Author Topic: Celtics greatest all-around players  (Read 5989 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Celtics greatest all-around players
« on: August 09, 2018, 10:10:19 AM »

Offline johnnygreen

  • Bailey Howell
  • **
  • Posts: 2259
  • Tommy Points: 298
I was watching Boston Sports Tonight last night, and the topic of who are the greatest all-around players in Celtics history came up. The topic came up because Cedric Maxwell claimed Kevin Garnett is the best all-around player in Celtics history on a podcast earlier in the day (?).

Here is the list of choices the panel had to choose from on the show:
Bob Cousy
Bill Russell
Sam Jones
John Havlicek
Dave Cowens
Larry Bird
Kevin McHale
Robert Parish
Dennis Johnson
Cedrix Maxwell
Paul Pierce
Kevin Garnett
Kyrie Irving

Maxwell's top 5 were (in order): Garnett, Russell, Bird, McHale, Havlicek
Kyle Draper's top 5 were (in order): Russell, Havlicek, Garnett, Bird, Pierce

Cedric's argument for Garnett was he had the perfect blend of offense and defense. Russell was a better defender, but wasn't necessarily a good offensive player. Bird was better offensively, but wasn't necessarily a good defender (but was able to pick his spots).

I haven't seen enough of the Celtics, prior to my birth, to properly determine a top 5. But my list would be Garnett, Bird, Russell, McHale, Havlicek. I understand Garnett didn't play his entire career in green, but he played enough to make an impact that can still be felt today.

I understand the list above is limited, so you can either go by the list or use additional players.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2018, 10:13:21 AM »

Offline Donoghus

  • Global Moderator
  • Bill Russell
  • ******************************
  • Posts: 30933
  • Tommy Points: 1607
  • What a Pub Should Be
All-around?  It's gotta be Bird.


2010 CB Historical Draft - Best Overall Team

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2018, 10:21:42 AM »

Offline nickagneta

  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 48120
  • Tommy Points: 8794
  • President of Jaylen Brown Fan Club
I think its a toss up between Bird and Havlicek. Bird could do some stuff better than Havlicek offensively but Havlicek was one of the best defenders in the league for almost a decade. I guess its Bird but by less than some might think.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2018, 10:32:02 AM »

Offline Birdman

  • Satch Sanders
  • *********
  • Posts: 9168
  • Tommy Points: 412
Larry Joe Bird..nuff said
C/PF-Horford, Baynes, Noel, Theis, Morris,
SF/SG- Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart, Semi, Clark
PG- Irving, Rozier, Larkin

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2018, 10:36:11 AM »

Offline Emmette Bryant

  • Bill Walton
  • *
  • Posts: 1464
  • Tommy Points: 286
Dave Cowens was a really nice two way player. Think a big Marcus Smart, who was a pretty good shooter.

Also he did the impossible. He succeeded Bill Russell as center.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2018, 10:41:37 AM »

Offline Moranis

  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 33461
  • Tommy Points: 1533
As Celtics or in general?  As a Celtic I don't even know if I would have KG in my top 5, but he probably would have been #1 if you look at his whole career.
2023 Historical Draft - Brooklyn Nets - 9th pick

Bigs - Pau, Amar'e, Issel, McGinnis, Roundfield
Wings - Dantley, Bowen, J. Jackson
Guards - Cheeks, Petrovic, Buse, Rip

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2018, 10:51:00 AM »

Offline Celtics17

  • Jayson Tatum
  • Posts: 873
  • Tommy Points: 108
In the last thirty years or so since I have been watching Celtics basketball I would have to pick KG over Bird. The reason is, as good as Bird was on offense I think KG was just as good on defense. Also, KG was a very good offensive player while Bird was good on defense, especially team defense, but he probably wasnt going to ever be your defensive stopper. KG might very well be your 'go to' offensive player in the clutch. It's close but I go with KG.

