RealGM

What stands out to me the most is Russell's defensive rebounding. He looked especially dominant there in the 1964 game. Also Oscar Robertson is completely indefensible in a pick & roll situation (87.5%), especially compared to the others (18.2%) in this sample. The same goes for Wilt finishing at the rim (85.7%), compared to the others (25.4%).

For those who prefer the linear pace adjusted statistics (which I don't), this is what Russell averaged in the footage, adjusting for 2012-13 pace (92.0).

11.7 pts, 19.5 rbs, 3.8 ast, 5.5 blk, 2.3 tov, 1.0 stl, 59.5% FG, 57% FT, 60.5% TS


At Rim: 21/28 FG (75.0%)
In Paint (Overall): 24/36 (66.6%)
Mid-Range: 1/6 FG (16.6%)

Shot Charts:




List Of Games:





Various Statistics:

Dipper 13 wrote:
For those who prefer the linear pace adjusted statistics (which I don't), this is what Russell averaged in the footage, adjusting for 2012-13 pace (92.0).

11.7 pts, 19.5 rbs, 3.8 ast, 5.5 blk, 2.3 tov, 1.0 stl, 59.5% FG, 57% FT, 60.5% TS

Seems right, but RBS and BLK would be lower today. Rebounds because there's less misses overall and blocks because game is more perimeter oriented now.

What percent of shots did he rebound and block?


What were your impressions of Russell's D on Wilt?

DavidStern wrote:

Dipper 13 wrote:
For those who prefer the linear pace adjusted statistics (which I don't), this is what Russell averaged in the footage, adjusting for 2012-13 pace (92.0).

11.7 pts, 19.5 rbs, 3.8 ast, 5.5 blk, 2.3 tov, 1.0 stl, 59.5% FG, 57% FT, 60.5% TS

Seems right, but RBS and BLK would be lower today. Rebounds because there's less misses overall and blocks because game is more perimeter oriented now.

True, and of course AST and TS% would be higher today and TO lower because offenses are more sophisticated, the lane more open, and assists are calculated differently. (Though that TS% is a lot higher than B-R.com's numbers would indicate so that would of course cut the other way.)

colts18 wrote:What percent of shots did he rebound and block?

All the FGA are accounted for here, so he blocked 7% of all shots taken. Rebounding would be a bit misleading though since he obviously rebounded some missed FT's, which I didn't keep track of.

colts18 wrote:What were your impressions of Russell's D on Wilt?

In the '64 game he got a lot of help, players like KC Jones were sagging back to try and prevent the entry pass. The same with their full court pressing defense, which distorted the Warriors offense. They did everything they could to prevent him from getting the ball in the low post. Russell did a great job sweeping the defensive boards, though Wilt got him a couple times, including this one. Against most other players, this is a clean block.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti2Ncll2K64&t=5m57s


In the '67 game it was mostly 1 on 1, since he was in the passing mode that year. Look at this play between him & Chet Walker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJjBDUhbBcs&t=8m57s


Also his fronting strategy didn't seem to be very successful, since they could lob it up and no other Celtics player would have a chance vs. Wilt in the paint. In the 3rd video, KC Jones again comes to help Russell. Even during Game 1 of the 1965 Finals when Wilt was a guest commentator, he said he was most happy when KC was on the bench since he gave him a lot of trouble. Also that they were killed on defense by trying to help on Sam Jones, which lead to a shot for the open man (Havlicek, Siegfried). Offensively they always tried to get Russell into early foul trouble to open the floor up for all of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJjBDUhbBcs&t=4m42s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wEzEHPZi3w&t=4m4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNw0c19DhIU&t=16m57s


He also cleanly blocked one of his dunk attempts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHXG3koetzA&t=2m6s


In the '69 game Wilt only went at him once in the low post, trying to foul Russell out who had 5. Russell just let him score.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnu5vMfPtbw&t=3m31s

Dipper 13 wrote:

colts18 wrote:What percent of shots did he rebound and block?

All the FGA are accounted for here, so he blocked 7% of all shots taken. Rebounding would be a bit misleading though since he obviously rebounded some missed FT's, which I didn't keep track of.

7% would be good for 3rd all-time in Blk% right about even with Mark Eaton

http://www.basketball-reference.com/lea ... areer.html

colts18 wrote:

Dipper 13 wrote:

colts18 wrote:What percent of shots did he rebound and block?

All the FGA are accounted for here, so he blocked 7% of all shots taken. Rebounding would be a bit misleading though since he obviously rebounded some missed FT's, which I didn't keep track of.

7% would be good for 3rd all-time in Blk% right about even with Mark Eaton

http://www.basketball-reference.com/lea ... areer.html

Defensively Russell rebounded 36% of the opponents missed shots, not including FT's.

Oh, and THANK YOU for the terrific work; great fun to see.

penbeast0 wrote:

DavidStern wrote:

Dipper 13 wrote:
For those who prefer the linear pace adjusted statistics (which I don't), this is what Russell averaged in the footage, adjusting for 2012-13 pace (92.0).

11.7 pts, 19.5 rbs, 3.8 ast, 5.5 blk, 2.3 tov, 1.0 stl, 59.5% FG, 57% FT, 60.5% TS

Seems right, but RBS and BLK would be lower today. Rebounds because there's less misses overall and blocks because game is more perimeter oriented now.

True, and of course AST and TS% would be higher today and TO lower because offenses are more sophisticated, the lane more open, and assists are calculated differently. (Though that TS% is a lot higher than B-R.com's numbers would indicate so that would of course cut the other way.)

Just because offenses are more sophisticated today doesn't mean every player would improve in AST and TS% and lower their TO. Regardless sophisticated offenses would cut more into his defensive impact than improve his offensive impact. You can block a wild 6 ft pull up jumper much more easily than you can a corner three.

I do agree with that, just wanted to clarify that if you are going to point out statistical differences that many of them, particularly pace adjusted AST, are higher today than in Russell's day. People often only talk about the opposite effects.

For that matter, if Russell is playing with a stretch 4 instead of Bailey Howell or Tom Sanders (Heinsohn probably was a stretch 4 for his day), his reb% might go up as his 4 would be further from the basket instead of in the low to mid post like Howell. No certainties either way but strong statistical trends.

How good of a finisher he was? Maybe he would not be a go to guy, but most likely he could achieve some very efficient 15-16 a game, now.

Sent from my Nokia 3210 using Tapatalk 2