Tag: John Havlicek

Greatest Small Forwards of All Time

The 2020 season is about to kick off again, and the stakes are high for some of the best players in the game. Last year, Kawhi Leonard showed how high a playoff run can elevate a player’s all-time status, as he led Toronto to an unlikely championship. How high has he climbed on the rankings of the greatest small forwards of all time? And if he wins a third ring with a third franchise this season, where will that place him among the greats? Here is an in-depth listing of the top 10 small forwards ever, with a (ranked) 22-person honorable mention list.

10 (tie) – Paul Arizin – 108.8 WS, 19.7 PER, .183 WS/48, 4X All-NBA, 1 championship

Those familiar with Arizin’s career will not find it surprising that he cracked our top 10. He was a two-time scoring champion and pioneering jump shooter who was efficient on the offensive end of the court, with a career true shooting percentage that was 11% better than the league average. After his first scoring crown (in his second season), he went to serve in the Korean War, and missed two seasons of his prime. He didn’t miss a beat upon his return, and in 1955-56, he was the best player in the league in the playoffs, leading the Warriors to the championship. While Paul Pierce was productive for a longer period of time, Arizin’s dominance despite missing a chunk of his prime earns him equal status on this list.

10 (tie) – Paul Pierce – 150.0 WS, 19.7 PER, .157 WS.48, 4X All-NBA, 1X Finals MVP, 1 championship

Pierce was a professional bucket-getter, who had 17 productive seasons in the league before his final two seasons as a Clipper. He put up some eye-popping scoring numbers during a time when offense was down in the NBA (24.8 PPG from 2000-01 to 2006-07). He was the top regular season scorer on an NBA champion, and won Finals MVP that season. While he was never an MVP-caliber player, and only earned four all-NBA honors in his 19 seasons, his crafty game and clutch scoring ability helped him carry on the rich Celtic tradition.

9 – John Havlicek – 131.7 WS, 17.5 PER, .136 WS/48, 11X All-NBA, 8X All-Defense, 1X Finals MVP, 8 championships

Hondo was an 8-time champion who, by career accolades, should be even higher on this list. His first season was 1962-63 with the four-time defending champion Celtics. They won it again in each of his first four seasons, and in six of his first seven years. Along the way he became a key cog, leading the team in scoring on two of those runs. The team struggled for two seasons after Bill Russell retired, despite Havlicek putting up eye-popping numbers (26.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 7.1 APG over those two seasons). They vaulted back into contention afterwards, led by Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and Jo Jo White. They earned the best record in the league in ’72-’73 (when a shoulder injury to Havlicek may have cost them another championship), and won it all the next season with Havlicek as their best player. Two years later, they won it all again, though by this time, Cowens had taken over as their best player, and Hondo was actually their fourth leading scorer in the regular season (they had four players averaging between 17.0 and 19.0 PPG). In the playoffs that year, Havlicek dealt with a foot injury and only averaged 13.2 PPG in their run to the championship. So Hondo was the best player for one of his eight championships, and was a vital cog on the seven other ones. It should be noted that his advanced stats are surprisingly pedestrian for a player of his caliber. While these facts give more context to his career, let’s be clear – Havlicek was a great player who was clutch, could do everything on the basketball court, and could play in any era.

8 – Scottie Pippen – 125.1 WS, 18.6 PER, .146 WS/48, 7X All-NBA, 10X All-Defense, 6 championships

Pippen’s brilliance is highlighted by his standing as one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. He was a point forward who would be even more valuable in today’s game, in which versatile wings are the gold standard. There are two events that would have further enhanced his legacy and moved him into the highest tier. In 1993-94, when Pippen was arguably the best perimeter player in basketball, he led the Jordan-less Bulls to 55 wins and an Eastern Conference Semifinals appearance. Had Hue Hollins not called a questionable foul on Scottie in the closing seconds of the pivotal Game 5 in New York (the subsequent foul shots erased Chicago’s one-point lead and gave the Knicks the victory), then the Bulls would have had a chance to close out the series in Chicago. There are no guarantees, but the Bulls would have been favored to make the NBA Finals, as an inferior Indiana Pacers team awaited them in the Conference Finals. The second event was the 2000 Western Conference Finals, in Pippen’s first year in Portland. In Game 7, the Blazers blew a 15-point lead with 10:28 remaining in the game, an almost impossible task in an era when three-point shooting was a much smaller part of the game. Pippen’s Blazers (who were more an ensemble rather than a Pippen-led outfit) would have been favored to win the title against the Indiana Pacers in the Finals. Had Pippen succeeded in either of these instances, he would have escaped the long shadow cast by Michael Jordan. As it turns out, there’s nothing wrong with being the greatest sidekick ever, even if he couldn’t win one on his own.

