All Time Celtics Team

[aefgogreen]

I was waiting until after the Finals to put this together.  Going forward, I want to do specialist teams as well (e.g. All Defense, All Fast Break etc).

Let me know what I got wrong (and if you're inclined, what I got right :-)

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale
Jayson Tatum
Sam Jones
Jojo White

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy Heinsohn
Paul Pierce
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

A couple of notes... Obviously, McHale had a bigger long-term impact on the Celtics than KG.  I tried to pick players at their peak, and KG's DPOY, All-First Team NBA and overall intensity in the playoffs in 2008 tipped the scales.  I'm sure others feel that McHale should be above him and I can't say you're wrong.

It killed me leaving DJ off  - after Bird, he was my favorite Celtic.  But Jaylen stepped up this season (and particularly in the Finals) more than I expected.  Sharman was before my time, but all those First Team All-NBA appearances have to count for something.  And I didn't think it was right to kick off Tommy or Chief. I guess this is what you call an embarrassment of riches.

[Who]

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale
Jayson Tatum
Sam Jones
Jojo White Dennis Johnson??

It killed me leaving DJ off  - after Bird, he was my favorite Celtic.  But Jaylen stepped up this season (and particularly in the Finals) more than I expected.

Is that 2nd team better with Dennis Johnson than with Jo Jo White? I think so. I love what DJ would bring to that team more than Jo Jo. They already have a backcourt shooter in Sam Jones. They don't need another outside shooter. A more well-rounded guard like DJ who can boost their defense, their rebounding and be more of a glue guy on offense. 

[Who]

I still have Pierce ahead of Tatum.

Tatum is on my 3rd team. I might drop Tommy and play Tatum at PF alongside Jaylen at SF. Then Sharman and Jo Jo White at guard. Parish in the middle.

[aefgogreen]

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale
Jayson Tatum
Sam Jones
Jojo White Dennis Johnson??

It killed me leaving DJ off  - after Bird, he was my favorite Celtic.  But Jaylen stepped up this season (and particularly in the Finals) more than I expected.

Is that 2nd team better with Dennis Johnson than with Jo Jo White? I think so. I love what DJ would bring to that team more than Jo Jo. They already have a backcourt shooter in Sam Jones. They don't need another outside shooter. A more well-rounded guard like DJ who can boost their defense, their rebounding and be more of a glue guy on offense.

Fair point - I felt like JoJo was more of a star with the Celtics than DJ, but again, you could make the case that DJ had a bigger role than JoJo.

[celticinorlando]

I mean this is subjective but here would be mine:

PG Cousy
SG Pierce
SF Bird
PF KG
C Russell

Second team-
 DJ
Hondo
Tatum
McHale
Chief

Third:
Cowens
Jojo
Sam Jones
JB
Sharman

[Moranis]

I still have Pierce ahead of Tatum.

Tatum is on my 3rd team. I might drop Tommy and play Tatum at PF alongside Jaylen at SF. Then Sharman and Jo Jo White at guard. Parish in the middle.

Tatum has had back to back seasons better than any season in Pierce's career. Not particularly close for me either

[Moranis]

1st Team - Russell, Bird, Tatum, Hondo, Cousy
2nd Team - Cowens, McHale, Pierce, Sam, JoJo
3rd Team - Parish, Garnett, Brown, Allen, DJ

Broke ties with longevity on C's i.e. McHale over KG and JoJo over DJ. 

I liked Bird as a PF and that would be his modern position so that made my 1st team different than others

[Roy H.]

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett Kevin McHale
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale Tom Heinsohn
Jayson TatumPaul Pierce
Sam Jones
Jojo WhiteDennis Johnson

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy HeinsohnKevin Garnett
Paul PierceJayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

I had to go with Sharman over JoJo.  8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 4x NBA champion

[Moranis]

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett Kevin McHale
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale Tom Heinsohn
Jayson TatumPaul Pierce
Sam Jones
Jojo WhiteDennis Johnson

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy HeinsohnKevin Garnett
Paul PierceJayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

I had to go with Sharman over JoJo.  8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 4x NBA champion

Pierce only had 4 All NBA team, 1 2nd and 3 3rd.  Tatum has 4, including 3 straight 1st team.  They both had the 1 title in Boston and 1 other finals appearance.  Pierce does have the 5 extra all star games at this point, but Pierce by basically any metric was a much worse player than Tatum at their picks.  Longer career and higher up the Celtic list because of it, but from a talent standpoint Tatum is better and it isn't all that close.

[Roy H.]

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett Kevin McHale
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale Tom Heinsohn
Jayson TatumPaul Pierce
Sam Jones
Jojo WhiteDennis Johnson

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy HeinsohnKevin Garnett
Paul PierceJayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

I had to go with Sharman over JoJo.  8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 4x NBA champion

Pierce only had 4 All NBA team, 1 2nd and 3 3rd.  Tatum has 4, including 3 straight 1st team.  They both had the 1 title in Boston and 1 other finals appearance.  Pierce does have the 5 extra all star games at this point, but Pierce by basically any metric was a much worse player than Tatum at their picks.  Longer career and higher up the Celtic list because of it, but from a talent standpoint Tatum is better and it isn't all that close.

