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Boston, uncomfortable down in fourth place, must worry about two specters sneaking up from behind, fifth-place Cincinnati and old age. John Havlicek in 1962 was the last rookie of consequence to make the Celtics. Bill Russell is 35, Bailey Howell is 32 and hampered by an injury and Sam Jones is 35 and playing his last season. Still, all MVP talk about Reed, Frazier, Cunningham and Unseld aside, Russell is the man who could bring Boston back. After Russell's magnificent posthospital game against the 76ers, Havlicek told The Boston Globe : "It's a damn shame you have to place so much of a load on one person. They keep saying this guy is the key, that guy is the key. There's only one key—him [Russell]—and he's only human, like everybody else."

If you look at the statistics, you have to wonder how the Celtics managed to win.

The 76ers out-rebounded the Celtics, 75-51, and took 108 shots to 91 for Boston. They out-hustled the winners off the offensive boards, 29-9.

How did they lose?

76ers’ Coach Jack Ramsey had the answer in two words — Bill Russell.

The 34-year old Russell scored only two points, but his 6-foot-10 frame was the difference as Boston took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Russell blocked 13 shots, took down 15 rebounds, handed out eight assists, and more importantly, intimidated the 76ers into one of their worst shooting nights of the season.

Philadelphia shot 35.2 per cent from the field.

Ramsay gave all the credit to Russell, the player-coach of the Celtics. “In my opinion, he was the difference. He’s always the difference when we play Boston.”

Boston, an aging team troubled by injuries and the severe travel conditions of the NBA schedule, appears revitalized for the playoffs, which normally offer at least a day’s rest between games. As usual, center Bill Russell, their player-coach, holds the key to Boston’s success, and he dominated the Philadelphia series.

Like vintage wine, the Boston Celtics improve with age.

Spurred by 35-year-old player-coach Bill Russell, the Celtics, seeking their 11th National Basketball Association playoff championship in 13 years, took another step towards attaining that goal Sunday afternoon by beating the Knicks 108-100.

Unfortunately for the Knicks, who were coming off an impressive four-game sweep of Baltimore in their playoff opener, Russell wants another championship and he doesn’t intend to let New York stand in his way.

BOSTON — (AP) — The Boston Celtics, led by player-coach Bill Russell threw up a tight early defense and shackled ice-cold New York in the first half enroute to a 112-97 victory over the Knicks and a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Division final series in the National Basketball Association playoffs.

Russell, who has led the Celtics to 10 championships in 12 years,was the dominating factor as he virtually intimidated the New York sharpshooters.

Russell had 11 of his 14 points and 21 of his 29 rebounds in the first two periods. With the Celtics in front 95-69 and nearly 8½ minutes remaining Russell went to the bench for a well deserved rest as a capacity crowd of 14,933 gave him a standing ovation.

Boston’s mighty defense, led by Player-Coach Bill Russell, was the difference as the Celtics edged the Knicks 97-96 Sunday before a crowd of 13,506 and a national television audience.

[…]

Leading 95-94, the defending NBA champion Celtics threw up a tight defense in the last 25 seconds.

The Knicks brought the ball into play, intending to have Walt Frazier take a shot. However, Frazier, confronted by John Havlicek, couldn’t find shooting room and passed to big Willis Reed at the free throw line.

Reed didn’t have any room either as he turned to face Russell. His forced shot was short and the ball went out of bounds off a Knick.

“We expected the ball to go to Frazier,” Russell said. “We decided to take Sam Jones out, put Havlicek on Frazier and sent in Satch Sanders to cover Bradley. Havlicek did a tremendous job on Frazier. It was a key defensive play.”

New York then fouled former Knick Emmette Bryant with six seconds left. In an unusual move, the Celtics called time out to set up more strategy, the confidence showed.

“I didn’t know what to think when we called time,” Bryant said. “Usually, the other team does it, hoping to upset the shooter. Then all I hear was ‘After he makes his two free throws ... after he makes his two free throws.’ You know, something like that can become contagious.”

