From 1956 to 1969 the Boston Celtics won 11 NBA championships 
in 13 years.  This is probably the greatest sports dynasty of all 
time.  How were they able to do it?  Was it on pure talent?  Great 
coaching?  Outstanding team chemistry?  A lot of luck?  Bill 
Russell?  Or, was it all of these? 

  In the early 1950's professional basketball was much different 
than it is today.  Baseball, college basketball, and hockey were 
much more popular than pro basketball. Most basketball fans didn't 
care for pro basketball, nor knew much about it.  Boston coach Red 
Auerbach scrimmaged against Holly Cross University just to show 
people that the Celtics played better basketball. 

  Players lost playing time because of military duty. Salaries 
were low.  All players had other jobs in the off season.  Most 
franchises lost money.  There were no assistant coaches.  Players 
washed out their own uniforms.  When John Havlicek joined the 
Celtics in 1962, he found things different than at Ohio State.  
The world champion Boston Celtics "locker room" had no lockers, 
just nails and hooks.  It had four showers and one toilet. 

  In the 1950s the referees were poorly paid and intimidated by 
the home coach and the fans.  In 1951 the home team won 75% of its 
games, 70% in 1957, and 60% in the mid 1960s.  Things did get 
better.  But in the 1950-51 season, Knicks owner Ned Irish had 
only 18 home dates in Madison Square Garden.  College games were 
more profitable.

  The first TV contract was in 1952-53 with an independent 
network,DuMont.  In 1961-62 the TV contract usually had the 
Celtics playing every Sunday afternoon.

  In 1950 the game of pro basketball itself was different. The 
big men weren't as big as they are today, and not nearly as 
athletic.  No one worked out with weights. The lane was six feet 
wide and the centers were never far from the basket.  You seldom 
saw a dunk.                                  

  There was no three point shots, but there were many shots taken 
from that distance.  Many of these were two handed set shots.  
There was no shot clock.  Many times the team leading in the 
forth quarter tried to stall.  A "classic" game was played on 
November 22, 1950 when Fort Wayne stalled most of the game.  The 
final score was a 19-18 win over Minneapolis.

   
Let's look at some history:

1917:  Arnold Auerbach was born September 20.   Red was a child 
of the Depression in Brooklyn.  He played varsity handball and 
basketball at Eastern District High School.  At 5-9 he was slow 
and suffered from asthma, but he did make All-Brooklyn second 
team in his senior year.  Red wanted to go to college and thought 
basketball would get him there. He wanted to teach and coach. 

1936:  He enrolled at George Washing University, after being 
recruited by coach Bill Reinhart. Bill was ahead of his time in 
coaching.  He had the best fast break in the country.  Red 
played three seasons at GW and was captain his senior year. Met 
his future wife Dorthy Lewis at GW where she was an education 
major. 

1940:  Red received his bachelor of science degree in physical 
education. He directed intramurals for tuition money to pursue a 
master's degree.  While in school he became a basketball coach 
at St. Alban's Prep School. 

1941:  Arnold and Dorthy were married on June 5.  She loved 
Washington D.C. where her parents lived.  She raised their two 
daughters there.

   He earned a master's degree in education at George Washington 
University (thesis on intramural sports) and started out as a 
high school teacher and coach. This was at Roosevelt High School 
in Washington D.C.  He taught history and hygiene while coaching 
basketball and baseball.  All this for a $1,800 yearly salary.  
In basketball he stressed rebounding and running.  In summers he 
worked in the playgrounds and as a basketball official. 

1943:  Red joined the navy.  He was placed in the Physical 
Fitness Program under Gene Tunney.  He later set up an intramural 
program for sailors at Norfolk Navel Base.  He coached some of 
the best basketball players in the country.  He remembered the 
names and abilities of many players which proved to be important 
in later years.

1946:  Discharged from Navy.  He could have taken a $2,900 job at 
Roosevelt, but heard of the formation of a new professional 
league.  He wanted to coach the Washington franchise. (Players 
at that time made between 10 and 40 dollars a game.)  Thought 
this was a one time opportunity. 
                            
1946:   A group of mostly sports area owners form the BAA, 
Basketball Association of America.  This was in addition to the 
existing National Basketball League.  The new league was 
established primarily to give the owners another sport to fill 
the dates left open when their hockey teams were out of town.  
   
   Franchises were awarded to the following: Washington Capitals, 
Boston Celtics, Cleveland Rebels, New York Knickerbockers, 
Philadelphia Warriors, Providence Steamrollers, Toronto Huskies, 
Chicago Stags, Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Ironmen, and the St. 
Louis Bombers.  Only Washington was not linked to hockey. A 
college draft was established in reverse order of the final 
previous standing. 

   Red wanted to coach the Washington franchise.  At only 28 
years of age, he requested a meeting with owner Mike Uline.  
Auerbach convinced Uline that he was the man for the job.  He 
spoke of his Navy experiences, knowledge of existing players, and 
promised to keep expenses down.  Red accepted a one year contract 
for $5,000. 

   He ran his players hard.  He stressed the fast break, 
spreading the scoring around, good defense, conditioning, 
discipline, teamwork, and loyalty.  He discouraged drinking and 
fraternization.  His team was the forerunners of the following: 

1.  using a 6th man
2.  taking the center out of middle so smaller player can cut to 
basket (high post) 
3.  strategic fouling in second half 
4.  out-of-bound plays 

1946-47:  Washington finished 27 games ahead of last-place 
Celtics.  Celtics top crowd was less than half of average crowd 
that watched Holly Cross University play in the Boston Gardens.  
His Capitals lost in first round of playoffs to Chicago. 

1947-48:  Finished 2nd season  28-20.  Again lost in first round 
of playoffs.  After the season several of best of NBL teams 
joined league including league champion Minneapolis Lakers with 
george Mikan. 

1948-49:  Started out 15-0 and finished 38-22.  In playoffs beat 
Philadelphia, New York, but lost to Lakers in six games.  In 
three years he was 115-58, but quit because he couldn't get a 
three year contract. 

   Became Duke assistant coach at $7,500.  Didn't like not being 
in charge. 

   The BAA changed its name to the NBA.

   Red was offered the head coaching job at a new franchise, 
the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.  Auerbach was given authority to build 
and trade.  In six weeks he made trades involving 28 players. 
Team was 28-29 under Auerbach and lost in first round of 
playoffs.  He quit when owner made a trade against his wishes. 

   In the mean time, Boston was 89-147 and lost $460,00 in 
the last four years. 

April 1950:   Red was given a one year contract for $10,00 plus 
share of profits to coach the Celtics.  The owner, Walter Brown, 
who knew nothing about basketball, gave Red complete control.

   In the 1950 college draft, Red chose 6-11 center Charlie Share 
of Bowling Green.  Auerbach, along with seven other NBA teams, 
passed on Bob Cousy.  This fancy passing and tremendously popular 
tree-time all-American led nearby Holly Cross to a 27-4 record.  
Red deplored flashy basketball, and once called Cousy a "local 
yokel" to the press. 

   Cousy, who didn't sign a contract after he was drafted by the 
Tri-Cities Blackhawks, was traded to the Chicago Stags.  The 
Stags folded shortly afterwards.  In a special meeting called by 
the commissioner, Red with two other coaches picked three numbers 
from a cap. Auerbach had last choice and was given Cousy. 

   Cousy had a few problems at first adapting to Red's coaching. 
But he respected Auerbach's knowledge of the pro game and became 
easily the best point guard of that time. He was rookie of the 
year and ninth in scoring in his first year.  He later appeared 
in 13 straight NBA All-Star Games.  He led the league in assists 
eight consecutive seasons and consistently ranked near the top in 
scoring and free-throw percentage. 

