What was Jones’ requisite for trying to defend opposing supers? “Learn as much as possible about their strengths and weaknesses and master the basic fundamentals of defense.”
Author Archives: bobkuska
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Busting Out the Goggles, 1974
Kareem got off the bench, and the boos began. He was booed every time he put an elbow near Gianelli’s throat in the pivot, did anything the fans didn’t like, and when he entered and left the game
Pro Basketball’s Fun at Fort Wayne, 1955
“You think I took a helluva gamble entrusting a team—and a franchise—to a man who had never coached college or pro ball and who was at the time a mere referee. It was no gamble to me.”
Spencer Haywood: No Knocking on ‘Wood,’ 1970
“I kept asking myself, ‘What am I getting out of all this?’ The school is making a lot of money, but why shouldn’t I be making some?’”
Detroit Pistons: Called for Travelling, 1982
Dawn is breaking over another airport runway. The Pistons, on their way back to Detroit, have been up since 5:30 a.m., and they straggle down the nearly deserted corridor leading to their gate, suit bags slung over their shoulders, a duffel bag in one hand and a newspaper in the other.
Kelly Tripucka: Two Crazy Nights in January 1983
“Hey, it has to come from the heart,” Tripucka said, poking himself in the chest. “If you can’t be excited about a game like this, if it doesn’t give you any kind of thrill, you’ve got absolutely no business in the game.”
Isiah Thomas: Is He the Pistons’ Savior? 1982
“He has charisma, an ability to inspire confidence in his teammates that only a few players have like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, or Julius Erving,” says Rod Thorn, the Chicago Bulls’ general manager.
Willis Reed: The Art & Agony of a Gentle Giant, 1973
Willis Reed was past 30 now, and in the compressed lifespan of athletics that is to be past middle-age. It is a time when the body begins to betray its promises of youth, a time when the infinite resilience and boundless energy start to become less dependable certainties.
Jerry Harkness: 67 Feet to Spare, 1967
It was nice that the last basket was a record, but all that really mattered for Indiana and Harkness was that it counted three points and for that Jerry had 67 feet to spare.
Kyle Macy: No Sophomore Jinx, 1982
“This kid is probably going to double his scoring average this year, and that’s what everyone will talk about. But as a former guard myself, who always worked at stopping the other guy, I’m really impressed with how much more defense Kyle is playing this season.”
From Way Downtown 