Back in the days before the internet, I cannot tell you how thrilling it was to approach October, the start of the new NBA season, when the new Zander Hollander Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball would come out.
You’d keep checking in the Sports section of the bookstore — which for me was a Barnes and Nobles in Manhattan on 8th Street and Broadway — to see if it had arrived.
And then there it would be — a quick purchase and could not wait to start reading it on the subway home to Brooklyn.
Zander Was On Point & Funny
It was more than a treat — the unique feature was the funny and accurate bios of each player that Hollander provided, which were part scouting report, part standup comedy, but always razor sharp and on the money. Zander pushed the envelope. This type of writing, on sports players, was not available anywhere.
Zander also provided statistics for each player, a scouting report on players just drafted, and predictions — a complete handbook.
Analysis of Zander’s Analysis
I’m providing here a sampling of the 1979 Handbook — which came out just before the 1978-79 season, and featured stats for the 1977-78 season. I’m presenting the pages for the Knicks team — under Fair Use doctrine of Copyright law, and with perfect hindsight, will analyze Zander’s analysis.
The 1977-78 Knicks
This was one of the best Knick teams — on paper — ever. The starting 5 had 4 Hall of Famers — Bob McAdoo, Spencer Haywood, Walt Frazier, and Earl Monroe — in their primes. NY had high-caliber small forward Jim McMillan to go along with that group, and then coming off the bench came a group of great young players coming off a terrific NY draft: Ray Williams, Glenn Gondrezek, and Toby Knight. The bench also a young Lonnie Shelton, along with solid players Tom McMillan, Butch Beard, and Phil Jackson.
And Zander called it — “With McAdoo around all year (NY had traded for him midway thru the prior season), with Haywood healthy and with a little bit of help from Wiliams, this team could challenge Philadelphia for division honors.”
The 1977-78 Knicks didn’t play great defense, but would go 43-39, make the playoffs, beat Cleveland in the 1st round 2 games to 0, but get swept by Philly 4-0 in the 2nd round as the 76’ers double-teamed Bob McAdoo. NY would trade Walt Frazier to Cleveland for Jim Clemons midway thru the year — Zander could not have forseen that of course.
Zander didn’t forsee the Frazier trade — but he was certainly on top of Frazier’s decline: “Major disappointment.. The Captain was the first to leave the sinking ship… He was the link from former championships but instead of providing leadership, he relinquished his captaincy.. Some think he retired two years ago but is withholding the announcement for financial reasons…”
That is a stark difference to the way Clyde has publicly remembered his trade from the Knicks by old friend Willis Reed. Once traded to Cleveland, Frazier picked up his play and made the All Star team but after 1 good year with the Cavs, his game went downhill further and he retired in a year.
And Zander kept going: “A teammate says he never knows where to go when Clyde has the ball, so he just waits around until he’s finished with it.” Pure Zander.
Zander had high praise for Monroe: “Now unquestionably the team’s backcourt leader.”
On Spencer Haywood, Zander was also spot on: “Appears to have left his intensity in Seattle… Plays like a robot… Could be trade bait.” Haywood would play all of 1977-78 with the Knicks, averaging 13.7 ppg and 6.7 rpg — then would be traded midway thru 1978-79 to New Orleans for Joe Meriweather. Haywood would rejuvenate his career with New Orleans, scoring 24 ppg in a half season for them, before helping the Lakers win a title in 1979-80 as a reserve.
On Bob McAdoo: “One coach said he’s the epitome of what’s wrong with pro basketball: ‘He’s always looking to shoot, never to pass.'” As mentioned, McAdoo carried the Knicks into the playoffs, but when he was double/triple teamed in the 2nd round of the playoffs by Philly, the Knicks were swept.
Pure Zander on Phil Jackson: “So retire already… Threatened to quit until he found out how much sheep herders make in Montana.”
Jim McMillan was another great player on paper for NY, who didn’t work out. The Knicks had picked him up from Buffalo, after robbing the Braves of Bob McAdoo — and McMillan was expected to be a younger version of Bill Bradley. But as Zander points out: “Another disappointment…Knee injuries led to weight problems and he never reached full potential.”
Lonnie Shelton should have/could have been a Great young power forward for the Knicks, and possibly changed the direction of their franchise in the late 70’s. But the Knicks were forced to trade Shelton to Seattle for ‘compensation’ for NY signing Marvin Webster in October 1978, just before the 1978-79 season started. Shelton would become an All Star with Seattle, and have a very nice 10-year NBA career. Zander on Shelton: “Unlimited potential.”
Zander also had high words for Ray Williams, and who remembers that Ray was brother of Gus Williams?
The Knicks brought in Willis Reed as a rookie coach, and his career as a coach was short lived.