7 – Kawhi Leonard – 73.4 WS, 23.0 PER, .220 WS/48, 3X All-NBA, 5X All-Defense, 2X DPOY, 2X Finals MVP, 2 championships

Similar to last season, Kawhi has a chance to enhance his legacy more than any other player over the next few months. He has already shown he can be the lead player on a championship team, and he also gets credit for being an essential part of the 2013-14 NBA champion Spurs, one of the great teams of the current generation. His peak is up there with the greats on this list, but he has a long way to go to earn the career accolades of everyone else in the top 10. With his leg issues and load management, he may never get there, but his brilliant all-around game and championship pedigree still earn him this lofty status. If he’s able to lead the Clippers to the championship, I will bump him up to fifth all-time.

6 – Rick Barry – 128.9 WS, 21.0 PER, .162 WS/48, 10X All-NBA/ABA, 1X Finals MVP, 1 championship (NBA)

Like our fourth-rated small forward, a chunk of Barry’s prime was played in the ABA, and he missed his third professional season due to an unfortunate contract matter. He transferred right after leading the NBA in scoring and taking a mediocre San Francisco Warriors team to the NBA Finals in his second season. His greatest accomplishment was leading the ’74-75 Warriors to the NBA championship; after Barry (who averaged 30.6 PPG and a league leading 2.9 SPG that season), their second leading scorer was rookie Jamaal Wilkes, at 14.2 PPG. Arguably the third best player of the 1970s, Barry’s all-around offensive game would have been effective in any era.

5 – Elgin Baylor – 104.2 WS, 22.7 PER, .148 WS/48, 10X All-NBA

As great as he was, there are two unfortunate circumstances that stand out from Baylor’s career. First is the injury bug; his knee problems began in the 1963-64 season, and he was never the same player once those occurred. That can best be seen in his efficiency stats: in his first five years, he had a cumulative 26.1 PER and .195 WS/48; for the rest of his career, those sunk to 20.2 PER and .112 WS/48. The second issue was his failure to win a championship: he was 0-8 in the NBA Finals, and in ’71-72, he retired after nine games then watched the Lakers win 33 in a row on their way to an elusive ring. However, it’s hard to fault someone who fought so valiantly for so many years. His rookie year, Baylor led a 33-39 Lakers team to the Finals, where they got swept by the Celtics. Over the next four years, he was an absolute tour de force, leading the league in playoff PPG each year and cumulatively averaging 35.8 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 4.1 APG on 45.3% shooting with a 26.7 PER and .205 WS/48 in 47 playoff games. He was a trailblazer who could have reached even greater heights if he had access to modern medicine and/or did not play in the era of Russell’s Celtics.

4 – Julius Erving – 181.1 WS, 23.6 PER, .192 WS/48, 12X All-NBA/ABA, 1X All-Defense, 4X MVP (1 NBA, 3 ABA), 3 championships (1 NBA, 2 ABA)

Dr. J was the best player in the 1A league of the 70s, the ABA. For historical purposes, it’s a shame we don’t have an apples-to-apples comparison of his prime years to other NBA legends. His NBA body of work was certainly impressive, including the fact that his teams were usually in title contention; in his first seven years after the merger, Philadelphia went to the conference finals every year, made four finals appearances, and won one championship, after acquiring Moses Malone in year seven. His legacy would be bolstered if he had been able to win it all as the lead player in the NBA, but two championships as the lead guy in the ABA is certainly noteworthy, especially his run in ’76, when he averaged 34.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 2.0 BPG on 53.3% shooting from the field, with a 32.0 PER and .321 WS/48 in 13 playoff games. His longevity, three championships, and playoff dominance put him in the upper tier of basketball legends.

3 – Kevin Durant – 141.7 WS, 25.2 PER, .217 WS/48, 9X All-NBA, 1X MVP, 2X Finals MVP, 2 championships

Durant has more scoring titles (four) than anyone on this list, and he has become one of the most unstoppable forces in league history with his flawless repertoire. What’s striking about Durant is his consistency: he averaged 25.8 PPG in his lone year at Texas, has averaged 27.0 PPG in his 12 pro seasons, 25.0 PPG in his 10 all-star games, and 29.1 PPG in nine playoff appearances. Just 32 years old by the time the ‘20-21 season starts, he has a good chance at earning the number two slot on this list and knocking on the top 10 all-time player list if he can overcome the devastating Achilles injury he suffered in the 2019 Finals. Even if Durant never played another game, his career accomplishments are already staggering.

