Over And Back: Stories About Nba History

We conclude our #RussellMania series, a deep dive into the life and career of Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics dynasty, with a discussion of some of our favorite stories of Russell’s life and career and our final thoughts on the project.Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch share stories of Russell’s interactions with his teammates, including Frank Ramsey, John Havlicek, Tommy Heinsohn, and Bob Cousy, and talk about Russell and his USF teammates touring Alcatraz, the Jones Boys riling up Wilt Chamberlain, Russell’s early interactions with Red Auerbach, Russell’s reactions to getting a statue in Boston, and what Russell said to a big-time gambler who approached him about fixing an NBA game.Original airdate: 6/14/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We continue our #RussellMania series, a deep dive into the life and career of Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics dynasty, with a discussion of the Celtics’ playoff battles with the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons in the late 1960s. Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch talk about the Celtics adjusted to old age, how the Knicks rebuilt after nearly a decade of struggles, how the overlooked Pistons found success with Dave Bing, and John Havlicek becoming the Celtics’ best player. They also discuss Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Em Bryant, Bailey Howell, Walt Bellamy, Dave DeBusschere and more.Original airdate: 6/8/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We continue our #RussellMania series, a deep dive into the life and career of Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics dynasty, with a discussion of the Celtics’ playoff battles with Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half of the 1960s. Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch talk about Philly fans adjusting to cheering a hated former Syracuse Nationals rival, the trade to bring Chamberlain back home, how Wilt meshed with Hal Greer and Chet Walker, Dolph Schayes being too nice to coach, the Celtics making NBA history with a starting lineup of five black players, how the Sixers built a 67-win team that dethroned the Celtics, and how the aging Celtics returned fire with victories in 1968 and 1969.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We continue our #RussellMania series, a deep dive into the life and career of Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics dynasty, with a discussion of the Celtics’ playoff battles with Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals (now Sacramento Kings) in the mid-1960s. Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch talk about Robertson’s brilliance beyond simply his legendary triple-double season, how he smashed the record books, how the Royals were an example of some of the bush-league aspects of the 1960s NBA, the relationship between Robertson and Russell, other key Royals including Jerry Lucas and Jack Twyman, and more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

#RussellMania: The Over and Back Classic NBA podcast is devoting the next few weeks to Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. We continue our deep dive into the life and career of Bill Russell by discussing the 1950s and 1960s playoff battles between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors. We discuss the 1956 champion Warriors led by Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston (the last NBA champion before the Russell era), Wilt Chamberlain bursting into the NBA scene in 1960, Chamberlain and Tom Heinsohn getting into a melee, Sam Jones constantly riling Wilt up, Russell defending Red Auerbach from an angry Chamberlain, and the Warriors’ move from Philadelphia to San Francisco. Also discussed are Tom Gola, Guy Rodgers, Woody Sauldsberry, Al Attles, Tom Meschery, Frank McGuire and more.Original airdate: 5/10/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

#RussellMania: The Over and Back Classic NBA podcast is devoting the next few weeks to Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. We continue in our deep dive into the life and career of Bill Russell by discussing the 1950s and 1960s playoff battles between the Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers). We talk about how Dolph Schayes was a bridge between the old game and the new, how the Nationals-Celtics rivalry was fierce even before Russell joined the team, how Russell’s defense affected the Nats’ play (especially Johnny “Red” Kerr), and how close the Nationals came to beating the Celtics in 1959. We also share stories of how Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most nearly lost his dentures during a game, the disappearing 7-foot-3 Swede Halbrook, players who both played in the MLB and NBA, plus the contributions of Paul Seymour, Hal Greer, Larry Costello, George Yardley, Ed Conlin, Al Bianchi, Earl Lloyd, and, most importantly, pay tribute to the one-minute career of Forest “Frosty” Able.Original

Amid the recent news of injuries to Steph Curry, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast takes a deep dive into the history of major NBA playoff injuries affecting NBA title runs. Players and teams include Derrick Rose's ACL tear in 2012 closing the Chicago Bulls' title window, Oklahoma City's run to back-to-back Finals being handed a blow when Russell Westbrook went down, John Havlicek's injury preventing Boston from becoming the pre-eminent dynasty of the 70s, Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson in 1987 and 1988 respectively, Chris Webber and Dirk Nowitzki in 2003 as well as many more. Original airdate: 4/27/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We discuss Bill Russell's childhood, college career, life off the court, post-playing career and his extensive civil rights activism with Dr. Aram Goudsouzian, author of “King of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution.” We discuss the events of Russell's childhood that shaped his life including his mother's death when he was 12, the unique way he developed his game on defensive, his time at the University of San Francisco, the significance of him rejecting the Harlem Globetrotters and blazing a trail for black NBA superstars, how he dealt with racism among fans and media members, speaking out against NBA quotas of black players, visiting Mississippi during the Freedom Summer in 1964, his views on Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, writing a Sports Illustrated article in support of Muhammad Ali, his work to support integration in Boston schools, why he opposed signing autographs and rejected the Basketball Hall of Fame, his post-playing life trying to break into Hollywood, and his

We discuss the Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals rivalry between 1959 and 1969 with Bijan C. Bayne, author of “Elgin Baylor: The Man Who Changed Basketball,” in our continuing #RussellMania series dedicated to the life and legacy of Bill Russell. We break down each of their seven NBA Finals battles (1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969), talk about Elgin Baylor's rise to superstardom and his role in popularizing basketball in Los Angeles, Baylor's revolutionary influence on offensive play, the basketball and social parallels of Russell and Baylor, how Baylor was the first NBA player to boycott a game because of segregation, Baylor's relationships with longtime teammate Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, some of the other key Lakers of the 1960s (including Frank Selvy, Rudy LaRusso, Tom Hawkins, Hot Rod Hundley, Dick Barnett, Leroy Ellis, Gene Wiley, Walt Hazzard, Bob Boozer, Archie Clark, and Gail Goodrich), what Don Nelson's failure in Los Angeles and success in Boston sai

