86 Celtics. 5 of their top 6 are in the HOF, and Ainge was a heck of a player.
Ditto and double ditto. And, thanks for remembering how great Danny was as a player. It was all too easy for him to get lost in the shuffle of that truly authentic greatness.
I rate the Russ, Tommy, Sam and Hondo gang as a close second. They simultaneously could run with these Dubs and play lock-down defense.
Among a myriad of magical ingredients, D.J.'s defense would stand out against the Dubs. I'm laughing right now imagining how badly he would shut down Steph and the consequent look on Steph's pretty-boy face.
Nothing against, Steph or the Dubs. I actually like them. They are a great team, without question. And, we shouldn't forget the mostly over-looked but deeply significant role Jerry West, Mr. Laker himself, has played in building the veritable monster currently on display.
While we are engaged in the current retrospective, we shouldn't fail to remember how great the Big Bill Walton-iteration of the Trail Blazers was in the process of winning it all in 77. Led by the coaches's coach, Jack Ramsay, the Blazers were probably even better the next year before Bill sadly went down with the foot injury and the ominous harbinger of the direction his career would be taking. When healthy, which wasn't often, he was as good a center as has ever played.