   Red's 2nd round pick, Chuck Cooper, was the first black 
drafted by NBA. But the best new player in 1950 was "Easy Ed" 
Macauley a 6-8 190 lb forward/center.  After his senior year 
Macauley was a territorial pick of the St. Louis Bombers in the 
1949 NBA Draft.  The Bombers disbanded after a 26-42 last-place 
finish.  The league awarded Macauley to the Boston Celtics.  He 
became a seven-time All-Star.  He could run the court, pass, and 
became one of the best shooters in the league.   He was chosen 
MVP of the first All-Stare game which was played in 1950 at
Boston Gardens. 

        Macauley and Cousy turned the Celtics into instant 
contenders. The pair made it possible for Red Auerbach to employ 
his fast-breaking offense, and the team chalked up its first 
season above the .500 mark, finishing at 39-30.  But they lost in 
the first round of the playoff to the Knicks. 

   After the season, Red dealt Shore to Fort Wayne for Bill 
Sharman. In the late 1940s Sharman was a standout athlete in 
baseball and basketball at the University of Southern California.  
Sharman signed a minor league baseball contract with the Brooklyn 
Dodgers in 1950. Later that year the Washington Capitols drafted 
him in the second round of the NBA Draft, and for the next five 
years he played both sports. Unable to break into the majors, he 
abandoned his baseball career in 1955. 

   Along with being a tenacious defensive player, he may have 
been the best shooting guard of his time.  He still ranks among 
the top free-throw shooters of all time with a .883 lifetime 
percentage.  He led the league in free-throw shooting for a record 
seven seasons.  Sharman was voted to the All-NBA first or second 
team seven times, and he played in eight NBA All-Star games. 

1951-52:   The trio of Cousy, Maccauly, and Sharman became one of 
the highest-scoring threesomes in NBA history.  The team finished 
at 39-27, but lost again to the Knicks in the first round of the 
playoffs. 

52-53:  Finished 42-25.  Beat Syracuse in first round of 
playoffs, but lost to Knicks in the second round. 

   In the 1953 college draft, Red drafted juniors Frank Ramsey, 
Cliff Hagen, and Lou Tsioronlos.  These University of Kentucky 
players were red-shirted due to the college basketball fixing 
scandals.  Most pro coaches didn't think Auerbach would get away 
with this, but he did. 

    The 6-foot-3 Ramsey finally joined the Celtics for the 1954-
55 campaign.  This 6-3 forward/guard became the first great 
sixth man in pro basketball.  He was extremely fast, a good ball 
handler, and shooter.  Red Auerbach once called Frank Ramsey "the 
most versatile player in the NBA."   

 In next three seasons they won 42, 36, and 44 games, but lost in 
playoffs to Syracuse each year.  They scored more points than 
anyone, but lacked rebounding and defense. 

1954-55     First use of 24-second clock.

   Coach Reinhard, Red's college coach, told him that he had just 
seen the greatest defensive player and rebounder he had ever 
seen.  But many didn't think college player Bill Russell would be 
a good pro.  He wasn't powerful or a good shooter.

1956:   Rochester owner Lester Harrison had 1st pick.  But he had 
a great power forward in Rookie of Year Maurice Stokes.  Russell 
wanted $25,000 to play in the NBA.  This was more money than most 
owners were willing to pay.  The Globetrotters also wanted 
Russell.  Another factor in this equation was that Russell was 
going to play in the Olympics.  This meant that he would not be 
available at the start of the next season.  Also in the East-West 
All-Star game he played poorly (for him).  With all of these 
factors Harrison ended up drafting Duquesne guard Sihugo Green. 

   St. Louis Hawks owner Ben Kerner had the 2nd pick in 1956 
draft.  Red ended up giving St. Louis Macauley and Cliff Hagen for 
their first round draft choice.  Red drafted Bill, but now he 
had to sign him.  Red told Bill that scoring points didn't matter 
and would not be discussed at contract time.

   Abe Saberstein, owner of the Globtratters, had paid a visit to 
the University of San Francisco to seek a commitment from Russell 
to join the Trotters after he graduated.  Abe talked to Bill's 
coach, but never to Bill.  Russell took this as a personal snub 
and made up his mind never to play for Abe Saperstein. 

    Bill did sign with the Celtics, and as they say, the rest is 
history.  And what a history! 
   
