Category — Bill Russell

Of course we would have picked Wilt, but that’s not the point here.
Phil Jackson has said plenty of things lately. He’s promoting a book. Still, we’ve always been fond of Phil’s commentary (and what he’s reading since his list of recommended books is always awesome). We can only imagine why the Lakers’ Jim Buss, a former horse trainer, and his henchmen aren’t.
But as much as he’s promoting his new book, Phil made some interesting observations over the past week. The latest 1 being that if he had to start a team he would take Bill Russell instead of Michael Jordan. Imagine that.
SI.com

The Heat are the overwhelming favorites to win the NBA title again, and why shouldn’t they be? We’re hard-headed though. Actually, we’re sticking with our betting slip.
Eastern Conference
Heat over Bucks in 5; Nets over Bulls in 7; Pacers over Hawks in 5; Knicks over Celtics in 6.
Heat over Nets in 5; Pacers over Knicks in 6.
Heat over Pacers in 6.
Western Conference
Thunder over Rockets in 6; Clippers over Grizzlies in 7 (the Charles Barkley factor); Nuggets over Warriors in 7; Spurs over Lakers in 5.
Thunder over Clippers in 6; Spurs over Nuggets in 5.
Spurs over Thunder in 6.
Championship: Spurs over Heat in 7.

With a tip of the cap to The Hoop Doctors, a 15-year-old interview with the greatest of all time, Wilt Chamberlain, on the Roy Firestone show.
The Hoop Doctors

Not sure what’s up with that right hand.
Forty years ago, the Lakers won 33 in a row. It’s 1 of the greatest streaks of all time and another reason why Wilt also was the greatest of all time.
NBA.com

The track and field legend talks about his new book and how the 1968 Olympics changed his life.
ESPN.com

MVP of the 1st NBA All-Star game in 1951, “Easy Ed” is best known for being traded for Bill Russell. He was 83. The cause of death is unknown.
AP

Jordan and LeBron the greatest of all time? In response to Scottie Pippen’s idiot comments, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar goes off on a much applauded perspective. What’s stunning though is that Kareem says Jordan couldn’t have carried Wilt’s uh…you can fill in the blank.
From Kareemabduljabbar.com: “Dear Scottie,
I have nothing but respect for you my friend as an athlete and knowledgeable basketball mind. But you are way off in your assessment of who is the greatest player of all time and the greatest scorer of all time. Your comments are off because of your limited perspective. You obviously never saw Wilt Chamberlain play who undoubtedly was the greatest scorer this game has ever known. When did MJ ever average 50.4 points per game plus 25.7 rebounds? (Wilt in the 1962 season when blocked shot statistics were not kept). We will never accurately know how many shots Wilt blocked. Oh by the way in 1967 and ’68. Wilt was a league leader in assists. Did MJ ever score 100 points in a game? How many times did MJ score more than 60 points in a game? MJ led the league in scoring in consecutive seasons for 10 years but he did this in an NBA that eventually expanded into 30 teams vs. when Wilt played and there were only 8 teams. Every team had the opportunity to amass a solid nucleus. Only the cream of the basketball world got to play then. So MJ has to be appraised in perspective. His incredible athletic ability, charisma and leadership on the court helped to make basketball popular around the world — no question about that. But in terms of greatness MJ has to take a backseat to The Stilt.”
Click on the link above for the rest of his comments. He also gives high praise to the legendary Bill Russell.

See how fast we get things done? That statue we mentioned Jerry West deserved at Staples Center? Done.
In a sometimes moving ceremony, attended by several Laker legends, the “Logo” gets his due with a statue outside the house that Shaq built. Among the star-studded attendees: Jerry and Jeanie Buss; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Magic Johnson; Bill Russell; Elgin Baylor; Pat Riley; James Worthy; Bill Walton; Shaq; Pau Gasol; David Stern; Mitch Kupchak; and Bill Sharman. Jim Hill served as MC.
For whatever reason, Kobe Bryant couldn’t attend. Shame, shame, shame.

Before President Obama awarded the great Bill Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday, the president mentioned how there should be a statue honoring the legendary Celtic. It’s an incredible shame that there isn’t one and the absence reflects a remaining stain of the city of Boston, one of which was filled with hate.
Seriously, it’s 2011 and we’re still talking about this?
The Lakers also could correct some oversights in this same arena. The fact that there are no statues honoring Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar outside of Staples Center is inexcusable. Yet, there is 1 of Oscar De La Hoya, reminding us again the power of money.
Boston Globe