From: koehnema@enuxhb.eas.asu.edu (Harry Koehnemann)
Subject: Re: was Re: Paxson sucks (was Re: Phoenix is absolutely scary...)
Followup-To: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Reply-To: koehnema@enuxhb.eas.asu.edu (Harry Koehnemann)
Organization: Arizona State University
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 18:46:53 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.134343.12976@brtph560.bnr.ca> markham@brtph597.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205) writes:
>>>you think the bulls just won two in a row because of jordan
>>>and only jordan, don't you?  
>>
>>Yup.  That's because it's true and noone I know would argue it.  
>
>That's because all of your Western Conference anti-Bulls buddies think the
>same biased way that you do.

Well, no.  Two of the three "buddies" I watch games with are brothers from
Chicago - biggest Jordan/Bulls fans there are.  They love to talk about
what a stud Jordan is and how he won all those championships with average
supporting cast.  However, they play a lot of ball, know players limitations,
and aren't baised towards players on their team (except of course Jordan).

In fact they brought this up to me.  I felt that Barkley was the best player
the Suns could have aquired - inside game, rebounder, intense.  They said
"no way - Jordan would have helped more".  I said bullshit, Suns have great
guards, they needed inside help.  Then they point this out - Game now
between Suns and Bulls - close, say Bulls would win.  However, Suns w/out
Barkley vs. Bulls w/out Jordan - Suns easy.

Do that comparison to any team in the league. Jordan could lead half the
teams in the NBA to the Finals.

>>Therefore, claiming that the Bulls current "slump" is because Paxon is 
>>injured (the reason all this shit got started) is bullshit.  
>
>Only given your twisted biased view of the Bulls.
>Does Paxson hit the open jumper better than any other player on the Bulls?

No it's true.  Paxon's their best shooter (other than Jordan) - so what.
How much offense does he account for - 10-15%?  WHat do Jordan/Pippen
account for - 50-60%?  How does Paxon being off effect the Bulls compared
to those other two?  He's negligable.

>If I recall correctly, you didn't say "who cares, it's Paxson. There's bigger
>problems to fix", you said something to the effect of "who cares, it's Paxson.
>He's a liability."  

Both are true. 1 - He's not the Bulls problem and 2 - he's a defensive
liability against quick point guards.  Paxon has it easy out East where they
dominate up front.  He doesn't play Stock, Hardaway, Porter, KJ, that little
guy on Seattle, ... night in and night out.  He's got Price to worry about
and that's pretty much it.

>>That's because the Suns didn't have a franchise player ala Jordan - they
>>do now.  They got as far as they could on "teamwork" (probably the best
>>team from top to bottom in recent history - their second team would make
>>the playoffs, 3 bench players are averaging double figures) and it isn't
>>enough.  
>
>The Suns have 6 players in double figures.  Barkley, Majerle, Chambers, KJ,
>Ainge, and Ceballos.  While looking at the stats, I noticed that Barkley,
>Majerle, Chambers, KJ, and Ainge average the most minutes on the TEAM.  And
>Ceballos probably gets the nod as 6th man on the team (now that KJ is back 
>and Night doesn't see as much time).

>Bench players?  Just because they don't start doesn't make them 'bench
>players'.  Get real.

Last I looked, Dumas was also averaging double figures - that makes 7 and
3 come off the bench - Chambers/Ainge/Dumas.  And I would imagine Miller
is damn close to double figures, which would make 4 off the bench.  The
other 4 in double fiugures are starters.  Chambers is seeing a lot of time
at center since Oliver Miller is out, that will change when he's off IR.
Ceballos has started almost every game this season - he's not the 6th man.
The Suns don't really have a "6th man", they have more of a second team.
There are 10 guys on this team sees quality playing time.

>>It's easier for CHicago.  Hell, the only thing between the Bulls and the 
>>finals is NY.  The Suns have Portland, Seattle, LA, San Antonio, Utah, etc.  
>>It's a little different out West.
>
>The difference, my friend, is defense.  The West simply cannot touch the 
>East in defensive strength, and defense wins championships.  Just ask 
>Chicago and Detroit.

Detroit won on defense (it also didn't hurt the Magic&Byron were out
either).  Chicago won because they were hands down the best team around.
Are they this year?  They will be when Paxon gets off IR, right?  Wrong.
They will be when Jordan and Pippen stop bitching and start playing ball.
--
Harry Koehnemann
enuxha.eas.asu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro