Bill Russell really is the Most Underrated Player Eva

I've always believed that Bill Russell was overrated by those ring counters. I still do. I think he was a rich man's Dikembe Mutombo.

But let's not overstate it. The dude averaged 22.5 rebounds, 15.1 points, and 4.3 assists per game on a championship team. Too bad they didn't record block shots and steals. I'm pretty sure he would be among the top shot blockers too.

His lowest rebounding season average was 18.6. Shaq's highest was 13.9, to give you some perspective.

But, comparing players across eras is quite futile. The game has changed so much. The way the officiate the game has changed so much. It's kind of like comparing Napoleon's military maneuvers to modern warfare tactics.

 

You know you are old when you remember watching him battle Wilt and Nate on a grainy, black-and-white Zenith.

 

Never said Russell was anywhere close to being the GOAT. Just that MJ stans best argument can work in strange ways. And the accusation that Russell dominated against scrubs is just as applicable to MJ. Who the hell was defending him back them in an era of enforced single coverage? Craig Ehlo? Dan Majerle ? The only wing with the athleticism to defend him in those days was actually his sidekick. Did he ever had to face guys like George, Allen,Wade, Igouadala, Kawhi or Giannis ( a guy that could actually block his fade-away)? There's a funny thing going on. The emergence of the freak wing defender is a direct reaction to Jordan's impact on the league as a wing scorer. In the era of zone defense, the only guy without a three-point shot that can get to the hoop with Jordan-like efficiency is Giannis and that's only because he is a walking aberration of nature that can get to the hoop from the three-point line in three steps. Jordan is the GOAT of his era just like Russell was the best overall player in his. Their era defining skills may not (and often point blank cannot) translate to a different era with different calibre of players and skill requirements. Each player and his legacy is a product of his era and his circumstances.

 

Vernon Maxwell. Too bad we only played them twice a year.

 

Russell/Thorpe/Horry/Maxwell/Smith -- Cassell,Elie, Herrera/Brooks -- That team wouldn't have gotten past Phoenix, because there would be no threat to score inside. They definitely would lose against the Knicks.

 

The glorified "Jordan Stopper". (Glorified because he indeed played Jordan only twice a year before Jordan "retired" and Maxwell went AWOL.)

 

No one is scoring inside on Russell. The guy was next level as an individual and team defender. The Rockets will be constructed differently if they had him.

 

That wouldn't be the problem, the Suns had scorers all over the floor and they could shoot from the outside. If the Rockets lose Dream's offense, they would've been toast.

 

Russel was great for his era but he’s not even in the top 5 best centers off all time imo.

I’m pretty positive That Dwight Howard could have had the exact same impact as russel did for those Boston teams in that era.

To me that says all I need to know.

I could be wrong but there is nothing that says I’m not right either. It’s all opinion with the guys who played in that era.

I think bill Russell was great for the league on and off the court and still is a huge presence but he’s overrated imo.

 

The reason Suns shooters could get open was because Barkley was a beast inside the paint. I am confident in the best interior defender of all time (who regularly slug it out with Wilt) to size up his fat ass and lock him down. The rest will depend on Rockets having the wing scorers to utilise the stellar passing skills of Russell.

 

You don't think Dream did pretty good job in the paint in that serious?

 

He was good. But Russell was better. Russell would have been able to guard Barkley 1on 1. His only stake to greatness is in being the best paint defender the game has ever seen.

 

Translated: Instead of a team full of role players, the Rockets would need at least one or two other elite All-Star scorers if they had Russell.

 

He can have 4.3 assists per game and still be called "limited offensively" due to unspectacular scoring numbers and poor field goal percentage when compared to his peers.

 

The defensive gap between Hakeem and Russell is much smaller and easier to replace than the offensive gap between Hakeem and Russell.

 

I don't think he realizes that Phoenix has some serious firepower on their team (Barkley, KJ, Marjerle, Green, Ceballos, and Ainge). Even with Dream, we used to struggle with the Suns.

 

His scoring numbers are fine. His shooting % is unspectacular. However, his APG are quite spectacular.

 

Considering pretty much everyone affiliated with that time credits Russell's leadership when mentioning those titles, saying Howard of all people could have the same impact is as wrong as wrong can be. And again, Howard would likely foul out by halftime under the old rules.

 

@topfive's_gf and I got in an elevator in a Portland hotel a couple of summers ago and Bill Russell was standing inside.

I don't get starstruck often, but c'mon -- Bill Russell.

Next stop, this young couple gets on and the dude completely loses his **** when he sees Bill. Pretty funny. Russell was very cool about it.

 

Wilt averaged 30 against Russell. Was none of that inside?

Hakeem would have scored routinely inside on Russell while exploiting his weaknesses on the defensive end. It's not even clear Russell could compete as well as Hakeem's contemporaries. The only success against Hakeem came from massive size (Eaton) and dominant scoring (Shaq). Russell offers neither and would be destroyed just like everyone else. Robinson was fantastic and got blown up despite playing well during an MVP season. You have to be ignorant to suggest that Russell could compete, he routinely got bested by Wilt.

As though that defensive gap exists. Hakeem was also dominant defensively but played both ends of the court at an elite level. Russell played half the court much if the time. Hakeem was closer to twice the player that Russell was.

Don't forget also that Russell's stats reflect an era where many more shots were taken and less defense played, thus benefiting his scoring and rebounding numbers. Russell's teams, even if they were equally dominant, would not have won 11 titles in 13 years in a league with 30+ teams.

Russell may be a top 5 center all time but certainly not top 3.