Celtic's all-time, all-defense team

[TheSheriff]

Make a team of the best defenders, in Celtics history (completely ignore the offensive side of the ball). And how many games do you think it would win?

A couple of nominees:
Satch Sanders
KC Jones
Dennis Johnson
Hondo
Don Chaney
Paul Silas
Bill Russell
Kevin McHale
Feel to add players not on this list, but these are a bunch of Celtics who had either very good defensive reputations and/or made multiple all defense teams while playing for Boston (i did not include KG because he has really only played here for one year)

A follow up question: Who is the second best defender in Celtic History after Bill Russell.

[Scalamental]

KG

[Jammer]

Well, since we are only considering defense, without ranking them, just listing them:

C: Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, Bill Walton

PF: Kevin Garnett, Larry Bird, Paul Silas, Kevin McHale

SF: John Havlicek, Tom Sanders, Paul Pierce, James Posey

SG: Don Chaney, John Havlicek, ML Carr, Charley Scott

PG: Bob Cousy, KC Jones, Dennis Johnson, Jo Jo White


Although I probably left someone out, those are the top defenders that I can think of for each position in their CELTIC LIVES.

[tombattor]

McHale was pretty good too. He always took on the opposing team's best offensive forward, so Bird doesn't have to waste his energy on the defensive end.

[Big Baby Burger]

Oh man, this is easy to rank:

PG - DJ
SG - Chaney
SF - Hondo
PF - KG
C - #6

Bird was a solid defender, but he shouldn't be considered for the Celtics all-time all-defensive team.

[Fencer reregistered]

Oh man, this is easy to rank:

PG - DJ
SG - Chaney
SF - Hondo
PF - KG
C - #6

Bird was a solid defender, but he shouldn't be considered for the Celtics all-time all-defensive team.

Rest of the rotation:

KC Jones
McHale
One of Parish/Cowens

That leaves plenty of position flexibility, since KG can defend SFs.

Who's the 9th guy? Tony Allen doesn't seem consistent enough ...

[dwestside]

Well, since we are only considering defense, without ranking them, just listing them:

C: Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, Bill Walton

PF: Kevin Garnett, Larry Bird, Paul Silas, Kevin McHale

SF: John Havlicek, Tom Sanders, Paul Pierce, James Posey

SG: Don Chaney, John Havlicek, ML Carr, Charley Scott

PG: Bob Cousy, KC Jones, Dennis Johnson, Jo Jo White


Although I probably left someone out, those are the top defenders that I can think of for each position in their CELTIC LIVES.

If we're including Posey and Garnett I would think Pos would go ahead of Pierce ... in fact there has to be better wing defenders historically than Pierce.

[alwayslovetheceltics]

when he played, kevin McHale was teh best defender at his position in the NBA. you may have to slide KG to sf to make room (only b/c KG can play it, and McHale while not as good as KG was pretty damn good)

Russell; McHale, KG, --not sure----, DJ

[elrod enchilada]

Good thread, although best for the long off-season when we are desperate for topics.

The consensus is pretty good.

Here are the Cs who in their prime (as Cs) were considered first-team or secoind-team all-NBA defenders:

5-- Russell
5-- Cowens
4-- McHale
4-- Silas
4-- Sanders
4-- Garnett
3-- Havlicek
3-- Bird
2-- Chaney
1-- DJ
1-- KC Jones

I suspect one or two old-timers might deserve mention (Sharman comes to mind) but that was before they had all-defensive teams. I added KC Jones because he went to the HoF based on defense.

Paul Pierce might make the list. Down the road Perkins and/or Rondo may make it.

The guys on this list who, as I recall, were routinely considered candidates for being the best defender in the league were: Russell, possibly Havlicek and McHale.

[elrod enchilada]

.... and, of course, KG this year. duhhh

[EJay33]

-= original quote snipped =-



Rest of the rotation:

KC Jones
McHale
One of Parish/Cowens

That leaves plenty of position flexibility, since KG can defend SFs.

Who's the 9th guy? Tony Allen doesn't seem consistent enough ...

You have Tony Allen in contention for the 9th best defender in Boston Celtics history? Did Kendrick Brown and Mark Blount slip your mind or something?

[Prophet_C]

What Bruce Bowen isn't mentioned?

[TheSheriff]

My team:
C- Russell/Cowens
PF- McHale/ Garnett
SF-Havlicek/ Satch Sanders
SG- Chaney/
PG- DJ/ KC Jones

[Fencer reregistered]

No way I put McHale over Garnett on defense. He was an excellent post defender, even ahead of KG -- who doesn't like post defense anyway -- but KG excels so on the perimeter he has to get the nod.