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That's kind of my point. I think posters on here would deem Russell a star and an impact player, while the masses and media slobber over some empty stat type player like Jefferson.
Don't get me wrong, I don't just hate on Bill Russell and Wilt. They were legends in their time but get overrated because of how weak their compe ion was. Even still, they transcended their era to the point where they'd still be solid players in today's game.
tbh I think it's ridiculous when anyone calls George Mikan or Dolph Schayes one of the 50 greatest players ever. In modern days we'd call them "Mark Madsen" and "Pat Burke".
That's kind of my point. I think posters on here would deem Russell a star and an impact player, while the masses and media slobber over some empty stat type player like Jefferson.
Right... because Cousy, West, etc etc had no skills.
I won't argue that Russell's stats might be a bit inflated, but to imply that he'd be "just another player" is ridiculous, and assumes too much.
As well, his team dominated the league... so the natural belief is that he would go from most imposing figure on defense, whose teams wins 11 championships, to modern-day Chris Kaman? GTFO.
I guess Jerry West would just be a Sebastian Telfair, and Bob Cousy would be what, a poor man's Gilbert Arenas?
In that case I agree with you. He'd be a solid player who would make big contributions to any team. But I don't think Bill Russell in today's game would ever be the Hall of Fame player or legend he is now.
Yeah I don't hate Russell at all, I just don't like how he gets put in the same breath as bigs like Kareem, Hakeem and Shaq who in their prime could dominate a game on both ends of the court against better compe ion.
Wilt on the other hand I'm not a fan of in the slightest. He was a stat who would always fall apart at the wrong time. It's pretty sad when Bill Russell could shut you down simply by taking you out to dinner and being nice to you.
They'd have alot harder time getting their shots off against the athletes of today's game, that's for sure. I highly doubt Jerry West is an All-Star in today's game, Cousy has a better shot at it but I don't know about him either.Right... because Cousy, West, etc etc had no skills.
I won't argue that Russell's stats might be a bit inflated, but to imply that he'd be "just another player" is ridiculous, and assumes too much.
As well, his team dominated the league... so the natural belief is that he would go from most imposing figure on defense, whose teams wins 11 championships, to modern-day Chris Kaman? GTFO.
I guess Jerry West would just be a Sebastian Telfair, and Bob Cousy would be what, a poor man's Gilbert Arenas?
Hard to say. I think he'd be along the Ben Wallace/Dwight Howard mold of defenders, and somewhere between them offensively.
Sure, Russell was thin. But it's possible he would've bulked up for the modern day game. No one can say for sure.
I think he'd definitely make multiple All-Defense teams, and probably mult All-Star selections as well. If his defense impacted the game enough to win a championship or two, who knows?
Right... because Cousy, West, etc etc had no skills.
I won't argue that Russell's stats might be a bit inflated, but to imply that he'd be "just another player" is ridiculous, and assumes too much.
As well, his team dominated the league... so the natural belief is that he would go from most imposing figure on defense, whose teams wins 11 championships, to modern-day Chris Kaman? GTFO.
I guess Jerry West would just be a Sebastian Telfair, and Bob Cousy would be what, a poor man's Gilbert Arenas?
Back then the league had 8 teams. Now it has 30 teams. Back then Red Auerbach had access to college players all over the country because of his connections to college coaches, now all the other teams have access to the players. I think it's fairly safe to assume that 11 championship number is irrelevant to current day NBA.
Rondo is ... what, 6'1? And he still manages to impact a game, DESPITE his poor shooting. It's not unthinkable.
Oh yeah, I don't think anyone is going to win 11 champs any time soon. I'm saying that, for his day, winning 11 championships is probably equal to winning 3 or 4 today.
I agree, he would have bulked up, lost some athleticism from doing so, and become Ben Wallace. Nothing to be ashamed of, it's just ridiculous the finals MVP trophy is named after someone who'd be as good as Ben Wallace right now.
