In last week's Ladder Challenge it was Red Auerbach trouncing Phil Esposito with 85% of the vote to retain his top 10 status on the Ladder at #8. This week’s Challenge features 2 of the greatest Celtics of all-time, with franchise leading-scorer John Havlicek (#9) taking on 3-time NBA MVP Larry Bird (#3). Although Hondo’s body of work is undoubtedly impressive, I’m going with Larry this week. Quite simply, even though it can be argued that Havlicek deserves to move up a few rungs, I just can’t justify dropping the greatest forward in NBA history down #9 on the Ladder. So who has your vote in this week’s Ladder Challenge? (And remember, most votes in the comments section is the tie-breaker, so be sure to voice your opinion)
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LARRY BIRD
Ranked : 3
Started: 8
Challenge Record: 1-0-1
Beat: Tom Brady
Lost: Nobody
Tied: Ted Williams
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*Played entire 13-year career (1979-92) with the Celtics.
*Won 3 NBA Championships (1981, 1984, 1986)
*Named NBA Finals MVP twice (1984, 1986).
*Named NBA MVP 3-times (1984-86).
*Finished in top 5 of MVP voting 8 times.
*1980 Rookie of the Year.
*1st Team All-Rookie Team (1980).
*12 time NBA All Star selection.
*1982 All Star MVP.
*3 time winner of 3-point shootout (1986-88).
*Named 1st Team All-NBA 9 times (1980-88).
*Named 2nd Team All-NBA in 1990.
*Named 2nd Team All-Defensive Team 3 times (1982-84).
*Led NBA in: Free Throw % (4 times), 3-pointers Made (twice) and minutes per game (twice).
*Career regular season averages: 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.7 steals.
*Career playoff averages: 23.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals.
*Had 69 career triple-doubles (59 regular season, 10 playoff).
*Franchise all-time records for: Points per Game (24.3), Steals (1,556) and Steals per Game (1.7).
*Also ranks in Celtics all-time Top 10 in: Points (2), Field Goals (2), Field Goal Attmepts (2), 3-pt Field Goals (2), Free Throw % (3), 3-pt Field Goal Attempts (3), Assists (3), Blocks (3), Minutes (4), Free Throws (4), Rebounds (4), Rebounds per Game (4), Minutes per Game (5), Assists per Game (6), Games (7), Free Throw Attempts (7).
*Franchise single-season records for: Field Goals Made and Points per Game.
*Franchise records for points in a game (60).
*His steal and pass to DJ to win Game 5 of Eastern Finals vs Detroit in 1987 is one of the greatest plays in NBA history.
*Named to NBA’s 50 Anniversary Team.
*Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame (1998).
*His #33 is retired by the Celtics.
JOHN HAVLICEK
Ranked : 9
Started: 9
Challenge Record: 1-0-0
Beat: Rocky Marciano
Lost: Nobody
Tied: Nobody
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*Played entire 16-year career (1962-78) with Celtics.
*Helped Celtics win 8 NBA Championships (1963-69, 1974, 1976).
*1974 NBA Finals MVP.
*Named to NBA All-Rookie 1st Team (1963).
*1st Team All-NBA 4 times (1971-74).
*2nd Team All-NBA 7 times (1964-70, 1975-76).
*Member of NBA All-Defensive Team 8 times (5 1st Team, 3 2nd Team).
*Regular season totals: 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, .439 FG%, .815 FT%.
*Playoff totals: 22.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, .436 FG%, .836 FT%.
*Holds franchise all-time records for: Games (1,270), Minutes (46,471), Field Goals (10,513), Field Goal Attempts (23,930), Free Throws (5,369), Free Throw Attempts (6,589), Fouls (3,281) and Points (26,395).
*Also ranks among Celtics all-time Top 10 in: Assists (2nd), Points per Game (3rd), Rebounds (5th) and Minutes per Game (8th).
*Holds franchise single season records for: Minutes (3698, 1972), Field Goal Attempts (1982, 1971), Points (2338, 1971) and Minutes per Game (45.4, 1971).
*Holds franchise record for most points in a playoff game (54, 1973 vs Atlanta).
*Led league in Games, Minutes and Minutes per Game twice each.
*His famous steal vs Philly helped the Celtics advance to the 1965 NBA Finals.
*Named to NBA 35th & 50th Anniversary Teams.
*Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
*His #17 is retired by the Boston Celtics.
Although Havlicek leads in titles 8-3, Larry was the primary reason the C's 3 titles he was a part of, something Havlicek could claim for only 1 (by my estimation).
Those resumes make it quite obvious why both are in the top 10.
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