Can Bill Russell take the worst team in any era & turn them into 8X champions in a row?

Question

and turn 5 average NBA players into Hall of famers as well?

Answer 1

Russell was great. He took a team that generally won 45 games and was mediocre to winning 11 championships in 13 years. The Celtics before Russell lacked defense and leadership.

Answer 2

I don't think so.

It's hard to say to say Bill Russell is over-rated, but he is a lot of the time.

He's still a top 10 player all-time, because he has won a championship without a lot of talented players around him and as a coach. But, no way could he have won 8 straight without that hall of fame roster he played with almost his entire career.

The best example of a player like Russell in today's game, is Ben Wallace. Ben was a defensive monster, but he also had Rip Hamillton, Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, and Tayshaun Prince.

The same way Bill Russell had Havlicek, Cousey, K.C. Jones, Tommy Heinson and Red Aurebach as coach.

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"My Kill" listen, I never said Russell wasn't one of the greatest or that he is a mirror image to Ben Wallace, I just said his role was similar. Ben Wallace was the most defensively dominant player most of can remember thats why I chose him.

I respect Russell and all that he's done, he helped changed the way the game was played, but like one answerer already said, he's not Jesus Christ. Not Michael Jordan, not Bill Russell, Magic, Wilt etc. is bigger than the team. Russell only cannot make any ball club he plays for a champion.

Answer 3

no he can't... no one player can by themselves make 5 average players into hall of fame players. but what's your point?

the celtics had the best talent scouts in the game (including Red) and the most money to put together the best team. Bill was ahead of the game and was a winner. the celtics famed fast breaks were usually started off of a rebound, block or steal and a perfect outlet pass from Bill Russell. He was smarter, stronger, faster and one of the more athletic centers of his time. Plus he had a huge part in breaking down racial walls in his day (in boston of all places... a hotbed of segregation) everywhere.

Bill Russell is someone to look up to. He's a living legend. No matter what you want to write you can't take away his 11 rings or his hall of fame career. Just as all the other haters cannot take away the accomplishments of any player... Kobe, MJ, LeBron (if and when he wins one, but his impact is just as important) or any other legend Isiah Thomas, Magic, Bird...

so Mrs. new/old booty hates on Kobe...

Overrated hates on MJ...

MC hates on lebron... but he at least answers other questions and ask other questions.

now we have a full time Bill Russell hater...

i can understand almost all of the above because its (semi) current...

why are you hating on Bill Russell of all people? i've never even heard of a Bill Russell Jocker until now. Did you put together a collection of vintage celtic tapes and just come to the conclusion that he isn't that good?

EDIT: okay i see your point. yeah i understand what your saying now. i take back my Bill Russell hating comment. that is stupid... NO PLAYER, by himself can will a team a team to 8+ rings. NO PLAYER. it a team game and to say that he could do that on any team in any decade is disrespectful of the other players that contribute equally.

thanks for clearing that up.

Answer 4

Yes he could on the right team.

Maybe the OKC "Thunder" could use him in this era b/c their only good big is Nick Collison.

I also agree that the Clips of the 90's would be a good fit.

I would put him on any team that need a big man in general.

I'm out peace.

Answer 5

yeah, but Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant can't do that.

Answer 6

Bill Russell was the most successful NBA player EVER period...not even debatable if you bother to research this...he was NOT however JESUS CHRIST and would not be able to raise some of those Clipper teams from the grave...(and last I looked JC is NOT interested in playing basketball)...so what's your point?

Answer 7

Compared to any other player, Russell has the best odds of leading his team, even the worst teams, to 8 straight titles. After all, he is the only one in NBA history who lead his team to 8 straight rings (it would've been 10 straight if it wasnt for that injury in the 1958 Finals series when he was the regular season MVP ). Unlike some other superstars with premadonna attitudes, Russell is actually well known as a team player. He could fit easily into any team and there is NO basketball team who wouldnt benefit greatly from his defense and rebounding.

And no, Bill Russell is far more athletic (Russ was ranked World #7 in high jump during his college days), and faster (Russ was a track athlete too) than Ben Wallace.  He also has a much higher basketball IQ than Wallace. Ben has a tendency to send his blocks out of bounds. When Bill blocks a shot he taps it upward to transform it into a rebound or tap it towards a teammate and gain possession. Russ is also a much better passer.

And if a young Bill Russell replaces Tim Duncan in today's Spurs roster, he would win 8x and more, assuming he stays healthy (and with today's modern medical help and team trainers, it would be easy). He had a great coach in Pops and excellent help in Manu, Parker and Bowen.  

Whatever scoring dip the Spurs would take when Russell (15PPG) replaces Duncan (21PPG) in the lineup, would be more than compensated by Russell's superior defensive intensity and rebounding abilities (22RPG). To cite a real life example, remember when Cousy who averaged 18PPG, retired and was replaced by a defensive oriented KC Jones who only averaged 7PPG - KC was scoring less than half Cousy was doing - the Celtics regular season record actually IMPROVED by 3 more wins. The Celtics as a whole scored less with KC than before but they shutdown their opponents by a much greater margin.

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We are not psychics. How do we know youre referring to the '86-'87 Clippers if you didnt put it in your question on the first place?

On a narrow hypothetical level like the question your asking, i would say YES. Bill Russell will lead that f*cked up Clippers team to 8x rings and more.

On  more sensible terms, i would say that  Bill Russell has the best chance of leading that f*cked up Clippers team to 8x rings and more for reasons i already stated above in the first paragraph.