I think he'd be a top 10 player in the league. Say you transport 1965 Russell to today, I don't think he'd remain thinking about basketball in a 1965 context very long. I believe he would quickly adapt and be a strong player, possibly one of the league's best.
You just wouldn't be able to stop a 6-10 guy with a 40+" (some have estimated it at 50) vertical jump from succeeding if he had any type of drive and motivation. He could learn a post game, develop a jumper, and adapt to the modern game.
I'd say it's impossible to tell. No one would be able to hoard HoF talent like Auerbach did, and back then there was no draft lottery. Teams could win a championship and then get a top 10 pick the next year. Somehow the Lakers in 1979 were an above .500 and still got the 1st overall pick to use on Magic Johnson.
What's so surprising about that? I mean, the trophy is named after who played best in the Finals... he often did.
Apart from renaming it the "Jordan" trophy, I really can't see anyone who's more worthy.
Agreed, but Red had an eye for talent. Look at the deal he made to get Parish, drafting Bird, etc etc. He also, AFAIK, pretty much invented the "6th man" role, and was the first coach to use an all-black lineup. It wasn't just that he could stockpile talent, but he recognized that talent and knew how to use it effectively.
I mean, might as well denigrate PJ for coaching three of the best players of all-time to get his le.
That vertical would spiral downward once he started bulking up and wasn't a skinny little athletic twig anymore. If he remained the skinny little twig he was, he would get knocked around.
Highly skeptical of that. that happened 50 years ago tends to get exaggerated as a person's legend grows. In 50 years, people will talk about how Jordan won a game in the Finals with the flu, two bad ankles, a numb right arm, and internal bleeding.
Red had an eye for talent but that Celtics run was largely fueled by the connections he had in college coaching. He's said this himself, but he had not watched a single minute of Russell before drafting him, he had just heard about the way the guy can impact games defensively from other coaches. No one else on the East Coast had any idea who Russell was since he played on the West coast. If they did, chances are Boston wouldn't have been able to acquire the #1 overall pick so easily.
Getting larger doesn't necessarily imply his vertical would decrease that greatly. Lebron has a pretty impressive vertical, as does Dwight Howard, and they're both beasts.
Dwight Howard has no lower body strength whatsoever, if he ever actually added bulk to his legs, his vertical would get worse. Dwight's arms look bigger than they are because of how thin the rest of his body is, the dude has chicken legs.
That's just a sign of Red's intelligence, to me.Was that Celtics team stacked? Sure it was. But that's like saying you can't count the Lakers le in 08 because their team was stacked, or the Celtics in 07, etc etc. Teams that win multiple championships tend to be stacked, and while it might have been easier in earlier eras, it obviously doesn't make it impossible in this era.
That's just a sign of Red's intelligence, to me.
I'm saying Auerbach had advantages then he wouldn't have now, it's anyone's guess what those 11 championships translate to now.
So are you arguing that Howard is too thin to be a defensive presence?
Or are you arguing that Russell could bulk up similar to Howard?
Either way somewhat deflates your argument.
But we're assuming his role in today's game would be a post-defender. I'd personally keep Russell the way he is and have him d up the quicker perimeter forwards like Bron, Dirk, Durant, Odom, Garnett etc. I think he do okay against Gasol and Duncan as well. He often kept Wilt below his averages and Wilt is much bigger and athletic than Duncan and Gasol, so I think Bill would hold his own against those two. If he gets torched, you could always put him on the perimeter.
As for his offensive game, have to model it after Amare. Run havoc with him in pick and rolls. I doubt Bill ever develops the shooting touch to replicate Amare's mid range jumper, but I think he'd have the smarts to develop a strong post-game. He wouldn't need the bulk either, he could use his speed and hops for such.
What do you think Tim Duncan would say after "consider the source" to all of you talking trash about Mr. Russell? When you are not in the position to shine the man's shoes....SHUT THE ^&* UP!
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