Over And Back: Stories About Nba History

Sportswriting legend Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe joins us to discuss the 1973-76 Boston Celtics in the sixth episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA podcast’s summer series — Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. Jason Mann joins him to talk about the high and low points of a team that won two titles in three seasons and 68 games in 1973.Also discussed: how Red Auerbach was able to rebuild the Celtics after the Bill Russell era, the all-around brilliance of John Havlicek, drafting Jo Jo White and Dave Cowens, acquiring the rugged Paul Silas as a final piece, their playoff rivalry with the Knicks and their famous 7-game battle in 1973 (and Boston’s perspective on some questionable refereeing in that series), a controversial series win over Bob McAdoo’s Buffalo Braves, knocking off Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks for a championship in 1974, running into Elvin Hayes and the Washington Bullets in 1975, what made Cowens so special as a player and his pride in being the center despite lack of size, Don Nelson’s in