Wilt in Must-Win and Clinching Games in the Post-Season

[QUOTE=PTB Fan]Wilt had a comparable supporting cast from 65 to the rest of their match ups and IMO, better. None of Russell's team mates was individually better than any of Wilt's (granted Hondo is good, but he isn't better than Baylor and West). Difference between the two lies in the fact that Russell maximized his team mates' strengths and made them so so much better unlike Wilt who didn't do well in this area and no stats will prove me wrong.

So, it's not like Wilt didn't have advantage, but for some reasons he couldn't beat Russell (expect in 67) in a series despite having some good to brilliant rosters in his career.[/QUOTE]

In the 67-68 regular season, Wilt and his Sixers RAN AWAY with the best record in the league.

BUT, in the ECF's, the team that Chamberlain had during the regular season, was NOWHERE near the team that he had that faced Russell's Celtics. HOFer Billy Cunningham didn't play a MINUTE of that series. And the Sixers STILL had a 3-1 series lead. THEN, in game five, BOTH starters, Luke Jackson and Wali Jones, went down with leg injuries. And despite that talented roster, it was NOT a deep roster (unlike Boston, which could go TEN deep.) On top of all of that, Wilt himself, was PLAYING with an assortment of injuries, including a torn calf (a similar injury which limited Reed to missing two portions of the '70 Finals, and another entire game.) With ALL of that, Boston eked out a 100-96 win in game seven. CLEARLY, a HEALTHY Sixer roster would have fared much better, and likely would have duplicated their 66-67 rout of Boston.

In the 68-69 season, the Lakers gave up THREE players to get Wilt, AND, something that very few mention, they also lost HOFer Gail Goodrich in the expansion draft. Again, they were not a deep roster. But, despite all of that, they were still ONE PLAY away from winning that series, 4-1. Had Goodrich's replacement, Johnny Egan, been able to hold onto the ball late in game four, the Lakers would have won that game, and given the fact that they easily won game five, 117-104, they would have won that series in a 4-1 romp. I could go on, but ultimately, they had an incompetent coach who cost LA a title that season.

As for the 65-66 Sixers. During the regular season, Wilt averaged 28.3 ppg and 31.6 rpg against Russell. Overall, he led the league in scoring, at 33.5 ppg; in rebounding, at 24.6 rpg, and in FG%, at .540. And, he led that Sixer team to the best record in the league that year (albeit, by only one game over Boston.) In the ECF's, and against Russell, Chamberlain averaged 28.0 ppg, 30.2 rpg, and shot .509. Meanwhile, his teammates collectively shot .352 in that series. Now, you tell me just what changed? Are you blaming WILT for that collapse?

[QUOTE=PTB Fan]Hm..still doesn't change the fact that you go with stats when they are in favor of your favor player. Not a fan of that.[/QUOTE]

Throw out the stats...

Wilt DOMINATED his peers...plain-and-simple. Even in his supposed "decline" in the post-season.

There were very few games in Chamberlain's 160 playoff games, in which he played poorly, or was outplayed. And in many of them he just OBLITERATED his opposing centers. And keep in mind that he faced a HOF starting center in 105, and a multiple all star center in another 26...or 131 of his 160 post-season games against very good-to-GREAT centers.

[QUOTE=jlauber]Throw out the stats...

Wilt DOMINATED his peers...plain-and-simple. Even in his supposed "decline" in the post-season.

There were very few games in Chamberlain's 160 playoff games, in which he played poorly, or was outplayed. And in many of them he just OBLITERATED his opposing centers. And keep in mind that he faced a HOF starting center in 105, and a multiple all star center in another 26...or 131 of his 160 post-season games against very good-to-GREAT centers.[/QUOTE]

Why don't you ever post the stats both Wilt and Kareem had in the '72 playoffs? You ALWAYS post both Wilt's stats and the stats of the player he faced but this series you never put up stats. You only write "Kareem got murdered by Wilt", "Kareem got totally abused" and nonsense like that..