2 – Larry Bird – 145.8 WS, 23.5 PER, .203 WS/48, 10X All-NBA, 3X All-Defense, 3X MVP, 2X Finals MVP, 3 championships

Greatest Small Forwards of All Time
Larry Bird and Julius Erving ca. 1986
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

For now, Bird holds a slight lead over Durant due to his dominant run as the best player in basketball in the mid-80’s, and his three NBA titles as the lead player. Bird was a timeless offensive player; the thought of him shooting 10+ threes a game in the modern era is tantalizing, even if he would have had struggles on the other end of the court. His passing was as special as his shooting, and he was a tough rebounder who could challenge anyone on this list in that category. My favorite Bird stat? Outside of the year he played 6 games due to injuries, the Celtics averaged 59.1 wins per game in his career, and 61.1 wins in his prime (prior to the ‘88-89 season).

1 – LeBron James – 236.1 WS, 27.5 PER, .235 WS/48, 15X All-NBA, 6X All-Defense, 4X MVP, 3X Finals MVP, 3 championships

LeBron’s career is now leaps and bounds ahead of the pack due to his combination of peak value and sustained excellence. Consider that as of this writing, his 236.1 career win shares equal the career totals of Elgin Baylor, Kawhi Leonard (to date), and George Yardley combined. Arguably the most versatile player in league history, he has a good chance of having the greatest statistical career ever if he continues his unprecedented run over the next few seasons. A fourth championship as the lead player on his third different team will bolster his GOAT credentials, and may ultimately be his most impressive feat, considering where the Cleveland and Los Angeles franchises were prior to his arrival.

Honorable Mention

Greatest Small Forwards of All Time - Honorable Mention

33 – Jim Pollard won 5 championships in his seven professional seasons, and as a great athlete and good shooter, his game had a good chance to translate well to other eras…32 – Jamaal Wilkes enjoyed great success in his career, playing a key role on Warriors and Lakers championship teams. He was always overshadowed by bigger stars; in the closeout game of the 1980 NBA Finals, Wilkes scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to support Magic Johnson’s legendary effort…31 – Jack Twyman was the first player (along with Wilt Chamberlain) to crack the 30 PPG mark but played on a series of miserable Cincinnati Royals teams before Oscar Robertson saved the franchise…30 – If you squint, Andre Iguodala‘s game may remind you of Scottie Pippen’s: unselfish, great passing, all-world defense. He was a key component of the great Warriors teams of the past few years, and cemented his name in history with a Finals MVP award in 2015…29 – Bernard King was the best scorer in the world for a one-year stretch, when he led the league in playoff scoring in 1984 then won a scoring championship the following year, before injuries curtailed his prime…28 – George Yardley was the first player in league history to crack 2000 points in a season, and was the leading scorer on the 1954-55 and 1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons teams that lost in the Finals…27 – Chris Mullin was a brilliant offensive player who averaged 25+PPG five years in a row with the run-and-gun Warriors teams of the 1980s/90s…26 – Paul George is an all-around force who should shoot up this list with more healthy, productive seasons…25 – Roger Brown was a three-time ABA champion who led Indiana in playoff scoring in two of those three seasons…24.- Bob Dandridge was a key cog on two NBA champions (the ’71 Bucks and ’78 Bullets), and was a force on both sides of the court. He’s still, unfortunately, waiting for his Hall-of-Fame call…23 – James Worthy was the perfect complement to Magic and Kareem’s Lakers upon his arrival in 1982-83. The three-time champion also had the fourth-greatest game 7 performance ever on his way to the 1988 Finals MVP…22 – Marques Johnson was a force with the great Bucks teams of the late 70s to early 80s, and had better career efficiency stats than most players on this honorable mention list…20 (tied) Carmelo Anthony and Alex English were both one-time scoring champions who are in the 25,000+ point club. Both have virtually equal career offensive and defensive ratings however, indicating their impact on the court was less than their scoring suggested. It also remains unclear how they would best serve a championship-level team, though with the right mix of talent around them, I believe they could have achieved greater team success…19 – Chet Walker never made an all-NBA team, which seems shocking considering his career accomplishments. He was the best player on the early to mid-70s Bulls teams, and was a key cog on the ’67 Sixers, one of the greatest teams ever…18 – Connie Hawkins was unfairly blackballed from the NBA for five seasons. In the last two of those years, he played in the ABA, where he won a scoring title, MVP, and playoffs MVP award in his first season. When he finally made the NBA, he made all-NBA first-team in his debut season and had a productive run thereafter, although his prime was robbed from him…17 – Cliff Hagan was the league’s best player in the 1958 playoffs, when he and Bob Pettit led St. Louis to the championship. He led the league in playoff scoring, field goal percentage, PER, true shooting percentage, win shares, and WS/48 that season, then led again in playoff scoring, PER, and true shooting percentage the following year…16 – Shawn Marion was one of the most underappreciated players of his era; consider that he never made an all-NBA defensive team, and only made two all-NBA teams in his career. However, he was a spectacular player on both ends of the court, and was a key piece on the 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. He also has the second most career win shares of anyone on this honorable mention list…15 – In his prime, Grant Hill was one of the league’s top players, and before his injury woes crept up, he dialed up his scoring to average a career-high 25.8 PPG is his last year in Detroit. Injuries robbed him of many prime seasons, but he wound up playing 18 seasons in the league, including a five-year stretch in Phoenix when he became a valuable role player…14 – Billy Cunningham dominated in the NBA in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with three straight all-NBA first team appearances followed by a second team birth, before jumping to the ABA and winning the MVP award in his first season there. He also was a sixth man extraordinaire on the aforementioned ’67 Sixers title team…13 – Dominique Wilkins never found the team success that would have vaulted him into a higher stratosphere, and he missed out on some key accolades as a result (namely, the Dream Team and NBA’s 50 Greatest Players List). He was, however, an unstoppable force offensively who won a scoring title and finished as the runner-up in the 85-86 MVP race…12 – Adrian Dantley is one of the most efficient offensive players in NBA history, ranking ninth all-time in career true shooting percentage. He also was the leading scorer in the regular season for a team that came within seconds of winning the NBA Finals (the 1988 Pistons). His game may not have translated as easily as others to the modern era, and he only earned two all-NBA honors, but his career is still vastly underrated.

All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Los Angeles Lakers

In the end, the results were inevitable. The NBA has been dominated by two franchises since its inception. One rose to power with the greatest dynasty in professional sports history, capturing 11 championships in 13 seasons from 1957 to 1969. The other was established with a selection of the highest profile players in league history, leading to the NBA’s best franchise winning percentage, and the most Finals appearances. The greatest rivalry in NBA history is reborn in the finals of the NBA Franchise Tournament: the All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Los Angeles Lakers.

All-Time Boston Celtics Team

All-Time Los Angeles Lakers Team

Matchup Breakdown

Ball handlers: Each team is guided by the greatest point guard of his generation. The Celtics have multiple points of attack on offense, but their starting lineup will primarily be led by Bob Cousy. The Houdini of the Hardwood brings elite court vision and ample big game experience, but his slight frame will create issues on defense. The Lakers high-scoring attack will be guided by Magic Johnson, a 6’9” anomaly who can physically dominate Boston’s backcourt. Neither player was known for his outside shot; expect each team to put the ball in their playmaker’s hands and surround him with scorers.

Johnson’s size will cause Boston to cross-match defensively. When the starters are in, expect Sam Jones and Larry Bird to take turns checking Johnson. Cousy will primarily defend Jerry West, and will struggle with West’s length and athleticism advantage. Johnson will primarily guard Cousy on defense, but will also spend time on his archrival Larry Bird, due to their size similarities.

Each team will go stretches without a traditional point guard on the floor. Jo Jo White is Boston’s theoretical backup point guard, but he’ll struggle to crack this talented squad’s rotation. Bill Sharman, John Havlicek and Larry Bird will split time initiating the offense when Cousy rests. They’ll also look to get on the break whenever possible, with Bill Russell and Dave Cowens expertly throwing outlet passes to initiate this action. Jerry West and Gail Goodrich will initiate L.A.’s attack when Johnson sits. While both are capable of filling this role, expect Johnson, the only true floor leader on a team with many mouths to feed, to play heavy minutes throughout the series.

Wings: Boston has a deep collection of wing players that will present matchup problems for Los Angeles. Sam Jones was one of the great clutch players in NBA history, and his constant movement with and without the ball may tire his defenders out over the course of the series. Sixth man extraordinaire John Havlicek, who may have been the most tireless player in the NBA, will split time off the bench at shooting guard and small forward. Havlicek was one of the great all-around players in league history, and he stands as Boston’s best wing defender against L.A.’s high-powered attack. Larry Bird, the centerpiece of Boston’s offensive attack, will start each game at small forward, but will frequently play as a stretch four, especially if Los Angeles goes large stretches without a traditional power forward, as expected. Paul Pierce was another deadly scorer whose firepower will be needed in this series.

