Tommy Heinsohn once saw the future..and we all laughed at him

[threats13]

I never heard the original quote - did Tommy actually say Stiemsma was the next Bill Russell, or did he say that aspects of his game reminded him of Russell? 

The first one's completely ridiculous, but the second kind of comparison often gets jumped on unfairly in my opinion.  Steamer can do specific things similarly to Russell without being remotely as good a player.

I call foul here. That's keeping within the letter of the law but not the spirit. Gerald Green is one of the best dunkers in our era, Michael Jordan was one of the best dunkers of his era, but when looking for someone whose dunking ability to compare with Gerald Green's, it would follow you would not choose Michael Jordan, because Jordan is just one of those guys you can't just passively make a comparison to.

If he wanted to compare him to someone who blocks shots and holds down the paint, Ostertag, Shawn Bradley, Samuel Dalembert..i mean the list is endless. WHen you're comparing a guy to Bill Russell, you're by nature comparing him to the entirety of Russell, not just his proclivity for blocking shots.

I guess that's why I take those kinds of comparisons less seriously.  I don't see anything wrong with comparing Gerald Green's dunking ability to Jordan's (except that I'd put his style as closer to Nique's). As long as you're clear that it doesn't extend any farther, it's a legit comparison as far as I'm concerned.  Any overgeneralization beyond that is on the listener, not the speaker.

Either way, would you agree that "Stiemsma's timing on his shotblocks reminds me of Russell's" and "Stiemsma is the next Bill Russell" are two very different statements?

Yeah, but even then there are just so many other players you could compare him to, that it would follow there is a real reason you chose Russell.

Personally, I try to never even say the word 'Russell' in common parlance. If someone is named 'Russell', I just call them 'guy' or 'brobeans'.

I completely agree with the fact that Tommy could have used any other shot blocker's name here when he made the comparison.  But this is Tommy Heinsohn we're talking about.  He lives and breathers the Celtics. So, when he is going to compare one person's skills to another's its quite likely that he goes with a former Celtic and possibly even a former teammate.  It was Heinsohn's insight into Greg's shot blocking ability and timing that has me astonished by how his comparison has turned out. 

[nickagneta]

Greg Stiemsma isn't even as good at blocking shots as Theo Ratliff, never mind Bill Russell.

The comparison is ridiculous. Some estimates put Russell's shots blocked per game near 10 for some seasons. I can't even imagine what his block percentage would have been.

And if this comparison goes any farther than comparing shot blocking ability, like comparing total defense, then the OP owes Bill Russell an apology for insulting him.

[indeedproceed]

Hang on, I want to test something out:

Steve Novak has at least as good a 3 pt stroke as Larry Bird.

Discuss!

I'm assuming Larry Bird has already come to your house and shoved a converse 'Weapon' so far up your butt that you're farting shoelaces, and are thus unable to respond back here.

[LooseCannon]

If he wanted to compare him to someone who blocks shots and holds down the paint, Ostertag, Shawn Bradley, Samuel Dalembert..i mean the list is endless. WHen you're comparing a guy to Bill Russell, you're by nature comparing him to the entirety of Russell, not just his proclivity for blocking shots.

If he wanted to praise Stiemsma's shotblocking, he'd compare him to the greatest shotblockers who ever put on a Celtics jersey.  If not Russell, what other former Celtic should he use for that comparison?

[indeedproceed]

If he wanted to compare him to someone who blocks shots and holds down the paint, Ostertag, Shawn Bradley, Samuel Dalembert..i mean the list is endless. WHen you're comparing a guy to Bill Russell, you're by nature comparing him to the entirety of Russell, not just his proclivity for blocking shots.

If he wanted to praise Stiemsma's shotblocking, he'd compare him to the greatest shotblockers who ever put on a Celtics jersey.  If not Russell, what other former Celtic should he use for that comparison?

Not Bill Russell. Joe Kliene?

[fairweatherfan]

Hang on, I want to test something out:

Steve Novak has at least as good a 3 pt stroke as Larry Bird.

Discuss!

I'm assuming Larry Bird has already come to your house and shoved a converse 'Weapon' so far up your butt that you're farting shoelaces, and are thus unable to respond back here.

