Hoops Links News & Rumors

On this date in 1996, we witnessed a rather active trading deadline day as six trades involving 19 players took place. The Heat shook things up more than anyone as they acquired Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling from Golden State, Walt Williams and Tyrone Corbin from Sacramento, and Tony Smith from Phoenix.  Of course, the 1995/96 deadline had nothing on this year’s deadline.  In total, we saw a dozen trades involving 39 players and 17 teams.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Green Street discussed the Celtics’ deadline moves, including Isaiah Thomas.
• Six Championship Drive looks at Reggie Jackson and what he can do in Detroit.
• Kingdome Of Seattle Sports sees the Clippers as Seattle’s second NBA team.
• Posterized Basketball wonders which way the Celtics will go.
• Slam Dunk Zone wonders if Dikembe Mutombo is a Hall of Famer.
• Clips Nation wants to do away with intentional fouls off the ball.
• Posting And Toasting says the Knicks need another Pablo Prigioni.

Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.

On this date in 2001, Wizards guard Mitch Richmond became the 26th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points when he tallied 18 points in a 102-78 loss to San Antonio.  The Scorelord achieved the milestone with a 16-foot jump shot in the second quarter.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Posterized Basketball discussed the Steven Adams injury.
• Slam Dunk Zone says there’s a price to play with LeBron James.
• The Sixer Sense profiled Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell.
• Legion Report looked at some potential deadline deals.
• Denver Stiffs has some advice for Brian Shaw.
• Liberty Ballers made the case for Karl Towns.
• Swish Appeal looked at how Diana Taurasi‘s absence affects the Phoenix Mercury.

On this date in 1986, 5’7″ Hawks guard Spud Webb posted two perfect scores of 50 to beat teammate Dominique Wilkins in Spud’s hometown of Dallas in the Slam Dunk contest.  This date also marked the first ever three-point shootout with Larry Bird winning the competition.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Slam Dunk Zone turned the spotlight on Kyle Lowry.
• Green Street gives credit to Marcus Smart.
• A Royal Pain imagines the Kings as a football team.
• Posterized Basketball looked at the Cavs in the middle of their hot streak.
• Posting & Toasting advocates minutes for the Knicks’ youngsters.

On this date in 1967, the legendary American Basketball Association was born.  The league, which fielded 11 teams in its first season, lasted until the 1975/76 season, when it was forced to disband after facing financial difficulties.  Of course, four former ABA clubs joined the NBA in the summer of 1976: the Nuggets, Pacers, Nets, and Spurs.  The ABA’s existence was brief, but it forever altered the game of basketball and the NBA as we know it.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Slam Dunk Zone comes to the defense of Damian Lillard.
• Posterized Basketball broke down the Raptors.
• Hoops In the Holland House wants to see change in OKC.
• Bullets Forever says the Wizards are doing great on D despite losing Trevor Ariza.
• The Dream Shake penned an open letter to Steve Kerr.
• Denver Stiffs is buckled in for a bumpy ride.

On this date in 1986, Manute Bol of the Washington Bullets blocked 15 shots in a 111-103 win over Atlanta. His total is tied for second (Orlando’s Shaquille O’Neal had 15 rejections at New Jersey on November 20, 1993), behind the NBA record of 17 blocks by the Lakers’ Elmore Smith on October 28, 1973.  Bol would match that total about 13 months later when he swatted 15 shots against the Pacers in February of 1987.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Slam Dunk Zone discussed Danny Ainge‘s rebuilding ingenuity.
• New York Sports Guys wonders if the Knicks will miss out on Jahlil Okafor.
• Legion Report looks at the evolution of Andrew Wiggins.
• OT Nation makes the case for the Hawks.
• Posterized Basketball predicted the All-Star reserves.

On this date in in 1972, “Mr. Clutch” himself, Jerry West, sank a last-second, 20-foot jumper to lead the West team to a 112-110 All-Star victory over the East, as he garnered MVP honors.  The Lakers star and Hall-of-Famer made a whopping 14 All-Star game appearances over the course of his career.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Green Street wonders if the Celtics can pattern themselves after the Hawks.
• Slam Dunk Zone gives credit to Tim Duncan.
• Raptors HQ examines Toronto’s defensive woes.
• Swish Appeal runs down WNBA free agency.
• Sonics Rising shows some love for Danny Fortson.
• OT Nation sizes up four trade candidates.

On this date in 2001, the Knicks held an opponent under 100 points for an NBA-record 29th straight game when they lost 76-75 to the Rockets.  The streak snapped the 46-year-old NBA record of 28 straight set by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1954-55 season.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Slam Dunk Zone is thinking about relocation.
• North Pole Hoops says the Raptors need DeMar DeRozan back in action.
• Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues pits Kobe Bryant against MJ.
• Green Street is excited about James Young.
• At The Hive wonders if the Hornets are better without Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson.
• Canis Hoopus discusses competitive balance in the modern NBA.
• Golden State Of Mind says Draymond Green has earned max money.

On this date in 1992, Celtics center Robert Parish became the fifth player in NBA history to register 2,000 career blocks during the Celtics’ 100-96 road loss at Minnesota.  Parish joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mark Eaton, Wayne Rollins, and George Johnson in the exclusive club.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• House Of Houston feels that the Rockets’ bench production will improve.
• Six Championship Drive put a theoretical value on every Pistons asset.
• Green Street discussed Rajon Rondo‘s return to Boston.
• The Daily Dribble looked at prospects coming out of mid-majors.
• New York Sports Hub isn’t surprised by the Knicks’ record so far.
• Legion Report wonders if Nikola Mirotic is the next Dirk Nowitzki.

On this date in 1995, Mavs coach Dick Motta became the third NBA coach to win 900 games when the Mavericks topped the Grizzlies in double-overtime.  He joined Red Auerbach (938) and Lenny Wilkens (then with 1,014) atop the leaderboard.  Today, Motta stands as the tenth all-time winningest coach in league history.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• Six Championship Drive gives us their mock for the 2015 draft.
• At The Hive weighed the pros and cons of Josh Smith before he signed in Houston.
• Celtics Blog discusses Boston’s starting point guard battle.
• Celtics Hub talks Evan Turner.
• Posting And Toasting talks Quincy Acy and the tough guy myth.
• Peachtree Hoops doesn’t like this year’s Christmas jerseys.

On this date in 1980, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became only the fifth player in NBA history to notch 25,000 points as he scored a season-high 42 points in the Lakers’ 135-102 win over San Antonio.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

• The Daily Dribble gave their take on the Rajon Rondo trade.
• Six Championship Drive looked at the trade value of the Pistons’ frontcourt.
• Green Street says the Celtics made the right move but waited too long.
• Blazer’s Edge wonders if there are dollar signs in Robin Lopez‘s future.
• Celtics Blog reflected on a favorite Rondo memory.
• At The Hive wonders how much of the Hornets’ troubles are Steve Clifford‘s fault.
• Denver Stiffs went manimal hunting.