russell. Both have announced plans to retire after the play-offs.

“The greatest thing about this ball club is that the veterans know they are veterans and spot players and yet keep themselves in top shape to produce for us at a moment’s notice,” Auerbach said.

“This St. Louis series is far from over,” said Nichols, former University of Washington star. “it’s tough to lose Russell. But the Yankees have had to do without (Mickey) Mantle at times. We won the big one Saturday and I think we can take two of the next three.”

While the Celtics tried to find ways to compensate for the loss of a player who has shattered all rebounding records, the St. Louis team was due to arrive for a final workout.

The Celtics haven’t been able to put the brakes on the Hawks’ Cliff Hagan at any time. What worries them is how to shackle Bob Pettit twice in a row. The graceful jump shot artist was held to 12 Saturday.
(“ ‘Elderly’ Aces Hold Key to Celt Hopes.” The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 9, 1958.)

St. Louis won Game 5 102-100, led by Bob Pettit, who led St. Louis with a game-high 33 points, and Slater Martin, who had 25. “[T]he Hawks nullified the slowdown strategy of the crippled Celtics with aggressive play. Pettit, in addition, was a demon under the defensive boards and the Celtics, who made only 32 baskets in 106 tries [30.1%], seldom had more than one shot at a time at the hoop” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). Frank Ramsey led Boston with 30 points (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). “[T]he Celtics […] played without their star rebounder, 6 foot 10 inch Bill Russell, who is out with an ankle injury. Boston also failed to get full mileage out of Bill Sharman, who was handicapped by a twisted knee” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). “The Hawks rolled away to a 58-43 lead in the opening half as Boston hit on less than 25% of its shots. Going into the fourth quarter, St. Louis was ahead, 84-70. Then the Celtics put on a last ditch rally. They trailed by nine points with two and a half minutes to go and finally narrowed the margin to a single point” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). Ramsey’s “long set shot pulled the Celtics within one point, at 101-100, with seconds remaining. Martin was fouled and converted a free throw for the final point” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958).

A sell-out 13,909 Garden crowd saw the Celtics sputter through most of the game before putting on a last-ditch drive in the final minutes

Boston, which trailed by 10-12 points most of the way, narrowed the gap to five with one minute left. Frank Ramsey, high for the Celtics with 30 points, got a tap-in to make it 101-98. Sixteen seconds were left on the clock as the Celts got possession of the ball.

Ramsey was fouled and made good to bring the count to 101-100. However, Boston’s Lou Tsioropoulos fouled Martin as the Celtics tried desperately to get possession and Martin’s foul shot in the last second made it 102-100.

The Hawks took advantage of horrible Boston floor shooting in the first half to open up a 15-point advantage by intermission. The Celtics did not get a basket during the first four minutes of the opening quarter and then could not connect from the floor for the first 4½ minutes of the second quarter. (The Palm Beach Post, Apr. 7, 1958)

“Besides having their troubles shooting, the Celtics also lacked their customary accuracy from the free throw line, missing 15 attempts in 51 [70.6%]. St. Louis made 44 out of 58 [75.9%].” Slater Martin held Bob Cousy to 10 points.

BOSTON, April 10 (UP) — Slater Martin, littlest player in the National Basketball Assn. at 5-10 and one of the oldest at 32, held the spotlight today following a brilliant performance in the St. Louis Hawks’ third victory in their best-of-seven championship playoffs against the Boston Celtics.

The tiny (by comparison) veteran played on of the finest games of his nine-year pro career last night in St. Louis’ 102-100 win. The triumph gave the Hawks a commanding 3-2 lead in the series which resumes Saturday night at St. Louis.

Bob Pettit took game scoring honors with 33 points, eight more than Martin, but the speedy backcourt star was immense as a field general and in holding Boston’s Bob Cousy in check.

Martin said he changed his defensive tactics against Cousy in limiting the Celtics’ whiz to 10 points: eight of them in the second half.

“I found that he was scoring too much on me in the other games, when I played behind him,” said Martin. “So I switched my strategy and played in front of him tonight. It seemed to work out.”
(“Slater Martin Checks Cousy in Hawks’ Win.” The Pittsburgh Press, Apr. 10, 1958)

[Comment: I bring your attention to what I posted on page 72 of the "Retro Player of the Year Project" thread: “There have been roughly five great defensive guards in the modern history of professional basketball and Lennie has to be one of them. Of the other four only Wally Jones of the Philadelphia 76ers is still active. Larry Costello quit in the middle of this season because of injuries, K. C. Jones retired last year and Slater Martin who always gave Bob Cousy so much trouble stopped playing five or six seasons ago.”]

BTW, here is what the Celtics defense did throughout the series, noting games 4 and 5 where Russell didn't play at all:

Game 1: 104 PTS, .417 FG%
Game 2: 112 PTS, .355 FG%
Game 3: 111 PTS, .422 FG%

Game 4: 98 PTS, .371 FG%
Game 5: 102 PTS, .349 FG%

Game 6: 110 PTS, .417 FG%

Doesn't look like they had any drop off defensively without Russell. In fact, dare I say it, they had their best two games of the series. I'd love to hear the counter for that.