A perfect example of how you only use stats when it fits you.

[QUOTE=PTB Fan]Wilt had a comparable supporting cast from 65 to the rest of their match ups and IMO, better. None of Russell's team mates was individually better than any of Wilt's (granted Hondo is good, but he isn't better than Baylor and West). Difference between the two lies in the fact that Russell maximized his team mates' strengths and made them so so much better unlike Wilt who didn't do well in this area and no stats will prove me wrong.

So, it's not like Wilt didn't have advantage, but for some reasons he couldn't beat Russell (expect in 67) in a series despite having some good to brilliant rosters in his career.[/QUOTE]
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Dude. Hondo was always better than Baylor. That's not even a comparison.

Elgin was a great scorer & a pretty fair rebounder when I saw him in the late 60s. But he never, ever, played defense, was a notorious shot-jacker, and froze in clutch games over, and over, and over.

Havlicek was the best forward in the NBA for years and years. He was the best player on the Celtics in 68 & 69 and a top 5 player almost throughout his career. His only real competition was Pettit & then Rick Barry

I love stats as much as the next guy, but the eye-ball test doesn't get you to a point where Russell (or anybody) was better than Chamberlain. That's all Boston newspapers. He wasn't a guard, he was a center, he invented the entire post game against some of the best centers the game has ever seen. And he demolished every player he ever saw - on any court - except Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

You'll have to prove a negative when you suggest Chamberlain's teammates were better than Russell's, because they weren't. From 1960 to 1966 it wasn't even close. Chamberlain had 4 Hall of Fame teammates over those years, one of whom was a 11 & 5 guy with no great defensive skill: Russell had 14. Guys like Heinsohn, Cousy, Havlicek, both Jones, Sanders, Ramsay.


1967 & 68 were the only years there was an even matchup, and the 76ers won in 67 and had so many injuries in 68 nobody in the country thought they were winning the series.

People keep talking about Baylor like he was some mythic figure and in his early career, I guess he was. But he was nothing but a scorer when I saw him in 67-70. And, most people don't even know he played 65 games out of 300 in those last 3 years. If you count him as a player in the 70s you are sadly mistaken. He was the original Baron Davis as in always injured, always on the bench, a negative factor for his team.

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Furthermore - it's flat false to say that Russell made his teammates better than Chamberlain did.

Look up Wilt's teammates. Virtually every one of them had the best seasons of their careers with Chamberlain. The only notable exception was Baylor, who as I already pointed out, was done in by 70 - 1 full season with Chamberlain.

Buying into myth is bad business.

[QUOTE=millwad]Why don't you ever post the stats both Wilt and Kareem had in the '72 playoffs? You ALWAYS post both Wilt's stats and the stats of the player he faced but this series you never put up stats. You only write "Kareem got murdered by Wilt", "Kareem got totally abused" and nonsense like that..

A perfect example of how you only use stats when it fits you.[/QUOTE]

Hmmm... I posted the numbers from their two H2H clinching games in this thread. In one, a 34 year-old Wilt, a year removed from major knee surgery, outscored Kareem, 23-20, while outshooting Kareem, 10-21 to 7-23. Granted Kareem outrebounded him in that game, 15-12. Oh, and BTW, Wilt received a standing ovation as he left the floor in the last minute of the game...and the game was played in Milwaukee.

In the very next season, in the clinching game, again in Milwaukee, it was WILT who engineered a Laker comeback in the final quarter, erasing a 10 point Buck lead, and leading LA to a 104-100 win. In that final quarter, Chamberlain held Kareem to 2-8 shooting (and blocking two of his shots...presumably skyhooks), while taking over offensively. Their final numbers... Kareem with 37 points, and 25 rebounds, BUT, on 16-37 shooting. Meanwhile, Chamberlain had 20 points, on 8-12 shooting, with 24 rebounds.

So, in those TWO "clinching" games, a 34 and 35 year-old Chamberlain held Kareem to 23-60 shooting...or a .383 FG%!

Once again, though, what would a Chamberlain, in his absolute PRIME, have brought to the table?

