The truth about Bill Russell.

[millwad]

Ben wasn't the scorer, playmaker or leader Russell was. You goofs need to learn your history.

This.
The only valid comparison between the two of them is their defense.

[AlphaWolf24]

Yes and the Truth about Michael Jordan is...he would be a 42 - 44%FG averaging 20 - 26PPG.....in the modern era.....Not making the playoff's with Kwame brown , Jerry stackhouse or Rip Hamilton....


not a what if...it really happened...



next

[EricForman]

I'd say around 10-15-4 or something? I'm not even hating, the game these days just doesn't really revolve around centers.

IF the defense/paint patrol is A level, 10-15-4 is good enough numbers to be considered superstar/franchise/MVP level player.

[EricForman]

I think the old timer fans are a bit defensive here, acting like it's a big diss to say he'd be a better Ben Wallace. Ben Wallace was a four time DPOY and the anchor of a championship team.

what do you guys think Russ would be, a 19/21/5.5 blocks 60% shooting clear-cut best player in the league kinda guy?

If you're a "Better Prime Ben Wallace" and you do it for a decade straight...even with ZERO titles you'd be a top 25 player all time with 7-8 all star teams and 5-6 DPOY and 8-9 rebounding titles

[WillC]

Obviously it's impossible to know for sure but, if we put Bill Russell in a time machine and brought him into today's NBA, I think he would average the following numbers:

13ppg, 18rpg, 4apg and 4bpg and the best team record in the League.

Let's break it down...

Offensive comparison: Emeka Okafor
Okafor is 6'10" and a bit mechanical offensively. Russell is half an inch shorter but has twice as much heart so would at least equal Okafor's career average of 13ppg.

Rebound comparison: Kevin Love
Not meaning to knock Kevin Love but, if he can get 15rpg in 35mpg, then Russell would certainly get 18rpg in 40mpg (Russell had excellent endurance and would never quit).

Passing comparison: Blake Griffin
Not only could Russell throw the outlet pass, but he played in an era when centers played a pivotal role in half-court offense ball movement. This would help him surpass Griffin's 3.8apg.

Defensive comparison: No comparison
There is no one in the NBA today on Russell's level defensively. Darko Milicic averages 2bpg in just 24mpg. Russell's defensive awareness and timing were legendary. In 40mpg in today's game, he'd be able to average a league-leading 4bpg.

Intangibles comparison: Kevin Garnett
KG is one of the few players who could match Russell's legendary intensity. But Russell is more composed, more classy, more inspirational.

Needless to say, I genuinely believe Bill Russell would be a top 5 player in the NBA today and certainly the best big man in the league. He might lack Dwight Howard's athleticism, but Howard lacks Russell's intangibles such as hustle and heart.

Russell would be like a combination of Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace and Kevin Garnett all rolled into one.

[EricForman]

Yes and the Truth about Michael Jordan is...he would be a 42 - 44%FG averaging 20 - 26PPG.....in the modern era.....Not making the playoff's with Kwame brown , Jerry stackhouse or Rip Hamilton....


not a what if...it really happened...



next

you are the worst poster on ISH. even elite and jacks3 are sometimes reasonable.

[RRR3]

you are the worst poster on ISH. even elite and jacks3 are sometimes reasonable.

Worse than legend24 pegasus and phong?

[Dragonyeuw]

you are the worst poster on ISH. even elite and jacks3 are sometimes reasonable.

Why even bother to reply? You guys fall for it hook, line and sinker

[EricForman]

Worse than legend24 pegasus and phong?

i haven't dealt with Pegasus enough. but alphawolf really uses Jordan's Wizard years, when he was 38-40, AND PRETEND LIKE THAT WAS PRIME JORDAN. Like, he really thinks he could pull a fast one and have normal, non-delusional trolls buy into what he's saying.

[RRR3]

i haven't dealt with Pegasus enough. but alphawolf really uses Jordan's Wizard years, when he was 38-40, AND PRETEND LIKE THAT WAS PRIME JORDAN. Like, he really thinks he could pull a fast one and have normal, non-delusional trolls buy into what he's saying.

What about swagger/rg? Worst ever?

[millwad]

Russell would be a complete beast on both ends. Firstly, he basically invented modern defensive footwork. His athleticism was top notch without the informed practices of today.

Also, Russell would flourish in the half court: great pick setting, superior rebounding, clutch to the max, unbeatable team and man-to-man defense.

Nonsense about beast on both ends, defensively, no doubt..

Beast on offense? Not really. Great passer, yes, picks, yes..
Great scoring skills? Not at all..

[Crown&Coke]

Russell was 3 inches taller with a tremendous wing span. Different player.

that and the fact that Russell was a tremendous passer and once Boston realized then can use Russell as the trigger man in their offense he became dangerous on offense. Dude averaged a good number of assists throughout his career.

Not only that, dude averaged like 17 points with zero shooting ability or low post scoring ability.

Ben Wallace only equals Russell in their ability to love defense. Different player is saying it politely. Big Ben is awesome and will be remembers as such, but nothing compared to an all time great

[LJJ]

So he would be kind of like Ben Wallace except taller, more athletic, a better rebounder, a better shot blocker, a much higher basketball IQ and better on offense by a huge margin?


And Ben Wallace was already the centerpiece of a championship team?

I don't see were the controversy is. So you are saying he would be a dynasty player in this league too.

[WillC]

So he would be kind of like Ben Wallace except taller, more athletic, a better rebounder, a better shot blocker, a much higher basketball IQ and better on offense by a huge margin?

Pretty much. Except Russell wasn't quite as athletic as Wallace.

[LJJ]

Pretty much. Except Russell wasn't quite as athletic as Wallace.

Bill Russell was a top 10 high jumper in the world in his day.

Being one of the best in the world in an athletics discipline pretty much rules out Wallace being in the same stratosphere as Russell in terms of their athletic ability.

The training methods of the 50s and those of the new millenium aren't the same, but Russell's athletic potency is way higher.