    Bill Russell was born in Monroe Louisiana.  Moved to Oakland 
at age nine.  Didn't make starting high school basketball team 
until senior year.  This unknown high school player went to the 
University of San Francisco.  There he was a room mate of K.C. 
Jones.  These two became great college players led their school 
to two NCAA championships while winning a record 55 straight 
games. 

   In this same 1956 draft, Red chose Tom Heinsohn and K.C. 
Jones. Was this not the best college draft of all time for a 
professional team? 

   The 6-7, 218 lb Heinsohn was Rookie of the Year in 1957.  He 
was later named to the All-NBA second team for four years, and 
was an All-Star for six, averaging 18.6 points in 654 regular-
season games.  Heinsohn was a deadly shooter with a variety of 
shots.  He is remembered mostly for a long jump shot and a hook 
from near the base line. 

   K.C. Jones spent two years in army and began his career with 
the Celtics in 1958.  While playing, he never got the publicity 
of other higher scoring Celtics.  But he became probably the best 
defensive guard in the NBA,  while blending in superbly with his 
teammates. 

Dec 22, 1956:  In Russell's first game as a Celtic he played 21 
minutes, got 6 points, 16 rebounds, and blocked 3 shorts of the 
best power forward in the NBA, Bob Pettit.  The Celtics beat the 
St. Louis Hawks by two points.

   Russell did have a few rough games early on.  But in his 
fourth game he got 34 rebounds against Philadelphia's Neil 
Johnson.  A week later he held Johnson scoreless in 42 minutes of 
play.  This was the same Neil Johnson that had led the NBA in scoring 
three times, and was to finish fourth that year.

  With Russell now a full time Celtic, the team could take more 
chances on defense.  If an opposing player drove around a Celtic 
guard, there was Russell ready to block his shot.  The Celtic 
guards could often get a lead on their opponents running down the 
court.  This, and with Russell's rebounding and superior outlet 
passing, made the Celtic fast break special.  The best 
conditioned team in the NBA now had the best fast break in 
history. 

1956-57:  Celtics finished the season at 44-28:  Advanced 
to the finals of the playoffs against the St. Louis Hawks.  They 
beat the Hawks 125-123 in the 7th game.  Bill had 19 points, 23 
rebounds, and 5 blocked shots in this 2nd overtime victory.  
Pettit had 39 points and 19 rebounds for the Hawks. 
                                                  
1957 draft:   The Reds drafted unknown Sam Jones from North 
Carolina Central College as his No. 1 draft pick.  He got a tip 
from former player Bones McKinney. 

   The 6-4, 205 lbs future Hall-of-Famer became one of the best 
guards in the NBA.  Both Sam and K.C. were substitute players for 
several years because Cousy and Sharman were established all-
stars.  During these years, the two Joneses often came into the 
game together replacing Cousy and Sharman.  When this happened 
the quality of Celtic play suffered little if any.

    Sam became famous for his accurate bank shots.  He helped the 
Celtics win 10 NBA Championships in the 12 years he played with 
the team. During his career he averaged 17.6 ppg and shot .803 
from the free-throw line. Selected to the All-NBA second team 
three times and an All-Star five times, he was elected to the 
Hall of Fame in 1983. 

1957-1958:  Celtics finished 49-23.  Russell was MVP.  He set a 
rebounding record of 22.4 per game.  Maurice Stokes was second 
with 18.1, and Pettit third with 17.4. 

  Celtics lost in the finals of the playoffs to the Hawks as 
Russell went down with twisted ankle.  The game six score was 
110-109 with Pettit scoring 50 points.  The Celtics would have 
won with a healthy Russell, but the Hawks, particularly Pettit, 
played magnificently.  The Hawks were the last all-white 
championship team. 

1958-59:   Celtics finished at 52-20.  Sharman, Cousy, Heinsohn, 
and Russell all finished in the top 15 scorers in the NBA. 

   In the playoffs they almost didn't reach the finals.  At one 
point in game seven of the Eastern Conference finals against 
Syracuse, they trailed by 16 points.  Russell fouled out in 4th 
quarter, but the Celtics went on to win by five.  Boston beat the 
Lakers 4-0 in the finals. 