Disagree.  Tatum doesn't contribute to winning.  Pierce has a better legacy, particularly due to his Finals MVP. 

[CelticsPoetry]

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett Kevin McHale
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale Tom Heinsohn
Jayson TatumPaul Pierce
Sam Jones
Jojo WhiteDennis Johnson

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy HeinsohnKevin Garnett
Paul PierceJayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

I had to go with Sharman over JoJo.  8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 4x NBA champion

Pierce only had 4 All NBA team, 1 2nd and 3 3rd.  Tatum has 4, including 3 straight 1st team.  They both had the 1 title in Boston and 1 other finals appearance.  Pierce does have the 5 extra all star games at this point, but Pierce by basically any metric was a much worse player than Tatum at their picks.  Longer career and higher up the Celtic list because of it, but from a talent standpoint Tatum is better and it isn't all that close.

Disagree.  Tatum doesn't contribute to winning.  Pierce has a better legacy, particularly due to his Finals MVP.

Is this tongue in cheek, or are you on the Tatum hate bandwagon Roy?

[Roy H.]

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett Kevin McHale
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale Tom Heinsohn
Jayson TatumPaul Pierce
Sam Jones
Jojo WhiteDennis Johnson

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy HeinsohnKevin Garnett
Paul PierceJayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

I had to go with Sharman over JoJo.  8x All-Star, 7x All-NBA, 4x NBA champion

Pierce only had 4 All NBA team, 1 2nd and 3 3rd.  Tatum has 4, including 3 straight 1st team.  They both had the 1 title in Boston and 1 other finals appearance.  Pierce does have the 5 extra all star games at this point, but Pierce by basically any metric was a much worse player than Tatum at their picks.  Longer career and higher up the Celtic list because of it, but from a talent standpoint Tatum is better and it isn't all that close.

Disagree.  Tatum doesn't contribute to winning.  Pierce has a better legacy, particularly due to his Finals MVP.

Is this tongue in cheek, or are you on the Tatum hate bandwagon Roy?

Tongue in cheek, just poking fun at some of the anti-player narratives from the last season or two.

[hwangjini_1]

.

[liam]

I was waiting until after the Finals to put this together.  Going forward, I want to do specialist teams as well (e.g. All Defense, All Fast Break etc).

Let me know what I got wrong (and if you're inclined, what I got right :-)

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale
Jayson Tatum
Sam Jones
Jojo White

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy Heinsohn
Paul Pierce
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

A couple of notes... Obviously, McHale had a bigger long-term impact on the Celtics than KG.  I tried to pick players at their peak, and KG's DPOY, All-First Team NBA and overall intensity in the playoffs in 2008 tipped the scales.  I'm sure others feel that McHale should be above him and I can't say you're wrong.

It killed me leaving DJ off  - after Bird, he was my favorite Celtic.  But Jaylen stepped up this season (and particularly in the Finals) more than I expected.  Sharman was before my time, but all those First Team All-NBA appearances have to count for something.  And I didn't think it was right to kick off Tommy or Chief. I guess this is what you call an embarrassment of riches.

If you get the guy in his best season you have to have Walton and Pistol Pete on there. Shaq and Dominic as well.

[Kernewek]

I was waiting until after the Finals to put this together.  Going forward, I want to do specialist teams as well (e.g. All Defense, All Fast Break etc).

Let me know what I got wrong (and if you're inclined, what I got right :-)

First Team
Bill Russell
Kevin Garnett
Larry Bird
John Havlicek
Bob Cousy

Second Team
Dave Cowens
Kevin McHale
Jayson Tatum
Sam Jones
Jojo White

Third Team
Robert Parish
Tommy Heinsohn
Paul Pierce
Jaylen Brown
Bill Sharman

A couple of notes... Obviously, McHale had a bigger long-term impact on the Celtics than KG.  I tried to pick players at their peak, and KG's DPOY, All-First Team NBA and overall intensity in the playoffs in 2008 tipped the scales.  I'm sure others feel that McHale should be above him and I can't say you're wrong.

It killed me leaving DJ off  - after Bird, he was my favorite Celtic.  But Jaylen stepped up this season (and particularly in the Finals) more than I expected.  Sharman was before my time, but all those First Team All-NBA appearances have to count for something.  And I didn't think it was right to kick off Tommy or Chief. I guess this is what you call an embarrassment of riches.

If you get the guy in his best season you have to have Walton and Pistol Pete on there. Shaq and Dominic as well.

Not that I could take this assignment particularly seriously (Jordan Crawford first, second, third, and fourth team, anyone?), but you'd have to be talking about the best season with the Celtics, surely.