Hanging from the Rafters - Boston Celtics

Here's our (probably) longest list of retired numbers. There's 21 actual Celtics jerseys hanging from the rafters. Or 23 if you want to count "LOSCY" and Johnny Most's microphone. And actually, there's only 19 players that have had their jerseys retired because Walter Brown (owner) and Red Auerbach (coach) have #1 and #2 respectively. Personally, I think it's ridiculous to retire actual numbers for non-players. I'm all for giving them banners, but players wear numbers, not coaches and owners and other personnel. Anyway, let's see if my list of criteria ends up being longer than the actual Celtics list.

Tonight's Games (4/19)

I thought it might be interesting to get some other perspectives and thoughts on the playoffs here, so I wanted to try this. Here's a couple quick thoughts on the playoff games that are happening tonight, and if anyone has any thoughts or insights on them, please feel free to post them and we'll see if we can get a discussion going. Probably not, but I thought it might be interesting to try to get an "open thread" started on this years playoffs.

(#4) Pistons - (#1) Celtics Series

As a Lakers fan, I hate both of these teams. However, despite the hate, I at least have respect for the Celtics. It's almost exactly like, how, as a Nebraska Cornhuskers football fan, I want to beat the hell out of the Oklahoma Sooners every time we play them, but should we lose, I at least can say "good game" afterwards. Whereas I just despise anything to do with the Texas Longhorns (and, by extension, every other Texas school, but that's neither here nor there.) Now, I probably would save a Longhorns fan from drowning... but there'd be a slight moment of hesitation before I jumped in the water. Same goes for Pistons fans. (Side note: I just realized that the only team I say "we" about instead of "they" is the Cornhuskers. I don't know if it's because I've lived in Nebraska all my life, or if it's because I actually went to that school, but I don't do it with the Lakers or the Minnesota Twins. And I don't have a hockey team. (Side side note: Growing up in the Midwest miles and miles away from any sort of professional sports team - especially basketball - is strange. There's no home team to root for. Every kid just roots for whoever is good when they're young or they're dad's favorite teams - who were usually good when their dads were young. I did both - was a Suns fan until they traded Barkley, got pissed and swore them off, and started watching Lakers games with my dad. And I realize this should probably be its own article at this point.)) Anyway, my original point was going to be, despite me not liking either team, and hating one way more than the other, I promise I'm going to be impartial with this. If the Pistons win the whole thing, so be it. I can't see it happening, but if it does, so be it. On to the games!

(#8) Bucks - (#1) Celtics Series

We're kicking off the second round here with the Celtics and Bucks, and I'm going to predict a sweep. I actually have a hard time imagining this Celtics team losing until they get see either the Bulls or Sixers in the Conference Finals. I mean, the Celtics have 11 Hall of Famers and Paul Pierce, who basketball-reference gives a 96.3% chance of making the Hall of Fame, and who my own personal "Greatness Formula" has ranked as the 58th greatest player of all-time with a score of 211.9 to begin this season. But let's see what happens. (By the way, I am adamantly not a Celtics fan... this team is just flat out stacked.)

Boston Celtics Ultimate Roster

Boston Celtics, 4185.6 rating, 2nd overall (1st seed in East)


1. Bill Russell (733.9 rating)
2. Larry Bird (654.9)
3. John Havlicek (479.1)
4. Bob Cousy (408.7)
5. Sam Jones (290.0)
6. Bill Sharman (276.2)
7. Kevin McHale (272.2)
8. Robert Parish (254.3)
9. Dave Cowens (237.2)
10. Tom Heinsohn (217.8)
11. Paul Pierce (211.9)
12. Ed Macauley (148.9)