Bill Russell is the GOAT

[HammerDown]

Dickey Simpkins > Bill Russell

 

[HammerDown]

HIS FG% SUCKED FOR A CENTER! He let teammates shoot because he had a hard time hitting a barn...

Not to mention he's only 6' 7-3/4" (listed as a "Boston" 6' 10"). Look at pics of The Stilt dwarfing him.

 

[Shanemansj13]

So basically he was a fraud.

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

So basically he was a fraud.

Not at all. An amazing player. Just not the GOAT...

 

[HammerDown]

So basically he was a fraud.

A total fraud. There's hardly been a better one in the history of sports. Easily the most overrated athlete in the history of American professional sports. And what's funny is that the more time that goes by, the more hip it is to praise Bill Russell. As this thread proves, there are actually people who believe Bill Russell was the greatest ever. Unbelievable.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

IMO, for a while I had Kareem at #1 because longevity outlasted Russel's amazing career. Also Offense was allegedly not Russel's forte...well that bothered me, his stats were not great if you compare them to today.

His career FG% was probably good enough for top 15-20 and his PPG were also good for about the same. Couple that with his D, rebounding and over all league dominance and that is the GOAT.

Make your case for GOAT over Bill Russel.

Bill Russel has more rings, 5 MVPs was a defensive phenom even by todays standards and by the standards then he was an efficient offensive player. His college career was also better than almost anybody's.

I've been saying this for awhile now - ever since the Heat fans claimed it was Lebron - I have said Bil Russel >>>>>>> then Lebron

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

A total fraud. There's hardly been a better one in the history of sports. Easily the most overrated athlete in the history of American professional sports. And what's funny is that the more time that goes by, the more hip it is to praise Bill Russell. As this thread proves, there are actually people who believe Bill Russell was the greatest ever. Unbelievable.

Come on now. Give credit where credit is due. He was a great rebounder. You know, like Rodman...

 

[HammerDown]

Not at all. An amazing player. Just not the GOAT...

Aside from the rings, what's amazing about him?

In before a Boston fan says something about "an amazing team player."

If Wilt and Russell switched teams, no one would even know Russell's name. He would have been a third wheel behind Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.

 

[HammerDown]

Come on now. Give credit where credit is due. He was a great rebounder. You know, like Rodman...

"He was a great defender." :rollseyes:

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

"He was a great defender." :rollseyes:

Well, after his rookie year, he never finished worse than 3rd in rebounds and is the career #2 and #1 in career defensive win shares...

 

[Brahmsian]

Roy Tarpley on gutter glitter > Bill Russell

In a Laker fans dreams, maybe. NOT in reality!

 

[HammerDown]

Christian Laettner > Bill Russell

 

[HammerDown]

Well, after his rookie year, he never finished worse than 3rd in rebounds and is the career #2 and #1 in career defensive win shares...

Cause when he wasn't playing the Lakers his opponents averaged 6' 2". Hell, I could rebound if I played back then. Big deal.

Somehow we go from "a good rebounder" to the greatest ever.

 

[Brahmsian]

Being stubborn doesn't make you any less wrong.

 

[HammerDown]

Cherokee Parks > Bill Russell

 

[HammerDown]

Being stubborn doesn't make you any less wrong.

Your humility in admitting that is commendable!

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

Cause when he wasn't playing the Lakers his opponents averaged 6' 2". Hell, I could rebound if I played back then. Big deal.

Somehow we go from "a good rebounder" to the greatest ever.

I never said greatest ever and don't think he is. But you clearly have an ax to grind. He was a great player. But for some reason you can't bring yourself to admit it.

 

[HammerDown]

6' 10" my ass.

 

[HammerDown]

I never said greatest ever and don't think he is. But you clearly have an ax to grind. He was a great player. But for some reason you can't bring yourself to admit it.

On literally any other team we wouldn't even know his name. He was very ordinary except for the 11 rings and the urban legends associated with him.

Mike Smrek > Bill Russell

 

[ChrisperJ10]

Philip Seymor Hoffman > Bill Russell