coastalmarker99 wrote:Russell is a Goat level defender but it's clear that bad coaching had an impact on Wilt's offence in the 1969 finals.
As Wilt at that stage was still easily capable of dropping over 35 points on Russell's head
In fact, he did it in that very same season.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196902210LAL.html
It was just terrible coaching by VBK not to feed Wilt the ball more in those finals.
As Russell was clearly fatiguing as the series progressed.
There wasn't much from him in crunch time, and in the key moments/periods.
His best performance was in game 1, and he seemed to reach rock bottom by the 5th game, in which him getting abused by Wilt on the boards was mainly responsible for the loss.
He was still operating the mid-post really well - spreading the floor, finding open shooters cutters etc.
His 5 assists per game average, including 13 assists in game 2, are an indication of this -
but there is almost no mention of Russell's defence/shot-blocking in any of the 7 games.
In fact the 4th quarter of game seven is available on Youtube and when you watch it.
Immediately after Russell picked up his 5th PF, the Lakers went right into Wilt, and he went right around the "poor defence of Russell for an easy lay-in.
For his seven make in 8 attempts.
But it would basically be the last time he touched the ball down low the rest of the game (obviously he missed the last five minutes, as well.)
BTW, as a side-note...while you are watching that footage...look for Russell.
You will seldom find him.
As he was essentially hiding the entire quarter as Wilt managed to outrebound him in that quarter despite only playing seven minutes.
Yes I've watched that game 7 quarter and I'm not seeing what you see. At 2:20 of that video Elgin darted to the basket for a uncontested basket. As Boston inbounds the ball Russell standing behind the entire LA starting 5 including Wilt yet somehow beat all of them down the floor and was fed a uncontested dunk while Wilt casually jogged back on defence. .
That's inexcusable transition defence for a game of such a magnitude. The Celtics were the oldest team prior to the 97-98 Bulls to win a title and they basically outhustled and outran the younger Lakers.
. The 92 Rockets still finished 42-40. It should be noted Olajuwon missed 12 games where they went a terrible 2-10. Vernon Maxwell was getting thrown out of games or getting arrested during that span.