Damn Celtics!
Posted on 06/12/2024 8:07:39 AM PDT by hole_n_one
Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning at the age of 86, the LA Clippers announced.
West was the third player in NBA history to reach 25,000 points, was an All-Star every year of his career and led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals nine times, winning one title in 1971-72. He was also a 12-time All-NBA selection, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and part of the NBA's 75th anniversary team.
"Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons, but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments."
"... I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life. On behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry's wife, Karen, his family and his many friends in the NBA community."
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...
Amazing that the Lakers didn’t win more titles with those teams.
Zeke from Cabin Creek
Were it any opponent other than that Celtics team in the 1960s, they would have. The Celtics of that decade were a machine.
You expect these guys to know how to count?
What about the Knicks series, when Willis Reed came out for Game 7.
The Mavs are saying the same thing.
No doubt.
They have to give it a fro and a beard. Maybe James Hardens image, he may have been a good player, but his image is perfect.
I watched Alcindor play in his Rookie year, he was like a spider man.
Traveling, and palming of the ball. They even allow a player to stop, and step back before shooting. No zone defenses, and bad sportsmanship.
When I played, you would get a technical for showboating, standing over a player, yelling at a player, coach or referee.
Celtics, then the Knicks were also great.
You’re right. Didn’t think about that.
One of the greatest, if not the greatest, of all time. RIP Jerry West.
Fewer teams back then meant that every team was pretty good.
Jerry West was probably the player with the most opponent fingerprints on his body. Every time he touches the ball, one or two opposing players start locking in on him. They could never take their eyes off him because he could score from any angle.
But guarding West was very difficult. West wasn’t a one-trick pony. He possessed a well-rounded offensive skillset. He could shoot from mid-range and beyond the arc (though the three-pointer wasn’t as prominent then) with exceptional accuracy. He also had a strong driving game and could create his own shot or find open teammates.
West was also a cerebral player with an excellent understanding of the game. He could anticipate plays, exploit defensive weaknesses, and adjust his strategy on the fly. This made him unpredictable and difficult to contain.
Reggie Miller ( the Knick heartbreaker ) admitted to patterning his game after West. So did Ray Allen.
I’ve seen Jerry West score so many last second wins that they nicknamed him “ Mr. Clutch”. The most celebrated last second shot he made was in the 1970 finals against the New York Knickerbockers.
The score was tied 100-100 in Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks. There were only 3 seconds left on the clock. Walt Frazier of the Knicks inbounded the ball. Jerry West, guarded by Dick Barnett, received the pass at mid-court and launched a desperation 64 feet shot as the buzzer sounded. The ball went in, sending the game into overtime (which the Lakers ultimately lost).
The Lakers could have won that game and maybe the 1970 championship had there been the 3 point shot rule then ( The 3-point line was officially adopted by the NBA for the 1979-1980 season ). But West won his championship 2 years later with Gail Goodrich teaming up with him in the back court and Wilt Chamberlain at Center.
Thanks for the great memories Mr. West!
I tried to get into this series, especially since it’s the hometown Mavericks, but it’s unwatchable for me. It’s not the same game I grew up with.
SO many great stories here. He was one of the demonstrating pros, along with Jerry Lucas, at my (now) husband’s basketball camp (he was 12). Hubby was walking by the two Jerrys playing horseshoes and they called over to him asking if he knew how to play - happens he did! They played horseshoes every morning that week and West spent a half an hour one day showing hubby how to shoot. I watched him bawl his eyes out for 10 minutes today - West was indeed such a good man, genuine, and greatly impacted hubby’s life. Plus he truly was Mr. Clutch :)
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