Hoops Links News & Rumors

On this date in 1965, Rick Barry poured in 57 points in the Warriors’ 141-137 loss against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.  Barry’s 57 points were the second-highest total ever scored by a rookie in an NBA game (Wilt Chamberlain twice scored 58 for Philadelphia in 1960), and his 21 free throws (in 22 attempts) tied Frank Selvy’s NBA rookie record for the most free throws made in a game.

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 weighs the pros and cons of the Celtics pursuing Carmelo Anthony.
• Legion Report wonders if the Lakers will let Kobe Bryant retire on a losing team.
• Hardwood Insiders has some thoughts on Lance Stephenson and more.
• Detroit Bad Boys is worried about the Pistons inside the arc.
• Six Championship Drive gives us their power rankings.
• At The Hive tips their cap to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
• Peachtree Hoops discussed Al Horford at the line.

On this date in 1990, the Nets retired jersey No. 23 in honor of “Super John” Williamson, who played three years in the ABA and four years in the NBA with the Nets. Williamson owned the second-highest NBA scoring average (22.5 PPG) in team 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…

• Air Alamo loves Aron Baynes‘ hot start.
• Six Championship Drive looked at the trade values of the Pistons’ perimeter players.
• Celtics Blog says it’s clear that Marcus Thornton isn’t in the Celtics’ long-term plans.
• Sonics Rising is looking for the next Lenny Wilkens.
• Blazer’s Edge explains why Portland could be poised for something big.
• Grizzly Bear Blues questions Mark Cuban.

On this date in 1990, Celtics forward Larry Bird scored his 20,000th career point in the Celtics’ 123-95 win over the Bullets at the Boston Garden.  At the time, Bird became only the fifth player in league history (along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West) to accumulate 20,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists in his playing 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…

• Pounding The Rock looks at the Warriors and the NBA’s top starting lineups.
• Road To The Association is already abuzz about Thon Maker.
• Nylon Calculus expects the Rockets and Raptors to regress.
• Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues wonders how the Cavs will fare.
• Raptors HQ wonders how the Raptors will fare without DeMar DeRozan.
• Sactown Royalty gives thanks.
• From Russia With Dunk wonders if Mason Plumlee is overrated.

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

On this date in 1991, the Kings snapped their NBA record 43-game road losing streak with a 95-93 win over the Magic at the Orlando Arena.  Lionel Simmons scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Kings to their first road W since November 20th, 1990 in Washington.

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…

• NML Sports looked at the stock of the Bulls and other clubs.
• Raptors HQ reflects on Vince Carter‘s reception in Toronto.
• Indy Cornrows says Solomon Hill is filling a leadership void for the Pacers.
• Celtics Hub discusses Kelly Olynyk‘s progress.
• Liberty Ballers fires up the wayback machine.
• Sactown Royalty sees a new vibe in Sacramento.

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

On this date in 1957, Celtics center Bill Russell pulled down 32 rebounds in one half of action against the Philadelphia Warriors.  That total still stands as an NBA record and he finished the game with 49, which was the high watermark at that time.   In February of 1960, Russell grabbed 51 rebounds in a game against Syracuse, a new full game record, but Wilt Chamberlain later eclipsed him with 55 in November of that year.

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…

• Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues wonders how far the Rockets will go.
• Air Alamo wonders if Cory Joseph could be a trade chip.
• New York Sports Guys looks at the state of the Knicks.
• Brew Hoop is worried about Larry Sanders and Brandon Knight.
• Blazer’s Edge is optimistic about Portland’s bench.
• Denver Stiffs broke down Brian Shaw‘s recent presser.

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

On this date in 1976, the Pacers won their first NBA game with a 120-90 home victory over Seattle.  The Pacers entered the league from the ABA, of course, along with the Spurs, Nuggets, and Nets.

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…

• Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues wonders how many years Kobe Bryant has left.
• The Fanhood talks Nik Stauskas and race.
• Mavs Moneyball explains why Monta Ellis may pick up his player option.
• Rip City Project wonders if Chris Kaman can keep this up.
• Indy Cornrows says the Pacers might be glad that lottery reform didn’t go through.
• At The Hive previews Lance Stephenson‘s first year in Charlotte.

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

On this date in 1961, Wilt Chamberlain kickstarted a streak of 126 consecutive games with 20 or more points. The streak, which included the legendary 100-point game and a seven-game streak of 50+ points per game, ended on January 19, 1963.

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…

• Legion Report thinks Joe Johnson is due for a regression.
• Red94 wonders if Rockets GM Daryl Morey should trade sooner rather than later.
• Raptors HQ previewed the Hornets.
• Hot Hot Hoops is worried about the three-point shooting in Miami.
• Fear The Sword expects James Jones to play a significant role this season.

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

On this date 1999, the legendary Wilt Chamberlain passed away at his home in Bel-Air, California at the age of 63.  Wilt the Stilt was a 13-time NBA All-Star, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and the holder of many records which will never be broken.  The center was a superstar from the very beginning.  In his first season with the Philadelphia Warriors, Chamberlain astonished the professional basketball world by averaging an NBA rookie record 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds on his way to capturing the MVP and Rookie of the Year Awards following the 1959/60 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…

• Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues wonders if Kenneth Faried is worth $50MM over four.
• Six Championship Drive previews the Lakers.
• Hardwood Insiders interviewed former DeMatha standout Travis Garrison.
• Bright Side Of The Sun doesn’t expect more assists in Phoenix.
• Blazer’s Edge says Portland might need a lot out of Will Barton.
• Indy Cornrows is optimistic about Solomon Hill.

On this date in 1950, the Celtics wound up with guard Bob Cousy in the Chicago Stags dispersal draft.  Cousy may not have been the first choice of Celtics owner Walter Brown and coach Red Auerbach, but he sure did return the investment on his $8,500 price tag.

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 Half Court Heave previewed the Jazz.
• Six Championship Drive looks at the Magic for the upcoming year.
• Bright Side Of The Sun previews Phoenix’s playmakers.
• Mavs Moneyball looks at new arrival Chandler Parsons.
• Canis Hoopus recaps the Wolves’ version of midnight madness.
• Legion Report talks fantasy sleepers.
• Welcome To Loud City discussed the Thunder’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Sonics Rising dispels the myth of an NBA talent shortage.

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

On this date in 1983, the NBA and the Players’ Association established a landmark program in sports to battle drug abuse, providing treatment, and rehabilitation that also mandated expulsion of repeat offenders and players convicted of using or selling drugs.  That policy has gone a long way towards cleaning up a league that was once plagued by rampant drug abuse.

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 power rankings with the Spurs at No. 1.
• The Half Court Heave previewed the 76ers in advance of this season.
• Red Rock Basketball spoke with Joe Polito of CBS Sports to talk about the Heat in fantasy.
• Blog A Bull discussed Jimmy Butler‘s worth.
• Fear The Sword clears up some Kevin Love misconceptions.
• Posting And Toasting takes us on an adventure with Amar’e Stoudemire.