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View Full Version : Let's examine the myth that "Russell shut down Wilt in the Playoffs".



coastalmarker99
05-04-2020, 09:52 PM
They played against each other in 8 playoff years: 49 games. Those same years, Wilt played 46 playoff games against other teams/centers. The results Wilt's P/G vs. others in PO in 8 years was 26.5 Wilt's P/G vs. Russell in PO in 8 years was 25.7

So Russell held Wilt to 0.8 fewer P/G

Rebounds: 24.6 (vs. others) vs. 28.4 (vs. Russ) Wilt had 3.8 MORE rebounds vs. Russ than vs.others

TS%: . 529 vs. .518 Russell held him to 1% lower shooting

Russell vs. Others & vs. Wilt in PO in 8 years Russell P/G: 16.5 (vs. others) 14.9 (vs. Wilt) Wilt held Russell to 1.6 fewer P/G

Russell R/G: 23.8 (vs. Others) vs. 24.7 (vs. Wilt) Russell had 0.9 more rebounds

Russell TS%: .508 (vs. others) vs .456 Russell had 5% lower shooting efficiency vs. Wilt

Wilt also averaged more FTA/FGA against Russ than against other centers in the PO: .52 vs .60

Russell averaged fewer FTA/FGA against Wilt: .56 vs .37

Wilt averaged 2.5 fouls per game against Russ and 2.5 vs. others. Russell averaged 3.3 PF/G vs. others and 4.1 vs. Wilt.

Overall, Wilt vs. Russell as % of Wilt vs. others: P/G 97% Rb/G 114% A/G 84% FG% 94% FT% 114% TS% 98% FTA/FGA 115% PF/G 101%

Except for assists--which are dependent on teammates making their shots--Wilt's numbers were basically the same against Russ Russ vs. Wilt as % Russ vs. others P/G 90% Rb/G 104% A/G 98% FG% 90% FT% 99% FTA/FGA67% TS% 90% PF/G 124%

Except for rebounds, Russell's numbers were worse in every category

Thus, Wilt held down Russell more than Russ held down Wilt in the PO in those 8 years.

jlip
05-04-2020, 11:04 PM
I recommend reviewing some old ISH threads with people discussing this rivalry factoring in more than stats that can be simply pulled from bballref. Arguments and breakdowns from both sides are provided. Unfortunately, a few of the most informative ones have been deleted.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?268252-Wilt-Chamberlain-vs-Bill-Russell-1968-EDF-stats


http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?267732-Wilt-Chamberlain-vs-Bill-Russell-1965-EDF-stats

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?171377-My-analysis-of-the-Sixers-vs-Celtics-1967-footage(Prime-Wilt-vs-Russell)


http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?153453-Bill-Russell-vs-Wilt-Chamberlain

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?195147-Basketball-Philosophy-with-Bill-Russell

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?189443-Bill-Russell-vs-Wilt-Chamberlain

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?190665-The-reason-Wilt-Chamberlain-was-traded-from-Philly-to-L-A-(according-to-Jack-Ramsay)


http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?153447-Was-Wilt-as-selfish-as-Bill-Simmons-alleges

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?160893-The-Myths-of-Simmons-Six-Myths-on-the-Russell-vs-Wilt-debate