Once again...I listed ALL 35 of Wilt's "must-win" and series "clinching" games...ALL of them.

Take a close look at ALL of them. Now, I challenge the "Simmonites" to prove that Chamberlain was a "choker" and a "loser", who "shrunk" in his biggest games. If anything, his OPPOSING CENTERS were the one's "shrinking" in those big games.

Hopefully we can finally put an end to this utter NONSENSE that Wilt was a "stats-padding" "loser" who "choked" and "shrunk" in his biggest games in the post-season.

[QUOTE=jlauber]Once again...I listed ALL 35 of Wilt's "must-win" and series "clinching" games...ALL of them.

Take a close look at ALL of them. Now, I challenge the "Simmonites" to prove that Chamberlain was a "choker" and a "loser", who "shrunk" in his biggest games. If anything, his OPPOSING CENTERS were the one's "shrinking" in those big games.

Hopefully we can finally put an end to this utter NONSENSE that Wilt was a "stats-padding" "loser" who "choked" and "shrunk" in his biggest games in the post-season.[/QUOTE]

Just stop it, seriously, it doesn't matter if we put an end to anything, you will continue spamming about this crap just so you can get rid of your daily dose of Wilt spamming..

Wilt and Lebron (on the Cavs) are the two players in NBA history that have had to deal with more unrealistic expectations simply because of how good they were.

Their own greatness was used against them time and time again.

KG gets a pass for getting out of the first round once in Minny....while Lebron is expected to challenge for titles with marginally better help on the Cavs. Doesn't add up.

People act like Wilt never won. He won twice and came about as close as you can a lot more.

Its funny because the mere act of hammering guys like that shows how truly great they are. Why do Malone and Barkley get passes for not winning anything.....while a guy like Dirk was hammered before last year? Last year people would laugh at the notion that Dirk was in their league as a player. Why? The ring thing was often brought up.

But then you mention that those guys didn't have a ring either and its excuse after excuse.

Rings matter of course, but so does how players play. You can be great and lose. Happens all the time. Check out Lebron in 09. Dirk in 09 (against the Nuggets).....Dirk in 10 against the Spurs.....

And what does it all even matter. Even the most ardent hater of Wilt would rank him in the top 6 all time. LOL

[QUOTE=La Frescobaldi]*************************

Dude. Hondo was always better than Baylor. That's not even a comparison.

Elgin was a great scorer & a pretty fair rebounder when I saw him in the late 60s. But he never, ever, played defense, was a notorious shot-jacker, and froze in clutch games over, and over, and over.[/QUOTE]

Fair rebounder? He averaged 18.5 RPG and 19 RPG in back to back seasons. Don't think Hondo got near double figures.

[QUOTE=Horatio33]Fair rebounder? He averaged 18.5 RPG and 19 RPG in back to back seasons. Don't think Hondo got near double figures.[/QUOTE]

1962 and 1963 is not the late 60s.

As I said, and you apparently ignored:

"Elgin was a great scorer & a pretty fair rebounder [B][SIZE="3"]when I saw him in the late 60s.[/SIZE][/B]"

Baylor was great, I don't want to give any idea otherwise. In the '68 regular season people were saying he had gotten back a lot of his old early 60s form, and I know I was blown away by some of his moves. But he got slower and slower as the season went on. It ain't fair to bash the guy, because his knees blew out - anymore than a guy should bash Grant Hill for [I]his[/I] injuries. But his defense was not what you saw from Satch Sanders or John Havlicek. Or Grant Hill, for that matter, who turned his game into skill and defense.

