Boston Celtics All-Time Team: The Sixth Man
Well, Boston Celtics fans, we’re down to the final two entries in my All-Time Boston Celtics team series. Polls for the point guard,
May 21, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Celtics logo lies in the center of the floor before the game five between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center positions are still open, but when you look at the votes, you’ll see that there is not much drama to be had. Every single vote has a clear-cut favorite who has amassed at least 59% of the vote to date, which means I’m not going to see any dramatic, come-from-behind victories unless 200 people rush to vote in each poll between today and the weekend!
A position that SHOULD be hotly contested in my mind, however? That of the sixth man.
Every good team needs a reliable sixth man who can come off of the bench and hold the fort while a few of the starters are catching their breath. Throughout the Celtics’ rich history, you can find some of the best examples of the sixth man to ever play the game. For example, Frank Ramsey is considered to be the first player to truly establish the role of the sixth man. Ramsey won seven titles as a member of the Celtics, and showed future players that coming off the bench did not need to be seen as a demotion.
Another Celtics legend who became famous for coming off of the bench was John Havlicek. Sure, he became a starter later in his career, but the majority of his career was spent with Hondo playing the role of the sixth man so well that he nearly average a triple double per season!
Like John Havlicek, Ray Allen has already appeared in this series, in the shooting guard vote. However, Allen is currently being hammered by Sam Jones. so I thought I would throw him in this vote – a shot at redemption, if you will! Allen spent his final season in Boston coming off the bench, to the tune of 14.2 points per game. He’s a clutch shooter who stretches the defense and would be a great addition to the All-Time Celtics bench.
Apr 6, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; UCLA and comer NBA star Bill Walton poses for a picture prior to the start of the game between Louisville Cardinals and the Wichita State Shockers in the semifinals of the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
My last nominee didn’t spend very long in Boston, but he was a vital piece in the Celtics’ 1986 NBA Championship. That’s right – I’m referring to the 1985-1986 Sixth Man of the Year, Bill Walton. Clearly, Walton was a superstar during his prime, but when he came to the Celtics in exchange for Cedric Maxwell, Walton was an aging legend looking for one last shot at glory – and that’s exactly what he got. Coming off the bench in ’85-’86, Walton averaged almost 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and close to 8 points a game for a team that many will argue was the best to ever play in the NBA. He was clearly excited to be playing with the likes of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and company, and he provided a huge boost to the team every time he came off of the bench.
So you know the drill: vote, and if you have any comments for me, feel free to leave them below or @theamazingMrS!