Anyone else remember Dave Cowens?

[OAITW r.2.0]

He's like the Steve Grogan of my 80's NE pro-life.

[regnaD kciN]

1. Remember him well...

...he had an almost impossible task, coming in to succeed Bill Russell (to be fair, there was one year of Henry Finkel between them) and did a great job, leading the Celts to a pair of titles.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Almost ass-ended "Celtics 18" on Huntington Ave back in 1972.

Seriously almost kissed his Caddie, with my buddie's 73 Nova SS 396. He let me drive because i could (and still do) drive a standard,

[bottomofthehill]

6. Near the old Boston State College?

[OAITW r.2.0]

11. It was around the Boston Marriot, close to the Pru IIRC

[Casady1]

3. Cowens was an excellent player.

Most known for his hustle and a decent outside shooter.

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. He went direct on the greatest center of my time, Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

And he held his own. In fact, he used his skill's to negate the taller guy's advantage. And he did this all over the League,

[bottomofthehill]

5. Go Big Red

Loved him, Jojo White, Hondo, Paul Silas, Hank Finkle, Satch Sanders, I loved the 70’s Celtics.

[OAITW r.2.0]

7. He was awesome. In many ways, Dave was the white Bill Russell.

Smaller than their adversaries....but a whole lot smarter.

[bottomofthehill]

9. My dad would marvel in his footwork.

At 6’9 in thick sox, he would out work, out box and out body many bigger and longer centers.

[Tomconroy]

8. Didn't he quit once to drive a taxi?

[bottomofthehill]

10. I think he took time off to sell Christmas Trees

But there was a story of him driving a cab for 1 night in Boston. Basketball was easier than cab driving in Boston.

[OAITW r.2.0]

12. He did that offseason, I believe.

I think he wanted to grok the typical Celtic fan in Boston.....think he was a Florida College standout.

[Tomconroy]

13. I saw them the year Henry Finkel started, just before

Dave Cowens was signed. Was Tommy Heinson coach? I think he got thrown out and Red Auerbach came out of the stands to replace him. That was sort of the highlight of the game. They weren't very good that year.
I saw the 1986 Celtics a number of times. That was basketball like I've never seen before or since

[OAITW r.2.0]

14. Better question.

How much influence did TH have on getting DC drafted by the Celts? I bet a lot.

[Tomconroy]

15. Have to think it was Red, no? Man could he pick em!

But love Tommy. Loved him and Cousy doing broadcast games.
And Johnny Most! Nobody sounds like him now!

[OAITW r.2.0]

16. Maybe a 4-5 year time gap between Tommy and Dave wrt Dave's entry?

Doesn't matter. Dave Cowens is in the Pantheon with all of the Greats.......

[OAITW r.2.0]

17. Red relied on people he trusted wrt to drafting and player development.

Celtics graduated a lot of great basketball coaches in all levels.