Los Angeles counters with three legendary wing scorers in their starting lineup. Jerry West will stretch the floor and serve as L.A.’s secondary ball handler on offense, while doubling as their best wing defender. Kobe Bryant will also be tasked with focusing more on defense, which he exceled at during his prime. Elgin Baylor will also start, and though he lacks great size, he’ll help the Lakers stay competitive on the glass against Boston’s bigger frontcourt. Off the bench, Jim Pollard will contribute with his athleticism and long-distance shooting ability. He’ll stretch the floor and help to guard Boston’s plethora of wing options. Like Baylor, James Worthy will primarily play at power forward, and will boost L.A.’s athleticism advantage whenever he’s on the court. Both Pollard and Worthy will balance the Lakers lineup as lower usage players who will fit in alongside any combination they’re paired with.

All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Los Angeles Lakers
The two most iconic franchises in NBA history
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

Big Men: Boston will start three players who stand between 6’9” and 6’10”. The aforementioned Bird will split time between the forward positions, while Kevin McHale and Bill Russell will man the interior for the starting lineup. McHale will have a distinct advantage on offense against L.A.’s smaller forwards, and will be one of Boston’s primary options as a result. He’s also skilled and versatile enough on defense to guard Baylor and Worthy, and will be utilized in Boston’s most effective defensive lineups. Russell, the greatest defensive player in NBA history, will face the greatest challenge of his career in this series, matching up against three behemoths who are all among the greatest scorers of all time: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and his old adversary Wilt Chamberlain. He’ll use his uncanny motor to try to beat them down the court on offense, but his effectiveness on defense will be compromised by their sheer size and talent levels. Dave Cowens, another 6’9” undersized center, will use his bulk and will to attempt to slow this trio down. Robert Parish, Boston’s only true seven-footer, will also get plenty of minutes, but does not have the bulk to stop any of L.A.’s threats. Russell and Parish will need to use their quickness and speed advantage to score easy baskets on offense, and tire their counterparts out.

Jabbar will anchor L.A.’s big man rotation, and will serve as the centerpiece of their dynamic offense. O’Neal’s brute force will provide a devastating contrast for L.A.’s second unit, which Boston will have difficulty countering. Chamberlain’s Laker years were characterized by lower usage, high efficiency, and dominating defense, and coach Pat Riley will utilize him in their best defensive lineups. Expect the legendary George Mikan to play sparingly as the fourth center, but he will provide another dominating offensive presence when called upon.

Five-man Lineups

Coach Red Auerbach will likely use a combination of the following five five-man lineups most frequently throughout series:

John Havlicek and Paul Pierce will play two of the biggest roles on the team off the bench, as swingmen who can match up with Los Angeles defensively. Late in games, Auerbach may turn to his best defensive lineup of Jones-Pierce-Havlicek-McHale-Russell for key stops.

Coach Pat Riley will be tempted to try two-center lineups, but will ultimately stay away and utilize his wing depth. Each center will be surrounded by shooting, which will force Boston to make a difficult choice – leave Russell, Cowens, and Parish alone on an island defensively, or double-team and try to recover on the perimeter. Gail Goodrich and Pollard provide elite shooting off the bench, while West, Bryant, Worthy and Baylor will be used together in their defensive lineup, with Chamberlain in the middle, to form a dominant athletic quintet.

Biggest Mismatches

The size and bulk of L.A.’s centers – Boston’s centers are all physically overmatched, and will struggle to contain the Laker big men. They’re also in danger of falling into foul trouble, and must avoid taking the easy way out early in games, especially with O’Neal and Chamberlain. Boston’s big men will not require the same level of attention on the other end of the court, and each Lakers center should be able to hold their own in their defensive matchup.

Boston’s passing offense – Boston’s offense will flow through the unselfish hands of their playmakers, Cousy and Bird. These are two of the best passers in league history, and together with Russell, a great passing big man, their offense will hum. The Lakers have Magic Johnson, so they won’t be devoid of playmaking, but their offense has a greater chance of stalling with some of the high-volume scorers on their roster.

L.A.’s athleticism advantage – Both teams boast tremendous depth and versatility, but L.A. has a greater collection of athletes on their roster. West, Bryant, Pollard, Worthy, and Baylor can disrupt Boston on both sides of the ball, and will cover ample ground on defense. Boston has Havlicek, who will see starter’s minutes in this series, but the rest of their perimeter players fall short of L.A.’s in this department.

X-Factor

History – These teams have met 12 times in the Finals, with Boston winning nine of those matchups. West and Baylor were famously never able to defeat Russell, which haunts them to this day, as West eerily described in his autobiography. However, Johnson, Jabbar, and Worthy were able to win two of their three finals matchups against Bird, McHale, and Parish, and Bryant split his two finals series against Pierce. Does any of this matter? Is Boston’s “mystique” actually something that Los Angeles fears, or does their recent success render this meaningless?

