#RussellMania: The Over and Back Classic NBA podcast is devoting the next few weeks to Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell.

We continue in our deep dive into the life and career of Bill Russell by discussing the 1950s and 1960s playoff battles between the Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers). We talk about how Dolph Schayes was a bridge between the old game and the new, how the Nationals-Celtics rivalry was fierce even before Russell joined the team, how Russell’s defense affected the Nats’ play (especially Johnny “Red” Kerr), and how close the Nationals came to beating the Celtics in 1959.

We also share stories of how Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most nearly lost his dentures during a game, the disappearing 7-foot-3 Swede Halbrook, players who both played in the MLB and NBA, plus the contributions of Paul Seymour, Hal Greer, Larry Costello, George Yardley, Ed Conlin, Al Bianchi, Earl Lloyd, and, most importantly, pay tribute to the one-minute career of Forest “Frosty” Able.

Original airdate: 5/3/16