Rank our retired jerseys

[Point forward]

OK, it is offseason. As you all know, we have a heckuva retired numbers, so I thought I would rank them according to importance for the Celtics franchise. I will start...

1. 1 Walter Brown: without this guy, the Celtics do not exist. RIP Wally.
2. 2 Red Auerbach: no explanations needed. RIP Red.
3. 6 Bill Russell: 11 in 13, anyone?
4. 33 Larry Bird: greatest SF of all time
5. 17 John Havlicek: maybe the ultimate Celtic, sixth man, starter, clutch

6. 14 Bob Cousy: the first great PG and the first Celtics superstar
7. 15 Tom Heinsohn: a chucker, but a very good one, and clutch, plus Tommy Points
8. 24 Sam Jones: our version of Mr. Clutch, 10 rings and a great character
9. 18 Dave Cowens: undersized maniac, but SO much hustle
10. 32 Kevin McHale: our low post nightmare, and gave us KG

11. 3 Dennis Johnson: hired gun, but my personal fav. RIP DJ!
12. 25 KC Jones: smothering defender, great role player, great coach
13. 19 Don Nelson: sixth man deluxe, more known as a HOF coach today
14. 21 Bill Sharman: super shooter, and could play D. Also a superb coach, but for LA :X
15. 10 Jojo White: just missed the HOF and had a strange career ending, but Finals MVP 76

16. 00 Robert Parish: a great hired gun, part of a GOAT trade
17. LOSCY Jim Loscutoff: maybe the first great enforcer in the game
18. 23 Frank Ramsey: the first sixth man, versatile and useful
19. 16 Satch Sanders: great role player, limited but tough
20. 31 Cedric Maxwell: controversial with Red, but always loved for his clutch NBA Finals
21. 22 Ed Macauley: the first good C, but ultimately known for being traded

I leave out MIC of Johnny Most and 35 Reggie Lewis because they are difficult to compare. How does your list look like?

[chakdaddy]

"Greatest SF of all time" is kind of faint praise...since you can make an argument to leave out the "SF" part. And no question at all about greatest *forward* of all time. IMO the argument for "greatest Celtic of all time" winds up being the same question as "greatest of all time" and comes down to #6 and #33...(with Magic thrown in the mix as well for the 2nd question)

[Jammer]

1. 1 Walter Brown: without this guy, the Celtics do not exist. RIP Wally. Plus, he hired Red.
2. 2 Red Auerbach: no explanations needed. RIP Red.
3. 6 Bill Russell: 11 in 13, anyone?
4. 17 John Havlicek: maybe the ultimate Celtic, sixth man, starter, clutch
5. 33 Larry Bird: greatest PF of all time

6. 24 Sam Jones: our version of Mr. Clutch, 10 rings, great character, Mr. Last Shot
7. 18 Dave Cowens: Top 4 in MVP voting 4 straight years
8. 14 Bob Cousy: the first great PG and the first Celtics superstar
9. 15 Tom Heinsohn: a chucker, but a very good one, and clutch, plus Tommy Points
10. 32 Kevin McHale: our low post nightmare, and gave us KG

11. 00 Robert Parish: a great center on some great teams
12. 10 Jojo White: '76 Finals MVP. 7 Time ALL-Star, just missed the HOF
13. 18 Bailey Howell (number not retired, worn by Cowens, & previously worn by Jim Loscutoff)
******** 6 Time ALL-Star with 3 straight years of 21 ppg @ 50%, 10 rpg
******** while playing alongide Russell, Havlicek & Sam Jones !
******** Red made 29 year old Bailey Howell one of the 10 highest paid players in NBA
******** when Red signed & traded for him.
14. 3 Dennis Johnson: RIP DJ!
15. 25 KC Jones: smothering defender, great role player, great coach

16. 19 Don Nelson: sixth man deluxe, more known as a HOF coach today
17. 21 Bill Sharman: super shooter, and 7 Time ALL-star. Superb coach for Lakers & Warriors.
18. 31 Cedric Maxwell: controversial with Red, but always loved for his clutch NBA Finals
19. 16 Satch Sanders: great role player, limited, but tough

Honorable mention for a player whose number was not retired:
PG Nate "Tiny" Archibald, a Celtic from age 30 to 35