Bryant then cased free throws to nail down the decision. The Celtics let the Knicks have a basket with two seconds left.

“I don’t like these kind of games,” said Russell, who led the Celtics with 21 points and 23 rebounds in a duel spiced by 14 ties. “They’re aggravating. They’re the kind of games that can give you an ulcer.”

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics, backed by old pros Sam Jones, John Havlicek and unheralded Emmette Bryant, charged into the championship round of the National Basketball Association playoffs with a 106-105 victory over the New York Knicks Friday night to take the Eastern Division finals 4-2.

Jones, humiliated as he managed just 12 points in the fourth and fifth games of the best-of-7 series, regained his old scoring touch, connecting for 29 points in a brilliant shooting exhibition.

Havlicek, going the entire distance, his for 28 points, including four on two crucial baskets in the closing seconds as the Celtics staved off a furious New York finish.

Bryant, a former Knick who spent most of the regular season as a reserve Boston backcourt specialist, came through in the clutch, hitting for 19 points.

[…]

Player-coach Bill Russell, who started the Celtics to their basketball dynasty, again turned in a magnificent performance, scoring 12 points and grabbing 21 rebounds in 48 minutes of action.

April 28, 1969
...and That Old Celtics Wheel Rolls Again
Boston goes into the finals against Los Angeles graying with age, with no backup man for Russell and its best shooter ready to retire, but that was also the sad situation before the New York series
Frank Deford

They are always around at playoff time, the former Celtics, the alumni—back to visit. It seems almost the way it is when Tex Ritter calls the honor roll of oldtimers in Hillbilly Heaven, only with the Celtics, of course, this is invariably a happy time. After all the who-shot-John that goes on from October to March, the Celtics just go out and win the playoffs. So the old players come in and joke with Red Auerbach, the headmaster emeritus, and shake the few remaining familiar hands on the team. Every year, though, each alumnus appears as a somewhat hazier image—like hearing an old song that you know was very important to you at one time but now you can't remember precisely why. There are so many old Celtics who figured in so many old championships.

Bill Russell sits at his locker and tries to find new ways to explain the Celtics, because they have just beaten the New York Knicks for their 12th Eastern playoff title in 13 years. Russell goes along with the ritual, but the odd thing is that he best described what was to become the Celtic experience before he ever got to Boston. He was still at the University of San Francisco, and K.C. Jones had been lost to the team for the NCAA tournament. Someone asked what effect this would have on the team. "You change the spokes," Russell said, "but the wheel keeps rolling."

And that is the way it is. Some Celtics play alongside Russell, some sit on the bench, some retire and come back to shake hands. The spokes change. Each supporting star leaves, as Sam Jones will now and the soothsayers forecast doom. The wheel keeps rolling.

Win the playoffs? The Celtics are a fourth-place team that did not even play .500 ball the whole last half of the season. The Celtic regulars average over 31 years of age. That is about three years older than the world champion Detroit Tigers last year, six years older than the New York Jets. Of course, the Celtics will be younger next season since Sam, who is almost 36 and the oldest player in the league, will assume his duties as athletic director at Federal City College in Washington.

"Finis. End. Through. This is it," Sam says. Certainly he looks it. In a narrow-lapel, three-piece herringbone he moves through the mod Age of Aquarius like some fine old period piece. For diversion during the playoffs he has been studying Tommy Armour's golf tips for the middle-aged. His oldest of five children is Aubre, 11, who prefers hockey to basketball and roots for the Philadelphia 76ers. Never trust any team over 30.

Sam—the surname is seldom used except in box scores—has played old this year, too. He was injured, missed 12 games and did not come back fast enough to please Russell. He has had some good games in the playoffs, but he began to run down. The Celtics won the fourth game over the Knicks despite Sam—he shot 4 for 18—and then he was 1 for 8 when New York won to cut the Boston series lead to 3-2.