If you just run your eye down his career stat line, you can see exactly when he broke his kneecap........ From ESPN:

"On April 3, 1965, in the opening game of the Western Division finals against the Baltimore Bullets, Baylor's world came crashing down. He went up for a jump shot and came down twisting in pain. Players heard a "pop." [B]He had ripped off the upper eighth of his kneecap. Doctors removed part of his kneecap, tendons and ligaments, and scraped out sharp flecks of calcium.[/B]

Baylor returned for the next season, but, as Lakers announcer Chick Hearn said, "[B]It was like watching Citation run on spavined legs.[/B]" Baylor averaged only 16.6 points and for the first time didn't make first-team all-NBA. Somehow, though his moves and speed were not what they had been, Baylor pushed himself so hard that he again took his place among the NBA elite, averaging at least 24 points in the next four seasons.

But a torn Achilles tendon limited him to two games in 1970-71, and after only nine games the following year Baylor retired with 23,149 points... "

People on this site use Elgin Baylor all the time as a club to beat on Wilt Chamberlain for not winning more rings. They don't even know he just sat the bench most of the time.

Simmons is among the ignorant that bring up the Baylor-Wilt connection, to disparage Wilt's career.

As La Frescobaldi pointed out, Baylor was already on a severe downward spiral by the time he was paired up with Chamberlain. And the Lakers idiotic coach, Van Breda Kolf, preferred the shot-jacking Baylor's offense over the efficient offense of Chamberlain.

And the reality was, Baylor and Wilt only played together for ONE FULL-TIME season, their first in 68-69. And, Baylor was AWFUL in that post-season.

Following that season, Chamberlain blew out HIS knee the very next season, and while Baylor was essentially worthless for over a year with HIS knee injury (and at a younger age), Wilt came back from his surgery within FOUR MONTHS.

Now, while Van Breda Kolf despised Wilt, and limited his offense in the 68-69 season, Chamberlain's new coach in the 69-70 season immediately recognized that Wilt was a FAR greater offensive threat than Baylor. He asked WILT to become the focal point of the Laker offense, and as I have stated many times, a rejuvenated Chamberlain relished his return to offensive basketball.

In Wilt's first nine games of that 69-70 season, Wilt terrorized the league, averaging 32.2 ppg and on nearly .600 shooting...all in his 11th season in the league. BUT, unfortunately, Wilt blew out his knee, and was never quite the same after that.

In any case, Wilt was still a much better offensive player even after that devastating injury, and in fact, after posting a 36 and 30 point games in leading LA back from the 3-1 first round deficit, and then a sweep of Atlanta in the WCF's, he then put up a 23.2 ppg, 24.1 rpg, .625 Finals, in a seven game series loss against the 60-22 Knicks.

Baylor only played TWO GAMES in the 70-71 season (and obviously missed the playoffs...as did West that season.) Then, he was forced to retire in the ninth game of the 71-72 season, and it was probably no coincidence that the Lakers immediately reeled off a 33 game winning streak.

In any case, Wilt and Baylor were only together for ONE FULL season. Of course, Simmons never brings that up. Nor that Wilt was paired up with Thurmond for ONE full season, and then, Nate was a rookie, playing part-time, out of position, and even shooting a dismal .395.

The REALITY was, Chamberlain played with HIS HOFers FAR less than Russell did with his. And, for whatever it is worth, Wilt's HOFers generally played considerably worse in the post-season. Even the legendary "Mr. Clutch" had a horrible post-season in the one year in which he won a ring (shooting .376 in the post-season, and an even worse .325 in the Finals.)

And, as La Frescobaldi pointed out, Havlicek was a much better player in the late 60's than Baylor was, and considerably better in the post-season.

Thanks to Julizaver...

I can now add some more info to Wilt's 35 "must win" and series clinching games...

[url]http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272032&page=3[/url]

19. Game six of the first round of the 68-69 playoffs, against San Francisco, in a 118-78 win. Wilt with 11 points on 5/9 FG, 25 rebounds and 1 assist. Thurmond had 8 points in the loss.

20. Game four of the 68-69 WCF's, against Atlanta, in a 133-114 sweeping win. Chamberlain with 16 points on 5/11 FG, 29 rebounds and [B]10 blocks[/B]. His opposing center, Zelmo Beaty had 30 points in the loss.