Results

Los Angeles comes out in full attack mode, and wins the first two games of the series against a shell-shocked Celtics team. Boston, however, refuses to wilt, with Bird and Russell leading the way to two close wins to tie the series up. In the critical game five, Magic Johnson orchestrates a perfect game, and Shaquille O’Neal, a destroyer of worlds in his Lakers Finals appearances, overwhelms his smaller counterparts in a comfortable victory. Los Angeles leads throughout the sixth game, but down the stretch, key plays by Jones and Havlicek save Boston and set up a winner-takes-all game seven.

In the final game, both teams play inspired basketball. Russell and Jones lead Boston to the brink of a championship, using their collective will and clutch team play. Down the stretch, however, Magic finds Jerry West repeatedly behind the arc, where he hits multiple clutch three-pointers. The curse is lifted, as West and Baylor finally get to celebrate against their tormentors.

Lakers win, four games to three.

All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Golden State Warriors

Our first semifinal matchup is a battle between the most balanced team in our tournament against arguably the most offensively explosive one. Boston has had a relatively easy path to this point, with a first-round bye and two five-game series, while Golden State shocked many with their narrow escape in the Elite Eight against the vaunted Spurs. Can the Warriors continue their magical run by outscoring the number one seed? The All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Golden State Warriors is an intriguing matchup, featuring some of the game’s greatest stars.

All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Golden State Warriors

Key Matchups

Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell – Perhaps the greatest rivalry in NBA history resurfaces in the Franchise Tournament. The greatest offensive force in league history faces the greatest defensive stopper. These two battled 57 times when Wilt was a Warrior, with Russell’s Celtics winning 41 of those encounters. Chamberlain averaged 35.4 PPG in those encounters, which, while obviously dominant, was less than the 41.5 PPG he averaged in his Warriors career. Russell’s ability to defend Chamberlain one-on-one with no help will be an essential part of Boston’s defense; they can’t afford to sag off of Golden State’s shooters if they have any chance of slowing the Warriors down.

Larry Bird vs. Rick Barry – An absolutely joyous matchup between an original (Barry) and his doppelganger (Bird). Both players were known for their transcendent shooting and passing skills, and each was the best player on a championship team (in Bird’s case, teams). Bird was a bigger player (6’9” and 220 lbs, compared to Barry’s 6’7” 205 pound frame), and can easily switch to power forward when needed. Neither player should be expected to stop the other, though Boston can switch the multitalented Kevin McHale onto Barry while Bird guards Neil Johnston. Expect John Havlicek to play heavy minutes on Barry as well, while Golden State’s best perimeter defender, Tom Gola, will often be tasked with guarding Bird and Boston’s other wings.

Bob Cousy vs. Stephen Curry – One of the first showmen in league history takes on the most recent. Cousy, one of the greatest passers in league history, led the league in assists for eight straight seasons, and was the second player in league history to win the MVP award. Curry, one of the greatest shooters ever, has led the league in made three point field goals for four years running, and has captured the last two MVP awards. Both are probably better defenders than they’re given credit for; Cousy accumulated more defensive than offensive win shares in his career, while Curry has become a solid defender over time, as detailed here. However, neither is a good bet to stop the other, but Cousy, in particular, must avoid defensive lapses against the explosive Curry, whose three-point shooting provides a unique challenge for opponents.

Biggest Mismatches

Boston’s versatility vs. Golden State’s – The Celtics have the ability to win any type of matchup with their depth and versatility. They can play big with any combination of Russell, Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, McHale, and Tom Heinsohn, or play small with Havlicek and Paul Pierce occupying the forward positions. They can also trot out a defensive lineup featuring Russell, McHale, Havlicek, and Sam Jones, and can space the floor on offense with Bird, Bill Sharman, and Pierce. They also have Red Auerbach on the sidelines, who got the most out of his players and popularized several strategic concepts, such as the sixth man. He’ll meld the extraordinary talent on the Boston roster and put them in position to succeed. Golden State has several solid wing defenders in Gola and Guy Rodgers, and two players who can protect the paint in Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond. However, their best lineup probably consists of one of Gola or Thurmond alongside Chamberlain, Barry, Paul Arizin, and Curry, which leaves them vulnerable to opposing perimeter threats. Expect Boston to hide their defensive liabilities better, and to benefit from the two-way ability of many of their stars.

