All Time Lakers vs. All Time Celtics

Interesting article we’ll be discussing on the Young Guns tomorrow, mostly because of the superb sources used (especially the one seven paragraphs down).

Also, we discussed our all time Celtics and Lakers teams. First of all, it’s fairly incredible how good those teams would be. Second, I hate to say it, but when alls said and done, I really like the Lakers as the better all time franchise:

Lakers:

PG: Magic Johnson

SG: Jerry West

SF: Kobe Bryant

PF: Kareem Abdul Jabbar

C: Wilt Chamberlain

Bench: James Worthy, Elgin Baylor, Shaqullie O’Neal, George Mikan, Gail Goodrich

Coach: Phil Jackson

Celtics:

PG: Bob Cousy

SG: John Havlicek

SF: Larry Bird

PF: Bill Russell

C: Robert Parrish

Bench: Dave Cowens, Tommy Heinson, Kevin McHale, Bill Sharman, Bill Walton

Coach: Red Auerbach

Both teams are phenomenal, consider this, I left 6 guys off the Lakers team who are in the Hall of Fame and 10 Celtics (12 if you want to count Paul Pierce and KG). The all-time roster really reflects the franchises, the Celtics were the deeper team in the 50s and 60s, hence their dominance. The Lakers team wins, despite the fact that the C’s have more guys in Springfield. All you have to do is look at the sheer talent and athleticism at the top of that Lakers team. Three of the five best centers in history, the biggest mis-match at guard in history, the 2nd best scoring guard I’ve ever seen after Michael Jordan, and the guy on the NBA logo.

The Celtics have more Hall of Famers, but I’m hard pressed to say better talent because the Lakers guys are so good at the top of that list. The C’s also have more titles, but ask yourself this, if you’re a basketball fan…which team would you rather have been a fan of over the years? I’d have to say the Lakers, who never really went through a long period of being irrelevant as the C’s have done. Also, the Lakers, not the Celtics, were the first NBA dynasty in the early 50s.

Other franchises that put out pretty great all time teams include the Sixers (great line-up gets even better if you give them Wilt), Hawks (they can put 10 Hall of Famers on their all-time roster if you include St. Louis) and the Pistons (from Ft. Wayne to the Bad Boys).

New Celticscast tomorrow, but let’s hear your all-time teams for the C’s and/or Lakers, and if you think the best Celtics could beat the best Lakers in their prime, plus let us know what you think about the upcoming series…all those thoughts can be sent to hosts@celticscast.com.

Go C’s!