22. Game five of a best-of-seven series (the Lakers were down 3-1 going into the game) in the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, and against Phoenix, a 138-121 win. Wilt with 36 points on 12/20 FG 14 rebounds and 3 assists. His opposing center, Neal Walk, had 18 points in the loss.

23. Game six of the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, against Phoenix, in a 104-93 win. Wilt with 12 points on 4/11 FG, 26 rebounds, 11 assists and [B]12 blocks (unofficial quad)[/B]. Jim Fox started that game for Phoenix, and had 13 points in the loss.

24. Game seven of the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, against Phoenix, and in a 129-94 win, which capped a 4-3 series win after falling behind 3-1 in the series. Wilt with 30 points on 11/18 FG, 27 rebounds, [B]6 assists and 11 blocks.[/B] Fox had 7 points in the loss.

25. Game four of the 69-70 WCF's, against Atlanta, in a 133-114 sweeping win. Wilt with 11 points on 5/10 FG, 21 rebounds and [B]10 blocks[/B]. Bellamy had 19 points in the loss.


28. Game seven of the first round of the 70-71 playoffs, against Chicago, in a 109-98 win. Wilt with 25 points on 7/12 FG,18 rebounds and 9 assists. 7-0 Tom Boerwinkle had 4 points for the Bulls in the loss.

30. Game four of the 71-72 first round of the playoffs, against Chicago, in a 108-97 sweeping win. Wilt had 8 points on 4/6, 31 rebounds and 8 assists. Clifford Ray had 20 points in the loss.

33. Game seven of the first round of the 72-73 playoffs, against Chicago, in a 95-92 win. Wilt with 21 points on 10/17 FG, 28 rebounds, 4 asissts and [B]8 blocks.[/B] His opposing center, Clifford Ray, had 4 points.

[B]The article about this series sad that Wilt blocked Chicago from playoffs after blocking 49 shots in 7 games[/B].


34. Game five of the 72-73 WCF's, and against Golden St., in a 128-118 win. Wilt with 5 points on 2/2 FG, 22 rebounds, 7 assists. Thurmond had 9 points on 2/9 FG, 18 or 15 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes in the loss.

Thanks again Julizaver

Updated...

Wilt in his 35 "must-win", or "series clinching" post-season games...

[QUOTE]

Ok, here are the known numbers in Wilt's "must-win" playoff games (elimination games), and clinching game performances (either deciding winning or losing games), of BOTH Chamberlain, and his starting opposing centers in those games.

1. Game three of a best-of-three series in the first round of the 59-60 playoffs against Syracuse, a 132-112 win. Wilt with 53 points, on 24-42 shooting, with 22 rebounds. His opposing center, Red Kerr, who was a multiple all-star in his career, had 7 points.

2. Game five of the 59-60 ECF's against Boston, a 128-107 win. Chamberlain had 50 points, on 22-42 shooting, with 35 rebounds. His opposing center, Russell, had 22 points and 27 rebounds.

3. Game six of the 59-60 ECF's against Boston, in a 119-117 loss. Wilt had a 26-24 game, while Russell had a 25-25 game.

4. Game three of a best-of-five series in the first round of the 60-61 playoffs , and against Syracuse, in a 106-103 loss. Chamberlain with 33 points, while his opposing center, the 7-3 Swede Halbrook, scored 6 points.

5. Game five of a best-of-five series in the first round of the 61-62 playoffs, against Syracuse, in a 121-104 win. Chamberlain had 56 points, on 22-48 shooting, with 35 rebounds. Kerr had 20 points in the loss.

6. Game six of the 61-62 ECF's, and against Boston, in a 109-99 win. Wilt with 32 points and 21 rebounds. Russell had 19 points and 22 rebounds in the loss.

7. Game seven of the 61-62 ECF's, against Boston, in a 109-107 loss. Wilt with 22 points, on 7-15 shooting, with 21 rebounds. Russell had 19 points, on 7-14 shooting, with 22 rebounds in the win.