1959-60:   This was Wilt Chamberlain's rookie year.  Wilt was a 
recognized future great basketball player while in high school. 
Red worked with him as coach/counsler in a summer basketball 
camp. There, Wilt held his own against the best NBA players.  
Auerbach recognized his talent, but Red also saw that Wilt 
wouldn't listen to coaching.  He wanted to do his own thing. 

   In Chamberlain's fist season, He averaged  37 points, 26 
rebounds, and named league MVP.  Boston beat the Philadelphia led 
Chamberlain team in the playoffs in six games, then won the 
finals in seven games against St. Louis. 

   Thomas "Satch" Sanders was drafted in the 1st round by the 
Celtics in 1960.  The 6-6, 210 lb forward became a defensive 
workhorse during the team's string of NBA Championships in the 
1960s. He was almost always assigned to the opposing team's 
highest scorer, forcing players such as Bob Pettit, Jerry West, 
and Elgin Baylor to scratch and claw for every point.  He was the 
second-leading rebounder in four of his 13 seasons with the 
Celtics.  During the 1970-71 season Sanders sustained a knee 
injury from which he never truly recovered. 

1960-61:   This may have been Boston's best team coached by 
Auerbach.  Six Celtics averaged 15 or more points per game.  Four 
players later became Celtic coaches(Russell, Heinsohn, Sanders, 
K.C.Jones).

   Celtics finished at 57-22 and won the championship series in 
five games over St. Louis.  Bill Sharman retired at the end of 
the season.  Sam Jones was now a starter.

March, 2, 1962:  Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game 
making 28 of 32 free throws.

1961-62:  Celtics finished at 60-20.  This was the season that 
Wilt averaged over 50 ppg.  But Russell was voted MVP.

   Boston beat Philadelphia in seven games in the Eastern finals 
as each home team won their home games.  Boston then went seven 
games against Los Angeles and could have easily lost.  With two 
seconds to go and the score tied, the Lakers' Frank Selvy missed 
a 10 foot jumper at base line.  Celtics won in overtime.  Russell 
played all 53 minutes got 30 points and 40 rebounds. 

   This year in the draft Boston chose John Havlicek, a 6-5 
forward from Ohio State as the last first round pick.  In college 
he played in the shadow of teammate Jerry Lucus.  Red chose him 
for his defensive abilities and his being the most versatile 
player left in the draft. 

   On stamina alone he'd be among the top players who ever played 
the game.  He was perpetual-motion and ware out many opponents 
with his relentless baseline-to-baseline efforts. A star at both 
forward and guard, Havlicek became one of the finest all-around 
player in the history of the NBA.  A very similar player to 
Scottie Pippen.  In his 16-year career, he played in 1,270 
regular-season games, scored 26,395 points, averaged 20.8 points 
to rank as the Celtics' all-time leading scorer and the sixth-
highest scorer in NBA history. He also grabbed 8,007 rebounds, 
recorded 6,114 assists, and played on eight Boston championship 
teams. He appeared in 13 consecutive NBA All-Star Games, earned 
11 selections to the All-NBA first or second team, and was named 
to the NBA All-Defensive first or second team eight times. 

   The NFL's Cleveland Browns selected him in the seventh round 
of the 1962 NFL Draft.  The Browns, impressed with Havlicek's 
athletic ability and his 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame, tried him at 
wide receiver. He played in several exhibition games that summer 
before being released by the team in favor of future All-Pro Gary 
Collins. 

1962-63:  Boston finished at 58-22.  Cousy's last season, and 
Havlicek's first.  They beat Cincinnati and Oscar Robertson in 
seven games in the Eastern finals, and the Lakers in six games 
for the NBA championship. 

1963-64: Boston finished at 59-21.  Won the NBA finals in five 
games over Wilt Chamberlain and the San Francisco Warriors.  In 
the final game Wilt had 30 points and 27 rebounds. 

1964-65: Boston finished at 62-18.  The Eastern conference finals 
went seven games with Boston playing the Chamberlain led 
Philadelphia 76ers. (Wilt was traded to Philadelphia at mid 
season.) 

  Boston led by seven with a minute to go, but Philly came back 
to close to 110-109 with five seconds remaining.  Russell's 
inbound pass hit one of the guide wires holding the basket.  
(These were lowered before game seven because the basket was 
moving.)  But Havlicek stole the 76ers inbound pass to get Boston 
into the finals. 

  Boston won the finals in five games over the Lakers.  The 
winner's share was $5,000.  Auerbach was named coach of year.  
The only time he was so honored.   

1965-66:  Boston finished 54-26.  Red had announced in January 
that this was his last year.  Heinsohn had retired, and was 
replaced by Don Nelson, a player that no other team wanted. 
Nelson was slow, but he had a very good medium jump shot and fit 
in well with the other Celtics. 

  Boston defeated Philadelphia again in the Eastern finals.  This 
time in five games.  Wilt had 46 points in the final game, but 
was eight for 25 in free throws. In the finals after the Celtics 
lost the first game to the Lakers, Red announced Russell would be 
next year's coach .  Russell became the first black coach in any 
major American sport. 

  Boston beat the Lakers 95-93 in game seven for another 
championship.  In the last game, Russell played 48 min, had 25 
points and 32 rebounds.  

  From 1959 to 1966 Red Auerbach had coached the Celtics eight 
straight NBA titles.  Only Russell, Sam and K.C. Jones, and Red 
were there for all eight. 

  But the team was getting old.  The starting five averaged 31 
years of age.  During the off season, Boston traded Mel Counts 
for Baltimore's Bailey Howell.  Many thought that Howell was 
washed up, but he proved them wrong. He was a top scorer and 
offensive rebounder from the forward position. 

1966-67:  This was the year that Philadelphia won a record 68 
games, which was eight more than Boston.  The Philly team of
Chamberlain, Chet Walker, Hal Greer, Luke Jackson, Wali Jones, 
and Billy Cunningham beat Boston in the Eastern finals in five 
games.  

  In this series Wilt averaged 22 points, 32 rebounds and 10 
assists.  Bill averaged 11 points, 23 rebounds, and six assists.  
Philly was just the better team.  Many thought that they would 
start a championship run of their own, but .... 

1967-68:  Boston finished at 54-28.  Philly again won eight more 
than the Celtics.  This was the year that Havlicek became the 
Celtic star. 
  
  Wilt, who led the league in assists, led the 76ers to a  3-1 
lead over the Celtics in the Eastern finals.  But Cunningham had 
broken a wrist against the Kinks and Jackson had a pulled 
hamstring, and the Celtics came back to win in seven games.  Wilt 
just took two shots in last 24 minutes of the 100-96 Boston 
victory.  In the game Wilt had 34 rebounds, while Bill had 26. 
Wilt was traded to LA in the off season. 

   Boston won another championship over the Lakers in six games.

1968-69:  Boston finished at 48-34, 4th in East.   Russell was 
now 35, Sam Jones 36, Howell 32, and Sanders 30.  Boston's 
chances of another title that year appeared small.  But Russell 
did cut down on his playing time near the end of the regular 
season, and was ready for the playoffs. 

  Boston did make it to the finals against their old rivals the 
Los Angeles Lakers, who now had Chamberlain to go with Jerry West 
and Elgin Baylor.  The Lakers were heavily favored.  But Boston 
had their fast break spearheaded by John Havlicek, which LA could 
not stop.  Jerry West has often said that he thinks that his team 
was the better team that year.  This was certainly true in the 
half court, but not in transition. 

Game 1: LA 120-118 as West scored 53.
Game 2: LA 118-112 as West scored 41 and Baylor 32.
Game 3: Boston 111-105 as West and Baylor were one for 14 in 
fourth quarter. 
Game 4: Boston 89-88 on last second shot by Sam Jones. 
Game 5: LA 117-104  as West pulls a hamstring. 
Game 6: Boston 99-90 as West was hurting. 

