Over And Back: Stories About Nba History

We look at Julius Erving’s ABA championship years with the New York Nets in the latest episode of Over and Back’s Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s with basketball-history enthusiast Reinis Lacis @LamarMatic, host of The Handle podcast.We discuss how Erving fit in with new coach and NBA veteran Kevin Loughery, how Erving became a complete player who filled the box score, how Erving blended with his new mostly young teammates (“The Whopper” Billy Paultz, Bill Melchionni, speedy Brian Taylor and rookies Super John Williamson and Larry Kenon), how the Nets struggled early with constant pressing and fast breaking, how a team meeting after losing nine straight changed the course of the team, acquiring legendary ABA character Wendell Ladner and his friendship with Doc, how the Nets had a special close bond, a heated 1974 playoff series with Erving’s former team the Squires, sweeping a strong Kentucky Colonels team and beating a Utah Stars powerhouse for the Nets’ first championship.We also talk about how Erving man