8. Game seven of the 63-64 WCF's, and against St. Louis, in a 105-95 win. Wilt with 39 points, 26 rebounds, and 10 blocks. His opposing center, Zelmo Beaty, who would go on to become a multiple all-star, had 10 points in the loss.

9. Game five of the 63-64 Finals, and against Boston, in a 105-99 loss. Chamberlain with 30 points and 27 rebounds. Russell had 14 points and 26 points in the win.

10. Game four of a best-of-five series in the 64-65 first round of the playoffs against Cincinnati, a 119-112 win. Chamberlain with 38 points. His opposing center, multiple all-star (and HOFer) Wayne Embry had 7 points in the loss.

11. Game six of the 64-65 ECF's, against Boston, a 112-106 win. Chamberlain with a 30-26 game. Russell with a 22-21 game in the loss.

12. Game seven of the 64-65 ECF's, and against Boston, a 110-109 loss. Wilt with 30 points, on 12-15 shooting, with 32 rebounds. Russell had 15 points, on 7-16 shooting, with 29 rebounds in the win.

13. Game five of a best-of-seven series, in the 65-66 ECF's, and against Boston, in a 120-112 loss. Wilt had 46 points, on 19-34 shooting, with 34 rebounds. Russell had 18 points and 31 rebounds in the win.

14. Game four of a best-of-five series, in the first round of the 66-67 playoffs, and against Cincinnati, a 112-94 win. Wilt with 18 points, on 7-14 shooting, with 27 rebounds and 9 assists. His opposing center, Connie Dierking, had 8 points, on 4-14 shooting, with 4 rebounds in the loss.

15. Game five of the 66-67 ECF's, and against Boston, in a 140-116 win. Chamberlain with 29 points, on 10-16 shooting, with 36 rebounds, 13 assists, and 7 blocks. Russell had 4 points, on 2-5 shooting, with 21 rebounds, and 7 assists in the loss.

16. Game six of the 66-67 Finals, and against San Francisco, in a 125-122 win. Chamberlain with 24 points, on 8-13 shooting, with 23 rebounds. His oppsoing center, HOFer Nate Thurmond, had 12 points, on 4-13 shooting, with 22 rebounds in the loss.

17. Game six of the first round of the 67-68 playoffs, against NY, in a 113-97 win. Wilt had 25 points, and 27 rebounds. His opposing center, HOFer Walt Bellamy, had 19 points in the loss.

18. Game seven of the 67-68 ECF's, against Boston, in a 100-96 loss. Wilt with 14 points, on 4-9 shooting, with 34 rebounds. Russell had 12 points and 26 rebounds in the win.

19. Game six of the first round of the 68-69 playoffs, against San Francisco, in a 118-78 win. Wilt with 11 points on 5/9 FG, 25 rebounds and 1 assist. Thurmond had 8 points in the loss.

20. Game four of the 68-69 WCF's, against Atlanta, in a 133-114 sweeping win. Chamberlain with 16 points on 5/11 FG, 29 rebounds and 10 blocks. His opposing center, Zelmo Beaty had 30 points in the loss.

21. Game seven of the 68-69 Finals, against Boston, in a 108-106 loss. Chamberlain had 18 points, on 7-8 shooting, with 27 rebounds. Russell had 6 points, on 2-7 shooting, with 21 rebounds in the win.

22. Game five of a best-of-seven series (the Lakers were down 3-1 going into the game) in the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, and against Phoenix, a 138-121 win. Wilt with 36 points on 12/20 FG 14 rebounds and 3 assists. His opposing center, Neal Walk, had 18 points in the loss.

23. Game six of the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, against Phoenix, in a 104-93 win. Wilt with 12 points on 4/11 FG, 26 rebounds, 11 assists and 12 blocks (unofficial quad). Jim Fox started that game for Phoenix, and had 13 points in the loss.

24. Game seven of the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, against Phoenix, and in a 129-94 win, which capped a 4-3 series win after falling behind 3-1 in the series. Wilt with 30 points on 11/18 FG, 27 rebounds, 6 assists and 11 blocks. Fox had 7 points in the loss.

