The entire piece posted below or you can check it on SLAM. 
The mirror of basketball evolution past, present and future
I wanted to somehow chronicle the evolution and origin of the slasher. The slasher has become the most feared offensive force in basketball. The entity alone changed the game and also its unique characteristics by implementing a mid-range jumper, shelving the jumper and banging it on anyone and everyone because of the entertainment value of the ABA, picked it up again to keep defenses honest and now uses the jumper to become deadly and almost unstoppable. The latter is still a work in progress.
One December night in Philly, Kobe is playing the Sixers–who just so happen to be honoring Julius Erving.
Perfect…a dream realized….
The Starting Five 