[Comment: There's no need for a "counter," just actually... you know, looking at the games to see what happened. It's called "context." Boston knew that with Russell injured, they would not be able to run their fast break, as Cousy acknowledged. So they did a 180 and slowed it down. It threw off the Hawks in Game 4, and they won. It didn't work in Game 5. We all now know that Boston wasn't a good offensive team—you point out the Hawks' shooting percentages but don't mention Boston shot 32.7% and 30.1% themselves, which was worse than even the Hawks shot. As we saw when we covered the later years, the Celtics' shooting percentages didn't matter when they had Russell intimidating teams into shooting even worse.

Boston shot 30.1% in Game 5, and were one and done by the Hawks who controlled the defensive boards. Without Russell giving them extra opportunities, the Hawks were up big for most of the game. The Celtics made a last-ditch rally which made the game seem closer than it was if one just looks at the final score and sees they "only lost by two." Which, of course, context would tell you.]

St. Louis won Game 6 110-109 to win the NBA championship led by Bob Pettit, who had an NBA playoff-record 50 points.

Forward Bob Pettit scored 50 points for the Hawks, including what proved to be the winning goal with 16 seconds to go. He scored 21 points in the first half as the Hawks took a 57-52 lead and added 29 points in the last two periods.

The Celtics, with injured Bill Russell playing about 20 minutes with a heavily taped right ankle, never gave up. They overcame a 10 point Hawk lead in the last quarter, but Pettit’s 19 points in the home stretch were too much for them.

The Hawks went in front to stay, 95-93, on Pettit’s goal with 6 minutes, 16 seconds left. Three times after that the Celtics battled back to within one point. Each time the 6 foot 9 inch Pettit fired home a goal to keep the Hawks in front. His last goal with 16 seconds left sent the Hawks ahead, 110-107. Then Bill Sharman, who led Boston with 26 points, was allowed to score a layup unmolested with nine seconds left and the Hawks ran out the clock with little Slater Martin dribbling the ball.

A crowd of 10,218 gave the Hawks a standing ovation as the game ended and the St. Louis Players carried Pettit off the floor.

Martin held Bob Cousy, Boston’s brilliant guard to 15 points and turned in a fine floor game.

Pettit’s 50 points set a new record for a regulation play-off game. Cousy also scored 50 points in 1953 against Syracuse in a game that went four overtimes. Pettit sank 19 of 34 shots from the floor.(The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 12, 1958.)

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics, dethroned as National Basketball Assn. champions, looked ahead to next year today with hopes there will be less crippling injuries in the 1958-59 campaign.

Coach Red Auerbach and his Celtics looked back on injuries to Jim Loscutoff, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman and various other ailments before their final get-together tonight.

Despite their injuries, Boston refused to detract from the St. Louis’ Hawks drive to the NBA title, climaxed by a 110-109 victory Saturday night in the sixth game.

“They deserved the title,” Auerbach said. “They outshot us and won the close ones, but we made them go all the way to beat us. We were not functioning at full strength and you must be strong to beat the Hawks.”

Three players figured to have played their last game with Boston—and probably pro basketball. They are veteran Jack Nichols, Arnie Risen and Andy Phillip.
(The Telegraph, Apr. 14, 1958)

Russell had 2 guys on the team in Cousy and Sharman who were 1st team, while he himself was 2nd team that year.

“Last year, the players voted him the most valuable player in the league. The sportswriters didn’t pick him; the players who have to play against him every day did. The oversight was not repeated [Russell was First Team All-NBA in 1958-59]” (The Bulletin, Dec. 30, 1958)

The sportswriters didn’t understand what was going on, while the players—who actually played against him—did. And as far as Cousy goes, after Auerbach threw St. Louis a curve by playing him at center in Game 4, Cousy was shut down by Slater Martin—who, as stated in the quote I gave, “always gave Bob Cousy so much trouble”—the rest of the way.

The problem is that people make statements on a superficial reading without bothering to do any kind of in-depth analysis on anything. If people are going to have an opinion about something—whatever it may be—be informed. That’s the only problem I have with most people. But now, having the information, it's possible to make an informed vote however way you go rather than having preconceived notions perhaps underlined by bias, or perhaps an agenda.

I've got zero problem with anyone picking Pettit, but when a guy wins the MVP, speaking to his lack of accolades is not a valid line of criticism.

This. As I said, just make an informed decision however way you go.

And I find it ridiculous how Russell's injury is being minimized here. In 1995, Jordan played in the postseason (completely healthy, I might add), but it "doesn't count" because he was "rusty"—not himself. Thus you hear everyone say he won six titles in six seasons as if '95 never happened. But here, Russell sustains what was a season-ending injury, but tries to play anyway, and it's "Russell came back in Game 6." "He didn't win it all as the #1 guy." I find the double standard hilarious. (I've seen Russell marked down as "losing with HCA" before, and likewise for Duncan in 2000 despite not playing a second of the postseason that year—which I had pointed out before, but get ignored, and the same list continued to be cut-and-pasted even after my calling attention to it) And there's zero attempt at any kind of analysis to try to find out what exactly happened in a season. No trying to get down to the bottom of things and perhaps expand your knowledge. It's always latch on to one thing in a completely superficial manner.

I can do Pettit and Hagan's postseasons, since half of them overlap with what I've already posted, but I might not have enough time left to go into their regular seasons as well.

