HoopsAnalyst
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Doing deep dives on NBA, past & present
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contact: harlanhoops at yahoo dot com
www.hoopsanalyst.com
contact: harlanhoops at yahoo dot com
From Dave Heeren's 1994-95 Basketball Abstract, a review of the 86 & 87 drafts:
-Len Bias' rate of improvement was staggering and exceed even Stockton's
-86's best run of players came in the 2nd round
-But for pre-draft camps, Pippen would've fallen to the 2nd round
-Len Bias' rate of improvement was staggering and exceed even Stockton's
-86's best run of players came in the 2nd round
-But for pre-draft camps, Pippen would've fallen to the 2nd round
November 27, 2025 at 2:20 AM
From Dave Heeren's 1994-95 Basketball Abstract, a review of the 86 & 87 drafts:
-Len Bias' rate of improvement was staggering and exceed even Stockton's
-86's best run of players came in the 2nd round
-But for pre-draft camps, Pippen would've fallen to the 2nd round
-Len Bias' rate of improvement was staggering and exceed even Stockton's
-86's best run of players came in the 2nd round
-But for pre-draft camps, Pippen would've fallen to the 2nd round
Bonus Hollander POTD Jim Price. Louisville guard was drafted 16th by LAL in 72. Sat as a rook jumped to 15 ppg in 73-74. Was scoring 21 ppg in 74-75 but traded to MIL was an All-Star. A bench guy on various teams thru 79. Sharman: "I've never seen a rookie guard play better D."
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Bonus Hollander POTD Jim Price. Louisville guard was drafted 16th by LAL in 72. Sat as a rook jumped to 15 ppg in 73-74. Was scoring 21 ppg in 74-75 but traded to MIL was an All-Star. A bench guy on various teams thru 79. Sharman: "I've never seen a rookie guard play better D."
From The Seattle Times on 3/9/91: Man-Child -- Seattle's Shawn Kemp Is Anything But A Little Kid On The Basketball Court:
archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1991...
archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1991...
November 26, 2025 at 1:39 PM
From The Seattle Times on 3/9/91: Man-Child -- Seattle's Shawn Kemp Is Anything But A Little Kid On The Basketball Court:
archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1991...
archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1991...
Hollander POTD Shawn Kemp. Indiana PF went from juco to SEA in 89. Took a few yrs to develop but was a frecocious dunker (see Lister, Gatling) + one of the best PFs of the 90s. In 92, didn't just dunk all over GS, he also dominated the series (22 ppg, 54 FG%, 16 rpg, 2.5 bpg).
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Hollander POTD Shawn Kemp. Indiana PF went from juco to SEA in 89. Took a few yrs to develop but was a frecocious dunker (see Lister, Gatling) + one of the best PFs of the 90s. In 92, didn't just dunk all over GS, he also dominated the series (22 ppg, 54 FG%, 16 rpg, 2.5 bpg).
Kemp's shot chart fom 96-03, dunks & finishing did decline a bit:
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Kemp's shot chart fom 96-03, dunks & finishing did decline a bit:
Hollinger POTD Shawn Kemp. After 99, per this bio, Kemp declined due to a "unique training regimen that combined the worst vices of Henry VIII and William S Burroughs." Traded to POR in 00, he was miserable as bench player for 2 yrs. Took a buyout to play C for 1 final yr w/ORL in 02-03.
November 26, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Hollinger POTD Shawn Kemp. After 99, per this bio, Kemp declined due to a "unique training regimen that combined the worst vices of Henry VIII and William S Burroughs." Traded to POR in 00, he was miserable as bench player for 2 yrs. Took a buyout to play C for 1 final yr w/ORL in 02-03.
Elie, a few years apart...
November 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Elie, a few years apart...
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
From Tall Tales....Gola v a rookie Oscar:
November 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
From Tall Tales....Gola v a rookie Oscar:
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
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."
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
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.
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
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.
Toney's stats v BOS in the playoffs: www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tin...
November 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Toney's stats v BOS in the playoffs: www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tin...
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
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.
Rogers v Mutombo in the 02 playoffs...
November 22, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Rogers v Mutombo in the 02 playoffs...
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
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.
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 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.
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
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."
UVA centers compared: www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tin...
November 22, 2025 at 3:31 AM
UVA centers compared: www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tin...
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.