30 Greatest Celtics in Franchise History: 2013 Edition

HoopsHype.com is ranking the 50 greatest players in franchise history for all 30 NBA teams. They recently compiled their list for the Boston Celtics. Their version of the Top-50 Celtics of all-time can be found Here.  I have created a shortened list, the top-30 players in Celtics history, ranking the players on various qualities: stats, titles, importance and role on team, era played in, the teammates they got to play with, the amount of seasons played in Boston, among other franchise-defining qualities, etc. 

*All photos are courtesy of Getty Images.

*Statistics provided by HoopsHype.com and basketball-reference.com

30. Jim Loscutoff, 1955-1964: 6.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg - Seven NBA titles with Celtics.

29. Paul Silas, 1972-1976: 11.5 ppg, 12.3 rpg - Two NBA titles with Celtics.
28. Danny Ainge, 1981-1989: 11.3 ppg, 4.4 apg - Two NBA titles with Celtics.

27. Ed Macauley, 1950-1956: 17.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg.

26. Larry Siegfried, 1963-1970: 11.6 ppg, 3.3 apg - Five NBA titles with Celtics.

25. Don Nelson, 1965-1976: 11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg - Five NBA titles with Celtics
24. Antoine Walker, 1996-2003 and 2005 (Traded for at deadline): 20.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.1 apg.

23. Tiny Archibald, 1978-1983: 12.5 ppg, 7.1 apg - One NBA title with Celtics.

22. Ray Allen, 2007-2012: 16.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 apg - One NBA title with Celtics.

21. Bailey Howell, 1966-1970: 18.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg - Two NBA titles with Celtics.

20. Reggie Lewis, 1987-1993: 17.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.6 apg.

19. Frank Ramsey, 1954-1964: 13.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg - Seven NBA titles with Celtics.

18. K.C. Jones, 1958-1967: 7.4 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.5 rpg - Eight NBA titles with Celtics.

17. Cedric Maxwell, 1977-1985: 13.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.3 apg - Two NBA titles with Celtics.

16. Dennis Johnson, 1983-1990: 12.6 ppg, 6.4 apg, 3.2 rpg - Two NBA titles with Celtics.

15. Tom Sanders, 1960-1973: 9.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg - Eight NBA titles with Celtics

14. Rajon Rondo, 2006-present: 11.1 ppg, 8.3 apg, 4.5 rpg - One NBA title with Celtics.

13. Bill Sharman, 1951-1961: 18.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.0 apg - Four NBA titles with Celtics.

12. Tom Heinsohn, 1956-1965: 18.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg - Eight NBA titles with Celtics.

11. Jo Jo White, 1969-1979: 18.4 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.3 rpg - Two NBA titles with Celtics.

10. Kevin Garnett, 2007-2013: 15.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.7 apg - One NBA title with Celtics.

9. Sam Jones, 1957-1969: 17.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg - 10 NBA titles with Celtics. 

8. Robert Parish, 1980-1994: 16.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg - Three NBA titles with Celtics.

7. Dave Cowens, 1970-1980: 18.2 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 3.9 apg - Two NBA titles with Celtics.

6. Kevin McHale, 1980-1993: 17.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.7 bpg - Three NBA titles with Celtics

5. Bob Cousy, 1950-1963: 18.5 ppg, 7.6 apg, 5.2 rpg - Six NBA titles with Celtics

4. Paul Pierce, 1998-2013: 21.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.9 apg - One NBA title with Celtics.

3. John Havlicek, 1962-1978: 20.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.8 apg - Eight NBA titles with Celtics.

2. Larry Bird, 1979-1992: 24.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.7 spg - Three NBA titles with Celtics.

1. Bill Russell, 1956-1969: 15.1 ppg, 22.5 rpg, 4.3 apg - 11 NBA titles with Celtics.

Quarterback Power Rankings 2013: Elite Tier

1.      Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Brady’s résumé (5 Super Bowl Appearances, 3 Rings) speaks for itself as the future Hall-of-Famer is the best decision-maker in the NFL. In the past three seasons, he has tossed a whopping 109 touchdowns with just 24 interceptions. Not only does he take care of the ball at an extraordinary rate, he also is also virtually unstoppable when executing the QB sneak. Brady excels at recognizing the blitz and exploiting mismatches in the defense. His league-best third-down rate is another reason why he is the top signal-caller in the league. Brady has won 17 playoff games, the most in NFL history, furthering his case as the top quarterback in the league.

2.      Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Rodgers is the best all-around quarterback in the league.Not only does he have a rocket arm with pinpoint accuracy, he also shines in evading the pass rush. No QB can compare in his ability to escape blitzing defenders and then fire the ball away with precision and incredible velocity. Rodgers had a +31 last season in terms of touchdowns per interceptions (39 TD, 8 INT), the best mark in the NFL. Rodgers puts the Packers in a great position to win the Super Bowl as he looks to win his second ring in four years.