The Knicks had been putting pressure on the corners, so Russell decided that it was time his guards exploited the opening in the middle. Walt Frazier, just voted the best defensive player in the league, had pulled a groin muscle in the last seconds of the fifth game, and his lameness would make New York even more vulnerable. "I put myself into a higher pivot," Russell explained. "We would start our play like before, as if we were going to the corners, then turn them around and head things back to the middle, where the guards could use me as a pick."

Wasn't this a gamble—to have the offense depend on an old man who was shooting five for 26? Russell was pained. "That is two games," he said. "You know what Sam can do. I had to have him come out shooting."

Sam, in his stoical way, was ready. He has prospered in the league for so long, many think, in large measure because his attitude insulates him. He relaxes, away from the court, neither bugged by the last game nor anxious for the next one. "You get out there," he says, "and sometimes you have it, passing, shooting—sometimes you don't. It's all split seconds, and I just don't worry about it."

So Sam came out shooting—he was to put up 31 shots—and got free off Russell at the top of the key for the game's first basket. Frazier, pushing one hand against his sore muscle to try to still the pain, dogged Jones manfully, but Sam hit six baskets in the first half and Russell decided to start him in the third quarter, too, which he has seldom done lately. Sam broke it open with five baskets that put the Celtics 10 up. Moreover, the Knicks often double-teamed him, and this left Emmette Bryant wide open for 19 points. Sam had 29.

He was on the bench, though, when John Havlicek made the shot that won the series. New York had come back to two behind, and the teams traded baskets to 101-99. With 45 seconds left, Havlicek got the ball with only eight remaining on the 24-second clock. He cut left at the top of the key, but the Knicks were on him and no one was open.

Tom Sanders had been in the same predicament a minute before and had taken a desperation jumper that had gone in. Now Havlicek was obliged to try another. He was thinking that at least the Celtics might get the rebound. Willis Reed, under the basket, could see that Havlicek would have to take a bad shot, and when Havlicek went up at 0:40 Russell, standing by Reed, thought John was forced to jump sideways as he shot. The ball flew, just clearing the two hands in his face, and suddenly Havlicek was astonished to note that he actually felt it was on target. The ball hit the left side of the rim and banged back and forth, dropping in like a pinball. On the bench, Larry Siegfried turned to Sam. "Baby," he said. "I can't believe it."

"That's the ones that win ball games," Sam said.

The game, first ever on prime-time national TV, was followed by the Sunday contest in Los Angeles, which gave the West title to the Lakers, 4-1 over Atlanta. Thus the confrontation in the final that begins this week offers the ultimate in beat-Boston possibilities. Through the years the perennial Celtic playoff foes have been, first, Wilt Chamberlain teams (1-6 against Boston) and then the Lakers (0-6). Boston has usually handled them like taking a shot of whiskey and following it with a beer chaser. The mixture, in one gulp, may be somewhat tougher to manage.

Tactics start in the middle, as usual, where Russell must contain Wilt, who is playing extremely well. Last year in this endeavor Russell had help in the person of Wayne Embry (now commissioner of recreation for the city of Boston). He would relieve Bill for long stretches and lean on Wilt. This wore Chamberlain down and also made him mad as hell. Further, it convinced everyone that Russell could no longer go 48 minutes in the playoffs. So much for that notion. He went the route five times against Willis Reed, and worked even harder than usual on offense, since he found the middle open. Anyway, with Embry gone he will have to go all the way against Wilt, too. Bad News Barnes, the backup man, is so deep in Russell's doghouse that he may soon be waived to the American Kennel Club.

Elgin Baylor has not adjusted well to playing with Wilt and had only one good game, the last one, in the series with Atlanta. Any edge up front should go to the team whose reserve forward comes in with a hot hand—Celtic Don Nelson, an ex-Laker, or Laker Mel Counts, an ex-Celtic.
Jerry West gives the Lakers the better backcourt, even if the other L.A. guards do have a hard time getting the ball upcourt. West should have an easier time moving against the Boston man-to-man press than he did against Atlanta's double-teaming zone. Certainly if Sam wants to go out a winner he must offset West with some good-shooting games.

