HoopsAnalyst
hoopsanalyst.bsky.social
HoopsAnalyst
@hoopsanalyst.bsky.social
Doing deep dives on NBA, past & present
www.hoopsanalyst.com
contact: harlanhoops at yahoo dot com
Bonus Hollander POTD Mario Elie. Junkyard Dog from NYC bounced around CBA & abroad before getting a shot w/GS in 91. Traded to HOU in 93, became a key piece to 2 titles, including the big shot to sink PHO in 95 playoffs. Also won title w/SA in 99. Very useful player now a coach.
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Hollander POTD Anthony Peeler. Missouri SG was drafted 15th by LAL in 92. Played 4 yrs in LA & was solid bench scorer but let go to sign Shaq in 96. Set in to same role w/MIN from 98-03. Led NBA in 3% in 03-04. Also memorably elbowed KG in the noggin. Has coached since retiring.
November 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Hollinger POTD Jared Jeffries. Indiana F was drafted 11th in 02 by WAS. Tore his ACL early rookie yr & came back as a defensive specialist. Long & quick, he could guard SFs & PFs. Offense was afterthought (peaked at 6.8 ppg). Carved out a 10 yr career w/WAS & NY retiring in 2013.
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Bonus Hollander POTD Dave Bing. Syracuse star drafted 2nd in 1966 by DET. Scored 20+ ppg his 1st 7 yrs, peaking at 27 ppg. Traded to WAS in 1975 for Kevin Porter + was okay in 1975-76 but aged quickly + retired in 1978. Since then has done a lot: was mayor of DET + a HOFer.
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Hollander POTD Oscar Robertson. The Big O was 1st pick in 60 for CIN. Scored 30+ ppg 6x. Averaged triple-double in 61-62. Only peer was Jerry West. Traded to MIL in 70 & won a title w/KAJ. Per bio: "give him a 12-foot shot, he looks for a 10-footer, give him 10, he wants 8."
November 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Hollinger POTD Vin Baker. Son of a preacher was star at Hartford. Drafted 8th in 93 by MIL turned to star by 95-96. Flipped to SEA in 97 and was very good in 97-98 but declined quickly due to off court issues. Per bio, his transition D was really bad in the decline phase.
November 24, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Bonus Hollander POTD Malik Rose. Philly kid went to Drexel, drafted 44th by CHA in 96. Undersized PF spent most of his career w/SA. Tasked w/keeping knee in Shaq's back all the time. Peaked at 10.4 ppg 6.4 rpg in 02-03. Also played w/NY & OKC thru 09. Very tough defender in post.
November 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Hollander POTD Andrew Toney. SE LA SG was drafted 8th in 80 by PHI. Made impact immediately, was a 2x All-Star & could get his shot off against anyone. Known as The Boston Strangler for all big shots he hit v BOS. Broke his foot in 85 + career ended in 88 at age 30.
November 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Sad Hollinger POTD Rodney Rogers. This bio describes how he was used by BOS as a stretch 5 to beat PHI in the 02 playoffs. Per the bio "he forced bigger players to chase him around the 3pt line & on picknroll...He took Mutombo right out of the series." RIP to one of my faves.
November 22, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Hollander POTD James Edwards. Buddha was drafted 46th in 77 by LAL but traded 2 month laters + bounced around. Played w/LAL, IND, CLE, PHO, DET, LAC, LAL (again), POR + CHI. Peaked at 17 ppg. Not a great boarder but had killer fadeaway. Won titles in DET & CHI.
November 22, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Hollander POTD Benoit Benjamin. Creighton C was 3rd pick by LAC in 85. Had skills (peaked at 16.4 ppg in 88-89) but effort was sporadic at best. Also started w/SEA & NJ thru 95. Per bio "he'll be around for years cuz he's tall but will make a career out of getting coaches fired."
November 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Hollinger POTD Pape Sow. Senegalese F didn't play hoops til high school then went to Cal St Fullerton & was drafted 47th in 2004 by TOR (via MIA). Raw athlete played 76 gms from 2004-07. Best run was in 2005-06 & started 25 gms (3.5 ppg in 15 mpg). Played abroad from 07-14.
November 22, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Bonus Hollander POTD, Olden Polynice. Virginia C was drafted 8th in 87 then traded to SEA for Pippen. OP began as solid backup for SEA before getting starting role in his 30s w/DET & SAC. Peaked at 12.5 ppg in 96-97. Was solid starter thru age 36. Was a character off the court.
November 21, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Hollander POTD Cedric Maxwell. Cornbread was 12th pick by BOS in 77 from UNC-CHA. Peaked at 19 ppg & led NBA in FG% 2x. Scored less after Bird came but was key contributor & 81 Finals MVP. Traded to LAC in 85 but his knee wore out & retired by 88. Now does TV work.
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Hollinger POTD Mengke Bateer. Chinese C was undrafted & played in Beijing from 97-02. Signed by DEN in 01-02, started 10 gms (5 ppg). Played 19 gms w/SA& TOR from 02-04. Returned to China & played thru 14 & was a 4x MVP. Per bio, has a decent shot "but moves like Frankenstein."
November 21, 2025 at 4:26 AM
SI fixes for LA & BOS after the 89-90 season:

