Hoops Links

Roughly 17 years ago today, the Hawks became the first NBA team to play in the Soviet Union.  Atlanta got the W in the exhibition contest against the (Soviet) Georgia All-Stars when they won 85-84.

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 Pros ran down the top moves of the offseason, including LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs.
• Tru School Sports caught up with Pistons scout Jon-Robert Holden.
• House Of Houston asks if Ty Lawson should start for the Rockets.
• Press Break wonders how good the Western Conference can be next season.
• Hardwood Paroxysm wonders if Roy Hibbert and Kobe Bryant are a ticking time bomb.
• Three And D gave us a glimpse at the Summer League.
• Nets Daily gave us an update on Brooklyn’s offseason.
• Shaw Sports looked at the good and the bad from The Players’ Awards.
• Fueled By Sports says rookie Bobby Portis is already impressing the Bulls.
• Queen City Hoops says Tyler Hansbrough won’t get much burn in Charlotte.

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

On this date in 2005, the National Basketball Development League changed its name to the “NBA Development League” to better reflect the role of the league within the new NBA-NBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Today, we know it better by it’s nickname — the D-League.

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…

• Press Break re-did the 2013 draft with Giannis Antetokounmpo going No. 1.
• Tru School Sports spoke with Adonal Foyle, who is changing lives.
• Fantasy Pros looked at the winners (including the Spurs) and losers of free agency.
• Hoop Trends explained The Basketball Tournament.
• Heat Beat Miami made some Western Conference predictions.

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

On this date in 2006, Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy scored 35 points against the Suns to set what was then a new NBA Summer League scoring record.

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…

• Lakers Outsiders analyzed Roy Hibbert’s fit with the Lakers.
• House Of Houston says the Rockets would have benefitted from DeAndre Jordan in Dallas.
• Six Championship Drive plays the hostage game.
• Hoop Trends discussed the rise and fall of Cliff Alexander.

On this date in 1992, the Dream Team won the final game of the Basketball Tournament of the Americas against Venezuela 127-80.  Team USA won all six games in the tourney by an average of 51.5 points.

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…

• Tru School Sports reflected on Shawn Marion‘s career.
• Lakers Outsiders looked at why the Lakers have failed in free agency.
• Hoop Trends introduced Terry Rozier to Celtics fans.
• Keep It Cavalier looked at some possible backup point guards for the Cavs.
• Fantasy Pros ran down their top 50 free agents.
• Rotowire reflected on some overlooked trades.

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

On this date in 2005, Larry Brown became the NBA’s highest paid coach when he signed a five-year deal with the Knicks.  The deal, worth a reported $50-$60MM, was terminated less than one year later when he was fired.

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 ran down the players the Rockets must keep and drop.
• Lakers Outsiders weighed the pros and cons of the Lakers dealing for DeMarcus Cousins.
• Fantasy Pros wonders if international players are worth high draft picks.
• Keep It Cavalier recapped Cleveland’s draft.
• Six Championship Drive analyzed the Pistons’ draft.
• Hoop Trends isn’t so sure about the 76ers’ big man strategy.

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

On this date in 1988, James Worthy posted the first triple-double of his career with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists as the Lakers topped the Pistons 108-105 in Game 7 of the Finals.  With the win, the Lakers became the first NBA team to successfully defend its title since the Celtics in 1968 and 1969.

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 has the recipe for a successful offseason for the Rockets.
• New York Sports Guys says the Knicks should tap either Emmanuel Mudiay or Kristaps Porzingis.
• Fantasy Pros profiled Porzingis.
• Tru School Sports spoke with Stephen Curry‘s high school coach.
• Six Championship Drive looked at the Pistons’ draft strategy.
• Hoop Trends previewed the Thunder heading into the draft.
• Rotowire looked at the fantasy implications of the Ersan Ilyasova deal.

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

On this date in 1998, the Bulls clinched their sixth NBA championship in eight seasons when they closed out the Jazz, 87-86.  Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds and earned himself his record sixth NBA Finals MVP after averaging 33.5 points per game in the series.

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 Pros profiled Duke star Jahlil Okafor.
• House Of Houston gave us five players the Rockets should target this summer.
• OT Nation previewed the Kings’ offseason.
• Cavitenio looks at the legendary work ethic of Kobe Bryant.

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

On this date in 1993, tragedy struck on the Autobahn when a car crash took the life of rising star Drazen Petrovic.  Beloved from Zagreb, Croatia to East Rutherford, New Jersey for his willingness to shoot from anywhere on the court and infectious enthusiasm, Petrovic’s premature death shook the basketball world to its core.

Since it has been more than two decades since his passing, there are some readers of this website who were not old enough to remember Draz’s glory days in New Jersey and his impact on the game around the world.  A good place to start for those of you who want to learn more about the Hall of Famer would be a viewing of the 30 for 30 production Once Brothers, which profiles the relationship between the Petro and Vlade Divac.  Before you start watching that, let’s take a look at the best stuff from around the basketball blogosphere this week.

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 Starting Five says LeBron James is the king of rock.
• Six Championship Drive looked at Joe Johnson as a trade target for the Pistons.
• Keep It Cavalier recapped Game 1.
• Hoop Trends caught up with former Mavs first-round pick Maurice Ager.
• Steve’s Stance gave a tip of the cap to Harrison Barnes.
• Legion Report looks at three keys to a Cavaliers Finals victory.

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

On this date in 1991, the Knicks appointed Pat Riley as their head coach. Riley’s Knicks became one of the league’s most physical teams. After three consecutive playoff ousters at the hands of Michael Jordan’s Bulls, the Knicks topped Chicago without MJ in 1994 to make their first NBA Finals appearance in many years. Soon after, Riley gave his resignation to MSG via fax machine in order to join up with the Heat.

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…

• Upside Motor spoke with Canton Charge exec Mike Gansey.
• Rant Sports says the Knicks should pursue Paul Millsap in free agency.
• Zocco’s Modern Life talked about the Hawks’ injury problems.
• Six Championship Drive looked at the free agent stock of Tobias Harris.
• Kingdome of Seattle Sports looked at players in the Finals with Seattle-area connections.
• Legion Report wonders where the Bulls go from here.

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

On this date in in 2000, famed Pistons floor general Isiah Thomas was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. That year, Danny Biasone, Bob McAdoo, Charles Newton, Pat Summit, and Morgan Wootten also joined him in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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…

• Upside Motor wonders if Askia Booker is prepared for the next level.
• Rant Sports says the Pacers should pursue Stanley Johnson.
• Zocco’s Modern Life weighed in on the lottery.
• Hoop Trends predicts the destinations for some of the league’s top free agents.
• OT-Nation presented a post-lottery mock draft.
• Six Championship Drive produced its latest mock draft.

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