Left-handed excellence shines as Bob Lanier, the “Big Dobber” from St. Bonaventure, pairs size-22 feet with a soft shooting touch and sharp basketball IQ, making him one of the era’s most skilled and feared centers. His face-up moves and steady scoring turned Detroit from mediocrity to playoff relevance, earning eight All-Star nods and peer admiration for thriving against the league’s most physical defenders. Though injuries robbed him of late-career explosiveness and ultimately caused his career to end sooner than fans had hoped, Lanier’s smooth post game and court awareness proved that intelligence and technique can outmatch raw athleticism, setting a standard for future Pistons big men. Though injuries shortened his prime, his peak dominance secured a Hall of Fame legacy. In this outing, he powered through with 39 points and 19 rebounds. · Jan 30, 1978