Bob Ryan with the 1st pick in an all time draft selects...

[BballTim]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

[Donoghus]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

I'm never going to discount Bill Russell. I might not pick him in this scenario but he's in the discussion.  The talk is about 7 game series and Russell was a perfect 10-0 in Game 7's, not to mention one of the alltime greats.  He belongs in the conversation.

[wdleehi]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

I'm never going to discount Bill Russell. I might not pick him in this scenario but he's in the discussion.  The talk is about 7 game series and Russell was a perfect 10-0 in Game 7's, not to mention one of the alltime greats.  He belongs in the conversation.

Not to mention that these are going to be loaded teams. 


Having Russel who was so successful as the leader and best player of the team with the longest winning stretch of an NBA franchise would be a great start. 


I would likely choose him 1st or 2nd along with Jordon.

[celtsfan84]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

[BballTim]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

  That too, his superior BBIQ is continuing to pay dividends.

[celtsfan84]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

  That too, his superior BBIQ is continuing to pay dividends.

I can't wait for your post about how Danny Ainge was a better player than MJ.

[BballTim]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

  That too, his superior BBIQ is continuing to pay dividends.

I can't wait for your post about how Danny Ainge was a better player than MJ.

  Sorry, you're right. MJ was the best athlete ever in any sport. God forbid anyone disagree with whatever icon at espn you glean all of your basketball knowledge from.

[celtsfan84]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

  That too, his superior BBIQ is continuing to pay dividends.

I can't wait for your post about how Danny Ainge was a better player than MJ.

  Sorry, you're right. MJ was the best athlete ever in any sport. God forbid anyone disagree with whatever icon at espn you glean all of your basketball knowledge from.

That icon would be Larry Bird, who has said often that Jordan is the best player of all-time.  And you've already noted his superior basketball IQ.  I can only assume that you agree with Bird.

[nickagneta]

This is such great advertisement for the 2013 CB Historical Draft.....coming your way in May 2013

[BballTim]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

  That too, his superior BBIQ is continuing to pay dividends.

I can't wait for your post about how Danny Ainge was a better player than MJ.

  Sorry, you're right. MJ was the best athlete ever in any sport. God forbid anyone disagree with whatever icon at espn you glean all of your basketball knowledge from.

That icon would be Larry Bird, who has said often that Jordan is the best player of all-time.  And you've already noted his superior basketball IQ.  I can only assume that you agree with Bird.

  Apparently not in this case. But no matter, I don't always agree with his personnel decisions either. I guess we should be thankful that you get your opinions from Larry, though, and not someone like Barkley.

[celtsfan84]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

  That too, his superior BBIQ is continuing to pay dividends.

I can't wait for your post about how Danny Ainge was a better player than MJ.

  Sorry, you're right. MJ was the best athlete ever in any sport. God forbid anyone disagree with whatever icon at espn you glean all of your basketball knowledge from.

That icon would be Larry Bird, who has said often that Jordan is the best player of all-time.  And you've already noted his superior basketball IQ.  I can only assume that you agree with Bird.

  Apparently not in this case. But no matter, I don't always agree with his personnel decisions either. I guess we should be thankful that you get your opinions from Larry, though, and not someone like Barkley.

Now if only we could put you on a similar path, instead of from Tommy Heinsohn.  Or the Celtics media guide.

[BballTim]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

  IMO a healthy Bird beats a healthy MJ.

 . . . as a General Manager.

  That too, his superior BBIQ is continuing to pay dividends.

I can't wait for your post about how Danny Ainge was a better player than MJ.

  Sorry, you're right. MJ was the best athlete ever in any sport. God forbid anyone disagree with whatever icon at espn you glean all of your basketball knowledge from.

That icon would be Larry Bird, who has said often that Jordan is the best player of all-time.  And you've already noted his superior basketball IQ.  I can only assume that you agree with Bird.

  Apparently not in this case. But no matter, I don't always agree with his personnel decisions either. I guess we should be thankful that you get your opinions from Larry, though, and not someone like Barkley.

Better than from Tommy Heinsohn too.  Or the Celtics media guide.

  If you say so. I've never read the Celtics media guide.

[indeedproceed]

I don't like the overly personal, snarky, and childish tone the thread has taken. Next post directed personally or even implying someone's bias or lack of basketball knowledge gets the thread locked, with possible discipline to follow.

[Moranis]

I think the OP misconstrued Ryan's exchange a little.*

He was asked if he could have any one player all time to win one seven game series he'd pick Bill Walton. Not necessarily an 'All-Time Draft'

That doesn't mean all the rest of the picks are all-time players. Just that first pick. Who knows who the rest of the picks are.

*I learned this while investigating who else was in the all-time draft. Who was picking second? How many rounds? I'm a nerd.

perhaps you missed this

With the first pick in all time draft for winning a 7 game series, Bob Ryan selects a healthy Bill Walton.

[Moranis]

Certainly a little outside the box but I could see where Ryan is coming from.  A healthy Walton was certainly one heckuva basketball player.  Arguably the best passing big man of all time. 

I'd probably go in the same direction and pick a center myself although Russell or Chamberlain would probably be the first choice to come to mind.

You're talking a 7 game series.  Gotta have yourself a top 5 big man.

I think Wilt or Jordan are the only acceptable answers here.

I'm never going to discount Bill Russell. I might not pick him in this scenario but he's in the discussion.  The talk is about 7 game series and Russell was a perfect 10-0 in Game 7's, not to mention one of the alltime greats.  He belongs in the conversation.

Not to mention that these are going to be loaded teams. 


Having Russel who was so successful as the leader and best player of the team with the longest winning stretch of an NBA franchise would be a great start. 


I would likely choose him 1st or 2nd along with Jordon.

Sure these are loaded teams, but that just means you have plenty of time to take "glue" guys and thus you don't need to go "less" (and I use that word hesitantly since Bill is an all time great) talented but a better team player in the first couple of rounds.  You use your later picks to fill in the gaps and make the players work as a team.  Jordan and Chamberlain are widely regarded as the two best players in NBA history.  They have also had plenty of monster games in the post season and played for two of the greatest teams in NBA history.  In this type of situation, I really believe they are the only two acceptable answers.