25 Greatest Celtics of All-Time : #1

[Lou Tsioropoulos]

For what it's worth from a long-time fan:
#1 - Russell
#2 - Bird
#3 - Havlicek

Number one is a no-brainer; so is number two.  The fun starts at number three.  We are likely to have a guy end up at number seven who would be a legitimate number three.   lout (Lou T)

[wdleehi]

Russell
Bird
Cousy

[Jon]

Yeah, I think this is fairly easy right now.  I think it gets tougher the further down we go.  But I think you have to go:

Russell
Bird
Havlicek

Hondo was a key part of most of the Russell teams and the go-to scorer for the Cowens/White teams of the '70s.  He was also a versatile, tireless player.  I give him the edge over McHale, Cowens, Cousy, Pierce, and Sam Jones (a very underrated player, who some say would be talked about in the same breath as Jerry West had he played on inferior teams). 

[Brickowski]

Agree with Roy Hobbs

#4 is McHale, #5 is Cousy, #6 is Sam Jones, #7 is Robert Parish.  Then it's a 6-way tie for #8.

[RAcker]

#1 - Mark Blount
#2 - Acie Earl
#3 - Jiri Welsch / Mark Acres
#4 - Gary Payton
#5...come on I couldn't resist.   

[RAcker]

My real list would be:

#1 - Russell / Red (didn't say it had to be a player)
#2 - Bird
#3 - Havlicek
#4 - Cousy
#5 - McHale (not only the greatest PF of all time, but closelined Rambis)
#6 - Parish
#7 - Sam Jones
#8 - Cowens
#9 - Dennis Johnson
#10 - Tommy Heinsohn (great scorer, great coach, great broadcaster)
#11 - Walter Brown
#12 - ...my head is hurting to try and rank them at this point.

[Topher]

I actually think it would be more interesting if people ranked their top 10 or 20, as its pretty clear Russell and Bird will be 1 and 2.  Havlicek will probably be 3.

And thats how I would rank them purely AS PLAYERS.

However, for what its worth, if this poll is supposed to really factor in "off the court" considerations in a significant way, then I'm not so sure Russell and Bird are the clear cut choices for 1 and 2 . . . and Heinsohn probably climbs high up the list.

[Steve Weinman]

I actually think it would be more interesting if people ranked their top 10 or 20, as its pretty clear Russell and Bird will be 1 and 2.  Havlicek will probably be 3.

Casperian can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe from my past discussions with him - and the title of the thread - that the goal is to rank the top 25 Celtics of all time, only we're handling each spot one at a time - so you should get your wish in that sense.

In the meantime, count me with Roy...

1-Russell
2-Larry Legend
3-Hondo

Happy to help, Cas (although I can't take much credit for anything beyond saying, "That sounds great to me!") and good to see the poll up.

-sw

[Casperian]

Casperian can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe from my past discussions with him - and the title of the thread - that the goal is to rank the top 25 Celtics of all time, only we're handling each spot one at a time - so you should get your wish in that sense.

That´s correct, it´s the first thread in a series of threads, planned as a bigger project for the whole off-season.

[amenhotep04]

#1 Russell
#2 Tommy
#3 Hondo

Russell for being the greatest teammate in the history of the NBA. Tommy for his lifetime achievement. Hondo for giving more on the court than Larry, as well as carrying the tradition over to the 70s after so many had retired. 

#4 Larry - injuries curtailed an otherwise incredible career.
#5 Cousy - third word I learned after mama and papa.

[Moranis]

Bird
Russell
Pierce
Havlicek
McHale
Cousy
the Chief
Cowens
Sam Jones

I'm struggling with #10, so many good players, but a lot have short celtics careers (DJ, Toine, etc. or just weren't truly great Tommy, Jo Jo, etc.)

[Eja117]

1 Bird
2 Russell
3 McHale just barely over KG due to Rambis clothesline

4 Dennis Johnson

[Redz]

1 Bird
2 Russell
3 McHale just barely over KG due to Rambis clothesline

4 Dennis Johnson

Hard to put KG up that high for just 2 seasons worth of wearing the green.

[Eja117]

1 Bird
2 Russell
3 McHale just barely over KG due to Rambis clothesline

4 Dennis Johnson

Hard to put KG up that high for just 2 seasons worth of wearing the green.

Actually as I look back maybe you're right. I looked at the rules and originally interpreted it as best player to wear green, but actually it says best Celtic which is different from best player. There was no eligibility requirement other than had to be  a player and you could consider off court stuff. So I guess Ray doesn't make the list either

[Redz]

1 Bird
2 Russell
3 McHale just barely over KG due to Rambis clothesline

4 Dennis Johnson

Hard to put KG up that high for just 2 seasons worth of wearing the green.

Actually as I look back maybe you're right. I looked at the rules and originally interpreted it as best player to wear green, but actually it says best Celtic which is different from best player. There was no eligibility requirement other than had to be  a player and you could consider off court stuff. So I guess Ray doesn't make the list either

Yeh, sometime last year I posed the question the other way around, and KG would have to rank up there.  Names like Dominique were mentioned too - guys who had great careers, but didn't necessarily achieve greatness while a Celtic (though KG certainly qualifies for both, his longevity leaves him short on the All Time Great C's - 2 more banners and he gets his number retired though  )