We are joined once again by Adam Criblez to discuss the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the St. Louis Hawks in the late 1950s and early 1960s, continuing our #RussellMania series dedicated to Bill Russell. We go through the Celtics vs. Hawks NBA Finals battles from 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1961, and talk about some of the great performances and players on both sides of the rivalry, one of the greatest Game 7s in NBA history, why the Russell for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley trade wasn’t as one-sided as you might think, Bob Pettit delivering one of the best series-clinching games ever, the Celtics’ stability contrasting with the ever-changing Hawks, why the Hawks ended up failing in St. Louis, and thoughts on Red Auerbach, Tom Heinsohn, Slater Martin, Alex Hannum, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, Clyde Lovellette and Lenny Wilkens, among many others.Original airdate: 4/12/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We are joined by Shawn Fury, author of Rise and Fire, to talk about how Bill Russell reshaped the NBA with his defense in the 1950s and 1960s, how the Celtics led a rise in fast-break offense and pace throughout the NBA, how Russell cleared the way for other black superstars such as Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain, and about some the jump shooting pioneers in basketball history including Joe Fulks, Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, Hal Greer, Frank Selvy, Kenny Sailors and more.Original airdate: 4/5/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We are joined again by Curtis Harris of Pro Hoops History to discuss the Boston Celtics dynasty from 1957 through 1969 that won 11 championships in 13 seasons. Topics discussed are Russell’s impressive record in Games 7, the Celtics coming through again and again in clutch moments, how much better were the Celtics defensively compared to the rest of the NBA, how the Celtics compared to other NBA dynasties such as the 1980s Lakers, the 1990s Bulls and the 2000s Spurs, which Celtics team was the best of the 11 champs, Red Auerbach’s strengths as a coach and GM, and much more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jason and Rich are joined by Yago Colas (author of the upcoming book Ball Don't Lie) to discuss one of the famous rivalries in sports: Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain. Discussions include the designation of the word rivalry, the myth of the rivalry, why people felt they had to choose between the two, racial ramifications, the much-hyped first game between the two, Wilt's playoff failures, Russell's teammates, Russell vs. Wilt: By the Numbers and the lasting legacy of their battles. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Over and Back Classic NBA podcast is devoting the next several weeks to Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. This episode will act as an intro to the series we're calling RussellMania as Jason and Rich discuss goals for the project, what they are most looking forward to covering as well as a brief overview of Russell's career, his unparalleled success on the court as well as his statistical achievements.Over the next few weeks, we'll call on a number of guests and experts in the field of professional basketball history to talk about Russell's tremendous impact on the game, the Celtics dynasty, his infamous rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain and much more. Original airdate: 3/16/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In celebration of Hardwood Paroxysm's 1990s Week, Jason and Rich discuss listener suggestions for favorite 1990s NBA memories and moments. Topics include Reggie Miller's famous duels with Patrick Ewing, John Starks and the New York Knicks, Manute Bol, Magic Johnson's HIV diagnosis, heroic All-Star Game performance (and of course The Magic Show), Shaquille O'Neal's onslaught on the game, the Golden State Warriors' Run TMC, the NBA's venture into Canada as well as a look at the crazed 1996 Free Agency period, Utah's rise to prominence and last but certainly not least, some stuff about that Michael Jordan guy and the Chicago Bulls. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast returns with a special #90sWeek-edition taking a look at the 1994-95 NBA season with Sporting News' Adi Joseph (@AdiJoseph). Primary topics include the Houston Rockets improbable run for back-to-back NBA championships, their midseason acquisition of Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler and their insane run through the Western Conference elite en route to a series sweep of the emerging Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. Discussions also include Michael Jordan's return to the NBA and the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics' final game at the famed Boston Garden, the first year of the shortened three-point line, famous on-court fashion of the year, Grant Hill's emergence as the next great NBA star and much more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast returns with a look at how the Cleveland Cavaliers built around superstar LeBron James during his first tenure with the club. Joined by Cleveland native and contributor to Bearded Gentlemen Music & IGoHardNow Mike Scherf, Jason and Rich discuss both LeBron's and the Cavaliers' development, improvement and evolution from 2004 to 2010. We discuss major transactions during that period and how the players and coaches fit around LeBron. Larger scale topics include the ownership change in 2005, the firings of coach Paul Silas and general manager Jim Paxson, the transition to Danny Ferry and Mike Brown, pivotal free agent/draft mishaps and much more. Original airdate: 2/24/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast returns with reaction to ESPN's recently-released #NBARank — a listing of the 100 greatest players in the NBA history. Jason and Rich discuss the #NBARank list, its criteria, notable placements for players and how their Top 100 compared with the 50 Greatest Players list we complied over the summer.Side topics included the potential underrating of many players from the 50s and 60s and reasons why that may have occurred, players who made our 50 Greatest List but didn't appear in ESPN's Top 100 as well as discussions on many of the current players on their list including Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Blake Griffin. The show closes with a brief run down of Nylon Calculus' new player/season evaluation stat, HBox as well as Kevin Pelton's (ESPN) Championships Added. Original airdate: 2/18/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

With ESPN’s ongoing all-time #NBArank of players by position, the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast decided to put our own tongue-in-cheek spin on it by looking at the most average players of all-time, as rated by Basketball Reference’s Box Score Plus-Minus statistic. This exercise will look at the 15 players with exactly 0.0 BPM. We are being very precise, but not scientific! Jason and Rich talk about each of the 15 players, what made them average, why they weren't average along with a multitude of fun-facts, trivia notes and interesting statistics surrounding each player on the list. Original airdate: 2/15/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

ProHoopsHistory.com's Curtis Harris joins Jason and Rich to discuss the Basketball Hall of Fame, how it can be improved, our initial classes should we reform the Hall, whether the NBA should have their own Hall of Fame, biggest snubs in the current Hall of Fame and much more! Original airdate: 1/27/16Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy