Is Belichick the Greatest Boston Sports Coach?

another factor, raised by Cowherd today (he rarely makes great points but this was one):

The NBA is structured to have dynasties emerge. 13 different players have 6 or more rings. The NFL has one such player.

The Patriots under Belichick in a salary-capped free agency-fueled 32 team league hellbent on maintaining parity is incomparable to any other dynasty ever witnessed in any pro sport.

Including Red's Celtics and the Yankees of the 50s and 60s.

betterthanthealternative said:

Apples and Oranges.
Red transformed his sport in a way that no coach or GM has matched (or could, I think, because he took it from primitive to sophisticated, and that can't be done anymore). He also brought the principles of uncompromised team discipline and sustained excellence into pro sports.
Bill has taken team discipline and sustained excellence and applied them with stunning success in a more complex and difficult era to do so.
This is like comparing Galileo and Einstein.

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Exactly. But I want to add one more thing about Red. He started coaching at a time of huge racism in the NBA. There were very few black players, but he built a team with many of them. Just to tweak the noses of the league, he started 5 black players a few times. In a way, reminds me of BB and spy gate. "Stupid rule, why should you be able to film from the stands but not the sideline. I'm going to ignore it". Red would understand this.

Best coach in all American sport, could make some strong arguments for others in international sport.

Belichick is the greatest coach period. He’s unbelievable.

Good grief, Belichick and it shouldn't even be a question.

Winning NBA titles in the 50's and 60's or what the Canadiens did in the 40's thru 60's is not in any way comparable to this nearly 20 year NFL dynasty. Competing against 6 or so other teams when you have a virtual monopoly on talent is no different than Alabama winning the SEC West every year. It's impressive but a tad bit over-romanticized.

I bet I could win 9 of 11 games of Monopoly if I was spotted hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk. Yup, that's the analogy I'm going with!

Auerbach, but there's plenty of hair splitting to be done regardless of which of the two (Red, BB) you choose.

fan345 said:

In a way, reminds me of BB and spy gate. "Stupid rule, why should you be able to film from the stands but not the sideline. I'm going to ignore it". Red would understand this.

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Speaking of that, notice that azzwipes like Bob Ryan and Shank love to say what a genius Red was for doing stuff like turning off the hot water in the opposition's locker room, teaching players how to subtly grab jerseys and the like, and a whole host of pushing the envelope gamesmanship stuff. And then they go off and talk about how evil and dishonest and unsportsmanlike Belichick is for doing analogous stuff.

Not taking anything away from BB. But Auerbach is the standard. I am older and enjoyed his excellence. Belichick is a close second

fan345 said:

Exactly. But I want to add one more thing about Red. He started coaching at a time of huge racism in the NBA. There were very few black players, but he built a team with many of them. Just to tweak the noses of the league, he started 5 black players a few times. In a way, reminds me of BB and spy gate. "Stupid rule, why should you be able to film from the stands but not the sideline. I'm going to ignore it". Red would understand this.

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The Celtics were the first team to draft a black player and the first team to have five black starters.

I can't really choose between Red and Bill, but I will note that winning a championship in basketball involves winning multiple games in multiple series, while the football playoffs are one loss and you are out. The chance that the better team will win in basketball is considerably greater than in football. I don't think the Giants would have beaten the 2007 Patriots in a best of seven series.

NormZauchin said:

I can't really choose between Red and Bill, but I will note that winning a championship in basketball involves winning multiple games in multiple series, while the football playoffs are one loss and you are out. The chance that the better team will win in basketball is considerably greater than in football. I don't think the Giants would have beaten the 2007 Patriots in a best of seven series.

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And one could argue that the 2001 Patriots would not have beaten the 2001 Rams in a best of seven series.

What a thing for Boston sports fans of a certain age bracket to have started their fandom with the incredible Auerbach/Russell dynasty and then to have it bookended with the (at least) equally incredible Belichick/Brady dynasty. This is sports heaven.

[Honorable mention to all the other incidental championships collected along the way by other Boston franchises.]

turkeyneck said:

What a thing for Boston sports fans of a certain age bracket to have started their fandom with the incredible Auerbach/Russell dynasty and then to have it bookended with the (at least) equally incredible Belichick/Brady dynasty. This is sports heaven.

[Honorable mention to all the other incidental championships collected along the way by other Boston franchises.]

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I'm one of those fans. I've been blessed.

Trying to choose between Red and Bill is almost impossible. They're both the GOAT of their sport and they both coached the GOAT player. If I gave either one of them an edge it would probably be Red for his GM abilities. As great as Bill is in that regard Red was better.

No question. NBA isn't a team sports IMO. Get 1 or 2 superstars...anyone can coach. get Lebron Wade and Bosh on a team..I could sit on the bench and coach. Lebron is the coach and GM anyways.

Why I can't STAND the NBA..players run the league and teams..not coaches.

Belichick by a mile. Next would be Sinden, because football and hockey are real sports. Baseball is a pastime, and I can't even acknowledge basketball

Patstastic said:

Just talking professional sports. My order:

Belichick
Auerbach
Cherry/Sinden?
Francona

Who are your choices?

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its red. he did it as a coach and gm president ect. really tough choice.
red
bb
francona

FCB02062 said:

Belichick....Auerbach won in an 8 or 9 team league

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that means the league wasn't watered down with ****ty teams and players. and they all knew each other front to back. i think it makes it harder and more impressive. red by a nose.

captain insano said:

that means the league wasn't watered down with ****ty teams and players. and they all knew each other front to back.

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For football, it would be a bit like all season being division games, but with higher avg talent levels.