RIP Tommy Heinsohn

[captain stone]

I learned to shoot the hook and burned many angry guys on the playground with it.

Is it a lost art now? I hope not.

Kareem was tall enough that he didn't need that much trajectory on it.

I'm a little too young to remember watching Heinsohn as a player, but in the early '70s I developed a left-handed hook shot to mimic Dave Cowens...
I once read/heard that some NBA folks weren't big fans of the hook because it leaves the shooter out of position for a rebound; but if a big man developed one with the Accuracy of Alcindor as I heard it once described, then there wouldn't be many rebounds available anyway...I'd like to see TimeLord work on one as a matchup weapon...

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I'm a little too young to remember watching Heinsohn as a player, but in the early '70s I developed a left-handed hook shot to mimic Dave Cowens...
I once read/heard that some NBA folks weren't big fans of the hook because it leaves the shooter out of position for a rebound; but if a big man developed one with the Accuracy of Alcindor as I heard it once described, then there wouldn't be many rebounds available anyway...I'd like to see TimeLord work on one as a matchup weapon...

Dave was like the Terry O'Reilly of hoops, his intensity level was eons above everybody else. I went to his camp, where there were a bunch of guys like Paul Silas, John Killilea etc.

We were doing post up drills once and he came over and watched me and said, "That was terrible." Yeah I was nervous, but I still can't help laughing about it when I remember.

 

[jimnance]

Johnny's blood pressure in those games must've been 350/300, his voice would become a dog whistle. He hated McFilthy & McNasty, but I also recall him losing it on Ralph Sampson when he hit Sichting.

Regardless, there was nobody like Tommy Heinsohn, was like listening to your favorite uncle. He had no ego for such an accomplished and successful guy.

Loving these old clips of him as a player, he was pretty skilled. Rookie of the year, went 39/23 in the Finals/G7, 8 titles, led the team in scoring for many of them. A huge presence as a coach, 2 titles and def should've been 3 except for a freak Hondo injury and Drieth-level officiating. Dave Cowens calls Tommy the greatest ambassador the NBA has ever had. And then the last 35 years we had an nba guru right in our living room every game.

Yeah, once Tommy started his broadcasting career ,I stopped listening to Johhny Most when C's were televised and listened to Tommy. Still listened to Most when games were radio only- this was b4 u could watch any nba game anytime and b4 the internet.

 

[NormZauchin]

I'm a little too young to remember watching Heinsohn as a player, but in the early '70s I developed a left-handed hook shot to mimic Dave Cowens...
I once read/heard that some NBA folks weren't big fans of the hook because it leaves the shooter out of position for a rebound; but if a big man developed one with the Accuracy of Alcindor as I heard it once described, then there wouldn't be many rebounds available anyway...I'd like to see TimeLord work on one as a matchup weapon...

I was in the Garden for the sixth game of the Bucks/Celtics 1974 NBA finals, when Kareem hit his skyhook over Henry Finkel for the victory in double overtime. No need for a rebound then.

 

[jimnance]

I was in the Garden for the sixth game of the Bucks/Celtics 1974 NBA finals, when Kareem hit his skyhook over Henry Finkel for the victory in double overtime. No need for a rebound then.

I watched a game at the Garden with Finkel once. He had just been released. I won a pool tournament at my job and the prize was 2 C's tix in the player section put up by Dave Cowens. Me and a buddy went. Played the Nate Archibald KC Kings. But Finkel was the show. Guy was funny as hell. His legs were so long they went over the row of seats in front of us and his feet were flat on the floor. 2 rows down.He spent the whole game givin us all the inside dope, like what was REALLY being said in the timeout huddle. Kept us laughin all night.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I was in the Garden for the sixth game of the Bucks/Celtics 1974 NBA finals, when Kareem hit his skyhook over Henry Finkel for the victory in double overtime. No need for a rebound then.

I was at that game too. Even though it was an L, it ranks as one of the greatest games ever in the Garden. So close to seeing the trophy awarded, Hondo and Jabbar trading hoops through the OT's. Cowens out, Finkel in, and he played great given the situation. He forced Kareem toward the corner on the final play, and it took a ridiculous running hook shot from 15' to win it. Pretty breathtaking event.

 

[borg]

When I think of my all time favorite broadcasters, I clearly am drawn to the few one-of-a-kind characters who wear their heart on their sleeves every second of their broadcast. In an industry of rehearsed delivery and poll tested emotions, give me the "they broke the mold" originals who can never be replicated.
Most
Caray
Cosell
Ueker
Madden
Heinsohn

These one-of-a-kinds were as authentic as it gets.......and I'm cringing now thinking about the cookie-cutter unibots who have replaced these legends.

 

[captain stone]

I was in the Garden for the sixth game of the Bucks/Celtics 1974 NBA finals, when Kareem hit his skyhook over Henry Finkel for the victory in double overtime. No need for a rebound then.

Yeah those of us watching on TV were so crest-fallen when that hook was made, we thought the series was over...Then came Game 7, in Milwaukee...

 

[jimnance]

Man,I loved those Cowens/Hondo/Silas/Jojo/Charlie Scott teams. Undersized in an era of dominant big men, scrappy as hell, fun to watch. Won 2 nba titles. Really had no business winning any, they were so small, but guts and talent>size.

 

[Family]

Man,I loved those Cowens/Hondo/Silas/Jojo/Charlie Scott teams. Undersized in an era of dominant big men, scrappy as hell, fun to watch. Won 2 nba titles. Really had no business winning any, they were so small, but guts and talent>size.

Don't forget Don Cheney. It was Cheney, not Scott in the first championship,

 

[captain stone]

Don't forget Don Cheney. It was Cheney, not Scott in the first championship,

And the Paul Westfall trade for Charlie Scott was HORRIBLE...One of Red's worst ever...

 

[jimnance]

And the Paul Westfall trade for Charlie Scott was HORRIBLE...One of Red's worst ever...

I was really pissed when Red traded Westphal. Scott helped us win a championship and was a good player but Westy became a superstar. A lot of people speculated he was too flashy for Red, flying in with those tomahawk dunks. He was fun to watch.

 

[jimnance]

Don't forget Don Cheney. It was Cheney, not Scott in the first championship,

Yeah Chaney is one of the alltime greatest defensive players in nba history.
Scott was better all-around, thats why I mentioned him. But Chaney was lockdown.

 

[captain stone]

Yeah Chaney is one of the alltime greatest defensive players in nba history.
Scott was better all-around, thats why I mentioned him. But Chaney was lockdown.

The Duck was also the only Celtic to have played with both Bill Russell & Larry Bird, however briefly,,,

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I was a huge Chaney fan. He balanced that team out, could defend anyone.

 

[captain stone]

I was a huge Chaney fan. He balanced that team out, could defend anyone.

And at nearly 6'5 he could defend anyone at 3 positions...A superior defender to even Dennis Johnson, whose career was just beginning as the Duck's was ending, though DJ was the much superior offensive player...

 

[Brewskies]

I am late replying. I remember seeing so many great games with Tommy in the lineup. Thanks for the entertainment, Tommy.

RIP Mr. Tommy Heinsohn

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

And the Paul Westfall trade for Charlie Scott was HORRIBLE...One of Red's worst ever...

Hey man, why you always making me disagree?
Westy wanted out. Didn't like the team concept. It's his right. But crap, imagine if Sam Jones took that attitude when he started here.

Red had to let him go. And as Red said, we won that trade. Paul got his All-Star games, but we - with Charlie - won the title.

And I wanted Chaney to stay too. But we couldn't match the offer Don got from the ABA.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

The Duck was also the only Celtic to have played with both Bill Russell & Larry Bird, however briefly,,,

& Pistol Pete & Kareem...wow

 

[captain stone]

Hey man, why you always making me disagree?
Westy wanted out. Didn't like the team concept. It's his right. But crap, imagine if Sam Jones took that attitude when he started here.

Red had to let him go. And as Red said, we won that trade. Paul got his All-Star games, but we - with Charlie - won the title.

And I wanted Chaney to stay too. But we couldn't match the offer Don got from the ABA.

I don't remember reading or hearing about that...This article I found goes into some detail about his time with the Celtics but doesn't mention any grievance from Westphal's side:

Finally voted into Hall of Fame, Paul Westphal was the traded Celtic who rose to prominence as a Sun

After 3 years as third guard on great Celtic teams, Westy blossomed into an NBA superstar when traded to Phoenix

www.celticsblog.com