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<< I know Russell ultimately bested Wilt, BUT, could it have been because Russell was surrounded by a better cast? >>
No question that Auerbach put one heck of a cast around Bill until Bill took over the coaching position, and in fact there was a heck of a cast there when Bill arrived. Cousy, Sharman, Ramsey, Loscutoff, Sam Jones, and fellow rookie Tommy Heinsohn. They were all still there when Wilt broke in.
Towards the end of Wilt's Sixers career though Wilt was backed up by Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Billy Cunningham and the Celtics were long in tooth. Sixers finally nailed the Celtics in Bill's first year as player coach, but the Celtics nailed them back the following year, then busted Wilt's Lakers Dream Team with West, and Baylor the following year in what I consider to be the greatest final series and 7th game ever.
Bill retired after winning two back to back NCAA championships at San Fran, an Olympic gold medal, and 11 NBA championships in 13 years, with 5 league MVP's. No one will ever do anything like that again.
Living now in the Philly environs is kinda fun. Talk about hoops and of course you hear about Wilt being the greatest center of all times. Bring up Russell and people look at you like you have three heads, so it is always fun to ask why Wilt only brought one championship to Philadelphia while Bill was playing.
Bill generally thought of as a defensive center but he set up the greatest fast break of all times, and he was the absolute ultimate psychological intimidator in league history and that is what did Wilt in against him whenever the chips were on the line. A big edge to Bill on Head and Heart, and unselfish team play, if not the record book. Wilt has the records, but Bill was the winner.
BTW: I saw Wilt's first matchup with Bill in Boston Garden in '58 (I think). Preseason exhibition against the Globetrotters. Wilt was then teamed up with Meadowlark Lemon and Goose Tatum.
<< I think Iverson is not measuring up to MVP status. >>
He can't go it alone. He's playing with a severely injured tailbone. But he certainly earned the league MVP, getting a club with rather mediocre talent this far. Team overachieved this year in support, but they were healthier.
<< This series doesn't support the contention of one of our younger mudges that Iverson is one of the three top scorers of the last 20 years. >>
Not sure I buy that one myself, but not sure I don't either, and you sure can't judge from this series, with solid support coming only from Mutombo, and remember he IS the leading playoff scorer, and was the leagues leading scorer this year. His playoff average IS above his seasons average and so is his average against the Lakers. He is picking up the seasons average each year, but Shaq, I think, has a better career average.
If your looking at the last 20 years, your looking at Jordan number one, and probably Shaq number 2, right now across seasons, with Karl Malone right up there. Bird and Wilkins probably eclipsed scoring wise, but Bird right up there for all aroubd play.
Allen is a pretty unique ball player. Not sure who I can compare him to. Cousy size wise, but that's all. In some respects Larry Bird comes to mind and maybe a little Pistol Pete.
<< the other guys aren't getting some of the easy shots they may have gotten in the past, and aren't having their usual success at creating shots for themselves against this Lakers championship-level defense. >>
No question that the Lakers have a championship-level defense, but "the other guys" didn't get easy shots this year. When they were healthy they hustled, played great D, and overall demonstrated heart like ya seldom see.
A healthy Snow, McKie, and Bryant that could go all out would make this one heck of a series, and Iverson would be less fatigued.
<< I sincerely hope Philly rallies for Game 5 >>
Hard to say if there is anything left, but if they can they will do it for Larry and the fans. I'll be rooting for them. This team owes us nothing. They have given all.
- Eric - |