"Hey, you know what someone said?" Sam asked Russell. "They said the team wanted to win this year especially for me." Sam laughed. "I told them there was a certain amount of money involved, too."
Russell roared and struck a delicate pose. "What do they think we are now?" he said, waving limply. "Win thith one for Tham. Oh." They both laughed so loud that it was difficult to hear the sound of the wheel rolling.

As expected, the two giants, player-coach Bill Russell of Boston and Wilt Chamberlain, have nullified each other. Statistics for four games show Chamberlain with a slight edge. The 7-foot-2 veteran has 43 points and 99 rebounds to 42 points and 95 rebounds for his 35-year-old arch rival.

The big men as far as scoring is concerned have been West, the talented 6-foot-3 guard, and the Celtics John Havlicek, the tireless forward-guard. West is averaging 39.5 points in the four encounters including a career playoff high of 53 points while Havlicek has a 33.7 averaged with 43 points in one game for a personal playoff best.

Los Angeles was up three games to two, and the main question for Game 6 was whether West would play and, if so, how well. With a heavily bandaged left thigh, he gutted out 26 points. Although Wilt had 18 rebounds (1 less than Russell), his eight points were not nearly enough to make up for West’s diminished offensive production. Baylor, after a horrible first half, ended up with 26 points. Wilt had one field goal on five shots and was 6 for 10 from the foul line—nothing to brag about. Would that Wilt had risen to greatness by scoring say, 30 points (an average night for him not that many seasons before). Coming up big is what the game’s highest-paid player, the game’s all-time leading scorer, and the game’s self-described greatest player would be expected to do. But Wilt failed and Boston won, 99–90.

INGLEWOOD, CALIF. (UPI) — Ageless Bill Russell gave no hint of when he would call it quits after leading the Boston Celtics to their 11th NBA title Monday night.

“I have four years left to go on my contract,” he said. “I wish people would stop asking me if I was going to retire.”

The 35-year-old defensive genius was relaxed and smiling after his club defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 108-106 in the final game of the championship series.

“What makes the Celtics great?” he asked no one in particular. “I could say me. . . but I won’t.”

Russell took a crack at Los Angeles’ talkative center, Wilt Chamberlain.

“I’ve been reading that the big center of the Los Angeles team said that we’ve been lucky. Now you can see that it just isn’t so.”

The bearded Boston center then said:

“This has to be one of my greatest thrills. It’s always tough to come back but we did. We’re not a one or two-man team. Everyone is good.

“Winning this isn’t unexpected. I never thought of losing. And this wasn’t the toughest playoff series I’ve ever been in. I’ve been in a lot of these games and they’ve all been exciting.”

Russell was asked about the Lakers’ comeback.

“We didn’t lose our poise. We just missed our shots. I didn’t think we’d be safe with a 17-point lead. The only time you’re safe with that kind of a lead is with 30 seconds to go.”

Russell paid tribute to the Lakers’ Jerry West and said he was “one of the greatest players ever . . . a world champion.”

John Havlicek, the Celtics’ leading scorer in the seven-game series, said, “This is the toughest series I’ve ever been in. And I savor this win above all the others. Russ should be given all the credit. We didn’t have a strong bench. But he knew just when to substitute. West’s injury was unfortunate for them.”

Sam Jones, who played his final game as a pro, looked like all the pressure in the world had been taken off his back. “I don’t think I made a bad shot all night,” he said in reference to his 10-for-16 night from the field. “I went out and practiced hard before the game, and when it started I just began finding the range.”

Chamberlain, who twisted his knee midway through the last quarter, was fuming in the Lakers’ dressing room and directed his ire at Laker coach Bill van Breda Kolff.

“I asked the coach five time to put me back in the game, but he didn’t,” Wilt said. “I felt I could have gotten the ball. But someone has to lose and it was us.”

Then he said: “I don’t really know how I feel at this point. I may never get into this position again. I still have two years on my contract.”

Now that the seventh and perhaps pivotal game of the NBA Finals is in the can, it may be appropriate to pause and reflect for a while. Say five months.