3.      Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Manning is the best QB when it comes to making adjustments at the line of scrimmage. He is always in sync with his receivers because he anticipates where they will be before throwing the ball. Being on a new team last year did not faze Manning because he was so in tune with his wideouts. In his first year in Denver, he tossed 37 touchdowns, leading the Broncos to the best record in the AFC. If Manning can lead the Broncos to a title this year, he would become the first quarterback in league history to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.

4.      Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees is an excellent down-field passer that has underrated mobility in the pocket. The 2009 Super Bowl MVP closes drives with great success, made evident by his NFL-record 54 straight games with a TD pass (streak ended last year versus Atlanta Falcons). Over the past five seasons, Brees has amassed the post touchdown passes in the red zone. Last season, Brees tossed 31 touchdowns without an interception from inside the 20-yard line. He also led the league with 43 touchdowns passes.

5.      Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco moved his quarterback status into the upper echelon with his remarkable playoff run, ending in his first Super Bowl victory. Flacco throws the best deep-ball pass in the league as he is terrific at leading his receivers with passes down-field. Flacco is a consistent winner. Since entering the league in 2008, he has led the Ravens to at least one road playoff win in each postseason. Flacco has won six road playoff games, the most in the Super Bowl era.

6.      Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Ryan has earned the label of “Matty Ice”, leading 23 game-winning drives and 16 fourth quarter comebacks in his five years in the NFL. He is undoubtedly an elite quarterback, silencing his critics with a playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks that saw him lead the Falcons on a game-winning drive against one of the leagues’ best defenses with less than a minute to go. With Ryan attaining his elusive first playoff win, he now belongs in the conversation of the upper echelon quarterbacks in the league.

7.      Eli Manning, New York Giants

Eli is the most dependable quarterback when it comes to making a critical throw in crunch time. Eli is great at manipulating one-on-coverage and then passing the ball in a place that only his receiver can catch. Eli is a composed quarterback that is unfazed and ready for any challenge. He has won two Super Bowls and posts an astonishing 5-1 record on the road in the playoffs.

8.      Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers had a disappointing season, but Big Ben was still able to hold in own as the man under center. He tossed 26 touchdowns with just 8 interceptions, finishing with the seventh best passing rate in the league with a mark of 97.0. Big Ben is renowned for his ability to shed off tackles and blitzes from the defenses and then connect with a receiver for a big play in situations that the offense appeared doomed. The Steelers appear headed for the decline, but Big Ben can still boast about his two Super Bowl rings.

Quarterback Power Rankings 2013: 'On the Cusp of Greatness' QB Tier

9.      Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Luck was worth the hype for the Colts, who reached the playoffs behind the tutelage of their rookie quarterback, a season after finishing with the worst record in the league. Luck is a sensational down-field passer and moves well in the pocket. He can break off tackles and maintain his composure in the pocket when defenders are rushing in. Even when the defense blitzes, Luck can break off tackles and then find open receivers (similar to “Big Ben”) in a broken play. Luck threw too many interceptions (18) in his rookie season, but his turnovers will likely decrease with more experience in the league. He has been compared to the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, the ultimate praise for an NFL quarterback.

10.      Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Wilson proved every analyst wrong with his improbable rookie season, leading the Seahawks to the NFC Divisional Round. Wilson threw 26 touchdown passes, tying the rookie record of future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning. Wilson accomplished this feat, despite throwing a league-low 393 passes. Wilson’s deep pass is a huge weapon and his threat to run poses problems for opposing defenses. Barring any setbacks, Wilson should be a top-10 quarterback for a long time.

11.      Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Kaepernick has only 10 NFL starts under his belt (7 regular season, 3 playoff contests), yet he clearly possesses a special talent. Kaepernick is a nightmare to cover for defenses because of his blazing speed and his bullet passes to his receivers. His playoff performance in the NFC Divisional Round last playoffs was otherworldly as he threw for 263 yards and rushed for 181 yards, putting the Green Bay Packers defense to shame. Kaepernick has already appeared in one Super Bowl and given his talent as a physical quarterback, we can expect to see him chasing Lomardi Trophies throughout his career.

12.      Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

RG3 was as good as advertised in his rookie season, leading all quarterbacks with 815 rushing yards out of the read-option. RG3 delivers passes with immense accuracy, recording the fourth-best completion percentage in the league (65.6 %) last season. He also takes care of the football at an otherworldly rate, firing a league-low five interceptions. The league-wide question is how will RG3 recover from his ACL tear? Will he still be the same forceful quarterback that can run over a defense? RG3 knows he needs to protect his body more after suffering the gruesome injury in last year’s playoffs. He is the face of the Redskins franchise and cannot afford to be shelved on the injured list. RG3 relies on his legs to dominate the game, so he will have to reprove his mobility to opposing defenses. If RG3 plays at the same level as he did last year, we can expect him to be one of the league’s most talented quarterback for years to come.