25. Game four of the 69-70 WCF's, against Atlanta, in a 133-114 sweeping win. Wilt with 11 points on 5/10 FG, 21 rebounds and 10 blocks. Bellamy had 19 points in the loss.

26. Game six of the 69-70 Finals, against NY, in a 135-113 win. Wilt with 45 points, on 20-27 shooting, with 27 rebounds. Nate Bowman had 18 points, on 9-15 shooting, with 8 rebounds in the loss.

27. Game seven of the 69-70 Finals, against NY, in a 113-99 loss. Wilt with 21 points, on 10-16 shooting, with 24 rebounds. HOFer Willis Reed had 4 points, on 2-5 shooting, with 3 rebounds in the win.

28. Game seven of the first round of the 70-71 playoffs, against Chicago, in a 109-98 win. Wilt with 25 points on 7/12 FG,18 rebounds and 9 assists. 7-0 Tom Boerwinkle had 4 points for the Bulls in the loss.

29. Game five of the 70-71 WCF's, against Milwaukee, in a 116-94 loss. Wilt had 23 points, on 10-21 shooting, with 12 rebounds, 6 blocks (5 of them on Alcindor/Kareem.) Kareem had 20 points, on 7-23 shooting, with 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the win. Incidently, Wilt received a standing ovation when he left the game late...and the game was played in Milwaukee.

30. Game four of the 71-72 first round of the playoffs, against Chicago, in a 108-97 sweeping win. Wilt had 8 points on 4/6, 31 rebounds and 8 assists. Clifford Ray had 20 points in the loss.

31. Game six of the 71-72 WCF's, against Milwaukee, in a 104-100 win. Chamberlain with 20 points, on 8-12 shooting, with 24 rebounds, and 9 blocks (six against Kareem.) Kareem had 37 points, on 16-37 shooting, with 25 rebounds in the loss.

32. Game five of the 71-72 Finals, against NY, in a 114-100 win. Chamberlain with 24 points, on 10-14 shooting, with 29 rebounds, and 9 blocks. HOFer Jerry Lucas had 14 points, on 5-14 shooting, with 9 rebounds in the loss.

33. Game seven of the first round of the 72-73 playoffs, against Chicago, in a 95-92 win. Wilt with 21 points on 10/17 FG, 28 rebounds, 4 asissts and 8 blocks. His opposing center, Clifford Ray, had 4 points.

The article about this series sad that Wilt blocked Chicago from playoffs after blocking 49 shots in 7 games.

34. Game five of the 72-73 WCF's, and against Golden St., in a 128-118 win. Wilt with 5 points on 2/2 FG, 22 rebounds, 7 assists. Thurmond had 9 points on 2/9 FG, 18 or 15 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes in the loss.

35. Game five of the 72-73 Finals, against NY, in a 102-93 loss. Wilt with 23 points, on 9-16 shooting, with 21 rebounds. Willis Reed had 18 points, on 9-16 shooting, with 12 rebounds.

That was it. 35 "must-win" elimination and/or clinching post-season games.

[/QUOTE]

lol Wilt sucks two rings with one of them winning as a sidekick, can't believe he is called the most dominant player. Definition of a statpadder!

Oh yeah he is a choker.

[QUOTE=Trumpin]lol Wilt sucks two rings with one of them winning as a sidekick, can't believe he is called the most dominant player. Definition of a statpadder!

Oh yeah he is a choker.[/QUOTE]

As a 'sidekick" he won the FMVP. And all he did in that series was average 19 ppg, 23 rpg, shoot .600, and 7.4 bpg. And in his clinching game five performance (and with two badly injured wrists...one FRACTURED)...he put up a 24 point game, on 10-14 shooting, with 29 rebounds (the ENTIRE Knick team had 39 BTW), and either 9 or 10 blocks.

And I am assuming as a "sidekick". you probably meant to Jerry West, who not only shot .376 in his entire '72 post-season, but an even worse .325 in those Finals.

Yep. He was a choker.