Poll: Greatest Celtic of all time

[Jvalin]

All things considered, who's the greatest Celtic of all time? I ain't talking strictly about basketball. Feel free to take into account their impact on team culture /their accomplishments on and off the court/ their legacy /their popularity/ you name it.

[Moranis]

Really only need Russ and Red in the pole.  No one else comes close to those 2.

[slamtheking]

Really only need Russ and Red in the pole.  No one else comes close to those 2.

pretty much what I was thinking.  if it's based on any and all contributions to the franchise on and off the court, it has to be Red

[Donoghus]

I voted Red because his hands are all over 16 of the 17 titles.

But I don't think you can really go wrong btw him or Russ.

[Roy H.]

Russell, not only for his success but also his advancement of civil rights.

[bogg]

It's Russell. There're plenty of people in the franchise's history who deserve credit for their accomplishments, but it's Russell by a good margin.

[Vermont Green]

If it was football, you could give it to a coach, say Vince Lombardi.  In basketball, it leans more towards the players.  As great as Red was as a coach, GM, and just general basketball man, I think you have to give it to Bill Russell.

The thing about Red though, he built a number of winners.  He recognized Russell and built a dominant team in that era (several teams actually).  Then did it again decades later by getting players like McHale and Parish that flew under everyone else's radar.

With Belichick, there is this debate that he just got lucky getting Brady as he has never won without Brady.  Red won big with Russell, then did it again, and again.  Maybe I am talking myself into changing my mind.  I can say this, Red is farther ahead of any other coach/GM in the entire league ever, than Russell is ahead of other players.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think Red.  Bill Russell is never a Celtic if not for Red.

[boscel33]

Yeah, it's Red.  He was the architect behind all of these Championships. 

I know, it's Wiki, but:  "In the 1956 NBA draft, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach set his sights on Russell, thinking his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess were the missing pieces the Celtics needed.  In retrospect, Auerbach's thoughts were unorthodox. In that period, centers and forwards were defined by their offensive output, and their ability to play defense was secondary."  BTW, in this same draft he took Heinsohn and KC Jones.

Then he drafts players like Cowens, JoJo White, Havlicek, Bird, McHale, trades for players like Parish and DJ.  He was playing chess and everyone else was playing Candyland.

Thirteen players who played for Auerbach have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, that's not counting the ones he acquired as GM!

Yeah, it's Red!  Light the cigar big guy!

[Celtics4ever]

I voted Bird, because he was my favorite, it was a biased vote.   The true answer is Russ is the greatest player and Red the greatest Celtic

[gouki88]

Russell for overall impact, Bird for on-court ability.

[tstorey_97]

The talk radio guys were going over the NBA GOATS and one of them said "Russell didn't play against anybody it was a different game."

If Russell was playing today with all of the advantages afforded the modern player?

I agree with those who chose Red. Tommy is playing for Holy Cross and Red takes him with the "territorial pick"....he's in the HoF.

Red knew a player better than the player knew himself.

[Walker Wiggle]

You mean other than the guy who won 11 NBA championships, 2 college championships, an Olympic gold medal, was the first ever black head coach, and a civil rights icon? I guess Bird.