  Game seven was played in LA where hundreds of balloons were 
attached to the ceiling ready to be released after the Laker 
victory.  But victory was not to come to LA, and there was to be 
no balloons falling from the ceiling that night.  They were later 
given to a children's center.  

   Since Russell joined the Celtics, they had twelve games in the 
playoffs either at game five or at game seven where they had to 
win. The Celtics were 12-0. 

  At one time in the game Boston led by 17 points.  But age had 
caught up to the Celtics and they just couldn't get the energy to 
keep their fast break going. The Lakers overtook the exhausted 
Celtics near the game's end.  But Havlicek reentered the game after 
a short rest and rallied them one last time for a 108-106 Boston 
victory.  Thus ended one of the most hard fought, interesting, 
and close NBA playoffs of all time. 
                               
  In this game with 5:13 to go Wilt banged a knee on a rebound 
and was taken out.  Later he wanted back in, but his coach 
wouldn't do it.  Russell later said "In a game like that, they 
would have had to carry me out to get me off the floor".  This 
ended a long friendship between these two great basketball 
talents. 

  Jerry West, voted playoffs MVP, finished the game with 42 
points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.  Wilt had 18 points and 27 
rebounds.  Bill played all 48 minutes and had 21 rebounds.  

  While the NBA finals played between the Lakers and the Celtics 
in 1969 were very exciting, clearly the quality of Celtic play was 
below that of previous years.  Of the three hall-of-famers, 
Russell, Sam Jones, and Havlicek, only Havlicek was in his prime.  
The final game that season for Russell and Jones was to be the 
final game of their careers. 

  As far as the lakers were concerned, of their three hall-of- 
famers, Baylor, West, and Chamberlain, only West was in his 
prime.  Even then, a sore hamstring hampered his play in the last 
two games.  Elgin Baylor, having the athletic moves of Julius 
Erving and Michael Jordan, was near the end of his outstanding 
career.  He would play only one more season of more than 10 
games.  And finally Wilt Chamberlain.  Younger than Russell by 
two and a half years, he would play four more seasons.  But his 
years of scoring more than 30 ppg were long gone. 

  Bill Russell played 13 seasons as a Celtic, and his team won 11 
NBA titles.  Has there ever been a more valuable player to one 
franchise in professional sports?  Russell was great, but one man 
can't win it by himself.  How were the Celtics able to be so good 
for so long a time?  This is what I think: 

 1.  Bill Russell was great.  No one has ever contributed more 
to winning championships for one franchise than Russell.  He 
provided exactly what the Celtics needed to win championships - 
rebounding and defense. 

 2.  Red Auerbach was the right coach at the right time.  His 
style of play: fast breaks, ball movement, and team play, was 
exactly what these uniquely talented players needed to win.

   Red was able to install in his proud players the desire to 
sacrifice their individual statistics for the good of the team.  
If someone couldn't do this, they weren't a Celtic very long. His 
team knew as long as they were playing as hard as they could, Red 
would support them.  He was very hard on the officials, being 
fined and ejected many times.  In most of these incidents, he was 
showing the players that he was on their side 100 percent. 

   He was able to weld individual respect among all his players.  
On most teams blacks roomed with blacks and whites with whites.  
Not so on the Celtics.  Respect for what one did on the 
basketball floor for the team pervaded over money, background, 
and race.  Red drafted the first black player and named the first 
black coach.  Auerbach wanted the best people available. 

3.  The Celtics were a very talented group of basketball players.  
Cousy, Sharman, Heinsohn, Ramsey, Sam and K.C. Jones, Sanders, 
and Havlicek were not only great players with the will to win, 
but knew how to win.  And when you throw in Bill Russell and Red 
Auerbach, it is easy to see why they were a dynasty.  Their team 
chemistry was possibly the best of any team ever. 

4.  They did appear to have luck on their side. Whether it was 
preparation, conditioning, skill, intimidation, or the Celtic 
mystic, they seemed to have things go their way these 13 years 
much more often than not. 

      Don Sibrel