Let’s examine Wilt vs. Russell in Playoffs

[coastalmarker99]

Russ fans claim that Celtics 7-1 PO record shows Russ dominated.
Wilt fans say he dominated Russ individually but that Russ’s mates outplayed Wilt’s.
This thread looks at the actual record, series by series and game by game.

I examined all 49 PO games. I tracked data in four categories: TS%, Pts, Reb, Ast.

The overall data showed this:
PTS: Wilt: 43-6 (Wilt had more points than BR in 43 games vs. 6 games for Russ.)
REB: Wilt: 32-18 (1 tie)
AST: BR: 27-15 (7 ties)
TS%: Wilt: 32-17


I figured out Russ/Wilt’s teammates’ data by subtracting Russ/Wilt’s stats from team stats.

PTS: BR's teammates: 40-9 (BR team mates had more points than Wilt's in 40 of those games, vs. 9 for Wilt's mates.)
REB: BR teammates, 33-15 (1 tie)
AST: BR teammates: 28-16-5
TS%: BR team mates, 26-23



I compared contributions by equally weighing 4 categories (TS%, Pts, Reb, Ast).
So if Russ had 15 pts & 6 ast that was equal to Wilt’s 30 pts & 3 ast. That’s because Russ had half as many points but twice as many assists, so it evens out.
I also prorated all stats by MP.



The data showed:
Wilt outplayed Russ in 5 of 8 series: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968.
1960, 1962, and 1969 were close, with 1960 and 1969 leaning towards Russ.
Wilt played better in 23 games, Russ in 10, and 16 were close.

Russ’s teammates outplayed Wilt’s in 4 of 8 series: 1962, 64, 65, 66, 68.
Wilt’s outplayed Russ’s in 1967 (won by Wilt’s team) and 1969 (Wilt’s team lost by 2 in gm 7).
1960 was close.
Russ’s teammates were better in 26 games, Wilt’s in 12 and 11 were close.

This thread now is series by series
1960 Playoffs: Celtic vs. Warriors
Wilt played better in games 1 and 4.
BR: played better in game 3.
Close: 2, 3, 5, and 6.
Game 5 was a blowout:
Wilt 52% TS, 50/35/2 in 46 MP.
Russ 59% TS, 22/27/4 in 38 MP.
1960 Playoffs (continued)
Russ’s teammates played better in 1, 3, 4 (Celtics won all 4).
Wilt’s teammates played better in 2 and 5 (Warriors won both).
Close: Game 6 (won by Celtics by 2 points).


Overall: 2 (Wilt)-1 (Russ)-3 (close)
Overall: Russ’s teammates: 3-2-1

1962 Playoffs:
Wilt: Better in games 1, 2
Russ: 5
Close: 3, 4, 6

Russ’s teammates: 1, 3, 5, 7 (Celtics won all 4).
Wilt’s teamates 4, 6 (Warriors won both).
Close: 2 (won by Warriors).

1962: Wilt: 2-1-4
1960 & 1962: Wilt: 4-2-7

Russ’ teammates (1962): 4-2-1
1960 and 1962: 7-4-2


1964 Playoffs
Wilt: 3, 4
Russ: 1, 5
Close: 2
Russ’s team mates: 1, 2, 4, 5 (Celtics won all 4)
Wilt’s teamates game 3 (won by Warriors)
Close: None
Wilt’s teammates shot much worse than Russ’s: TS% .417 vs .465

1964: Wilt 3-2-0
Overall: Wilt 7-4-7

Russ’s teammates (1964): 4-1-0
Overall: 11-5-2

1965 Playoffs:
Wilt better in games 1, 2, 6
Russ: 3, 5
Close: 4

Russ’s teammates better: 1, 3, 5, 7 (all home wins by Celtics)
Wilt’s teammates game 6 (76ers won)
Close: 2, 4 (76ers won both)

1965: Wilt 3-2-2
Overall: Wilt 10-6-9

Russ’s teammates (1965): 4-1-2
Overall: 15-7-3

966
Wilt better in games 1, 3
Russ: 4
Close: 2, 5

Russ’s teammates better: 1, 2, 5 (Celtics won all)
Wilt’s: game 3 (76ers won)
Close: game 4 (Celtics won)
Wilt’s teammates shot much worse: TS% .421 vs .490
1966: Wilt 2-1-2
Overall: Wilt 12-7-11

Russ’s teammates (1966): 3-1-1
Overall: 18-7-5

[coastalmarker99]

1967 Playoffs
Wilt: 1, 3, 4, 5
Russ: None
Close: 2

Russ’s teammates better: 3, 4
Wilt’s: 1, 5
Close: 3, 4
Wilt’s mates shot much BETTER: TS%: .496 vs .447. First time that had happened.

