schneider@2littl.DEC (DANIEL SCHNEIDER) (11/09/85)
EAST
Centers
Moses Malone with Ewing off the bench. When he's concentrating he's quite
possibly the best center in the NBA. I'd say though that since donning the
championship ring he's a little thicker in the middle and somewhat
complacent. He used to go after rebounds like a tiger on EVERY rebound.
He'll score twenty against everyone, but suffers from poor shot selection
and being TOO used to hitting free-throws. Patrick will be the best overall
center in the NBA either in a few years or when Kareem retires. Thompson
taught him exceptionally well at Georgetown.
Forwards
Larry Bird and Buck Williams starting. Kevin McHale, Terry Cummings and
Charles Barkley off the bench. Bird can do everything except look good and
teamed with Buck can take it easier on his body. Williams defines the term
"power forward" today and has added offense every year since he was a
rookie. I don't know of an NBA player who works harder than Buck and is more
tenacious on the boards. McHale is one of the sure things in the league when
he gets the ball down low. He'll also help backup at center since I believe
three centers is custom. Needs some helping defense, but is worth it also
because of the blocked shots and those long arms turn up lots of easy
follows on the offensive boards. Cummings has been a first-class player
since he was at DePaul. Deserves much more acclaim but there's only so much
to go around and Bird grabs most of it. Great moves inside and a deadly
short range jumper. Barkley may be around for comic relief as his style is
still quite unsettled. His strong board work may be why Moses takes some
time off though. Forces the offensive game too much but can really finish
off a fast break.
Guards
Micheal Ray Richardson and Sidney Moncrief starting. Isiah Thomas, Maurice
Cheeks and Paul Pressey (from the forwards list) off the bench. My
reasoning is that this team needs versatility and some BIG guards to keep up
with Magic. Richardson is probably the best defensive guard today, is a
gifted ball-handler/passer and has really tempered his offense in the past
two years. Aside from Magic, no guard can dominate a game as he can.
Moncrief is among the most complete athletes today. Imagine that he led the
Bucks in almost every catagory (incl. Rebounds) before Cummings got there.
In a recent magazine article, Nelson said that Moncrief plays so much
because he refuses to let the team lose. I like this type of player. Isiah
is Isiah as much as Bird is Bird. He needs to grow and a team where he
wouldn't take as many shots, but there's always room for creativity. Pressey
last year was perhaps the first "point-forward" in basketball. I was very
impressed with his game (all areas) and more when during the playoff series
against the Celtics, the Boston announcers babbled about his lack of "talent
level". My logic is he must be doing something right if the Cooz is his
critic. Pressey will also be handy when guarding Magic. Does anyone know why
Danny Ainge is on this ballot?
WEST
Centers
Kareem starting with relief from Akeem and Sam Bowie. There is still no
better center in the NBA than the great goggled one. Parts of his game have
obviously been slowing in recent years, but he has parts to his game still
that others have never had in history. My vote for best all-time center. In
years to come I think the three best centers in the NBA will be the two on
this bench and Ewing. Bowie hasn't got the offensive touch he will probably
develop but you've got to love his defensive and rebounding games. Akeem's
greatness can be summed up by comparing him to his teammate, Sampson. He's
also still a long way from polished, but he made a huge impact on the NBA
last season and obviously on the Rockets. Has the most definitive slam dunk
in basketball.
Forwards
Take Dr.J of the '70s and make him taller and stronger and you've got James
Worthy. He picked McHale to pieces on offense in the playoffs. Needs to
develop some hunger for the boards, but in the Lakers offense he's the most
potent fast-breaking forward ever. Deadly jumper which he gets off before
his defensive man can blink. For this team it seems a forward who can hit
the longer jumpshot is invaluable and thus Mark Aguirre will make it.
Unfortunately he takes too many, but Magic will only put the ball in his
hands at the right time and of course no one picks out the open man like
Kareem. I've seen him have positively unconscious nights where he couldn't
miss these ridiculous-turn-around-25-footers-with-a-man-in-his-shirt. For
board work, Calvin Natt is only 6'6", but he is the Western version of Buck
Williams. Has developed a great inside game if his knees hold out. Sampson's
too big to skip, and as last year's MVP deserves some notice. Anyway I don't
like Bill Fitch either.
