All-time Greatest Celtics

[ivanvamp]

Rummaging around Youtube today and saw this:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF0Pe2fFDsU
 
Fun (and funny) discussion about the all-time greatest Celtics.  Just so many to choose from, and we'd all have our own criteria.  For example, Pete Maravich was an all-time great player, but only played part of one season for Boston, so he wasn't an all-time great Celtic.  Tiny Archibald is a hall of famer, but he only played 5 seasons with the Celtics, so was he an all-time great Celtic?  Reggie Lewis would have been an all-time great (McHale says so in that clip), but obviously his death prematurely ended what would have been a stellar career.  
 
From my admittedly limited knowledge (I never saw the great Celtic players in the 60's and early 70's play), here are my lists:
 
Top 10, regardless of position (don't kill me for the order):
1.  Russell
2.  Bird
3.  Havlicek
4.  Sam Jones
5.  Cowens
6.  Cousy
7.  Heinsohn
8.  McHale
9.  Parish
10. Pierce
 
Now, top 12 players, with roster considerations in mind:
 
Starters
PG - Cousy
SG - S. Jones
SF - Bird
PF - McHale
C - Russell
 
Reserves
G - Sharman, Archibald
F - Heinsohn, Havlicek, Pierce
C - Cowens, Parish
 
Close but no cigar:  KC Jones, Dennis Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Frank Ramsey, Reggie Lewis

 

[Devizier]

I'd move Pierce, McHale, and Parish to four-five-six on that list, and swap Tommy out for Bill Sharman, but otherwise, yeah.

 

[bankshot1]

Not to nit-pick but IMO Jo Jo White was better Celtic than Archibald

 

[ivanvamp]

Oh, nit-pick away!  That's kind of what threads like this are all about.  
 
And to be honest, I completely forgot about White.

 

[mandro ramtinez]

If Lewis had lived and played a full career, Pierce would still be ahead of him on the all-time list.  Lewis was basically the alpha scorer on the C's starting in the 90-91 season and he never scored more than 20.8 ppg.  Pierce never averaged less than 21.3 ppg from the 00-01 season through 06-07 and was one of the best scorers in the NBA during his prime.  Pierce's accomplishments after 06-07 would arugably put him over Lewis on their own but when you add in the first half of his career, it's not even close.  Lewis was 27 when he died and had probably reached what would be his peak.

 

[4 6 3 DP]

Russell
Bird
Havlicek
McHale
Cousy
Pierce
Cowens
Parish
 
I struggle after that.
 
I prefer the "All time Celtic stiff backup caucasian center" list with dignetaries like Stojko Vrankovic, Brad Lohaus, Marc Acre, Greg Kite, et al. Would like to put Rick Robey on the list but the fact he was worth DJ means he simply isn't in line with the guys above (though Lohaus was half of worth Danny Ainge)

 

[Granite Sox]

Oh, nit-pick away!  That's kind of what threads like this are all about.  
 
And to be honest, I completely forgot about White.

 
Yeah... I loved Tiny when he was with the Celts, but JoJo gets the nod in my eyes.  
 
Tiny's in that same category as DJ, Walton and KG... the Celts were like finishing school.
 
Nice job with the rest of your list/roster!  Hard to imagine any other roster (even the Lakers) having depth like this.  I mean, Conner Henry, Tub Bradley, Marty Conlan and Acie Earl all say hello!

 

[Kliq]

Here is an ambitious crack at the top 20.
 
1. Russell
2. Bird
3. Havliecek
4. Cousy
5. Pierce
6. Cowens
7. McHale
8. Sam Jones
9. Bill Sharman
10. Parish
11. Garnett
12. Heinsohn
13. Satch Sanders
14. DJ
15. Frank Ramsey
16. JoJo White
17. Ray Allen
18. Bailey Howell
19. KC Jones
20. Easy Ed
 
That is 20 Hall of Fame and future Hall of Fame players, btw. Also, the greatest Celtic of all time is technically Red.

 

[BostonFan23]

Barkley has always had a ton of respect for the Celtics, but has continually criminally underrated Paul Pierce.

 

[bankshot1]

Russell
Bird
Havlicek
McHale
Cousy
Pierce
Cowens
Parish
 
I struggle after that.
 
I prefer the "All time Celtic stiff backup caucasian center" list with dignetaries like Stojko Vrankovic, Brad Lohaus, Marc Acre, Greg Kite, et al. Would like to put Rick Robey on the list but the fact he was worth DJ means he simply isn't in line with the guys above (though Lohaus was half of worth Danny Ainge)

Hank Finkel wants your e-mail address

 

[BostonFan23]

1. Russell
2. Bird
3. Hondo
4. Pierce
5. McHale
6. Cousy
7. Cowens
8. Jones
9. Parish
10. Heinson
 
Combination of legacy and skills.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I prefer the "All time Celtic stiff backup caucasian center" list with dignetaries like Stojko Vrankovic, Brad Lohaus, Marc Acre, Greg Kite, et al. Would like to put Rick Robey on the list but the fact he was worth DJ means he simply isn't in line with the guys above (though Lohaus was half of worth Danny Ainge)

 
The top three would be Finkel, Fernsten and Kite

 

[4 6 3 DP]

You can tell I'm mid 30's and Finkel and Fernsten are slightly too old for me.

 

[worm0082]

 
I prefer the "All time Celtic stiff backup caucasian center" list with dignetaries like Stojko Vrankovic, Brad Lohaus, Marc Acre, Greg Kite, et al. Would like to put Rick Robey on the list but the fact he was worth DJ means he simply isn't in line with the guys above (though Lohaus was half of worth Danny Ainge)

Always love a reason to post these:
 
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9roop_brett-szabo_sport
 
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xan88u_conlon-marty_sport

 

[jacklamabe65]

So glad Kevin mentioned Reggie Lewis. He would have been top seven had he lived.
 
I would have Paul Pierce on that list, not DJ - and I loved the guy.

 

[bankshot1]

I don't know where Reggie Lewis would have ranked if..., but the tragedy of his untimely passing and Bias's death and the what might have been for Celtic and basketball fans is a question that sadly will never be answered.  
 
And IMO Cowens, who was a Celtic rookie about 45 years ago, and who played between the two more renowned dynastic championship teams, and sometimes gets lost between dynasties, was an extraordinary player.