Boston Celtics Big Three, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Boston Celtics Big Three: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

X-Factor

Wilt the Stilt – One could argue that despite his gaudy numbers as a Warrior, Wilt’s best years were with the Sixers, where he served as the centerpiece of one of the great teams in NBA history. The Warriors’ version of Wilt was accused of being a stat-monger who cared more about individual glory than team success. Is that a fair assessment? Probably not, since his teams made one NBA Finals appearance and two Eastern Division Finals appearances in his five and a half years there. However, there are concerns about how he will mesh with Barry, a notoriously difficult personality who has lambasted Chamberlain in the past, and how he will react to playing alongside so much firepower. If coach Al Attles can channel him to play like he did with the Sixers, then Golden State has a chance to win this series. If he’s not interested in letting his teammates shine, they’re in trouble.

Results

Despite the questions surrounding fit and personality, Chamberlain and Barry play brilliantly, and lead Golden State to several wins over the favored Celtics. Boston, however, has the deeper, more versatile roster, and their championship mettle comes through over the course of the series. Every single player on the Boston roster won at least one championship with the club, and the 17-time champions advance, as expected, to the Franchise Tournament finals.

Boston wins, four games to two.

Next Round

Boston faces the winner of the All-Time Lakers vs. All-Time Pistons in the finals.

All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Miami Heat

Our next matchup represents the greatest generational divide in our tournament. The Miami Heat’s first year of operation was 1989, while the Boston Celtics have been in existence since 1947. Eleven of the twelve players on Boston’s roster were either retired, or near retirement, before Miami ever existed. However, since that time, Miami has won the Eastern Conference five times, which is three more times than Boston. Miami has three titles, while Boston has one. Does this give Miami any sliver of hope in the battle between the All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Miami Heat? Here’s a breakdown of our first Elite Eight matchup.

All-Time Boston Celtics vs. All-Time Miami Heat

Key Matchups

Larry Bird vs. LeBron James: The two greatest small forwards in NBA history square off in a dream matchup. Both were elite passers who will serve as the fulcrum of their team’s offenses. James was a better defender, while Bird was a better outside shooter. James won two MVP awards in his four years in Miami, while Bird won three MVP awards in a row from 1984 to 1986. Expect LeBron to guard Bird for large stretches of each game, while Boston will make Kevin McHale their primary LeBron defender. Miami also has to deal with a couple of other Hall-of-Fame small forwards off Boston’s bench: John Havlicek, the perpetual motion machine, and LeBron’s old nemesis Paul Pierce. Miami will play James at power forward at times, meaning Dwyane Wade, Eddie Jones, and Glen Rice will be needed to slow Boston’s trio down.

Red Auerbach vs. Erik Spoelstra: Both coaches will have several matchup dilemmas to figure out.  How will Boston adjust when LeBron James moves to power forward? They can put Larry Bird at the four, and bring in one of their wings off the bench, or they can stay big and have Bird guard one of Miami’s wings (preferably Glen Rice). Who will be left out of Boston’s rotation? It’s almost impossible to play 12 players, so expect Jo Jo White and Tom Heinsohn to stay glued to the bench, and to only be used if others are in foul trouble. Expect Spoelstra to go primarily with an eight-man rotation, with his starting lineup, Jones, Rice, and Shaquille O’Neal. Spoelstra has a decision on how to use his big men in this series. Chris Bosh can play the five when they go small, but he’d be at a severe disadvantage on the boards against Bill Russell, Dave Cowens, or Robert Parish. On offense, O’Neal will give any of Boston’s big men fits, but he won’t be able to protect the paint as well as two-time Defensive Player of the Year Alonzo Mourning. Expect Spoelstra to play stretches with a deadly defensive lineup of Jones, Wade, James, Bosh, and Mourning to slow down Boston’s offense.

Biggest Mismatches

Celtics bench vs. Heat bench: Much like the real-life playoffs, expect teams to shorten their rotations to feature their best players in this tournament. Miami’s eight-man rotation should create issues for Boston. However, depth is still important, and Boston’s players should be less taxed than Miami’s as the series goes on. James and Wade may play 40 plus minutes per game, and will be working hard on both ends of the court. The fact that they have to play against two players who were known for their constant movement, Sam Jones and John Havlicek, will only exacerbate Miami’s problems.

Miami’s wing athleticism vs. Boston’s wing athleticism: While Boston has a great athlete on the wing (Havlicek), they also have several others who weren’t known for their athleticism (namely Bird and Pierce). Miami’s greatest strength is the athleticism of their dynamic duo, Wade and James. Eddie Jones is another terrific athlete for Miami off the bench, and expect him to get heavy minutes alongside Wade and James to smother Boston’s perimeter players defensively, and to create mismatches on the other end of the court.

