if you Replace Bill Russell with Shaq do the Celtics still win 11 rings

[coastalmarker99]

How many finals do you think the 1956-1969 Celtics win with Shaq taking Russell's place on those Celtic teams from that era.



Honestly, I think Shaq would win at least 9 to 10 titles with the Celtics from that era as they were a legendary team and would be a great supporting cast for him as the Lakers and Magic were for him and if even with Wilt in his way it wouldn't be enough to stop him from raking up MVPs and rings.


Also, the Shaq vs Wilt battles throughout the 1960s would have been a bloodbath who do you think would have come on top against each other I can see Shaq giving Wilt fits by getting him in foul trouble and elbowing the crap out of him as he did to Mutombo in the 2001 finals.


Through I can see Wilt giving Shaq hell with his endurance scoring defence and rebounding abilities. Through i do wonder if Wilt would have been forced to play harder against Shaq then he did with Russell and other centers of that era.


I will say that Shaq against the 1960's Laker's in the finals would average better stats then he did throughout the 2000 to 2002 finals against the trash east as if Russell posted good offensive numbers of the Lakers of that era in the finals. Only god knows what a prime Shaq would average them maybe 40 to 50 points a game is in the realm of possibilities.

[Wally450]

Depends on how the game is called. Shaq would possibly foul out of each game too.

[Shogon]

No.

[coastalmarker99]

Depends on how the game is called. Shaq would possibly foul out of each game too.

True I did forget that under 1960's rules most of Shaq's power game that he did in the early 2000's would have been illegal and to be truthful god knows what the racist media and fans of the time would have said about Shaq if he had played like that.

[coastalmarker99]

No.

Why not you get an upgrade offensively with Shaq and whatever you loose on defence with Russell you make up on offensive with Shaq

[Shogon]

Why not you get an upgrade offensively with Shaq and whatever you loose on defence with Russell you make up on offensive with Shaq

That's not how that works.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swM-TedXpx8

Start watching at 4:04 if you want somewhat of an answer.


Bill Russell's basketball IQ >>>>>>> Shaq's.

And I love Shaq. Shaq is my favorite player ever. But Bill Russell, man... lol.

[coastalmarker99]

I think what is interesting would be Wilt playstyle with Shaq in the league does still he play like did in real life holding himself back and not using his strength or he does change his playstyle with the bruising Shaq and instead copy him and play the power game.


Also, I think having Shaq instead of Russell would make Wilt a better player as strange as that is to say i think having someone that could go at him on both ends like Shaq could would only make him a better player in the long run. I can also see those two challenging each other most years for the scoring title and field goal title along with the worst free throwing shooting percentage lol.

[RRR3]

Shaq would average like 60/30 on 70% in that era are you ****ing serious :roll:

[coastalmarker99]

Shaq would average like 60/30 on 70% in that era are you ****ing serious :roll:

Depends if Shaq is allowed to use his trademark power game then yes most likely he puts up Wilt numbers but at the same time under the rules of the 1960's Shaq would have to reign it in a little bit which could hurt his offensive game through Shaq did have good footwork and a nice hook shot to use if need be.

[coastalmarker99]

Also is another interesting question if Wilt has a ring or of a couple of them before 1967 with Shaq replacing his nemesis in Russell does he ever change his playstyle and stop being a scoring machine or does he still play that way until he retires in 1973 which could see him finish with a career scoring average of 35 plus in the regular season and 30 plus in the playoffs.



Honestly, if 1962 ends up being a ring and maybe 1964 I can't see Wilt changing his playstyle the way he did with the 76ers and La as his scoring machine ways would have delivered rings. And I don't know what sort of coach would want to change a winning formula along with pissing off Wilt at the same time.


Indeed reading Wilt's books gives you the impression that Wilt wished he didn't stop scoring as much after 1966 and change his playstyle so much. We saw in 1970 through the first 9 games of that season that Wilt could still score effectively on a large amount of volume before his career-threatening knee injury.


One can only wonder what sort of scoring numbers Wilt would have put up if he had never changed his playstyle after 1966 along with never suffering that knee injury in my eyes he most likely gets 10 to 11 scoring titles along with scoring 40 k points for his career which would be insane as he would have done it in only 14 seasons compared to Lebron's 19 or 20th season.

[dankok8]

Shaq just wasn't as motivated and driven as Russell was and those Celtics teams actually needed GOAT defense. They had a lot of great offensive players. Shaq though does have a killer mentality more so than Wilt but maybe Wilt would have been different facing Shaq who was his physical equal and wouldn't hold back. Those battles would have been insane. I don't think either guy would dominate the other. Shaq would have better supporting casts in the early 60's though.

My gut tells me Shaq ends up with 7 rings (compared to Russell's 11), Wilt ends up with 4 rings (instead of his 2) and Oscar and West/Baylor manage to grab one each. Or something like that.