Over And Back: Stories About Nba History

Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch take a look at the NBA's Silver Anniversary team announced in 1971 and what it says about where the NBA stood at the time in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.Topics discussed on the episode:The merits of the actual choices of the team (Paul Arizin, Bob Cousy, Bob Davies, Joe Fulks, Sam Jones, George Mikan, Bob Pettit, Bill Russell, Dolph Schayes, and Bill Sharman) The decision to not include active players like Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor A deep dive on some of the lesser-known nominees for the team, including Bob Feerick, Tom Gola, Slater Martin, George Yardley, and Max Zaslofsky The fact that 1971 was the 25th anniversary of the founding of the BAA, not the formation of the NBA in 1949 -- thus ignoring the legacy of the NBL, one of two predecessor leagues for the NBA The background of the selection committee that chose the nominees for the team, including Celtics coach/GM Red Auerbach, Knicks president Ned Irish,

Jason and Rich attempt to circumvent Pat Riley's trademarks to discuss failed attempts at winning three NBA championships in a row. We look at each and every team that failed to make it three in a row, what may have caused them to miss out, roster changes in the offseason, internal turmoil and much more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jason and Rich look at notable one-year stints with an NBA team that didn't work out as expected. Examples include Scottie Pippen going to the Houston Rockets, Dwight Howard's run as a Los Angeles Lakers, Paul Westphal's brief run as a Seattle Supersonic and many more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jason and Rich look at the greatest games for 2018 Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Ray Allen, Maurice Cheeks, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Charlie Scott. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We celebrate the career and legacy of the great Manu Ginobili and look back at his greatest performances in the latest edition of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.We talk about how Ginobili's creativity and craft helped redefine the NBA, how odd the Spurs will seem without any of their Big Three for the first time in 21 years, Ginobili's place among the all-time greats, how his low minute total affects how we will be remembered, how many Sixth Man of the Year awards he probably should have won, his dramatic 2004 Olympics game-winner vs. Serbia and his role in Argentina dethroning the U.S., his run-in with a bat, multiple playoff game-winners, and making a dramatic sacrifice for his time.We also look at his six best games: outdueling LeBron James in Cleveland in 2009, breaking the hearts of Suns fans (on multiple occasions), and stepping up time after time when Tim Duncan or Tony Parker were injured or ineffective. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://r

Jason and Rich examine the longest tenures with an NBA team in history, discuss Dirk Nowitzki setting the NBA record for most seasons with one franchise, other players who stayed with one franchise for their entire careers and those with long tenures on a team but who couldn't quite finish their career with just one. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Taylor (Backpicks.com) joins Jason Mann to chat about Larry Bird's last great NBA performance, a 49-point triple-double in a 152-148 double OT win over Clyde Drexler and the Blazers, in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.We discuss a thrilling game with two buzzer-beaters from Bird and Kevin Gamble, how rare it is for two teams to score more than 148 points in the same game, time catching up to the Bird-McHale-Parish Celtics, how the early 1990s Blazers are a bit underappreciated, Bird managing to remain great even with major back trouble, and how both teams enjoyed the running game. We also share some thoughts on Terry Porter, Clifford Robinson, Danny Ainge, Reggie Lewis, and a young Rick Fox.We also discuss Ben's recent Top 40 Best Careers in NBA History series (http://www.backpicks.com/2017/12/11/the-backpicks-goat-the-40-best-careers-in-nba-history/): ranking Kobe Bryant outside the top 10, LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan, and Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing being bett

We're beginning a new series on the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast looking at the last great game for all-time greats in NBA history. In this multi-part series we will examine and reveal the last great game for each player that made our revised NBA 50 Greatest Players ever list. We begin today with Part 1 looking at the last great games for:Kareem Abdul-JabbarKobe BryantKevin GarnettAllen IversonMoses MaloneGeorge MikanHakeem OlajuwonBob PettitDennis RodmanIsiah ThomasWes Unseld Topics include how we define a great game, the criteria used in selecting the last great game for these players and what was happening with the player and their team at the time.More specifically, we delve into Kareem's ability to remain a solid contributor into his final season and what could have happened if he hung around, Kobe Bryant's now-legendary 60-point sendoff, Kevin Garnett's last hurrah with the Celtics, Detroit Pistons Allen Iverson (yes, that was a thing), Moses Malone's Milwaukee Bucks era, George

Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch continue their NBA 20 Years Ago series with a look at the news, notes and games of the NBA 20 Years Ago. This episode will focus primarily on the 1998 NBA Playoffs featuring an upstart Los Angeles Lakers team, Karl Malone, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz looking to get back to the NBA Finals and Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls' last stand as they try for a three-peat repeat.In this episode, we cover each 1998 NBA Playoff series including most prominent games, news and notes surrounding the games and top performers in each series. Highlights include Shawn Kemp's stellar contributions to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New Jersey Nets nearly pulling off a Game 1 upset against the Bulls, Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves giving George Karl and the Seattle Supersonics a scare, the New York Knicks and Miami Heat reviving their playoff rivalry and fisticuffs, a series of boring 4-1 Conference Semifinal matchups, Indiana taking the Bulls to seven games and of course,

We discuss Hakeem Olajuwon dominating David Robinson in the 1995 playoffs, the much more even career head-to-head battles, and the Michael Jordan-less interlude where big men dominated in the NBA in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.Corbin Smith and John Wilmes of the Take It or Break It! podcast join the show to look at the fascinating 1995 Houston Rockets, Olajuwon's foibles in the early 1990s, Robert Horry's early days of clutch baskets, Vernon Maxwell attacking a fan in Portland, the Clyde Drexler trade, and one of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history.They also talk about the Spurs in Gregg Popovich's first year with the team (as general manager) and a fun roster, including Dennis Rodman and a bunch of future coaches. They look at whether Robinson was ever considered cool, his feud with Shaquille O'Neal, the theological implications of Olajuwon's dominance over Robinson, and dig into some of the key moments of Houston's Game 2 win over the Spurs, after

We look at the biggest free agent signing in every NBA team's history in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.Adam Johnson of Basketball Pantheon joins us for a wide-ranging discussion -- from the biggest free agent decisions such as LeBron James to the Heat and Cavs, Shaquille O'Neal to the Lakers, and Kevin Durant to the Warriors, to less-heralded but still signifcant signings such as Hedo Turkoglu to the Raptors, Greg Monroe to the Bucks, Kenny Anderson to the Blazers, and Peja Stojakovic to the Hornets.We also discuss Allen Iverson and Gilbert Arenas' short stints in Memphis, Charles Oakley changing the culture in Toronto, Andrei Kirilenko and Brandon Roy joining the Timberwolves, Horace Grant bringing credibility to Orlando, Al Jefferson becoming the biggest Bobcat, how the Gail Goodrich signing derailed the Jazz, Baron Davis' big move to the Clippers, Tom Chambers becoming the first unrestricted free agent with the Suns, Alonzo Mourning's cursed time with the N

Jason and Rich look back at the 2018 NBA Finals and what history was made including asking if the Golden State Warriors are now a dynasty.We try to come to a definitive definition of what a dynasty is in basketball, what teams of recent and past vintage would be classified as dynasties, whether or not the Spurs during the Tim Duncan-era could be considered a dynasty, what to make of the early 2000s Kobe/Shaq Los Angeles Lakers and if they had enough longevity to be a dynasty and of course more discussions on where a third title in four years places the Golden State Warriors. We also delve into LeBron James as a non-team specific dynasty of his own, LeBron's unfortunate entry into the club of Most NBA Finals losses as he approaches Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and others for the top spot. We look at what people would say about the Golden State Warriors had they not lost a 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals, if Kevin Durant and Steph Curry can be considered Top 25 players at this point in their careers and if Dray

Jason and Rich look at the historical comps for four straight NBA Finals matchups, the history between the Warriors and the Cavaliers as well as LeBron's incredible run of eight straight NBA Finals.Topics include Golden State and Cleveland meeting in their fourth straight NBA Finals — where does that rank historically? What other NBA Finals repeat matchups have we seen throughout history? We'll look at the Boston Celtics and St. Louis Hawks battling in the late 50s/early 60s, Los Angeles Lakers and Celtics battling throughout the 60s as well as Lakers vs. Knicks, Supersonics vs. Bullets, Lakers vs. 76ers, Jazz vs. Bulls and Spurs vs. Heat. We'll look at how many times these teams faced off in the NBA Finals, what brought them to the league championship and how the franchise fared following their matchups. We also delve into the teams that went to four straight NBA Finals, a small list including only a few teams (Celtics, Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Cavaliers and Warriors). LeBron's amazing 8th stra

Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch look at the best and worst playoff performances of LeBron James' career in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.We discuss some of his best games in series from 2009 vs. the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks, 2016 vs. the Golden State Warriors, 2018 vs. the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers, 2010 vs. the Chicago Bulls, 2014 vs. the Brooklyn Nets, 2006 vs. the Washington Wizards, and 2007 vs. the Detroit Pistons. And we look at his worst games in 2008 vs. the Boston Celtics, 2014 vs. the Pacers, and infamous breakdowns in 2010 vs. the Celtics and 2011 vs. the Mavericks in the Finals. We also look at his five buzzer-beating playoff game-winners and playoff career highs. (Original airdate: 5/20/18)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jason and Rich look at the 2018 NBA Conference Semifinal matchups through a historic lens. Jason and Rich look at the history of playoff matchups between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors, and finally the Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz. Topics include: An upstart 50-win Raptors team trying to stop a historical run for the Cleveland Cavaliers and prevent the city of Cleveland from winning their first title since the mid-50s. Easily one of the longest playoff rivalries ever between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, a rivalry that began before the 76ers were, the 76ers. Jason and Rich delve into the history of this playoff feud, the transcendent games and players involved in the playoff matchups and their recent battles. The Pelicans try to avoid a sweep in Anthony Davis' and the franchises assumed coming out party The surprisingly deep playoff rivalry between the Jazz and Rockets which included four huge

Over and Back's NBA 20 Years Ago project takes us to the final month of the NBA regular season in 1998 with heated playoff races, injuries to some of the game's biggest stars and Michael Jordan's farewell. On today's episode we spotlight four players: Clyde Drexler, Bryant Reeves, Alonzo Mourning and Jason Kidd. All four are making news in the NBA's final month with Clyde announcing his retirement and subsequent move to the coaching ranks, Reeves emerging as a cornerstone of the Vancouever Grizzlies franchise, Alonzo Mourning dons a mask and Jason Kidd leads a resurgent Phoenix Suns squad. We also delve into four spotlight teams: Orlando, Charlotte, New York and Phoenix. Orlando is trying to live in a post-Penny Hardaway world with a rag-tag veteran-laden roster but things aren't going well. Turmoil despite success in Charlotte. The Knicks are living without Patrick Ewing as Allan Houston and Larry Johnson step up but Ewing eyes a return before the playoffs. Phoenix came out on fire in

Part two of an in-depth look at the NBA players who have had their jersey numbers retired, as well as notable omissions and future candidates, in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast, with special guest Reinis Lacis of The Handle.We talk about whether Carmelo Anthony might get his jersey retired by the Nuggets, Carroll Dawson's contributions to the Rockets, the Thunder not yet giving out any retired Sonics numbers and how they might handle a future jersey retirement, Nate Thurmond and Bingo Smith's runs with the Cavs, the Bucks' somewhat odd inconsistencies in their number retirements, Johnny Moore's years with the Spurs, the Knicks overlooking most of their 1950s stars, "Dr. Dunkenstein" Darrell Griffith leading the Jazz to respectability before the Stockton/Malone era, why the Sixers still haven't raised Moses Malone's No. 2, the Kings handling their history in many cities very effectively, the Blazers honoring nearly everyone from their 1977 title team

We take an in-depth look at the NBA players who have had their jersey numbers retired, as well as notable omissions and future candidates, in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast, with special guest Reinis Lacis of The Handle.In part one, we discuss the teams who have yet to retired a jersey (Raptors, Clippers, and Grizzlies) and who might be the first, players such as Bobby Phills and Malik Sealy who were honored because of tragedy, the Hornets avoiding Bobcat history, why the Timberwolves have yet to honor Kevin Garnett, Pete Maravich having his number raised in three cities, the Magic having their own Hall of Fame instead of retiring jerseys, the Mavs choosing Brad Davis to be their first retired number, the Pacers leaving Freddie Lewis in the cold, the Heat honoring Dan Marino and Michael Jordan before any of their own players, the mystery of precisely when the Hawks retired Bob Pettit's jersey, what the Bulls will do with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors ignoring the

Jason and Rich bid adieu to Milwaukee's Bradley Center and discuss historical and upcoming NBA arena changes. The end of the Bradley Center is significant as it is currently one of the NBA's oldest active NBA arenas only behind the New York Knicks' Madison Square Garden and the Golden State Warriors' Oracle Arena. We discuss some of our memories of the Bradley Center, its history as an NBA arena and what it means for it to be replaced. We then look at some new arenas coming in the near future including the aforementioned Oracle Arena being replaced by the brand-new Chase Center, the Warriors move back to San Francisco and the historical significance of that as and much more. We also touch on the proposed Inglewood Basketball & Entertainment Center for the Los Angeles Clippers. Lastly, we dig into recent arena changes including the Detroit Pistons moving from The Palace of Auburn Hills to the new Little Caesars Arena, Sacramento Kings leaving Arco Arena for the state-of-the-art Golden1 Cent

Who remembers who finished in second? We do! Rich and Jason looked at the runners-up in NBA MVP voting from 1956 to 2017 and what lessons we can glean from them in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast.We look at how close multiple-time MVP awards like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain came to additional awards and if they might even deserve additional MVPs. We discuss players who you might not have expected to finish that high in MVP voting, including Paul Arizin, Dolph Schayes, Nate Thurmond, Lenny Wilkens, George Gervin, Bernard King, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, Alonzo Mourning, Jason Kidd, and Dwight Howard.We also talk about poor, cranky Jerry West's bad luck in finishing No. 2 in MVP voting four times. We look at Shaq's two MVP runners-up a decade apart and wonder what kept him from winning more, and whether Kobe Bryant really has a case for a second MVP. We discuss great seasons by Bob Pet