X-Factor

Generational comparisons: One of the guiding principles of this tournament is to consider the relative dominance of players from previous generations, so the results aren’t skewed toward the bigger, more athletic players in the modern era. Bob Cousy and Bill Russell are two of the greatest players ever, and will be favored to win their matchups in this series against Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning, respectively, even if the latter looks like the Incredible Hulk next to the players that Russell faced in his era. This helps to provide some context for Boston’s depth advantage, and the problems their opponents will face trying to stop them.

Results

Remember when LeBron left Bill Russell off his NBA Mount Rushmore? Bill Russell doesn’t forget these things. He leads the Celtics to victory.

Bill Russell's reaction to being omitted from LeBron's Mount Rushmore Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com
Bill Russell’s reaction to being omitted from LeBron’s Mount Rushmore
Copyright © Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com

Boston wins, four games to one.

Next Round

Boston faces the winner of the All-Time Spurs vs. All-Time Warriors.

All-Time Boston Celtics Team

All-Time Boston Celtics Team Infographic 4

Our last profile details the top seed in our tournament, the All-Time Boston Celtics Team. Not surprisingly, every single player on this roster is either already in the Hall of Fame, or will be inducted as soon as they are eligible. They have the most combined all-star game and all-NBA appearances of any franchise team, and have some of the most recognizable names in basketball history. They also have perhaps the tournament’s most balanced roster, with a mix of offensive and defensive play makers that will confound their opposition.

Bob Cousy is the easy choice for starting lead guard. Cousy was the premier play maker of his era, capturing eight straight assist titles from 1953 to 1960. After his rookie year, he made the All-NBA first team for 10 straight years, and helped Boston capture six titles in his final seven seasons. Speaking of championships, the starting two guard, Sam Jones, helped Boston win 10 titles in his 12 seasons with the team. While he wasn’t as decorated as some of his contemporaries, he was well known for his clutch play, as his legendary teammate once described (quoted from Elliot Kalb’s entertaining book, Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball?): “Whenever the pressure was greatest, Sam was eager for the ball. Sam Jones had a champion’s heart. Under pressure, we had hidden on our team a class superstar of the highest caliber…in the seventh game of a championship series, I’ll take Sam over any player who’s ever walked on a court.” Jo Jo White, the backup point guard, was a key member of the Celtics’ two championship teams in the 1970s. His long Boston career allowed him to edge out Dennis Johnson, another worthy candidate, who is among several legends to miss the cut for this stacked roster. Bill Sharman is the backup two guard, and is among several bench players who have a convincing case for inclusion in the starting lineup. He was among the greatest free throw shooters in NBA history, and may have been the best shooter of his era.

Larry Bird, the starting small forward, is among the greatest players in NBA history. He captured three straight MVP awards from 1984 through 1986, and was one of the greatest shooters and passers who ever played at his position. Kevin McHale, who earned this author’s vote as the ninth greatest power forward in history, will start at the four. McHale was a master in the low post, and doubled as a defensive stopper who could guard a range of positions effectively. Off the bench, John Havlicek was one of the greatest forwards in NBA history, and was also an overqualified sixth man at the beginning of his career, who will fill that role for this team as well. Known for his clutch play and his tireless energy on the basketball court, “Hondo” was one of the game’s greatest all-around players, and he’ll play at both shooting guard and small forward for this team. Paul Pierce was one of the best pure scorers in team history, averaging over 25.0 PPG five times in his career, during a low-scoring era. He’ll also play both two guard and small forward, and he adds another three-point shooting threat to the roster. Tommy Heinsohn is now best known for his role as a beloved homer announcer, but he was first a Hall-of-Fame player (and coach) who could play both forward positions.

Bill Russell, perhaps the greatest defensive player in NBA history, is the starting center. Russell famously won 11 championships in his 13 seasons, an unfathomable record that is likely never to be broken in any of the four major sports. His unique impact was recognized by his peers, as he was voted MVP five times in an era when players voted on this award. He was also a phenomenal passer who will combine with Cousy and Bird to give Boston arguably the best passing starting lineup in the tournament. He’s backed up by Dave Cowens, who made up for his (relatively) small stature with an unrelenting work ethic. Cowens led the team to two titles in the 1970s, and he was another excellent passer for his position. The third center, Robert Parish, was a stoic pillar of the 1980s championship teams who was remarkably consistent in his 14 years with the franchise. Ed Macauley and Kevin Garnett are notable omissions from this deep frontcourt, both of whom would warrant inclusion on almost any other franchise team.

This team should be able to wear opponents out with their great depth. With 17 championships, they are our top-seeded team, and face the All-Time Milwaukee Bucks team in the second round of our tournament.

Coach: Red Auerbach

All-Time Franchise Winning Percentage (through 2014-15): .588