Analysis of whatever technical errors the Lakers may have committed will be left to keener basketball minds. In this period of re-examination, I’d just like to raise one point, one I think can properly be raised by even a casual spectator.

The point is that the past season suggests, if it does not actually prove, that Wilt Chamberlain is not worth $250,000 a year. And if that’s what he’s really getting, his teammates are being insulted.

This is not the intemperate response of an embittered fan. A good friend of mine is connected with the Lakers, but I have had no real emotional attachment to the team, and never have had.

At any rate, the Lakers, with Chamberlain, lost the seventh playoff game by two points — on the Lakers’ floor. So they have come no closer with Wilt than they did without him.

But the intent here is not to charge Chamberlain with unsatisfactory performance. To be sure, there are some things he can’t do. His field goal average, on shots taken from more than a few feet from the hoop, is rotten. His free throw average, on the other hand, is even worse. Nor can he move with the ball the way Bill Russell can.

But you can’t fault a man for not doing things he is physically incapable of doing. Norm Van Brocklin was hardly a great scrambler. But you didn’t rap him for that. The man just couldn’t run. Chamberlain, from any distance, just can’t shoot.

But some say there are things Wilt is capable of doing that he does not do. They say he could play more evenly. They say he loafs.

Since I know nothing of the man’s exhaustion threshold and have not been given access to his mind, I have no business commenting on that.

Neither am I qualified to judge the effect of the animosity between Chamberlain and his coach, nor to say which party is more at fault.

But I can question Chamberlain’s salary. The man has scored 27,000 points and is certainly a considerable force on defense. But is he worth 2½ times as much as Jerry West? Is he worth 2½ times as much as Elgin Baylor (even when Baylor is in a slump)? The answer, of course, is hardly.

Viewed purely as a business investment, Wilt’s $250,000 salary may be defensible. Maybe the Lakers sold enough tickets this season to get their money back.

Further, their situation after eight seasons in Los Angeles was this: They had repeatedly fallen short, sometimes just short, of winning the NBA title. The reason, in the judgment of many, was that they lacked just one thing, a big man. Finally, they were given an opportunity to get him. The price was perhaps much higher than it should have been, but if this was the one piece without which the machine would not run right, should money be any object?

The trouble is there is another dimension to Chamberlain’s salary. When you announce you are giving a man $250,000 a year (or do not deny published reports that that’s what he’s getting), you are telling your fans, in effect, that you have acquired a super force. The magnitude of the sum almost suggests here is a man against whom there can be no defense.

But it can be seen now by every Laker fan that, while Chamberlain may be a great player, he is not the ultimate weapon. The same thing can be seen by his teammates. For the record, they may tell you, “more power to the guy. He’s entitled to anything he can get.” Privately, however, they must deeply resent the fact that Chamberlain is being paid five to 10 times as much as a lot of players he is not five to 10 times greater than. It would be irrational to believe this resentment has not adversely affected the team.

But as the other Lakers would say for publication, Chamberlain cannot be blamed for consenting to sign a $250,000 contract.

But if you can’t knock Chamberlain for taking the money, you can question the wisdom of the people who agreed to give it to him.

Sedale Threatt wrote:I generally think Russell was the most blessed player in NBA history.

Never played a single second of basketball without a Hall of Famer at two of the other four positions, SG and SF. Spent a good chunk of his early career with another Hall of Famer in Bob Cousy. Had several others in supporting roles. Was coached and fortified by arguably the best coach and general manager in NBA history.

As such, he could concentrate on his considerable strengths while his teammates covered up his weaknesses. Hell, half the clowns who coached Wilt would never have even known what they had in Bill. Just about any other team, he could have easily been miscast.

All that said, Bill's correct -- this was his most impressive achievement, which is saying something. The Celtics obviously still had some other great players, even at this advanced stage, but the results speak for themselves. I have no problem giving him the top spot this year.

Russell took a crack at Los Angeles’ talkative center, Wilt Chamberlain.

“I’ve been reading that the big center of the Los Angeles team said that we’ve been lucky. Now you can see that it just isn’t so.”