1967: Wilt 4-0-1
Overall: Wilt 16-7-12

Russ’s teammates (1967): 2-2-1
Overall: 20-9-6

1968 PO
Wilt: 1, 2, 3, 5
Russ: 6
Close: 7

Russ’s teammates better: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 (Celtics won all but 2)
Wilt’s: None
Close: 3, 4 (76ers won)
Wilt’s teammates shot much worse: TS% .450 vs .516

1968: Wilt 4-1-2
Overall: Wilt 20-8-14

Russ’s teammates (1968): 5-0-2
Overall: 25-9-8


1969
Wilt: 3, 5, 7
Russ: 1, 2
Close: 4, 6

Russ’s teammates game 6 (won by Celtics)
Wilt’s: 1, 2, 5 (Lakers won)
Close: 3, 4 (Celtics won)
Wilt’s teammates shot somewhat better: TS% .491 vs .476

1969: Wilt 3-2-2
Overall: Wilt 23-10-16


Russ’s teammates (1969): 1-3-2

Overall: 26-12-11

[coastalmarker99]

Wilt Chamberlain lost 4 game 7s to the Celtics in the Finals & Eastern Conference Championship by a combined total of 9 points despite having inferior teammates it is interesting to note if his teammates slightly even play better he would have won championships in those four seasons, (giving him 6 total)fans would more then likely put him and Jordan in the same category with everyone else, not in the convo. Wilts stats were otherworldly, so 6 rings would put him in a Babe Ruth category, where you are talking about all-time greats in all sports. and it would have taken away four of Russell's rings, at the same time, so yeah, we would be having a totally different conversation about the Russell vs Wilt rivalry.

[coastalmarker99]

I wish that we had Wilt and Russell block totals in the playoffs I reckon that Wilt had more blocks then Russell in most of their games. During Wilt's last 7 seasons after his scoring seasons, he would lead all players in playoff defensive win shares 5 out of 7 times during his non-scoring title seasons and three times from 1967 to 1969 with Russell in the league.

And if blocks were tracked for Wilt he would also more then likely have the most blocks ever in the playoffs and triple-doubles In 81 known playoff games of recorded block shots. Wilt blocked a total of 590 shots, as a result, Wilt averaged 7.3 blocks per game in the playoffs. Tim Duncan has the most at 568 blocks and he played 251 playoffs games to Wilt's 160 and Wilt in less than 170 games at 81 games has more blocks then Tim Duncan. it's possible that Wilt might have gotten 1000 blocks in the playoffs which is just ridiculous to think about.

[GimmeThat]

sure, getting head from a gay man and a women is of the same sensation of the flesh besides one has a c0ck and the other one has a *****. unless the term sexuality has no meaning whatsoever, should we also disregard the physical aspect such as hormone?

[coastalmarker99]

sure, getting head from a gay man and a woman is of the same sensation of the flesh besides one has a c0ck and the other one has a *****. unless the term sexuality has no meaning whatsoever, should we also disregard the physical aspect such as hormone?

Wtf are you ranting about man?

[MrFonzworth]

Wtf are you ranting about man?

You're projecting. Relax.

[Stanley Kobrick]

You're projecting. Relax.
:lol

[Stephonit]

Do you take Wilt's stats or Bill's wins? I take the latter.

[Axe]

"Stats don't mean a thing if you don't win."

Shaq said so back in his days but ironically, he used to prioritize scoring over defense and rebounding during his younger years.

[Rysio]

They played in the 50s and 60s era that doesn't count.

[Proctor]

You're projecting. Relax.

:biggums::roll::roll:

[Roundball_Rock]

Good stuff. How about the margins in those games? Jlabeur would always point out how Wilt was a couple points here and there from many wins against the Celtics.

Whose teammates were more "decorated"? By that I mean HOF, all-NBA, all-star selections. From what I have seen re HOF it was very lopsided in favor of the Celtics. Yet all that is ignored boiled down to "2 rings" and an indictment of Wilt.