RIP Paul Silas

mwonow

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Sep 4, 2005
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One of my favorite Celts ever - loved the way he established presence inside. Very sorry to see him go. RIP, champ.
 

bankshot1

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Damn.
Silas was a very good and under-rated and IMO under appreciated player, (he played somewhat in the shadows of a lot of Celtic HoF players) doing a lot of the small ball elbowy hardwork on both ends of the court that wins championships.

RIP Mr Silas
 

jaytftwofive

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Jan 20, 2013
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He was a veteran when they traded him for Sidney Wicks and Cutis Rowe I believe. Bad trade. Red thought he was getting old. Anyway he was one of my favorites and one of the most underrated players in NBA history. RIP Paul. Ironically they got him for a steal when they traded Charlie Scott who they had draft rights to, to the Suns for Silas. Then they became teammates a few years later of course.
 

lexrageorge

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He was a veteran when they traded him for Sidney Wicks and Cutis Rowe I believe. Bad trade. Red thought he was getting old. Anyway he was one of my favorites and one of the most underrated players in NBA history. RIP Paul. Ironically they got him for a steal when they traded Charlie Scott who they had draft rights to, to the Suns for Silas. Then they became teammates a few years later of course.
Silas contract expired in the summer of 1976. While the NBA's reserve clause was no more, free agency in the NBA still required teams to send compensation, so players often had little recourse but to hold out. Silas threatened to hold out, so Red, with new owner Irv Levin holding the purse strings, traded him to the Nuggets part of a 3-way deal. Coming from the Pistons was Curtis Rowe. The Celtics had signed Sidney Wicks a couple of weeks prior, so the trade essentially reunited the former UCLA stars.

RIP to a key piece of those often overlooked 1970's championship teams.
 

Humphrey

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Silas and Dave Cowens are listed at 6-7 and 6-9, respectively. Think they were more like 6-5 and 6-8. Amazing how effective they were as the Celts' big men.
 

Ale Xander

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Celtics giants dying too often

Should have been the Celtics head coach in 1995 but Myself Love Carr named himself.
 

RoDaddy

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Silas and Dave Cowens are listed at 6-7 and 6-9, respectively. Think they were more like 6-5 and 6-8. Amazing how effective they were as the Celts' big men.
Listed at 6'7" and 225 but that kind of translates to 6'9", 240 by today's standards as he was defintiely a load underneath. Loved watching him play during the Cowens years that don't get enough attention in the middle of the Russell and Bird teams. They used to say about Russell that if you take a shot you better hit because there isn't goinna be another, but the same could be said for Cowens/Silas.
 

runnels3

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Red got him before the '72-'73 season to neutralize Dave Debusschere, and it almost worked that year. Any Celtic fan worth his/her salt knows the Cs don't win it all in '74 & '76 without him. I don't think he is underrated at all. RIP #35 Tall Paul.
 

riboflav

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Godspeed, Tall Paul. I can't believe that he and Small Paul are on the other side. A true Celt, and one of the greatest rebounders of any era.
Grew up in the 80s hearing my dad talk A LOT about Mr. Silas as he called him. I’d say boy Parrish and Walton are great rebounders and he’d say yeah they’re ok. But you should’ve seen Mr. Silas rebound. And then would shake his head with amazement lol.
 

riboflav

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To add more, my dad who is in his 70s is a very level headed guy (I am more the product of my mom lol) so he doesn’t have big reactions to all of his “heroes” dying and yet many especially in the Celtics family have been passing away lately. But, I know it’s affecting him and when one passes on I get concerned about my dad. Also, knowing that he is edging toward the end of his life. So in a way their passing affects me in deeper ways too. RIP Mr. Silas. I’ve only seen you play on YouTube and the NBA Channel but I know you were one of the all time best. My heart goes out to your loved ones.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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Silas contract expired in the summer of 1976. While the NBA's reserve clause was no more, free agency in the NBA still required teams to send compensation, so players often had little recourse but to hold out. Silas threatened to hold out, so Red, with new owner Irv Levin holding the purse strings, traded him to the Nuggets part of a 3-way deal. Coming from the Pistons was Curtis Rowe. The Celtics had signed Sidney Wicks a couple of weeks prior, so the trade essentially reunited the former UCLA stars.

RIP to a key piece of those often overlooked 1970's championship teams.
The legend that Wicks/Rowe will forever have in Celtics lore is one of the most improbable paths for the 1/2 duo on B2B UCLA titles (after they played alongside Alcindor for their first championship) under Wooden.

Silas was a man’s man who raised his kids right. RIP
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Oakley before Oakley

Loved Silas. One of my late Mom’s favorites. Her favorite was Havlicek.
Your Mom has good taste.

Didn't get to see a lot of games because didn't grow up in BOS but when I saw the Cs, he was one player you always had to watch because he worked so hard and was such a great rebounder even though he wasn't a giant. Always one of my favorite Cs. It suxs getting old. RIP.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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Your Mom has good taste.

Didn't get to see a lot of games because didn't grow up in BOS but when I saw the Cs, he was one player you always had to watch because he worked so hard and was such a great rebounder even though he wasn't a giant. Always one of my favorite Cs. It suxs getting old. RIP.
A story about my mom

She worked for Bruins & Celtics team doctors in the early 60’s. Red would come in and chat. All the players on both teams were simply the best. Russell was a bit stand off like. Cousy, Sharman & Tommy were sweethearts. I believe I was at Russell’s & Sam Jones’ last regular season game in 1969 when I was 8 years old.
 

lexrageorge

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The legend that Wicks/Rowe will forever have in Celtics lore is one of the most improbable paths for the 1/2 duo on B2B UCLA titles (after they played alongside Alcindor for their first championship) under Wooden.

Silas was a man’s man who raised his kids right. RIP
Wicks & Rowe were literally the bridge from Alcindor to Bill Walton in UCLA's amazing 7-year NCAA title run.
 

TripleOT

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One of my favorites, as one of the first lunch pail type pro athletes I rooted for. Boston loves a hard nosed, hard working, selfless player, and that was Paul Silas.