Nah, immediately after posting I hit my knees and said ten Hail Larrys, so we're cool now. 

Depressing side note - I looked up 3 pt shooting numbers, and Larry is only #132 on the all-time makes list.  Ray has over quadruple the makes of Larry.  Heck, Ray has more makes as a Celtic than Larry.

Super-depressing side note - Stiemsma has more career blocks than Russell.  Infinity more.   

[alajet]

Super-depressing side note - Stiemsma has more career blocks than Russell.  Infinity more.   

And I have as much blocks as Wilt Chamberlain. Without even walking on an NBA court

[nickagneta]

Nah, immediately after posting I hit my knees and said ten Hail Larrys, so we're cool now.  

Did you know that the correct answer to any question is Larry Bird?

[Moranis]

I never heard the original quote - did Tommy actually say Stiemsma was the next Bill Russell, or did he say that aspects of his game reminded him of Russell? 

The first one's completely ridiculous, but the second kind of comparison often gets jumped on unfairly in my opinion.  Steamer can do specific things similarly to Russell without being remotely as good a player.

I call foul here. That's keeping within the letter of the law but not the spirit. Gerald Green is one of the best dunkers in our era, Michael Jordan was one of the best dunkers of his era, but when looking for someone whose dunking ability to compare with Gerald Green's, it would follow you would not choose Michael Jordan, because Jordan is just one of those guys you can't just passively make a comparison to.

If he wanted to compare him to someone who blocks shots and holds down the paint, Ostertag, Shawn Bradley, Samuel Dalembert..i mean the list is endless. WHen you're comparing a guy to Bill Russell, you're by nature comparing him to the entirety of Russell, not just his proclivity for blocking shots.

I guess that's why I take those kinds of comparisons less seriously.  I don't see anything wrong with comparing Gerald Green's dunking ability to Jordan's (except that I'd put his style as closer to Nique's). As long as you're clear that it doesn't extend any farther, it's a legit comparison as far as I'm concerned.  Any overgeneralization beyond that is on the listener, not the speaker.

Either way, would you agree that "Stiemsma's timing on his shotblocks reminds me of Russell's" and "Stiemsma is the next Bill Russell" are two very different statements?

Yeah, but even then there are just so many other players you could compare him to, that it would follow there is a real reason you chose Russell.

Personally, I try to never even say the word 'Russell' in common parlance. If someone is named 'Russell', I just call them 'guy' or 'brobeans'.

He chose Bill Russell for a number of reasons.  The most likely is that all Celtic fans know how good a shot blocker Bill Russell is.  You pick Michael Jordan to compare dunking ability to because everyone knows how good a dunker Michael Jordan was, half the viewers wouldn't even know who Isiah Rider is, so why compare anyone to him, even if the comparison is an apt one.

[fairweatherfan]

Nah, immediately after posting I hit my knees and said ten Hail Larrys, so we're cool now. 

Did you know that the correct answer to any question is Larry Bird?

Larry Bird.

[indeedproceed]

I never heard the original quote - did Tommy actually say Stiemsma was the next Bill Russell, or did he say that aspects of his game reminded him of Russell?  

The first one's completely ridiculous, but the second kind of comparison often gets jumped on unfairly in my opinion.  Steamer can do specific things similarly to Russell without being remotely as good a player.

I call foul here. That's keeping within the letter of the law but not the spirit. Gerald Green is one of the best dunkers in our era, Michael Jordan was one of the best dunkers of his era, but when looking for someone whose dunking ability to compare with Gerald Green's, it would follow you would not choose Michael Jordan, because Jordan is just one of those guys you can't just passively make a comparison to.

If he wanted to compare him to someone who blocks shots and holds down the paint, Ostertag, Shawn Bradley, Samuel Dalembert..i mean the list is endless. WHen you're comparing a guy to Bill Russell, you're by nature comparing him to the entirety of Russell, not just his proclivity for blocking shots.

I guess that's why I take those kinds of comparisons less seriously.  I don't see anything wrong with comparing Gerald Green's dunking ability to Jordan's (except that I'd put his style as closer to Nique's). As long as you're clear that it doesn't extend any farther, it's a legit comparison as far as I'm concerned.  Any overgeneralization beyond that is on the listener, not the speaker.