I kind of think Pierce and Rondo both deserve mentions too.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2018, 10:52:24 AM »

Offline Celtics17

  • Jayson Tatum
  • Posts: 873
  • Tommy Points: 108
Man, I forgot about McHale. An 'in his prime' McHale has to be right there at the top. His defense was top notch and wow on offense there was no one who could stop him. I dont think KG could stop McHale in his prime.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2018, 11:14:50 AM »

Offline perks-a-beast

  • Bailey Howell
  • **
  • Posts: 2120
  • Tommy Points: 224
In the last thirty years or so since I have been watching Celtics basketball I would have to pick KG over Bird. The reason is, as good as Bird was on offense I think KG was just as good on defense. Also, KG was a very good offensive player while Bird was good on defense, especially team defense, but he probably wasnt going to ever be your defensive stopper. KG might very well be your 'go to' offensive player in the clutch. It's close but I go with KG.

I kind of think Pierce and Rondo both deserve mentions too.

KG a “go to offensive player in the clutch?” Possibly the worst 4th quarter star in recent memory, at least in his Boston days. Was consistently gassed at the end of games.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2018, 11:24:52 AM »

Offline nickagneta

  • James Naismith
  • *********************************
  • Posts: 48120
  • Tommy Points: 8794
  • President of Jaylen Brown Fan Club
John Havlicek gets so little respect. In 1971 he had one of the greatest seasons any Celtic ever had:

28.9 PPG not in the 3 point era.
9.0 RPG
7.5 APG
53% TS% which at that time for an outside shooter was great
1st team All NBA
2nd team All Defense

KG never had a Celtic season like that. Want an all around player? There you go.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2018, 11:54:42 AM »

Offline smokeablount

  • Ray Allen
  • ***
  • Posts: 3103
  • Tommy Points: 628
  • Mark Blount often got smoked
John Havlicek gets so little respect. In 1971 he had one of the greatest seasons any Celtic ever had:

28.9 PPG not in the 3 point era.
9.0 RPG
7.5 APG
53% TS% which at that time for an outside shooter was great
1st team All NBA
2nd team All Defense

KG never had a Celtic season like that. Want an all around player? There you go.

The guy that ran all day and never got tired.
2023 Non-Active / Non-NBA75 Fantasy Draft, ChiBulls:

PG: Deron Williams 07-08 / M.R. Richardson 80-81 / J. Wall 16-17
SG: David Thompson 77-78 / Hersey Hawkins 96-97
SF: Tracy McGrady 02-03 / Tayshaun Prince 06-07
PF: Larry Nance Sr 91-92 / Blake Griffin 13-14
C: Bob Lanier 76-77 / Brad Daugherty 92-93 / M. Camby 06-07

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2018, 12:04:13 PM »

Offline rocknrollforyoursoul

  • Satch Sanders
  • *********
  • Posts: 9666
  • Tommy Points: 324
All-around?  It's gotta be Bird.

This was my first thought. He could do anything he wanted on offense, rebounded very well, and though he might not have been an "all-world" defender, he made tons of clutch defensive plays in his career.
"There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'"

"You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."

— C.S. Lewis

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2018, 12:04:30 PM »

Offline fairweatherfan

  • Johnny Most
  • ********************
  • Posts: 20738
  • Tommy Points: 2365
  • Be the posts you wish to see in the world.
I don't know what everyone else is thinking but it's gotta be Glen Davis.


...oh it's greatest "all-around", not "all-round".  Sorry, sorry, I'm trying to delete it.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2018, 12:16:14 PM »

Offline Sophomore

  • Paul Silas
  • ******
  • Posts: 6227
  • Tommy Points: 823
Went back and looked at some stats for Russell.

Consider this line from 1961-62 -- 18.9 ppg, 23.6 rpg, and 4.5 apg. In the playoffs he bumped that up to 22.4 ppg, 26.4 rpg, 5 apg. There was no DPOY awarded back then, but he would have won it.

Impossible to compare lines across eras, but that is incredible.

Re: Celtics greatest all-around players
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2018, 12:24:18 PM »

Offline moiso

  • Tiny Archibald
  • *******
  • Posts: 7640
  • Tommy Points: 441
Went back and looked at some stats for Russell.

Consider this line from 1961-62 -- 18.9 ppg, 23.6 rpg, and 4.5 apg. In the playoffs he bumped that up to 22.4 ppg, 26.4 rpg, 5 apg. There was no DPOY awarded back then, but he would have won it.

Impossible to compare lines across eras, but that is incredible.
Too bad the rebounds don't translate.  Take them away and his numbers are ok.