"3-peat"... do people not understand that an 8-peat is the bar?

[CavaliersFTW]

People act like "3-peat" is some sort of gold standard for achieving absolute greatness. F*ck No. Bill Russell 8-peated. Bill Russell is to achievement what Wilt Chamberlain is to sheer individual ability and dominance. Russell accomplished things so far out of reach people fail to comprehend the magnitude of his accomplishements and his involvement within them. HE set the bar for championships, not Jordan not Kobe not anyone else. He's alone at the top and no one is close. Until somebody comes along and wins at least 5 MVP's, 8-peats and wins 11 rings (at least 8 of which he'd be the unanimous finals MVP) Bill Russell is THE gold standard for 'ships' equating to greatness.

[Mr. Incredible]

Ok.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

OP is literally stuck in the 60's.

[Mr Exlax]

People act like "3-peat" is some sort of gold standard for achieving absolute greatness. F*ck No. Bill Russell 8-peated. Bill Russell is to achievement what Wilt Chamberlain is to sheer individual ability and dominance. Russell accomplished things so far out of reach people fail to comprehend the magnitude of his accomplishements and his involvement within them. HE set the bar for championships, not Jordan not Kobe not anyone else. He's alone at the top and no one is close. Until somebody comes along and wins at least 5 MVP's, 8-peats and wins 11 rings (at least 8 of which he'd be the unanimous finals MVP) Bill Russell is THE gold standard for 'ships' equating to greatness.

His team and organization did it. Not him by himself. Be for real my man.

[guy]

Completely different era with less teams and less moving parts. Its not nearly as realistic. Not to mention, the reason why its the "standard" now, is because its alot more doable and teams actually get close to doing it. If a team had just won its 6th straight championship, of course there would be alot of discussion over if that team can make it to 8. Teams just don't get close to doing it, so its not really discussed.

[tmacattack33]

People act like "3-peat" is some sort of gold standard for achieving absolute greatness. F*ck No. Bill Russell 8-peated. Bill Russell is to achievement what Wilt Chamberlain is to sheer individual ability and dominance. Russell accomplished things so far out of reach people fail to comprehend the magnitude of his accomplishements and his involvement within them. HE set the bar for championships, not Jordan not Kobe not anyone else. He's alone at the top and no one is close. Until somebody comes along and wins at least 5 MVP's, 8-peats and wins 11 rings (at least 8 of which he'd be the unanimous finals MVP) Bill Russell is THE gold standard for 'ships' equating to greatness.

You don't know what you're talking about.

There were only 9 teams back then. That makes it much (if you want to put a number to it, it'd be 30/9 = 3.33 times as much) easier to win a championship back then.

Also, the league was not fully racially integrated back then.

[CavaliersFTW]

Completely different era with less teams and less moving parts. Its not nearly as realistic. Not to mention, the reason why its the "standard" now, is because its alot more doable and teams actually get close to doing it. If a team had just won its 6th straight championship, of course there would be alot of discussion over if that team can make it to 8. Teams just don't get close to doing it, so its not really discussed.

What he did then was no less insane than if it were to be done now. The difference? When MJ came along with all the hype and Nike deals people tried to discredit Russell and that's when all the 'era' nonsense and excuses came along so as to justify LOWERING the bar to MJ's level of team success.

The bar is and has been 8-peat and 11 rings ever since Bill Russell. Not 3-peat and 6.

[Young X]

That's damn near impossible in this day & age. Unrealistic.

[fpliii]

[Doranku]

8-peat, one ring for each team in the league at the time.

[NumberSix]

Sick life

[Dragonyeuw]

It's quite literally impossible to win 8 in a row today. Less teams, travel, first round byes, a high concentration of HOF talent on the Celtics roster which would be impossible to replicate today, it's quite literally an apples to oranges comparison. 3 in a row is about the best a team can hope for nowadays, until injuries, trades,free agent moves changes the landscape of the league. If Lebron had showed up against Dallas in 2011, the Heat would have their 3-peat already and be in position to win a 4th straight this year, though I do think a team like Indiana is nipping at their heels, and Chicago depending on the return of Rose to MVP form.

To be honest a team winning 8 in a row sounds awful, the 90's Bulls came the closest to that and the two years Houston won was a refreshing change of pace IMO.

[TylerOO]

OP is literally stuck in the 60's.

This. I feel bad for him

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

But seriously, in Russell's day, nearly everyone made the playoffs and he frequently won rings facing HORRIBLE teams (even in the finals, winning only 2 and sometimes 3 rounds...)

[guy]

What he did then was no less insane than if it were to be done now. The difference? When MJ came along with all the hype and Nike deals people tried to discredit Russell and that's when all the 'era' nonsense and excuses came along so as to justify LOWERING the bar to MJ's level of team success.

The bar is and has been 8-peat and 11 rings ever since Bill Russell. Not 3-peat and 6.

No its not. More teams = harder to do. Just like it was harder for Russell to 8-peat in an 8-14 team league then it would be in a 2-5 team league, its harder for someone to do 8-peat in a 27-30 team league then it is in an 8-14 team league. Its basic math.