Either way, would you agree that "Stiemsma's timing on his shotblocks reminds me of Russell's" and "Stiemsma is the next Bill Russell" are two very different statements?

Yeah, but even then there are just so many other players you could compare him to, that it would follow there is a real reason you chose Russell.

Personally, I try to never even say the word 'Russell' in common parlance. If someone is named 'Russell', I just call them 'guy' or 'brobeans'.

He chose Bill Russell for a number of reasons.  The most likely is that all Celtic fans know how good a shot blocker Bill Russell is.  You pick Michael Jordan to compare dunking ability to because everyone knows how good a dunker Michael Jordan was, half the viewers wouldn't even know who Isiah Rider is, so why compare anyone to him, even if the comparison is an apt one.

Objectively, I think, as I said with FWF, you're technically right. But Tommy understands who Russell is and what he represents better than anyone. You don't compare a guy to Larry Bird because they tie their shoes similarly, and you don't say a guy 'blocks shots like Bill Russell' or whatever the actual quote was (apologies if I messed it up).

I stand by that. There are guys that are just off-limits. Jordan, Russell, Magic, Bird, you don't compare players to them because of what they've come to represent in the basketball idea-o-sphere.

You like that? I made that up.

[alajet]

I never heard the original quote - did Tommy actually say Stiemsma was the next Bill Russell, or did he say that aspects of his game reminded him of Russell? 

The first one's completely ridiculous, but the second kind of comparison often gets jumped on unfairly in my opinion.  Steamer can do specific things similarly to Russell without being remotely as good a player.

I call foul here. That's keeping within the letter of the law but not the spirit. Gerald Green is one of the best dunkers in our era, Michael Jordan was one of the best dunkers of his era, but when looking for someone whose dunking ability to compare with Gerald Green's, it would follow you would not choose Michael Jordan, because Jordan is just one of those guys you can't just passively make a comparison to.

If he wanted to compare him to someone who blocks shots and holds down the paint, Ostertag, Shawn Bradley, Samuel Dalembert..i mean the list is endless. WHen you're comparing a guy to Bill Russell, you're by nature comparing him to the entirety of Russell, not just his proclivity for blocking shots.

I guess that's why I take those kinds of comparisons less seriously.  I don't see anything wrong with comparing Gerald Green's dunking ability to Jordan's (except that I'd put his style as closer to Nique's). As long as you're clear that it doesn't extend any farther, it's a legit comparison as far as I'm concerned.  Any overgeneralization beyond that is on the listener, not the speaker.

Either way, would you agree that "Stiemsma's timing on his shotblocks reminds me of Russell's" and "Stiemsma is the next Bill Russell" are two very different statements?

Yeah, but even then there are just so many other players you could compare him to, that it would follow there is a real reason you chose Russell.

Personally, I try to never even say the word 'Russell' in common parlance. If someone is named 'Russell', I just call them 'guy' or 'brobeans'.

He chose Bill Russell for a number of reasons.  The most likely is that all Celtic fans know how good a shot blocker Bill Russell is.  You pick Michael Jordan to compare dunking ability to because everyone knows how good a dunker Michael Jordan was, half the viewers wouldn't even know who Isiah Rider is, so why compare anyone to him, even if the comparison is an apt one.

You pick Vince Carter or Jason Richardson while making a comment on dunking ability, as they're both well-known dunkers that are light years away from MJ as a real player.
You just can't name a HOF and players that have the potential to be journeymen in the same sentence. Criminal.

[CelticHooligan3]

Didnt Tommy clarify it the other night when Gorman prodded him on the statement? And he just said he meant the timeing of the actual shot block. Like how quick he gets off his feet or whatever. Thats what i thought anyways.

[Roy H.]

The comparison is ridiculous. Some estimates put Russell's shots blocked per game near 10 for some seasons. I can't even imagine what his block percentage would have been.

I was going to say this exact same thing.  TP. The two guys aren't even near the same level.

[ballin]

More proof that Danny Ainge is actually a terrible GM. A fact that has simply been hidden by him lucking into KG and Ray Allen, trades that were no-brainers in the first place.

Anything Ainge has done before or since has been pretty poor.