From: cs161feu@sdcc10.ucsd.edu (Anthony Minkoff)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Suns anti-woof
Date: 8 Oct 92 17:16:39 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

rambis@iastate.edu (Paul L Pearson) writes:

Heh heh!  Great address, Paul!  :-)

>In <38969@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> cs161feu@sdcc10.ucsd.edu (Anthony Minkoff) writes:
>>(I doubt we can trade Rambis, Nealy, or Kempton.)
>>Cutting Rambis (a $1M salary) or Nealy (an $800K salary) would
>>create an exception large enough ($500K or $400K) to accomodate kim.
>
>>Disgusting, IMHO.  I'd much rather see Davis, Dumas, and Miller on
>>the team than Rambis, Nealy or Kempton.
>
>>The PF trio of Mustaf, Rambis, and Nealy is pathetic.
>
>> Think they could use a local crowd
>>favorite (Rambis)?  How about it, Elgin?  He's yours for cash!  :-)
>
>Alright, I'm biased, just because I've been a Kurt Rambis fan for so
>many years.  True, Rambis is no longer physically able to last a 
>complete season, but the p.t. he got last year should have him well
>rested for this season.

Hey, I'm a Rambis fan, too.  In fact, my own play often elicits
comparisons to Kurt Rambis, and I consider it a high compliment.
However, the man has had it.  I like him, but I don't believe he can
play an important role on the Suns anymore, due to his inability to
play the 100 games that would be needed.

>Kurt can't score-he's proved it year in and 
>year out.  With Barkley, Johnson, Majerle, et al who needs 20 ppg from
>the PF?

With Stockton, Malone, and Malone, who needs scoring from the small
forward or center?  :-)  I'm sure Jazz fans would be a lot happier
if Eaton were not such a total offensive bust, don't you think?  The
more offensive threats you have, the tougher you are to beat.

>I guess they didn't need it two years ago when Kurt came over
>to the Suns and they began to win.  True, Kurt can't play defense as 
>well as he used to, but average defense and rebounding and hustle
>from K.R. is better than no defense or rebounding from Tom Chambers.

Chambers has been carrying this "no defense or rebounding" rep since
he came over from Seattle.  It was true once, but people don't see
how much he has improved.

Last season, he averaged more rebounds per game (5.8) than Bill
Cartwright (5.1) or Rik Smits (5.6), and almost as many as Kevin
Duckworth (6.1) or Mark Eaton (6.1), despite suffering from a sore
back and playing only 28 minutes per game.

His rebounding is not spectacular, but it's not much of a liability,
and more than Cartwright's or Duckworth's.  His defense is also much
improved.

The word from the Suns is that he is beginning this season much more
healthy than either of the previous two.  (Of course, anything that
comes out of the Media Relations Department has to be taken with a
grain or two of salt.)  If his back is better, one must expect that
his rebounding will improve.  If he can snag 6-7 game, and if
Barkley can provide 10, and West (if Chambers starts at forward) or
Mustaf (if Chambers starts at center) can provide 8, that's 24-25
rebounds per game from the starting front line.  Not spectacular, by
any means, but it compares well to many other good teams in the
league (Portland 23.1, Utah 23.2, Cleveland 21.8, Chicago 22.8).

>And what about Ed Nealy?  Mr. Pathetic III learned how to hit three 
>pointers last year if you didn't notice.

Yes, I noticed.  His three-point shooting (20-50) was slightly
better than Chambers' (18-49).  He also leans well on his man and
shows some hustle.  After that, it gets pretty sad.  Last year, he
shot .667 from the line (second-worst on the team, ahead of West),
his rebounding per minute (1/4.55) was barely better than Chambers'
(1/4.86), and he blocked a grand total of two (2) shots in 505
minutes.

He's not *horrible*, certainly, and I'm not saying he doesn't
deserve to be in the league, but I don't see him making a major
contribution to a team with its eyes on the championship.


>Personally, I think the Suns made the major screw-up when they traded
>anyone but Chambers.  They could have gotten a good payback for him, 

Really?  An aging veteran, with maybe two good years left in him, a
very bad "no defense, rebounding, or work ethic" rep around the
league, and a questionable back, could have brought "a good payback"
in trade?  I doubt it.

>If you want comedy, watch Chambers play center this year.

He played a lot of center last year-- or weren't you watching?

Tony
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro