Russell was extremely quick on his feet for a big, got up and down the court quickly, and defended out onto the floor well. Eaton was bigger, slower,
Bigger and slower than Russell? I've seen Russell listed at 6-9/6-10 and 215/220 lb, Eaton at 7-4 and 275 lb (if not more). This premise is likely correct.
But Eaton big and slow? Not even close. Prime Eaton (like this season) was big and as athletic as a 7-4 player could be. You don't set a record for the most blocked shots in a season - still a record today, 4 decades later - being slow and unathletic.
and didn't move terribly well
This premise? Clearly false.
You want to script a narrative that is patently untrue, for whatever reason.
This is from the 1985 playoffs, Utah against Houston, again the year Eaton set the record for most blocked shots in a season, and the season of this thread. It's a 90 minute video, but you don't have to watch more than the first 2 minutes to see that not only you are wrong, but wrong in a big way.
Before even 2 minutes are played Eaton runs down Rockets 6-1 PG John Lucas (#5) to block his layup attempt - and the 7-4 C
actually jumps in the air (oh my) to do that. Stop the video and you'll see Eaton airborne with his feet at the level of Lucas' knees.
Note the 11 minute mark - Eaton
flying through the air to block a Rodney McCray layup attempt (granted at 275 lb his flight time wasn't very long).
How about the 19 minute mark? Eaton at the FT line extended again flying through the air to try to block a Lionel Hollins shot.
Then the 32 min mark, Eaton
in the air again blocking a Robert Reid shot from past the FT line.
I guess Russell was not the only C who could guard and block shots of players on the perimeter.
So this idea that all Eaton ever did was camp in the lane and wait for opponents to get near the basket is - as they say - only in your mind.
playing offense with him was often like playing 4 on 5
Notice how every time Eaton posts up, Olajuwon is right there on his back, whether he got the ball or not.
Notice at the 52-53 min mark Olajuwon face guarding Eaton with the ball at the top of the key. Must have been worried about his passing and long range shooting, huh? Same thing at the 58-59 min mark, with Olajuwon jumping in his face trying to block any pass.
As a matter of fact, in this game Eaton played 40 minutes and Olajuwon 42 minutes, and the
only time you see Olajuwon leaving Eaton were the few times he went try to block the shot of another Jazz player going to the hoop.
He shot 45% with little defensive attention being paid to him
So you watch the video and you let all of us know when Eaton was left alone and the Jazz were
often playing 4 on 5 on offense. You tell us how little defensive attention Olajuwon paid to him.
I don't know, maybe playing 4 on 5 on offense with one player unable to do anything relevant is quite challenging. Is it a crazy idea?
Crazy? Perhaps. But in this case clearly wrong.
Nothing like a little empirical video evidence to falsify a hypothesis, huh? Had you watched as much film on Eaton as you say you have on Gilmore you would have known this.
Prime Eaton was a mobile, athletic 7 footer with incredible coordination for blocking shots and preventing the opposition from scoring. Give the man his due - because back then those that saw him play clearly did.