Quarterback Power Rankings 2013: 'Good But Not Great' QB Tier

13.      Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Romo’s failures in the fourth quarter have been widely documented, but what goes under the radar has been the constant letdowns of the Cowboys defense. Season after season, the Cowboys defense is comprised of star talent, yet is unable to stop opposing offenses from marching down the field with ease. Romo’s late game turnovers are unacceptable, but to blame him for the Cowboys mediocrity in recent years is just not fair. Romo threw for a career-best 4,903 yards (3^rd most in NFL) last season and the year before he posted an incredible TD-INT rate with 31 touchdowns on just 10 interceptions. Alas, Romo needs to do better in clutch situations in order to be considered of the league’s best QB’s.

14.      Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Schaub is about to enter the most important season of his career. Anything short of reaching the AFC Championship Game would be deemed a failure for the Texans, after losing in the AFC Divisional round in each of the past two seasons. Schaub is a perfect fit in Houston's offensive scheme because of his ability to succeed in the play-action (110 QBR in these types of plays last year). Schaub’s success rate in the play-action is crucial for an offense that centers on running back Arian Foster. The Texans are a Super-Bowl contender, but the million dollar question is can Schaub lead his club to the promise land?

15.      Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

The amount of criticism towards Rivers’ play last season baffles me. First off, Rivers tossed 26 touchdowns on 15 interceptions and registered the 11^th best passer rating with a mark of 88.6. (better than Joe Flacco, Eli Manning and Cam Newton to name a few). Rivers was able to achieve these feats with the 27^th ranked rushing attack, an abysmal offensive line, a banged-up Antonio Gates and with the top receiver on the team being Malcom Floyd. The Chargers woes as a team last season were not indicative of the quarterback play of Rivers. Life will be easier on Rivers with the selections of tackle D.J. Fluker and wide receiver Keenan Allen from this past year’s draft. In order for Rivers to return to his once dominant form (Check out his incredible statistics from seasons 2008-2010), he must become a better decision maker, be a tad more patient in the pocket and hope that the front office reloads the offense with new targets for him to throw to.

16.      Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

With Stafford entering his fifth season in the league, it is way too early to write him off as the signal-caller of the future for the Lions franchise, especially given his proven incredulous arm strength. Stafford is one of the league’s best quarterbacks at throwing the deep ball (yes, WR Calvin Johnson drastically helps Stafford’s cause), but struggles when he is not lined up out of the shotgun. Stafford mechanics must be refined and he must cut down on his off-balanced throws. The Lions would be wise to trim down the pass attempts of Stafford, who has tossed the most passes in the league the past two years by far. If the Lions can establish a running game, Stafford could be poised for success—if he sharpens his footwork and accuracy in his throws.

17.      Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Cutler had a down season in 2012, but the hope is that the offensive minded new head coach, Marc Trestman, will hone the precision of Cutler’s erratic passes. Cutler is one of the strongest slingers in the game, but often times he tries to fit the ball in too tight of situations. There is upside with Cutler, who brought the Bears to the NFC Championship in 2010. However, the clock is ticking on the former first round pick to take his talents to the next level, particularly with how much this franchise has invested in him financially. 

18.      Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

After a record-breaking rookie season, Newton entered his second year in the NFL with a cocky and self-assured attitude that grew on the ire not only of analysts, but also of his fellow Panther teammates. Newton was able to mature, though, last season when the losses started to pile up. He finished the season in grand fashion, throwing nine touchdowns with just two interceptions in his final five games, leading the Panthers to four late-season wins. Newton's upside is undeniable as he is one of the most dynamic QB’s in the league with his capacity to beat a defense via the rushing attack and through the air. There should be some anxiety for Carolina fans this season, though, with Panthers GM Dave Gettleman putting unneeded pressure on Newton by asserting that the third-year QB needs to lead the team to more wins this season. Gettleman is putting unfair expectations on Newton and the Panthers, who appear a step behind the other three teams in the ferocious NFC South division.

Quarterback Power Rankings 2013: The 'Put Up or Shut Up' Tier QB's

19.      Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Unrealistic expectations for the Chiefs have burdened immense pressure on Smith to perform at a top notch level in his first year in Kansas City. Despite finishing 2-14 last year, many have predicted the Chiefs will make the playoffs, throwing Smith under the fire immediately. Smith needs to prove that he is not just a system quarterback and display that his 2011 success was not just completely because of new head coach Jim Harbaugh (Smith was horrific for the first five years of his career before Harbaugh was hired). Although Smith was supplanted by Colin Kaepernick in the middle of the season last year, he was very effective in the 10 games he appeared in. Last year, Smith led the NFL in first-down passing, with a quarterback rating of 119. His rating ascended to 132 in play-action, which is encouraging with the presence of Jamaal Charles in the backfield for the Chiefs. Smith is signed with the Chiefs through 2014, but he could be ran out of town after one year if he does not play at a high level this season.