Russell paid tribute to the Lakers’ Jerry West and said he was “one of the greatest players ever . . . a world champion.”

John Havlicek, the Celtics’ leading scorer in the seven-game series, said, “This is the toughest series I’ve ever been in. And I savor this win above all the others. Russ should be given all the credit. We didn’t have a strong bench. But he knew just when to substitute. West’s injury was unfortunate for them.”

The point is that the past season suggests, if it does not actually prove, that Wilt Chamberlain is not worth $250,000 a year. And if that’s what he’s really getting, his teammates are being insulted.

...

But the intent here is not to charge Chamberlain with unsatisfactory performance. To be sure, there are some things he can’t do. His field goal average, on shots taken from more than a few feet from the hoop, is rotten. His free throw average, on the other hand, is even worse. Nor can he move with the ball the way Bill Russell can.

...

But it can be seen now by every Laker fan that, while Chamberlain may be a great player, he is not the ultimate weapon. The same thing can be seen by his teammates. For the record, they may tell you, “more power to the guy. He’s entitled to anything he can get.” Privately, however, they must deeply resent the fact that Chamberlain is being paid five to 10 times as much as a lot of players he is not five to 10 times greater than. It would be irrational to believe this resentment has not adversely affected the team.

http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1969.htm

The Lakers were heavily favored to win the 1969 NBA Finals against the old, battered Celtics, but then Chamberlain became the victim of one of the most controversial coaching decisions in NBA history. In Game 7, Wilt hurt his leg with six minutes left to play, with the Lakers trailing by nine points. The Celtics won, 108-106. When Chamberlain had asked out of the game, the Lakers had been trailing by nine points, but then mounted a comeback to pull within one by the time he asked back in; this caused some to assume that Chamberlain had not really been injured, but instead had given up and "copped out" of the game when it looked as though the Lakers would lose. Because of this, some branded him a scapegoat and a quitter. Even Bill Russell ridiculed him, which almost caused Chamberlain to end their friendship..

But the intent here is not to charge Chamberlain with unsatisfactory performance. To be sure, there are some things he can’t do. His field goal average, on shots taken from more than a few feet from the hoop, is rotten. His free throw average, on the other hand, is even worse. Nor can he move with the ball the way Bill Russell can.

But you can’t fault a man for not doing things he is physically incapable of doing. Norm Van Brocklin was hardly a great scrambler. But you didn’t rap him for that. The man just couldn’t run. Chamberlain, from any distance, just can’t shoot.

bastillon wrote:

Sedale Threatt wrote:I generally think Russell was the most blessed player in NBA history.

Never played a single second of basketball without a Hall of Famer at two of the other four positions, SG and SF. Spent a good chunk of his early career with another Hall of Famer in Bob Cousy. Had several others in supporting roles. Was coached and fortified by arguably the best coach and general manager in NBA history.

As such, he could concentrate on his considerable strengths while his teammates covered up his weaknesses. Hell, half the clowns who coached Wilt would never have even known what they had in Bill. Just about any other team, he could have easily been miscast.

All that said, Bill's correct -- this was his most impressive achievement, which is saying something. The Celtics obviously still had some other great players, even at this advanced stage, but the results speak for themselves. I have no problem giving him the top spot this year.

these guys were in the HOF just because of the rings.

ThaRegul8r wrote:Prior to 1980, only two other Celtics besides Russell were in the Hall of Fame—Bob Cousy, elected in 1970, seven years after his retirement in his second year of eligibility, and Bill Sharman, elected in 1976, 15 years after his retirement in his ninth year of eligibility. After 1980—when Russell was voted the greatest player of all time, six Celtics from those teams were inducted to the Hall: Frank Ramsey in 1981, 17 years after his retirement in his 11th year of eligibility; John Havlicek in 1984, six years after his retirement in his first year of eligibility; Sam Jones in 1984, 15 years after his retirement in his ninth year of eligibility; Tom Heinsohn in 1986, 21 years after his retirement in his 15th year of eligibility; K.C. Jones in 1989, 22 years after his retirement in his 16th year of eligibility; and Bailey Howell in 1997, 26 years after his retirement in his 20th year of eligibility. (Hall of Famer Clyde Lovellette played on Boston in 1962-63 and ’63-64, but played only 9.3 and 9.7 minutes per game—he made the Hall for his play on Minneapolis and St. Louis.)

