The My List special continues today with the all-time team for the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics. Before I unveil the list, a thought about yesterday's Lakers list; I know many comments wondered about the positioning for the centers that I had at PF. I know that the positions weren't perfect, but the list simply reflected who I felt should be featured; Kareem and Wilt can be switched (and if I could do it again, probably they would be), but at that moment, I had them there.

Anyhow, let's get to the team for the franchise with 17 NBA titles. Here is the Celtics' lineup:

Starters:

PG: Bob Cousy: The Magic Johnson (except he was much smaller) of his day, Cousy wasn't originally drafted by Boston; he was chosen by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) in 1950, was traded to Chicago, then was chosen by the Celtics in a dispersal draft after the Stags folded. He went on to become the trigger for the famed Celtics fastbreak that wowed th league in the 1950s and early 60s. He led the league in assists eight straight years from 1953-60 (a record until John Stockton did it nine straight from 1988-96) and was league MVP in 1957. He also played on six championship teams.

SG: Sam Jones: The master of the bank shot long before Tim Duncan used it, Jones was the consistent scorer during the Celtics' dynasty of the 1960s. Drafted by the team in 1957 out of tiny North Carolina Central, Jones moved into the starting lineup in 1960-61, and by the mid-60s had become a 20 PPG scorer on a team not known for high individual scorers. He averaged 20 PPG four times (and came within 2 PPG of that three others), but his most impressive stat was that he won 10 championships with the club.

C: Bill Russell: The great debate with Russell is about the legitimacy of his 11 titles. Those who argue the glass half empty view say he played in an era with only 8 teams and fewer playoffs, while the half full side argues that he still won 11 titles against HOF talent. In any case, Russell won everything before him; 2 NCAA titles, and Olympic gold medal, and those 11 titles in a 13 year career. He won league MVP five times, revolutionized the game with his defensive prowess, and became the first black head coach of a modern pro team when he succeded Red Auerbach in 1966. An impressive resume, even for a half empty guy.

SF: Larry Bird: Bird wasn't the most naturally gifted player in the NBA, but what set him apart from many of his contemporaries was his burning desire to win and a court vision few players ever possessed. He came to a team in shambles in 1979 (after being drafted #6 the prior year) and by the end of his rookie year, the team improved from 29 to 61 wins. He went on to win three staright MVPs from 1984-86 (only Russell and Wilt Chamberlain had won three straight, and none have done it since), and led Boston to three titles in the 80s. He was also named All-NBA first team nine times.

PF: Kevin McHale: Sure, McHale can't run an NBA team (just ask Minnesota), but as the PF for the 80s Celtics, McHale was their virtually unstoppable low-post scorer. After being primarily a defensive player after being drafted third in 1980, McHale eventually won back-to-back Sixth Man awards in 1984-85. During that 1985 season, he replaced an injured Cedric Maxwell as a starter, and over a four year period, he averaged about 20 PPG and over 8 RPG (his personal highs came in 1986-87 with 26.1 PPG and 9.9 RPG). He was also a key figure on the three Boston titlists of the decade.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Jo Jo White/Dennis Johnson: I couldn't decide between the two, so I picked both! White was the catalyst for the Celtics offenses of the 70s, never averaging below 18.1 PPG in any season from 1970-71 to 1976-77. He was also named Finals MVP in 1976 and played in the legendary game 5 of that series that went three overtimes. Johnson came to Boston from Phoenix in 1983 (he also was a Finals MVP with Seattle in 1979). He became a key defensive player as the C's won titles in 1984 and 1986. He was also an All-Star for the team once in 1985.

SG: Bill Sharman: Sharman was the immediate predecessor for Sam Jones in Boston. After playing for the Washington Capitols before they disbanded in 1951, and then going to minor league baseball for the White Sox, Sharman was sold to Boston and joined the team in 1951. He went on to become a solid scorer for the team, averaging over 18 PPG every year from 1955-60. He then went on to coach the Lakers to the 1972 NBA title after a record 33 game win streak led them to 69 wins.

C: Robert Parish: The 'Chief' may not have been the most interesting conversation, but he was a steady producer at center for the 1980s Celtics. Originally drafted by the Warriors in 1976, Parish was traded (along with McHale, in one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history) to the Celts in 1980. His game truly took off from there. He averaged a double-double a staggering eight times in a season with the team (his last in 1990-91 at age 38), and was a nine time All-Star. His steadiness helped the team win three titles in the 80s.

SF: John Havlicek: 'Hondo' was always in constant motion throughout his legendary career with the Celtics, and he also bridges the gap in between the 1960s and 70s Celts. Drafted in 1962 (after spurning an offer from the NFL's Cleveland Browns), Havlicek was a solid sixth man and good defender (anyone remember "Havlicek stole the ball!" from 1965? Thought so.). In the late 60s and early 70s, Havlicek became the unquestioned best player and leader of the Celtics as they transitioned into the Cowens years from the Russell years. He averaged 20+ PPG every year from 1967-74, was a 13-time All-Star, and was the first Celtic to win Finals MVP (in 1974). All of this while being a sixth man much of his career.

PF: Dave Cowens: Another C-to-PF switch. Except that Cowens actually could easily have been a PF. Cowens was small by C standards, but he was tenacious and never backed down from a challenge. Drafted in 1970 (no small feat, considering that his college, Florida State, was banned from postseasons and from TV), Cowens shared ROY honors (with Portland's Geoff Petrie) with 17 PPG and 15 RPG, exactly. Cowens averaged a double-double in each of his first eight season, winning the 1973 league MVP along the way. Cowens also starred in two championship teams in the 70s.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Red Auerbach: The standard by which all coaches who came after him would be judged, Auerbach was a very successful coach in Washington and Tri-Cities before taking the Celtics job in 1950. Over the next 16 years as coach, he molded the team into a fastbreaking machine and, with Russell as the anchor, a tough defensive team. He coached the team to nine titles overall (including the record 8 straight) and then as GM/President, built up seven more champions.

Assistants: K.C. Jones, Tom Heinsohn: Jones wasn't considered a brilliant X's-and-O's coach, but as the Celts' pilot from 1983-88, he didn't have to be. Jones never won fewer than 57 games in any season as Celtics coach, and he owns the highest winning % in team history. Heinsohn succeded Russell as coach in 1969, and after a rough start, he guided the team to five division titles, two conference and NBA titles, and 427 wins overall.

There's the list. Tomorrow, I'll unveil #3, the 76ers. Take care for now!