30 for 30 Celtics/Lakers

He was the league's sixth man of the year so he had to be doing something right.

But you are right about the stats. His presence was more psychological than physical for the team. He had been the best player in the world for a brief moment; injuries ravaged him, and now for the first time in years was semi healthy and playing.

 

I'll say that Walton had a huge impact on that team. Almost like a new toy for the long-time Celtics to play with on their way to a 40-1 home record.

 

I've generally enjoyed if not loved a vast majority of these but I am not sure I have it in me to watch five hours or whatever it is on the Lakers and Celtics. Is it worth it at all? Should I skip to a certain part?

 

I made it about 10 minutes before Ice Cube called the Lakers "we" and "us." Donnie Wahlberg did the same with the Celtic.

I'm sure there'll be fabulous footage and great points raised, particularly about the racial atmosphere in Boston and the NBA in general. But I'm going to have a hard time getting around that particular non-journalistic anachronism.

 

Oh what might have been with Len Bias. Damnit.

 

I saw the filmmaker address this. His grand idea was, instead of having standard narration, to have two actors essentially play the part of a typical 80s Celtic/Lakers fan (exaggerated accents and all), and describe events the way he perceived his imaginary typical fans from that era would.

I think these filmmakers get carried away with the gimmicky attempts at "innovative" storytelling devices. Sometimes it's best just to tell the story straight.

That said, I watched the whole thing and did enjoy it. But then, as a hoops-lovin kid of the 80s, I'm a sucker for the subject matter. I would've enjoyed it more without Cube and New Kid On the Block's schtick.

 

Well, if Walton hadn't had the brilliant
idea to go full vegan in his early 20s, leading to protein and calcium deficiencies, causing chronic bone fracture and improper healing problems in addition to "normal" knee injuries, he might have had a mostly healthy career and the Blazers might have won six or seven rings. So there's that.

 

The filmmaker's idea sucked.

I don't recall ever seeing that Bobby Jones dunk where he posterized Bird. That was fun. And I don't remember the young Parish running around the floor like that.

 

Yea, but if Walton doesn't break down, he probably doesn't go on to front the Spin Doctors.

 

Looking forward to watching this. Was never a big fan of either team, but loved the rivalry. Just wish it had been voiced over by Money Mayweather and Conor McGregor.

 

The thing I had never really thought about before was the balls it took for Auerbach to name Russell as the coach.

In the 1960s.

In Boston.

I don't care how good he was as a player or how much of an icon Russell might have been at the time, that's a pretty bold move.

 

Especially so considering at the moment Auerbach retired, Bob Cousy had just completed his third season as head coach at BC, and at that point had a career coaching record of 52-25 (including 21-5 in 1965-66) so he certainly would have been considered a perfectly logical pick himself.