ThaRegul8r wrote:Prior to 1980, only two other Celtics besides Russell were in the Hall of Fame—Bob Cousy, elected in 1970, seven years after his retirement in his second year of eligibility, and Bill Sharman, elected in 1976, 15 years after his retirement in his ninth year of eligibility. After 1980—when Russell was voted the greatest player of all time, six Celtics from those teams were inducted to the Hall: Frank Ramsey in 1981, 17 years after his retirement in his 11th year of eligibility; John Havlicek in 1984, six years after his retirement in his first year of eligibility; Sam Jones in 1984, 15 years after his retirement in his ninth year of eligibility; Tom Heinsohn in 1986, 21 years after his retirement in his 15th year of eligibility; K.C. Jones in 1989, 22 years after his retirement in his 16th year of eligibility; and Bailey Howell in 1997, 26 years after his retirement in his 20th year of eligibility. (Hall of Famer Clyde Lovellette played on Boston in 1962-63 and ’63-64, but played only 9.3 and 9.7 minutes per game—he made the Hall for his play on Minneapolis and St. Louis.)

Havlicek was a bona fide HoFer, and made it first ballot. However, look at the others. Any coincidence that the majority didn't make the hall until after Russell was named GOAT? Look at how long it took. What made them HoFers when they never were before? Some of them weren't even All-Stars during their careers. They just got in under Russell.

Sedale Threatt wrote:So none of those guys could play a little bit, huh? Sam Jones, Bill Sharman, Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn all made it into the Hall of Fame simply because they played next to Bill Russell? Didn't have anything to do with them? I guess Auerbach was a half-assed coach and talent evaluator as well.

Sedale Threatt wrote:

ThaRegul8r wrote:Prior to 1980, only two other Celtics besides Russell were in the Hall of Fame—Bob Cousy, elected in 1970, seven years after his retirement in his second year of eligibility, and Bill Sharman, elected in 1976, 15 years after his retirement in his ninth year of eligibility. After 1980—when Russell was voted the greatest player of all time, six Celtics from those teams were inducted to the Hall: Frank Ramsey in 1981, 17 years after his retirement in his 11th year of eligibility; John Havlicek in 1984, six years after his retirement in his first year of eligibility; Sam Jones in 1984, 15 years after his retirement in his ninth year of eligibility; Tom Heinsohn in 1986, 21 years after his retirement in his 15th year of eligibility; K.C. Jones in 1989, 22 years after his retirement in his 16th year of eligibility; and Bailey Howell in 1997, 26 years after his retirement in his 20th year of eligibility. (Hall of Famer Clyde Lovellette played on Boston in 1962-63 and ’63-64, but played only 9.3 and 9.7 minutes per game—he made the Hall for his play on Minneapolis and St. Louis.)

Havlicek was a bona fide HoFer, and made it first ballot. However, look at the others. Any coincidence that the majority didn't make the hall until after Russell was named GOAT? Look at how long it took. What made them HoFers when they never were before? Some of them weren't even All-Stars during their careers. They just got in under Russell.

So none of those guys could play a little bit, huh? Sam Jones, Bill Sharman, Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn all made it into the Hall of Fame simply because they played next to Bill Russell? Didn't have anything to do with them? I guess Auerbach was a half-assed coach and talent evaluator as well.

Sedale Threatt wrote:
So none of those guys could play a little bit, huh? Sam Jones, Bill Sharman, Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn all made it into the Hall of Fame simply because they played next to Bill Russell? Didn't have anything to do with them? I guess Auerbach was a half-assed coach and talent evaluator as well.

Doctor MJ wrote:Reg & other Russell proponents, thoughts on West vs Russell? That's going to be my debate.

West seems like he was just off the charts in the finals. Do you still think Russell was better?