If BILL RUSSELL stays with the HAWKS instead of going to BOSTON.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Red never won before Russell. Russell's influence on the team was probably greater than Red's. When Red retired as coach, Russell was a the player-coach and they still won.

You need great players to win. This is obvious and not being disputed. I am pointing out that Auerbach has an extensive history of acquiring great players. You want to pretend that Russell is the reason the Celtics got Heinsohn, Cousy, Jones, Bird, Chief, McHale, Hondo, Heinsohn, etc. then whatever but in reality Auerbach was one of the greatest if not the greatest front office guys of NBA history.

[L.Kizzle]

You need great players to win. This is obvious and not being disputed. I am pointing out that Auerbach has an extensive history of acquiring great players. You want to pretend that Russell is the reason the Celtics got Heinsohn, Cousy, Jones, Bird, Chief, McHale, Hondo, Heinsohn, etc. then whatever but in reality Auerbach was one of the greatest if not the greatest front office guys of NBA history.

Never said he was the reason but he's responsible for the culture. The Celtics are different if there is no Russell. Takes away all their titles and Mystic. And Red is just a 60s version of Don Nelson.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Never said he was the reason but he's responsible for the culture. The Celtics are different if there is no Russell. Takes away all their titles and Mystic. And Red is just a 60s version of Don Nelson.

Take away Red and the Celtics never get Bill Russell. Any time a team wins a championship there are at least 3 people you can point at that they don't win without and usually a lot more than just 3.

[Lakers Legend#32]

Which place would have been more racist to Bill?

Boston or the Deep South?

[L.Kizzle]

Take away Red and the Celtics never get Bill Russell. Any time a team wins a championship there are at least 3 people you can point at that they don't win without and usually a lot more than just 3.

I did take Russell away from the Celtics. That's the premise of the thread lol.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I did take Russell away from the Celtics. That's the premise of the thread lol.

That doesn't change the fact that Auerbach was massively important. The list of great players he brought in to the Celtics could probably only be rivaled by the work Jerry West did in LA. His teams won 6 championships without Russell and yet you compare him to Don Nelson? Comparisons like that are hard to take seriously so instead I'll just point out that Don Nelson once hit a game winner for Russell and Auerbach's Celtics in the Finals and leave it at that.

[MrFonzworth]

The Celtics probably don't win 11 rings if Bill Russell plays for the Hawks.

Maybe.

[Duffy Pratt]

Which place would have been more racist to Bill?

Boston or the Deep South?

St. Louis definitely worse at the time. Neither were any good.

Petit and Russell would have been fearsome. Whether the Hawks front office could sustain the greatness is highly questionable.

[dankok8]

Honestly Celtics probably win 0 titles and Hawks win a whole bunch. The whole course of history is altered.