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What-If Sports All-Anything Team: All-Boston Celtics Team To simulate this team against any NBA or ABA team throughout history, or to match them up against your team and see who wins, follow these steps: Go to www...

Picking an All-Time Boston Celtics Team

by Dallin Kelson (Contributor)

6

732 reads

Sports

November 26, 2008


What-If Sports All-Anything Team: All-Boston Celtics Team

To simulate this team against any NBA or ABA team throughout history, or to match them up against your team and see who wins, follow these steps:

Go to www.whatifsports.com/nba

Select the search tab under home or away.  Select Dream Teams for type of search.  Type in "All-Boston Celtics" and click search.

 

PG — Bob Cousy ('52-'53)

What other point guard in the history of the NBA has exemplified the position as well as "The Cooz"?  In 13 years, he averaged 18.4 points and 7.5 assists per game.  He invented modern ball-handling with his eye-catching dribbling and unorthodox passing. 

The season of 1952-53 was easily his best, in which he won the first of his assist titles, despite the fact that the shot-clock rule hadn't been implemented yet.  He took the Celtics to the playoffs, where he had one of the best games of his career in an overtime victory over the Syracuse Nationals, before falling to the Knicks in the next round.

 

SG — Paul Pierce ('05-'06)

Who symbolizes the modern Celtics more than Paul Pierce? 

One of the best in the league at individual competition with other superstars, Pierce was with the Celts through the rough years, and is now enjoying being at the peak of the league with them again.  His play was one of the few bright spots in several dismal years for Celtics fans.  His career scoring average, 23.6 PPG, is second only on the team to Larry Bird.  He's been named an All-Star 6 times. 

Opponent Shaquille O'Neal said about him after a Lakers win over the Celtics in 2001: "I knew he could play, but I didn't know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is the truth."

2005-06 was one of his best campaigns, as he had the highest points-per-shot average among the top 30 scorers in the league.  He set the franchise record for consecutive games of 30 or more points, with eight.  Despite this, the Celtics finished a dismal 16 games out of first place in the Atlantic Division.

 

SF — Larry Bird ('84-'85)

One of the greatest wing men of all time, and a beloved Celtic to boot, "The Hick from French Lick" was one of the keenest and most versatile players in NBA history. 

Bird was nicknamed "Kodak" due to his perceived ability to take mental pictures of the opposing teams defensive strategy and adjust his own teams' accordingly.  His shooting was some of the best in NBA history, due to the fact that he used to shoot 200 free throws before school every day.

1984-85, Bird led the Celtics to a second straight NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, however, this time, the Celtics would not beat Magic Johnson and would lose in 6 games.  However, Bird was the MVP of the regular season that year.

 

PF — Kevin McHale (86-87)

McHale was one of the best offensive players in NBA history.  In the 86-87 season, he turned into a dominant offensive force, calling his moves "the torture chamber" and averaging 26.1 PPG during the 86-87 season, in which he finished fourth in MVP voting.  He was the first NBA player to shoot better than 60% from the field and 80% from the free throw line that season.

 

C — Bill Russell (63-64)

And who could forget Bill Russell, the epitome of a defensive center? 

He averaged over 22 rebounds a game, excelling also at shot blocking and man-to-man defense. His low scoring (15 PPG) indicates that he was not a focal point of the Celtics offense, but contributed tremendously to their success with his stellar defense and court IQ. 

In the 1963-64 season, Russell averaged 24.7 rebounds a game, a career best, and led the Celtics to an NBA title, with what Russell called the greatest defensive team of all time.

 

Bench

Rajon Rondo ('07-'08), Kevin Garnett ('07-'08), Antoine Walker ('00-'01), Reggie Lewis ('91-'92), John Havlicek ('71-'72), Dave Cowens ('72-'73), and Robert Parish ('88-'89).

 

Coach — Red Auerbach

As if there was any question.

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6 comments Last one added 4 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. ...

    It what universe would Rondo be on an all time Celtic team?

    If you need a PG wasn't Tiny one?

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  2. ...

    I love Rondo and all, but he's played just over two years and at this point, he's hardly even a top 20 point guard.

    PG: Cousy
    SG: Sam Jones
    SF: John Havlicek
    PF: Larry Bird
    C: Bill Russell

    Bench: Paul Pierce, Dave Cowens, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish, Tommy Heinsohn, Jojo White, Dennis Johnson

    Coach: Who do you think?

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    • ...

      Obviousy Josh knows Celtics history, for he picked Sam Jones. If he had not had to ride the bench the first four years wating for Sharman to retire Jones would have scored a zillion points. That aside he was unreal in the clutch. He didn't get the title Mr Clutch for nothing!

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  3. ...

    its all good, except no way Rondo is on that team. Mine as well put Brian Scalaberine in too, while you're at it.

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  4. ...

    This guy is an idiot putting Pierce over arguably the best shooter in Celtics history, Sam Jones!!

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  5. ...

    I can be reached at cotnermsbabbles@aol.com

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  • About the Author Dallin Kelson (contributor)

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