Bill Russell got a standing ovation from the TD Garden crowd at Game 1
Bill Russell knows a thing or 11 about a winning NBA championships. The Celtics legend, who was in attendance for Monday night’s Game 1 against the 76ers, also knew what he was doing when it came to sending Philadelphia hopefuls packing in the postseason.
Russell came up against Philadelphia teams eight times in the playoffs. Seven times, the Celtics advanced. In 1958, 1960, and 1962, Boston faced the Philadelphia Warriors in the first round. The Celtics won all three series.
Then the Warriors relocated to the Bay Area and were renamed the San Francisco, now Golden State, Warriors. In their place, the 76ers established themselves as the local Philadelphia club. Different franchise, same result.
In this April 17, 1968, file photo, Hal Greer of the Philadelphia 76ers goes to the basket defended by Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics.
Russell beat the 76ers in 1965 and 1966, lost to them in 1967, then got back on track with two more series victories over Philly in 1968 and 1969. Keep in mind that for most of these series, Philadelphia sent Wilt Chamberlain out to match up against Russell.
On Monday, the Celtics legend was sitting courtside as Brad Stevens’ team took on Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and the rest of the 76ers. When Russell appeared on the JumboTron, the TD Garden crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Bill Russell in the house. Got a roaring applause, naturally. pic.twitter.com/Clp710pzPg
— Nicole Yang (@nicolecyang) May 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/RealBillRussell/status/991105506310873088
