Who do you consider as best role players in Celtics history?

[xmuscularghandix]

Luscutoff, Satch, Young Havlicek, Silas, Paul Westphal, Walton for that one year, Maxwell, Ainge, and Rondo in '08.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

I think the term "role player" needs a definition.  Some that are named here I would consider to be key components that did much more than just play a role. 

[Ogaju]

All  of them.  I know no one agrees with me, but I consider them all, even the stars, to be role players in a TEAM sport.  And no one has done it better over the long haul than the Celtics Team.

I agree with you so you are wrong about no one will agree with you. So let me ask you another question, who is the greatest Celtic of them all?

[thirstyboots18]

All  of them.  I know no one agrees with me, but I consider them all, even the stars, to be role players in a TEAM sport.  And no one has done it better over the long haul than the Celtics Team.

I agree with you so you are wrong about no one will agree with you. So let me ask you another question, who is the greatest Celtic of them all?

In my opinion the greatest Celtic of them all was a non-player, Arnold "Red"  Auerbach.

[freshinthehouse]

Has anyone here been following the C's long enough to remember Frank Ramsey?  From what I've read he was a precursor to the modern day 6th man.

[csfansince60s]

For me it's gotta be Mad Max.

Cornbread was an NBA Finals MVP, no?

[CelticFanInLosAngeles]

I'm younger fan from a far away country in Europe and i've been Celtics fan since my favorite player came here, KG. In time i became huge Celtics fan and there is no day without checking what's new with the team. So in last couple years i been studying Celtics history, great players, great games , titles everything. But as much as i can read on the net there isn't everything there. If someone can recommend me some sites where i can read interesting stories about Celtics past i will be thankfull.

So back to my topic subject , i was wandering who are the role guys that help Russell,Havlicek,Bird to win titles, guys who are barely talked who doesn't have their names in the Garden. One person that i can mention as a example is Leon Powe. Our best role player in 2008, maybe you will say Posey,House,Brown but i will never forget Leon Powe and his contribution for the Celtics.

Who was Leon Powe in the 80s,70s?

First off...let me congratulate you on picking the right team. You made the smart choice.

My favorite was Paul Silas. A real difference maker. Huge off the bench in the mid-70's. Max was a close second. He was a starter...but a roll player supreme.

[xmuscularghandix]

I think anyone who wasn't a star player was a role player. Satch could have had more shots on other teams but his role was to shut down the other teams scorer and rebound. Paul Silas came to Boston and people said his career was about over, he put on his hard hat and proved that he could be a key contributor as part of a championship TEAM, then went on to do the same for Seattle (RIP).

Those are role players. Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Paul Pierce... those guys aren't role players, they are the everything players that the team is built around. Even if they were unselfish and played the right way they still were the centerpieces of the franchise.

[oldmanspeaks]

Ramsey may have created the 6th man concept but the young John H. made the concept of a role player into a major factor. The reason was he could serve any role when he came in. He could play either SG or SF. He could be a shooter, a play maker or a defender. In fact he adjusted better to the role needed better than any player I have ever seen. Eventually of course he became a starter, a scorer and a star. But when he was young it was incredible how much he filled whatever role was needed. After than teams used multiple guys to fill each type of role needed. John filled all roles so to me he was the best role player.

[greg_kite]

You could also call a guy who doesn't need to score or demand the ball a role player.

If you are asking about the best role player in Celtics history, one could argue Bill Russell.  Yes, he was their best player and their star, but he wasn't the leading scorer even though he probably could have been.  His role was to rebound, block shots and anchor the defense.  Could you ask for a better role player than Russell?

[Mr Green]

Brian Scalabrine 

[nickagneta]

I think the best role player in Celtics history is probably K.C Jones. Guy won 8 rings as a player and besides Russell was always the 2nd best defender on every one of those teams even though he was the 5th option on offense.

And he's a Hall of Famer.

Satch probably comes in 2nd best all-time.

[GreenFaith1819]

Great Thread!

One guy that I didn't want to see leave BOS was Rodney Rogers (2001-02 Boston Celtics).

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2002.html

That guy came off the bench for us and played solid minutes. BOS let him go the next season - to NJ.

He was a solid role player in my memory.

[Who]

I think that Paul Silas was far too important to be considered as a role player.

Averaged a double double every season (11-13ppg, 11-13rpg) in Silas' four years here. Finished in the top five in total rebounds twice and had another top ten finish. Was named to three All-League defensive teams (two first team selections). Named as an All-Star once and was an All-Star selection the year prior to joining Boston too.

An integral part of those great Boston teams. What made those teams so special was their ability to create so many extra possessions vs their opponent (they murdered teams on the boards) + their capacity to get stops. And Silas was a huge part of that + running off of those stops / rebounds. That is what won them titles.  For me, Silas was the second most important guy after Cowens in those departments. In forging that team identity / backbone.

[lightspeed5]

im thinking danny ainge. he was an all-star only once and he contributed just enough but not enough to be a star.

and Jerry Sichting as well.