Guards
The biggest difference between the leagues occurs at this position, but
Danny Ainge is still by far the worst player on the list. Its not out of
line to choose three Lakers at guard, but I will refrain. Magic of course
has brought new meaning to the position. I'd say he's probably been the most
valuable player of the '80s and definitely the most influential. Team him
with Rolondo Blackman who is another Maverick who can't miss a jump shot.
Ditto Walter Davis, who should be still coming back from knee surgery; he
made a bad Pheonix team into a very good team with his shooting and desire.
Add Michael Cooper if only to defend against Bird. Of course Cooper has
improved his game every year and features a potent jump-shot and gifted
play-making abilities. The last roster slot shall be filled by Fat Lever,
narrowly over Clyde the Glide. Both are great playmakers, but Drexler too
often seems out of control and may indeed set records for turnovers before
his career is through. Lever is one of those players who helped transform
Denver to a team that went deep into the playoffs.
Daniel Schneider
{decvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-2littl!schneidersdp@chinet.UUCP (steve d. pruitt) (11/22/85)
In article <1340@decwrl.UUCP> schneider@2littl.DEC (DANIEL SCHNEIDER) writes: > EAST > Forwards >Barkley may be around for comic relief as his style is >still quite unsettled. Why have an "unsettled comic" around (taking up a lot of room) when you have the most explosive forward in the East available in Orlando Woolridge (sorry Dominique, you're too inconsistent and Bernard is hurt) who should be a clear choice when it's time to pick the fifth best forward in the conference. >Forces the offensive game too much... You don't have this problem with the third leading scorer in the LEAGUE. >...but can really finish off a fast break. Obviously you haven't seen 'O' come down on a berak with one of his "MONSTER" dunks (they'ed leave Barkley breathless). > Guards >Richardson is probably the best defensive guard today... Don't say that too loud in Milwaukee! >Aside from Magic, no guard can dominate a game as he can. Surely you jest. Give me Michael Jordan any day of the week when we're talking most dominant guard in the East (even with his limited pro experience). When we talk about impact on the LEAGUE, not just one team, comming into the pro's, the only (non centers) other players of this magnatude are Magic, Doc and Bird (in that order) for at least the past decade (maybe of all time if you want to streach it a bit). After all he's only going to be out six or eight weeks with that bad ankle and that's enough time to be back before the mid winter clasic. If I was a gambling man I'd wager that the majority of the fickle fans that vote for players won't even consider the fact that Michael J. has missed so many games and that he'll get the nod along side Isiah as the starting guards in the East. >Pressey...I was very impressed with his game (all areas)... >Does anyone know why Danny Ainge is on this ballot? I strongly agree, if Paul wasn't on the same team with Sid he'd probably be recognized as one of the leagues most versitle players and best athletes. As for Danny boy, he's in the only place where he could be tolerated outside of the state of Utah. > WEST > Centers > Akeem'greatness can be summed up by comparing him to his teammate, Sampson. I keep thinking how silly it is to have a 7'4 "small forward" (even a 7'4 power forward sounds pretty dumb) until I remember who's REALLY playing center down in Texas (Akeem the dream and not Ralph the joke). > ...Has the most definitive slam dunk in basketball. Remember a guy named Darryl D. and the IN-YO-FACE-DISGRACE Thunder dunk? > Forwards >Take Dr.J of the '70s and make him taller and stronger and you've got James >Worthy. Now you've gone too far to dare compare James Worthy with a living legend! your fingers must be numb from typing and it has effect your power of reason. In one word "Dr.J of the '70s" was AWSOME. Please remember the NBA has only seen him since '76 and he had to tone down much of his game to fit in with the, uh, talented Sixers. DID YOU SEE HIM IN THE ABA where he carried not a whole team, not just a division or conference but AN ENTIRE LEAGUE!!! James is just a good player on a very good team. Poor comparison. >Mark Aguirre... >I've seen him have positively unconscious nights where he couldn't >miss these ridiculous-turn-around-25-footers-with-a-man-in-his-shirt. That's why Dick Motta begged the Dallas brass to draft him (Dick loves a forward who can flat out shoot). On the west side of Chicago He's affectionately known as "Big Mark" and in the day of the 6'9 to 7'4 "small forward" he's a gem, probably one of the best 6'5 forwards to ever play the game. -- ......................................... . "Living forever isn't just a dream!" . . . . Steve Pruitt . . !ihnp4!chinet!sdp . .........................................