Once you become a coach, you look at the game differently. I began to believe in creating your offense from the defensive end of the court. And, I think the 76ers became a very good defensive ballclub.
Author Archives: bobkuska
Pat Williams: How to Succeed in Chicago Without Even Trying, 1972
Pat Williams is just about ready to put an end to all those wonderful little things that Leo Durocher and Red Auerbach have had us believing since childhood. And he’s going to do it without snarling, cursing, or being evil.
Nate Thurmond: Welcome to the Machine, 1975
Dick Motta pretends not to count the years he will have Thurmond. He thinks instead of the years he didn’t have Thurmond. “I’ll tell you personally how I feel about it,” said Motta. “I’ve been in this league seven years, and I deserved the right to coach Nate Thurmond.”
Pete Maravich: Shape of Things to Come, 1971
“You have to push yourself to play,” Maravich said. “Starting August 1, I ran three miles a day. When I got to camp, I was in the best shape of my life. Pros have to be in shape.”
Isiah Thomas: The Bad, The Brave, and The Brilliant, 1988
Thomas banked a 17-footer off the glass and cleanly through the hoop. Probably the Bullets didn’t know it then, but the night was over.
Kentucky Colonels: Finger-Licking Good, 1976
The Kentucky folks sat back and watched the “greatest show on earth”—the Colonels winning the ABA championship.
Dr. J and the Champion New York Nets, 1975
Erving is young. So is his coach, Kevin Loughery. If they can stay together, the Nets will become as great as their talent allows.
Abracadabra, Kalamazoo: The Magic of Jerry Lucas, 1973
“My ambition,” says Luke the Great, “is to become the best-known magician in the country. I’ve made a thorough study of magic, I can do anything in magic.”
Irwin Weiner Does the NBA, 1978
Weiner also had some news: George McGinnis has been traded by Philadelphia to Denver for Bobby Jones. Back to the news after the commercial from Irwin Weiner.
“I’ve never been down to Portland,” Weiner said. “When I come to town, they’ll give me the red-carpet treatment. It will all be blood.”
Stockton to Malone, and All That Jazz, 1989
It’s no wonder that Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, when asked if he’d trade Stockton-Malone for any other point guard-power forward combination in the NBA says, without hesitation, “No,” and looks at you like you’re crazy to even ask.
From Way Downtown 