If I could only do one of either Schayes or Yardley—again, since time is limited—which one would everyone be more interested in hearing (reading) about?

[Sedale Threatt]

1. Pettit
2. Russell
3. Schayes
4. Hagan
5. Yardley

[Doctor MJ]

Reserved.

Holding off my vote until I see this.

Russell's got an uphill battle here though.

[Dr Positivity]

I didn't know Russ missed those full games in the Finals. I put a lock of stock into playoff injuries. So I'll put Pettit #1 and Russ #2

Waiting for ElGee's offense/defense stats to choose between Yardley and Schayes after that. Leaning towards Schayes cause of team record, but if it turns out Yardley's team had an elite ORTG and horrible DRTG and Schayes is the opposite, I'll reconsider

[ThaRegul8r]

I'll re-post this here.

I can do Pettit and Hagan's postseasons, since half of them overlap with what I've already posted, but I might not have enough time left to go into their regular seasons as well.

If I could only do one of either Schayes or Yardley—again, since time is limited—which one would everyone be more interested in hearing (reading) about?

[Doctor MJ]

I'll re-post this here.

I can do Pettit and Hagan's postseasons, since half of them overlap with what I've already posted, but I might not have enough time left to go into their regular seasons as well.

If I could only do one of either Schayes or Yardley—again, since time is limited—which one would everyone be more interested in hearing (reading) about?

Schayes

[ThaRegul8r]

I'll re-post this here.

I can do Pettit and Hagan's postseasons, since half of them overlap with what I've already posted, but I might not have enough time left to go into their regular seasons as well.

If I could only do one of either Schayes or Yardley—again, since time is limited—which one would everyone be more interested in hearing (reading) about?

Schayes

Your vote has been noted.

*wonders how different this discussion would be if it were Jordan instead of Pippen who got injured in the '98 Finals*

And I'm sure you wouldnt have voted for Shaq #1 in 2002 had he shot 36% FG in the playoffs and 35% FG in the finals and got injured after the team was down.

You know, after considering this, I don't even know what this means. #1) I didn't even find out about the Retro Player of the Year Project until voting on the '82-83 RPOY, and I wasn't added to the panel until the '77-78 RPOY voting was going on. So I couldn't have voted for anyone. #2) I'm not sure why you chose Shaq of all people, and why 2002.

(And Russell didn't get injured after the team was down. He got injured in Game 3, at which point the series was tied. As you can now read, the score was tied at halftime, until the Hawks took the lead in the pivotal third quarter—which just so happened to be the quarter in which Russell's injury took place. Interesting how that coincided.)

[semi-sentient]

I'd like to hear more about Schayes as well. He seems like a very strong candidate this year.

[drza]

Add me to the Schayes brigade. I've given him a couple of votes in the last few years based purely on numbers, seeming team impact and strong postseasons. It would be nice to have some context to put him into as I prepare to likely vote for him again.

Also, really looking forward to the Hawks/Petit articles. I still have no real connection with Pettit, and I think it's making it harder for me to wrap my mind around just how good I think he might have been.

[TrueLAfan]

1. Bob Pettit. Pettit’s post season and Game 7 may get it for him. I’m torn here. I actually think Pettit was better in 1957, and (spoiler alert!) he’s going to be #1 for me in that year. Still debating this one.
1. Bill Russell. His first full season, and he was awesome. I think Bill Sharman is a bit underrated; he was a very good offensive player and an okay defender…maybe at the level of Sam Jones, maybe a bit below. (Which he had to be to make up for Cousy.) The fact that he got hurt is unfortunate…but, as people are noting, we could go back and forth on how much it meant (the Hawks had taken the Celtics to a double overtime Game 7 in the 1957 finals). Tough call.
3. Dolph Schayes. Not my type of player, but it was his best year. He was a finesse player in a period of physical big men. Hard worker. Not tough in his early years, and wasn’t popular (which may have been a result of lingering anti-semitism).
4. George Yardley. A big swingman for his time; he’d list at 6’6” today, no problem. First guy to break 2000 points! Good rebounder for a G/F, but a bit of a black hole. Great at getting position and pacing off screens, which was critical in basketball of the 50s. Touch guy; hit the boards hard.
5. Neil Johnston. Good, but not quite effective as he was in earlier years, and was already hurting and playing fewer minutes. More or less as valuable as Yardley this year, but played about 15-20% less.

Re: Bob Pettit...Pettit was actually a pretty good defender, especially in his mid-career. He came into the league at around 215, but he was another early player that was semi-involved with weight training. (In the early 90s, there was an article in Sports magazine discussing past and present players at positions; Pettit talked about Malone and Karl’s strength, and said “I ended up at around 240; If I’d had modern weight training, I probably would have played at closer to 260.” He was a better defender of big men because he was, actually, a big guy…Red Holzman noted his improvement on D in 1957 and said “This year he's concentrated on defense. He guards a big man well.” He was a smart player; Holzman notes this as well, and a Time magazine article from 1960 comments on how he varied his approach on the defensive end: “On defense, he has tactics for every player, e.g., against Cincinnati he presses hook-shooting Clyde Lovellette, but he lies back for the dribbling of Maurice Stokes.”

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 64,00.html

http://www.thesportgallery.com/sport-st ... ettit.html

Pettit was sometimes accused of getting calls and milking the refs (some of this is discussed in Tall Tales), which I don’t think is really accurate. He did go the line a lot, but so did Neil Johnston and so did Dolph Schayes. Players from the time remember how good he was at getting position and latching onto the ball when it got in reach. He was a back to the basket C in college, and became a PF in the pros, which meant he had to develop a jumper. He did, and it was a good one. Pettit was one of the really great ones, no doubt about it. The Celtics/Hawks rivalry of the mid 50s through the early 60s is a lot like the Lakers/Celtics rivalry of the 60s, and Pettit was the Alpha Dog of that team.

Btw…this is a link to Talani Goodson’s biography of Dolph Schayes, which is pretty interesting. Most of the stuff is PPV on SLAM online…does anyone subscribe?

http://www.slamonline.com/online/media/ ... ry-lesson/

[JordansBulls]

*wonders how different this discussion would be if it were Jordan instead of Pippen who got injured in the '98 Finals*

And I'm sure you wouldnt have voted for Shaq #1 in 2002 had he shot 36% FG in the playoffs and 35% FG in the finals and got injured after the team was down.

You know, after considering this, I don't even know what this means. #1) I didn't even find out about the Retro Player of the Year Project until voting on the '82-83 RPOY, and I wasn't added to the panel until the '77-78 RPOY voting was going on. So I couldn't have voted for anyone. #2) I'm not sure why you chose Shaq of all people, and why 2002.

(And Russell didn't get injured after the team was down. He got injured in Game 3, at which point the series was tied. As you can now read, the score was tied at halftime, until the Hawks took the lead in the pivotal third quarter—which just so happened to be the quarter in which Russell's injury took place. Interesting how that coincided.)

The Celtics won Game 4 of the Finals without Russell on the road at that.

[ThaRegul8r]

The Celtics won Game 4 of the Finals without Russell on the road at that.

And the Bulls, first season after Jordan's (first) retirement, won 55 games without Jordan and a CBAer in his place, then proceeded to win seven (not one) playoff games before being screwed out of an Eastern Conference Finals berth. Your point?

And are you ever going to start... breaking anything down? Bringing some insight to the table on some of the given candidates for a season?

[ThaRegul8r]

I guess I should re-post this here on the latest page so it gets read:

NEW YORK (AP)—The vanishing athlete—the defensive basketball player—has returned in the person of big Bill Russell.

Although he has yet to play a full season in professional ranks, his coach, the Boston Celtics’ Red Auerbach, already hails him as the greatest defensive basketball player who ever lived.

Several rival NBA coaches are ready to agree with him, too. After Boston had ruined Detroit’s home opener with a victory last week, Piston coach Charley Eckman said: “Russell beat us all by himself—with his brilliant defensive play.”

Last Saturday night, after the Celtics had overcome a 14-point deficit to defeat the Knickerbockers 131-121 and spoil their home debut before some 13,000. New York coach Vince Boryla groaned: “Sure they had to score a zillion points to win, but it was Russell who beat us, nobody else. If he hadn’t batted down all those shots in the first half, we’d have taken such a commanding lead, they’d have given up.”

Actually, the former Olympic and University of San Francisco All-American, who carries 230 pounds on his spidery 6-10 frame, grabbed 23 rebounds, made three interceptions and nine spectacular blocks of seemingly certain goals which would have added 18 points to the losers’ total. He also added 25 points of his own.
(Joe Reichler. “Defensive Net Player Back in Bill Russell.” Park City Daily News. Oct 31, 1957)

“The professional basketball season is barely under way but already the Boston Celtics are making a farce out of what must laughingly be described as a “race” because of a guy named Bill Russell. Because of his absolutely amazing defensive abilities he may wind up as the most valuable player in the history of pro basketball.”

Russell is as awesome a player as basketball has ever seen and everybody now has given up hope of any strategy working against him steadily.

“We were the first ones to beat them this year,” Vince Boryle, the New York Knickerbockers’ coach, points out, “but it’s a terrific strain on your club. We try to get him outside, just like everybody said he should be played. But that’s easier to say than to do.

“We play Boston without a center. We put in two backcourt and three corner men. I use Willie Naulls, Guy Sparrow and Kenny Sears. They stay outside and shoot from there.

“So Red Auerbach has Russell guarding the one who isn’t hitting. In other words, if Naulls, for example, is off, Russell lets him shoot. Bill stays inside. We’re right back where we started.

“When he’s around the basket he demoralizes your team. A fellow gets by his man and goes in for an easy shot and—whoom!—up goes Russell and he blocks it. It happened to Sparrow eight or nine times in one game.

“To beat the guy, you have to have three fellows hitting from outside. Nobody can have a bad night.

“It’s a tall order. Another thing, you play without your center. Everybody else has to go that much longer without relief. If you’re lucky, you beat him now and then. But it whacks your club out.

“Bob Pettit does well enough against him but the rest—Neil Johnston, for example—get wiped out.

“George Mikan was tremendous. But he never made you change your style of play. We used to try and get George running some. That was all. He got his points and a lot of rebounds and all that

“But he never ran a game like Bill Russell. Nobody in history ever ruined you like Russell.”
(The Tuscaloosa News, Dec. 15, 1957)

November 15, 1957, Russell grabbed 49 rebounds in a 111-89 win over Philadelphia. February 12, 1958, Russell had 18 points and 41 rebounds in a 119-101 win over Syracuse.

Eastern Division Finals - Boston Celtics (49-23) vs. Philadelphia Warriors (37-35). The Warriors “were the only team to play the Celtics to a 6-6 standoff during the regular season […]” (Gadsden Times, Mar. 22, 1958).

Boston won Game 1 107-98. Bob Cousy led Boston with 29 points, Bill Russell had 18 points and 25 rebounds (Gadsden Times, Mar. 22, 1958), Bill Sharman had 17, and Tom Heinsohn had 14 (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Mar. 19, 1958). “Boston outscored the Warriors 25-24 in the third period for an 84-69 lead and then coasted through the final quarter.” Woody Sauldsberry led Philadelphia with 25 points.

“It all depends on our rebounding,” said Philadelphia Warriors’ coach George Senesky. “If we can hold Bill Russell, we’ve got a chance against the Boston Celtics” (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Mar. 19, 1958).

Boston won Game 2 109-87 after a second-half rally.

Boston won Game 3 106-92. Bill Sharman led Boston with 27 points, Tom Heinsohn had 26, Bob Cousy 18 and 14 assists, and Bill Russell had 40 rebounds, giving the Celtics a 82-65 advantage on the boards (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 21, 1958). Paul Arizin led Philadelphia with 25 points, Jack George had 20, and George Graboski had 17 (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 21, 1958).

Boston, March 24—(AP)—The Boston Celtics set their sights on a four game sweep over Philadelphia today while the Warriors remained in awe of mighty Bill Russell.

Bothered by a throat ailment and coughing spells, Russell found time to pull down 40 rebounds, scored 14 points and play all but 30 seconds as the Celts whipped Philadelphia 106-92 to take a 3-0 lead in the best of seven semifinal series of the National Basketball Assn. playoffs.

The next game will be played in Philadelphia Wednesday night with a fifth contest back in Boston the next night, if necessary.

Joe Graboski of the Warriors said afterwards: “All I ever see on the court is Russell—Russell arms, Russell legs, Russell hands.”
(The Telegraph, Mar. 24, 1958)

Philadelphia won Game 4 112-97, led by Tom Gola, who had 31 points, 11 rebounds and four assists “in one of his best all around games of the season,” and Paul Arizin, who also had 31 (The Milwaukee Sentinel, Mar. 26, 1958). Tom Heinsohn led Boston with 20 points (Park City Daily News, Mar. 24, 1958).

Leading by only 45-41 at halftime, the Warriors caught fire in the first three minutes of the third period, spurting to a 13-point lead which the Celtics could never overcome.

Philadelphia boasted a commanding 62-49 edge with 7:52 to play in the third quarter and had the answers whenever the losers rallied. The Celtics managed to creep up to 71-67 with one minute and 45 seconds left in the third session but they could never get closer.
(Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Mar. 27, 1958)

Boston won Game 5 93-88, “[coming] to life in the final period after a lethargic start” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 27, 1958). Frank Ramsey and Tom Heinsohn had 22 points apiece, and “Big Bill Russell led the way with 18 points and 30 rebounds” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Mar. 27, 1958). Paul Arizin led Philadelphia with a game-high 28 points, and Tom Gola had 18.


NBA Finals – Boston Celtics (49-23) vs. St. Louis Hawks (41-31)

St. Louis won Game 1 104-102, led by Cliff Hagan, who had a game-high 33 points, and Bob Pettit, who had 30 points and 19 rebounds. Bob Cousy led Boston with 27 points, Bill Sharman had 25, Tom Heinsohn had 15, and Bill Russell had 14 points and a game-high 29 rebounds.

The Celtics played like champions only in spurts against the rugged Hawks. Boston went ahead by 11 points early in the second period but then began to slump by halftime, trailed 58-52.

Boston enjoyed a fine third period and led by as much as six points on one occasion. The Celtics were in front 83-80 as the final stanza opened but quickly fell behind and were far from a ball of fire in the last 10 minutes.

Too many defensive lapses and failure to come through in the clutch during the final two minutes ruined the Celtics.

Boston won Game 2 136-112. Bob Cousy led Boston with 25 points, Bill Sharman and Bill Russell had 22 (Reading Eagle, Mar. 31, 1958), the latter with a game-high 27 rebounds “and was excellent at the foul line with eight for ten” (Lodi News-Sentinel, Mar. 31, 1958), and Frank Ramsey had 20. “Rookie Sam Jones of North Carolina college, who had not played in Saturday’s opener with the Hawks, was a star for the Celtics Sunday with 16 points. He relieved Bill Sharman in the first and second halves, and beside his scoring, played a strong defensive game” (The Milwaukee Journal, Mar. 31, 1958). “I sent in Sam Jones on a hunch, and I’d be a liar and an egotist to say there was any planned strategy,” said Auerbach (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

“Boston offset a tremendous one-man performance by Cliff Hagan of the Hawks, who sank 10 baskets and 17 of 18 foul attempts for 37 points” (Reading Eagle, Mar. 31, 1958). “The Celtics held Bob Pettit to 19, but the most amazing individual of the playoffs—the Hawks Cliff Hagan—remained unstoppable” (The Tuscaloosa News, Mar. 31, 1958). “Boston’s fast break helped it make 48 baskets in 103 shots [46.6%]. The Hawks hit on 38 out of 107 [35.5%]. Boston had a big edge in rebounds with 85 to St. Louis’ 55 and Bill Russell of the Celts got 27 of them” (The Milwaukee Journal, Mar. 31, 1958). “While the Celtics sharpened their defensive efforts they took charge from the opening tap. Boston ran up a 6-0 lead and after the Hawks tied it 6-6, Tommy Heinsohn swished a jump shot from the corner to put the home forces ahead permanently” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

St. Louis won Game 3 111-108 to take a 2-1 series lead, led by Bob Pettit, who scored 32 points, 18 in the third quarter, where St. Louis scored 34 points, which “made the difference” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958). St. Louis went from being tied with Boston 49-49 at halftime, to leading 83-75. Bill Russell went down in the third quarter, “hurt[ing] his leg when he fell heavily on it after being charged with a goal-tending offense. He sat still for about four minutes and then the former San Francisco University star tried to play again but he couldn’t make it” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958). The Celtics tried to make a comeback, coming within two points five times in the last 3:05, “But the Hawks always put in that extra field goal or foul shot to stay in front” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

Frank Ramsey led Boston with 29 points before fouling out, and Bill Sharman had 21. Tom Heinsohn also fouled out with 11 points, and Cliff Hagan and Charlie Share for St. Louis. “Hagan, who tallied 70 points in the first two games, was held to 18 in this one. He was guarded part of the time by Russell, who scored 14 points for Boston. Russell played for 30 minutes and hauled in 13 rebounds” (The Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 2, 1958).

ST. LOUIS (AP)—Boston’s chances in the National Basketball Assn. championship playoffs well may rest on how quickly Bill Russell can recover from an ankle injury.

The 6-10 Russell injured his ankle last night in the third game of the series between Boston’s Celtics and the St. Louis Hawks. St. Louis won the game 111-108.

Russell was removed from the game and taken to Jewish Hospital. X-rays showed his ankle was badly sprained.

Dr. Stan London said, “We’ll start working on it first thing in the morning.”

He said Russell “might be ready for Saturday and probably will be in the game” April 9 at Boston.

Russell hurt the ankle when he came down on it hard in the third quarter.

Last night’s game put the Hawks ahead 2-1 in the best of seven series.
(Tuscaloosa News, Apr. 3, 1958)

ST. LOUIS—AP—The Boston Celtics faced the grim fact Friday their injured defensive star, Bill Russell, may be of little help against St. Louis Saturday night in the fourth game of the National Basketball Assn. championship playoffs.

The 6-10 rebounding genius continued to take physio-therapy treatments Friday for his badly sprained right ankle.

Dr. Stan London, Hawks team physician, said that if Russell does play at all he’ll be swathed in bandages.

Boston, behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, needs Russell underneath the boards to cope with Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan and 6-11 Charley Share of the Hawks—all slick rebounders. [The Hawks were the best-rebounding team in the league during the regular season. Bob Pettit was second in the league to Russell, Share was tied with Detroit’s Harry Gallatin for 14th, and Cliff Hagan was 18th.]

Russell is walking around on crutches to give the injured foot a rest. He suffered the injury Wednesday night, crashing to the floor after a play on which he was called for goal-tending.
(Lewiston Daily Sun, Apr. 5, 1958.)

Boston won Game 4 109-98. “The Boston Celtics, crippled by the loss of big Bill Russell, choked off the St. Louis Hawks tonight with clever slow-down tactics” (Reading Eagle, Apr. 6, 1958). Bob Cousy led Boston with 24 points, “16 of them in the second quarter when he played most of the time in the pivot. Cousy’s pivot play was just one of the surprises which Boston Coach Red Auerbach cooked up to compensate for the loss of the 6-10 Russell” (Reading Eagle, Apr. 6, 1958).

[Comment: How many people were aware that Magic wasn't the first all-time great point guard to play center for his team the game after their league MVP center went down to injury?]

“Auerbach shifted players constantly and the Celtics often slowed the game to a walk to throw the Hawks off stride. Bob Pettit, the Hawks’ top star, was off-stride all night and scored only 12 points” (Reading Eagle, Apr. 6, 1958). Cliff Hagan led St. Louis with a game-high 27 points.

BOSTON (UP) — Rebounding ace Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics Monday was declared out for the rest of the National Basketball Assn. championship playoffs with the St. Louis Hawks because of a severely sprained right ankle.

Dr. Edward R. Browne, Celtics team physician, said, “Russell is out for the rest of the year. We’re continuing to work on him but I doubt if he would be available within the next three weeks.”

The 6-10 Russell, who holds every rebounding record available in the NBA, injured the ankle last week at St. Louis. X-rays viewed Monday showed a “small chip fracture” inside the ankle in addition to torn tendons inside and outside the ankle.

Boston arrived home from St. Louis Sunday night with the best four of seven series tied at two games each. The Celtics won at St. Louis Saturday night without the services of Russell.

Despite the loss of the big center, who virtually controls the boards when he’s in action, the Boston club didn’t appear to be discouraged.

“Losing Russell hurts a lot in rebounding,” admitted Bob Cousy. “But if everyone is around that board to help out, I think we can get our share of the rebounds. It will eliminate our usual fast break almost entirely, but we took good shots the other night and we can do the same thing again,” he said.
(“Russell Declared Out of Pro Cage Playoffs.” The Deseret News, Apr. 7, 1958)

BOSTON, April 9—The injury-plagued Boston Celtics and the healthy St. Louis Hawks, all even at two games apiece, meet in the vital fifth contest tonight in their best of seven series for the National Basketball Assn. championship.

The Celtics, crippled by the loss of Big Bill Russell and minor injuries to other key players, hope determination and hustle will pay off as in the fourth game at St. Louis Saturday.

The Hawks, stung by their home court loss, mapped a more relaxed style of play.

“We were pressing too much so as not to make mistakes and the Celtics couldn’t do anything wrong in the last game,” St. Louis Coach Alex Hannum said. “We’ll be a different team tonight.” (The Miami News, Apr. 9, 1958.)

BOSTON, Mass.—AP—Arnie Risen and Jack Nichols—a pair of veterans closing out their playing careers—hold keys to Boston play-off hopes now that teammate Bill Russell has been ruled out of further action.

The defending champion Celtics meet St. Louis here tonight in the National Basketball association championship series now deadlocked, 2-2.

Russell, labeled “chairman of the boards” for his rebounding prowess, was told Monday he is out of the remainder of the best of seven competition because of two torn tendons and a small chip fracture in his sprained right ankle.

Take Up the Slack

Risen, the 6 foot 9 inch thin man, and Nichols, who will graduate from the Tufts university dental school this June, have got to take up the slack with Russell out. Big Bill hauled in 69 rebounds and scored 50 points in his two and a fraction games against St. Louis.

While Coach Red Auerbach admits all the Celtics must play their best to turn back the Hawks, he knows Risen and Nichols are needed to answer his frontcourt problem.

Only One Trusted

Boston defeated St. Louis 109-98 Saturday night without Russell and with 6-1 Bob Cousy playing much of the time in the pivot (24 points, 13 rebounds).

But Auerbach doesn’t figure he can successfully pull off that maneuver twice in a row against the aroused Hawks.

[Comment: Unlike the Lakers in 1980, the Celtics had more games to play.]

Nichols contributed 16 vital points Saturday night. Risen, in his 12th season of NBA competition, is the only player Auerbach has trusted to relieve Russell. Both have announced plans to retire after the play-offs.

“The greatest thing about this ball club is that the veterans know they are veterans and spot players and yet keep themselves in top shape to produce for us at a moment’s notice,” Auerbach said.

“This St. Louis series is far from over,” said Nichols, former University of Washington star. “it’s tough to lose Russell. But the Yankees have had to do without (Mickey) Mantle at times. We won the big one Saturday and I think we can take two of the next three.”

While the Celtics tried to find ways to compensate for the loss of a player who has shattered all rebounding records, the St. Louis team was due to arrive for a final workout.

The Celtics haven’t been able to put the brakes on the Hawks’ Cliff Hagan at any time. What worries them is how to shackle Bob Pettit twice in a row. The graceful jump shot artist was held to 12 Saturday.
(“ ‘Elderly’ Aces Hold Key to Celt Hopes.” The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 9, 1958.)

St. Louis won Game 5 102-100, led by Bob Pettit, who led St. Louis with a game-high 33 points, and Slater Martin, who had 25. “[T]he Hawks nullified the slowdown strategy of the crippled Celtics with aggressive play. Pettit, in addition, was a demon under the defensive boards and the Celtics, who made only 32 baskets in 106 tries [30.1%], seldom had more than one shot at a time at the hoop” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). Frank Ramsey led Boston with 30 points (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). “[T]he Celtics […] played without their star rebounder, 6 foot 10 inch Bill Russell, who is out with an ankle injury. Boston also failed to get full mileage out of Bill Sharman, who was handicapped by a twisted knee” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). “The Hawks rolled away to a 58-43 lead in the opening half as Boston hit on less than 25% of its shots. Going into the fourth quarter, St. Louis was ahead, 84-70. Then the Celtics put on a last ditch rally. They trailed by nine points with two and a half minutes to go and finally narrowed the margin to a single point” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958). Ramsey’s “long set shot pulled the Celtics within one point, at 101-100, with seconds remaining. Martin was fouled and converted a free throw for the final point” (The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 10, 1958).

A sell-out 13,909 Garden crowd saw the Celtics sputter through most of the game before putting on a last-ditch drive in the final minutes

Boston, which trailed by 10-12 points most of the way, narrowed the gap to five with one minute left. Frank Ramsey, high for the Celtics with 30 points, got a tap-in to make it 101-98. Sixteen seconds were left on the clock as the Celts got possession of the ball.

Ramsey was fouled and made good to bring the count to 101-100. However, Boston’s Lou Tsioropoulos fouled Martin as the Celtics tried desperately to get possession and Martin’s foul shot in the last second made it 102-100.

The Hawks took advantage of horrible Boston floor shooting in the first half to open up a 15-point advantage by intermission. The Celtics did not get a basket during the first four minutes of the opening quarter and then could not connect from the floor for the first 4½ minutes of the second quarter. (The Palm Beach Post, Apr. 7, 1958)

“Besides having their troubles shooting, the Celtics also lacked their customary accuracy from the free throw line, missing 15 attempts in 51 [70.6%]. St. Louis made 44 out of 58 [75.9%].” Slater Martin held Bob Cousy to 10 points.

BOSTON, April 10 (UP) — Slater Martin, littlest player in the National Basketball Assn. at 5-10 and one of the oldest at 32, held the spotlight today following a brilliant performance in the St. Louis Hawks’ third victory in their best-of-seven championship playoffs against the Boston Celtics.

The tiny (by comparison) veteran played on of the finest games of his nine-year pro career last night in St. Louis’ 102-100 win. The triumph gave the Hawks a commanding 3-2 lead in the series which resumes Saturday night at St. Louis.

Bob Pettit took game scoring honors with 33 points, eight more than Martin, but the speedy backcourt star was immense as a field general and in holding Boston’s Bob Cousy in check.

Martin said he changed his defensive tactics against Cousy in limiting the Celtics’ whiz to 10 points: eight of them in the second half.

“I found that he was scoring too much on me in the other games, when I played behind him,” said Martin. “So I switched my strategy and played in front of him tonight. It seemed to work out.”
(“Slater Martin Checks Cousy in Hawks’ Win.” The Pittsburgh Press, Apr. 10, 1958)

[Comment: I bring your attention to what I posted on page 72 of the "Retro Player of the Year Project" thread: “There have been roughly five great defensive guards in the modern history of professional basketball and Lennie has to be one of them. Of the other four only Wally Jones of the Philadelphia 76ers is still active. Larry Costello quit in the middle of this season because of injuries, K. C. Jones retired last year and Slater Martin who always gave Bob Cousy so much trouble stopped playing five or six seasons ago.”]

St. Louis won Game 6 110-109 to win the NBA championship led by Bob Pettit, who had an NBA playoff-record 50 points.

Forward Bob Pettit scored 50 points for the Hawks, including what proved to be the winning goal with 16 seconds to go. He scored 21 points in the first half as the Hawks took a 57-52 lead and added 29 points in the last two periods.

The Celtics, with injured Bill Russell playing about 20 minutes with a heavily taped right ankle, never gave up. They overcame a 10 point Hawk lead in the last quarter, but Pettit’s 19 points in the home stretch were too much for them.

The Hawks went in front to stay, 95-93, on Pettit’s goal with 6 minutes, 16 seconds left. Three times after that the Celtics battled back to within one point. Each time the 6 foot 9 inch Pettit fired home a goal to keep the Hawks in front. His last goal with 16 seconds left sent the Hawks ahead, 110-107. Then Bill Sharman, who led Boston with 26 points, was allowed to score a layup unmolested with nine seconds left and the Hawks ran out the clock with little Slater Martin dribbling the ball.

A crowd of 10,218 gave the Hawks a standing ovation as the game ended and the St. Louis Players carried Pettit off the floor.

Martin held Bob Cousy, Boston’s brilliant guard to 15 points and turned in a fine floor game.

Pettit’s 50 points set a new record for a regulation play-off game. Cousy also scored 50 points in 1953 against Syracuse in a game that went four overtimes. Pettit sank 19 of 34 shots from the floor.(The Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 12, 1958.)

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics, dethroned as National Basketball Assn. champions, looked ahead to next year today with hopes there will be less crippling injuries in the 1958-59 campaign.

Coach Red Auerbach and his Celtics looked back on injuries to Jim Loscutoff, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman and various other ailments before their final get-together tonight.

Despite their injuries, Boston refused to detract from the St. Louis’ Hawks drive to the NBA title, climaxed by a 110-109 victory Saturday night in the sixth game.

“They deserved the title,” Auerbach said. “They outshot us and won the close ones, but we made them go all the way to beat us. We were not functioning at full strength and you must be strong to beat the Hawks.”

Three players figured to have played their last game with Boston—and probably pro basketball. They are veteran Jack Nichols, Arnie Risen and Andy Phillip.
(The Telegraph, Apr. 14, 1958)

“Auerbach refused to blame the loss on Russell's injury: ‘You can always look for excuses. We just got beat’ ” (David Friedman. “Classic Confrontations: Boston vs. St. Louis.” 20 Second Timeout. Aug. 1, 2010).

“Though it appeared that nothing less than a brick wall would have stopped Pettit that night, it is still rather a pity that Boston's Bill Russell was hardly able to play anywhere near his best against him. Russell wore a cast on his damaged right ankle, and desperately tried to reach with his hands for positions and plays to which his legs would normally take him easily. In a cold sweat from pain all the way, Russell demonstrated a wealth of personal courage but only a small fraction of his skill.”

“Everyone knows how great Russell was and what he meant to us,” said Bob Cousy. “He was severely hampered by that ankle. All I know is that without question, the Hawks were the second-best team that year.”

“You can’t dismiss the fact that the one year Russell was hurting, Boston didn’t win,” said St. Louis’s Ed Macauley. “But that should not put a taint on our championship or Pettit’s greatness” (Tall Tales, p. 144).