20.      Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

By selecting West Virginia University wide receivers' Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey in the draft and adding coveted tight end Jared Cook via free agency, Bradford finally has some weapons to work with on offense. Bradford plays best out of the shotgun, but has proven to be dependable in the play-action and bootleg. Bradford's red zone efficiency is not up to par though. He is too conservative at times and often times will not end the drive in a touchdown for fear of turning the ball over. With an enhanced supporting cast, Bradford needs to finish off drives and stop leaving potential points on the board.

21.      Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Freeman is arguably the most extreme example of a “hot/cold quarterback” (Even more so than QB Christian Ponder). Freeman had an amazing six-game stretch of 16 touchdown passes with just six interceptions last season, propelling the Bucs to five wins in that time span. He also had a horrid six-game stretch (the Bucs lost five of six in this span), where he threw 10 interceptions with just six TD passes. A major issue for Freeman has been handling the blitz. He posted the second-worst QBR versus the blitz in 2012. The Bucs defense improved significantly in the off-season so the club’s playoff chances could rest on the shoulders of Freeman, who is playing for his job.

22.      Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Dalton has proven to be a phenomenal game-manager in his first two seasons with the Bengals. Of course, it is tough to win Super Bowls with game-managing QB’s. It’s difficult to criticize a guy who has thrown for 47 touchdowns with just 29 interceptions in his career. Then again, Dalton complacency as a quarterback is widely documented and his tentativeness has proven to be costly against elite defenses. An interesting stat in regards to Dalton: He is 19-13 as a starter (not including the playoffs), but has won just two games against opponent’s with a winning record. This proves that Dalton does take care of business against the teams the Bengals should beat, but also that he struggles to defeat the upper echelon teams in the NFL. This is a critical year for Dalton, who seeks his third playoff appearance in as many seasons as he looks to put behind his postseason woes from the past two years (0-2 record, zero touchdowns with four interceptions).

23.      Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Tannehill was overshadowed by all the rookie sensations a year ago, but he actually played decent in his first season under center in the NFL. He did struggle mightily on third down last season, registering the worst rating of all starting quarterbacks. Tannehill threw seven of his 13 interceptions on third down. He needs to do better than his 12 touchdowns (27^th in NFL) and 58.3 completion rate (23^rd in NFL), especially with a new bevy of targets in Brandon Gibson, Dustin Keller and most notably, Mike Wallace. It may be unfair to put excessive pressure on such a young quarterback with potentially great upside, but if Tannehill doesn’t show signs of progression in 2013, it may be time for the Dolphins to look elsewhere for their franchise quarterback.

24.      Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

Vick will presumably win the starting quarterback job over Nick Foles and Matt Barkley. But this could be his last chance as a starter if he does not cut down his turnovers. In 10 games last season, Vick threw ten interceptions and lost five fumbles. Maybe Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense will benefit Vick, who recorded an exceptional 98 QBR in the two-minute offense. If Vick wants to be the man under center for Kelly’s shotgun spread attack beyond 2013, he will need to take care of the football much better.

25.      Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns

Weeden played well last season, especially for a rookie, as he tossed 3,385 yards in a west coast offense that clearly did not play to his strengths. The new offense, run by new offensive coordinator Norv Turner, will feature play-action and down-field throws, which both play to the fortes of Weeden. Weeden proved he had a strong arm last season, but his decision-making wasn’t the greatest and he posted a horrific 26.6 QBR. Weeden will be 30 by the second of month of the season, putting the onus on him to succeed this year if he wants to continue being the man under center in Cleveland, especially since the old regime drafted him, not the current management.

26.      Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

Ponder was an intriguing quarterback last year because when he was good he was really effective; when he was bad he was really awful. In weeks 1-4, Ponder ranked 10th in the league with a 68.8 QBR. He posted a mere 27.1 QBR from weeks 5-13, the worst mark in the NFL. The final four weeks of the season Ponder posted an impressive 86.8 QBR, the second best mark in the league. Alas, the jury is still out if Ponder can be a consistent quarterback that the Vikings can build around, given his inability to throw the deep ball. Last season, he had only 28 completions of 20 yards or more, the fewest of any QB to start all 16 games. With the best running back in the league in Adrian Peterson, a formidable offensive line and a new, dangerous target in Greg Jennings, Ponder must play well this season to retain his job moving forward.