LA: Keep Riley, trade Scott for Reggie or Richmond, start Vlade, get DJ as backup PG

BOS: trade McHale for picks, give Lewis more shots, free Shaw

vault.si.com/vault/1990/0...
November 21, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Bonus Hollander POTD Reggie Lewis. Dunbar HS grad was drafted 22nd by BOS from Northeastern in 87. After 1 yr on bench, turned into 2-way star. Scored 18 ppg from 88-93 & all-star in 92. Per Stu Jackson "the most underrated player in the league." Died too young in 93. RIP.
November 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Hollander POTD Earl Monroe. The Pearl was drafted 2nd by BAL in 67. Scored 24 ppg in 4+ yrs before famous trade to NY in 71. Deferred to Clyde early (14 ppg his 1st 3 yrs). Upped scoring to 20 ppg from 74-77. Per bio, shoots hard shots cuz "I can't seem to shoot when open."
November 20, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Hollinger POTD Vladimir Radmanovic. Serbian F was drafted 12th in 01 by SEA. Developed into a pretty good scorer & shooter, peaking at 12 ppg in 03-04. Defense & focus weren't always there annoying some coaches but was a legit scorer thru 2013 w/LAC, LAL, CHA, ATL, GS & CHI too.
November 20, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Bonus Hollander POTD Chris Childs. Scrappy PG from Boise St went undrafted but hustled in the CBA for a year before getting a shot w/NJ in 94-95 and making good. After 2 solid yrs, signed w/NY in 96 + was part of 2-headed PG w/Ward for a good team. Also known for punching Kobe.
November 19, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Hollander POTD Louie Dampier. Kentucky college star went to play for original KY ABA team. 1st 3-pt bomber in ABA peaked at 26 ppg in 69-70 + made 7 ABA all-star games. Absorbed by SA in 75 dispersal draft, he played 3 yrs as bench guy before retiring in 79. Made HOF in 2015.
November 19, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Sir Charles in February 96 talking about the Knicks, who were struggling under Don Nelson. NY didn't go all the way but they did get to the second round and were respectable against the 95-96 Bulls.
November 19, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Random POTD Matt Fish. UNC Willimington C was drafted 50th in 92 by GS but played in CBA until playing 26 gms w/LAC in 94-95. Also played w/NY, DEN, WAS & MIA from 95-97. His 2 gms w/NY were famous cuz Nellie started him & he had 10 pts in 15 min. Shot was the "Fish Hook."
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Bonus Hollander POTD Billy Shepherd. 5'10 Butler PG signed w/VA of ABA in 72 as a deep sub. Played more w/SD in 73-74 (6 ppg) mostly taking 3s but not well (65-202, 32%). Then led ABA in 3% in w/MEM in 74-75 (60-143, 42%). When MEM folded in 75, he retired to "get a real job."
November 18, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Hollander POTD Sam Cassell. FSU PG was drafted 24th in 93 by HOU was key player in 94 Finals win. Traded for Barkley in 96. Didn't become full starter til NJ in 97. Was blossoming in NJ til they traded him for Marbury. Traded a lot after but was impactful at all stops. Has low key HOF case.
November 18, 2025 at 1:36 PM