HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: n9041679@henson.cc.wwu.edu (brian h. harper)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: How to select All-Stars
Date: 12 Jan 93 18:22:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: henson.1993Jan12.182231.24732
Distribution: usa
Organization: Western Washington University

gt1490d@prism.gatech.EDU (Gintas Jazbutis) writes:


>How should we determine who is on the all-star team?
>Is fan voting for the starters the best way?

No, player voting, like the NFL does, is the best way. THEY know who's hot
and who's not.

>I think it's fine the way it is.
>Granted, some fan voting decisions look stupid.  

No, some fan voting decisions ARE stupid.

>This argument always comes up in baseball balloting:

>"Player A (who is having a sub-par year at the end of a
>Hall of Fame career) was voted in, while player B (a 12-year
>chump who had a hot first half, and who subsequently reverts 
>to chump level anyway) was not even on the team!  Oh, the
>injustice of it all."

>Clearly player A is the star--he is well known, popular, and
>has had a stellar career.  He will be enshrined in a sports temple.
>The other will coach minor league ball and never be heard from again.


This is a poor and radical example. I hate to diverge too much into
baseball, but take AL 3rd base for example. Edgar Martinez, who is by no
means a chump, led the league in batting, and led all 3rd basemen in
fielding. Yet, some guy named Wade Boggs won the voting. Sure he's Hall of
Fame bound, but he shouldn't have been an All-Star last year. You see, the
Hall Of Fame exists to reward fantastic careers, the All Star game for
fantastic seasons. Or first half of seasons in NBA or MLB. In any case, fan
voting is seriously flawed because it results in totals heavily weighted
toward the previous season champ teams. Take Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright,
Buck Williams and Kevin Duckworth's vote totals as examples. They are all
good players, and Grant might even be said to be having an excellent year,
but their votes all seem ridiculously high. Why? Because the lay person who
doesn't follow the whole NBA knows only the mega-stars, his home team, and
the 2 teams that played in the championship game last year. He will vote
acordingly. 

The players should vote.

-Brian Harper
n9041679@henson.cc.wwu.edu




>Jaz
>-- 
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  The problem with modern times is that    |  Jaz                          
>  stupidity has started thinking.          |  Georgia Tech                 
>          --Jean Cocteau                   |  gt1490d@prism.gatech.edu    
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: rbd@flash.ece.uc.edu (Bobby Davis)
Subject: Re: Laettner selfish?
Organization: University of Cincinnati
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 17:16:01 GMT

KRB104@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>  I have been reading reports from several papers (Baltimore Sun and USA
>Today) that the Timberwolf players are most upset with Christian Laettner
>because of his selfish play.  I read where, after getting the ball at
>midcourt with no one in front of him but Doug West, that Christian, in
>lieu of passing it to West, dribbled it down and dunked it himself.  Chuck
>Person, who is known for keeping quiet, said that only a player interested
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I nominate KRB104 for the Subtle Humor Award for January 1993.

>in his own personal stats wouldn't have passed it up court.

When I first heard this story and found out it was Chuck Person doing the
griping, I just considered the source (CHUCK PERSON calling someone else
selfish???) and ignored it.  Then I was watching the Oklahoma-Duke game the
other night and Dick Vitale was saying how most of the Duke players are glad
Laettner is gone.  Evidently no one there liked him very much either, and
they are enjoying practices and road trips a lot more with him gone.

Can anyone elaborate on this?  Is Vitale just foaming at the mouth again?
I thought they were some fairly strong statements, considering the way he
normally worships anything that has to do with Duke (disclaimer: I like Duke
but feel that most press coverage is clearly biased in their favor).  Or is
Laettner really this much of a jerk?  Pretty sad to be a major part of two
national championships and still be disliked by your teammates.  Of course,
even if he is a jerk I would still rather have him on my team than Chuck
Person.

Bob "The Glide" Davis
From: rc@hal.COM (Rolland Crunk)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Derek Harper
Date: 4 Jan 93 22:44:35 GMT
Organization: HaL Computer Systems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: malibog.hal.com



I noticed that Derek Harper of the Mavericks missed a couple of games
last week. Does anyone know if he's hurt? Did he play Saturday against 
Minnesota?

Any info would be appreciated.

rc
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: terry@garfield.Stanford.EDU (Terry Wong)
Subject: Re: Latrell Sprewell
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 93 21:31:08 GMT

In article <SDY.93Jan7165336@bcstec.boeing.com>, sdy@bcstec.boeing.com (Ugly Bag of Mostly Water) writes:
|> >>>>> On Thu, 7 Jan 93 04:43:05 GMT, terry@leland.Stanford.EDU (Terry Wong) said:
|> 
|> |> In article <1993Jan7.030227.11740@muddcs.claremont.edu>,
|> |> byau@jarthur.claremont.edu (Ben Yau) writes: 
|> 
|> |> Latrell Spreewell is a really awesome player.  I saw him for the first time 
|> |> at the Sonics game.  He is for real.  Nice Jordanesque moves and a ggood outside
|> |> touch (at least in that game, but one game does not a player make :)
|> |> 
|> 
|>    Terry> Actually, last night was a fairly typical game for him.  There have
|>    Terry> other games where he has shot better.
|> I was at that game and he really seems to be a "scary" player - for moments in
|> the first half it looked liked he was going to totally take over while Hardaway
|> was resting -- luckily (or was it defense? it did pick up.) he kinda faded out
|> never to be seen again. But he does look like a player for sure, just needs to
|> put it togeather during crunch time. It was a very close game, great D by the
|> sonics for 20-22 seconds followed by Hardaway draining a trey -- nothing like
|> it.
|> 
|> I was suprised that Hill didn't play, and Houston has potential but keeps
|> suffering from those "rookie" (non)-fouls.
|> 

Actually, Don Nelson said much the same thing about Sprewell after the game.
He said that he was unhappy with the way Sprewell played because he
disappeared later in the game and did not step up when the Warriors needed
big plays from their 2 guard.  He was not so much down on Sprewell as
all the Warrior 2-guards.  Note that Marciulionis had a terrible game 
(6 points, 5 turnovers), and Grayer was an invisible man.

As for Tyrone Hill, he did not make the trip.  He was back in the Bay Area
with a bruised thigh.

					terry@garfield.Stanford.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: bprisco@shearson.com (Bobby Prisco)
Subject: Patrick and Shaq 
Reply-To: bprisco@shearson.com
Organization: Lehman Brothers, Inc.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 21:09:10 GMT

Did anyone catch the Knick-Magic game last Fri. on TNT? 

The Knicks had the lead for most of the game and then blew it
in the 4th quarter.

This guy O'Neall is outstanding! He blocked 2 consecutive shots by Ewing;
he spun on Ewing and dunked (ferociously) and pretty much dominated
Ewing.

Shaq says that Ewing plays him tougher than any other center in the league.
I'd like to see what he does to the other centers if he manhandles
Ewing so easily.

I'm a loyal Knick fan so I hate to see Patrick look so bad, but at
the same time I give Shaq credit for his unbelievable abilities.

-Bobby
From: centeno@pasadena-dc.bofa.com (R. CENTENO)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Please wake me up!!!
Date: 6 Jan 93 13:11:02 PDT
Organization: Bank America Systems Engineering, Pasadena, CA

Please, Please...somebody slap me!!!  Please tell me the formula that the Lakers
used against Chicago that enabled them to return from their Jekel(sp) persona 
back to their Hyde one??  MAYBEE I was dreaming...they realy lost, right???

I cannot believe the Lakers beat chicago again.  Is this the team that lost to
Dallas, Sacramento, and Milwaukee???  Randy Pfund should get angry with the 
team every night if it will make them play.  Anthony Peeler and Duane Cooper
played very well.  Peeler even blew by Jordan a couple of times.


Somebody please help me out of this totally confused state i'm in.



-Rob 
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: ortcm@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (thomas.mcguigan)
Subject: BOXSCORE nyk30orl27.08jan93
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 20:11:12 GMT


nyk 94, orl 95   08jan93

dnp orl: kerr,steve(cd)
illegal defense warnings: nyk,orl
technical fouls:
ewing,patrick(6:37 4th)
illegal defense nyk(10:36 4th)
illegal defense nyk(4:00 4th)
illegal defense orl(6:16 4th)

nyk (19-11)      min  fgm fga 3m 3a ftm fta or tr  as pf st to bk tc ej ff  pts
oakley,charles    29   3   6   0  0   2  3   6 12   1  3  0  1  0  0  0  0    8
smith,charles     30   7  17   0  0   4  5   1  3   0  4  1  1  1  0  0  0   18
ewing,patrick     39   9  27   0  0   3  4   1 12   1  4  1  4  1  1  0  0   21
anthony,greg      38   4  11   0  0   3  4   0  2  15  0  1  1  0  0  0  0   11
blackman,rolando  38   7  12   1  1   3  3   0  3   3  5  1  0  0  0  0  0   18
mason,anthony     31   3  10   0  0   2  6   5  9   1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0    8
williams,herb      9   0   2   0  0   0  0   0  1   0  2  0  1  1  0  0  0    0
starks,john       16   2   5   2  4   0  0   0  1   2  3  1  0  0  0  0  0    6
rivers,glenn      10   1   3   0  0   2  2   0  1   0  5  1  0  0  0  0  0    4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
nyk totals       240  36  93   3  5  19 27  13 44  23 27  6  9  3  1  0  0   94
FG, 3P, FT averages:     .387   .600   .704       team rebs 13
procedure technicals 2

orl (14-13)      min  fgm fga 3m 3a ftm fta or tr  as pf st to bk tc ej ff  pts
tolbert,tom       18   1   3   0  0   2  2   0  3   0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0    4
scott,dennis      41  10  19   4 10   5  6   0  1   2  3  0  3  1  0  0  0   29
o'neal,shaquille  34  10  17   0  0   2  4   1 13   3  5  0  1  5  0  0  0   22
anderson,nick     30   1  10   0  2   6  6   3  5   6  3  1  3  0  0  0  0    8
skiles,scott      40   3  11   0  2   3  3   0  3   5  3  2  3  0  0  0  0    9
kite,greg          9   0   1   0  0   0  0   0  1   0  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    0
catledge,terry    22   3   4   0  0   4  4   1  7   0  2  2  2  0  0  0  0   10
royal,donald      16   1   3   0  0   6  6   0  5   0  3  1  3  1  0  0  0    8
bowie,anthony      9   0   1   0  0   0  0   0  2   1  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    0
turner,jeff       13   1   1   0  0   0  0   1  2   2  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    2
green,litterial    8   1   2   0  0   1  4   0  0   0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
orl totals       240  31  72   4 14  29 35   6 42  19 25  6 15  8  0  0  0   95
FG, 3P, FT averages:     .431   .286   .829       team rebs 13, team TO's 1
procedure technicals 1

nyk   25  24  30  15  -   94
orl   22  22  23  28  -   95

attendance 15151, time 2:21, officials: PMihalak,GToliver,GWillard
From: kompella@cs.ucsd.edu (Vachaspathi Kompella)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Re : IN MEMORIAM : Johny Most
Date: 6 Jan 93 00:45:01 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: CSE Dept., UC San Diego


In article <2364@hsdndev.UUCP>, nhmas@gauss.med.harvard.edu (Mark Shneyder) writes:
|> In article <1ict82INNl8q@news.aero.org> robert@aero.org (R. S. Statsinger) writes:
|> >In article <2360@hsdndev.UUCP> nhmas@gauss.med.harvard.edu (Mark Shneyder) writes:
|> >
|> >Ok, and when you talk to her, tell her how much I enjoyed buttfucking
|> >your sister, will ya?
|> 
|> Sorry,don't have a sister. But tell us about it anyway...For one-line
|> flamer you're pretty unoriginal. But please do on. I'm hoping for
|> better things to come from you,R.S.
|>  
|> >|I have to admit your train of thought is similar to the Challenger launch.
|> >
|> >Is that *really* the best you can do, Mark? Jeez, I guess any idiot can
|> >get into Harvard these days.....
|> >
|> >			R.S.
|> 
|> Geez,R.S.or Really Sick as they call you at the funny farm,I guess I'll stop
|> abusing you since you're really starting to snap. I should have expected it
|> from someone who is not playing with a full deck...
|> 
|> BTW,I am not in Harvard so I can't really confirm or deny the fact that
|> idiots get into it or not.
|> 
|> -Mark

Bob,

	Do you really think this kind of trash is worth responding to?
Come on, Lor-Meeks was entertaining, in a way.  This is incinerator fodder
from someone who's been practising on alt.flame.  Anyways, them's East coast
types and us is West coast folks, and we just don't get along, do we?  A little
ass-whipping will speak volumes.  What really matters is the scoreboard, the
record at the end of the year, into the playoffs, etc.  I would imagine the
Celtics are taking the loss of Bird, the poor performance of the Celtics, the
fall from grace, a little too hard.  Like some of us Laker fans who can't take
the losses to Dallas, the Magic, etc., or even the awful falling apart, e.g.,
against Cleveland or Miami.  But we have hope.  They don't.  I mean, how much
can you expect Reggie to do, even with a star center like Alaa?

-Vach
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: robert@aero.org (R. S. Statsinger)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Lakers are in Trouble
Date: 5 Jan 1993 01:31:07 GMT
Organization: Diehard Laker Fans, Inc
NNTP-Posting-Host: uniblab.aero.org

In article <1993Jan4.151039.45@pasadena-dc.bofa.com> centeno@pasadena-dc.bofa.com (R. CENTENO) writes:
|
|	Alright, Alright!!  I have to admit (since i'm the one who started
|this discussion), I just want to Lakers to make some kind of move that 
|would make them just look good again.  I realy didn't give a Rat's Ass about
|whether or not it would be a good move for the Rockets.  After all I'm a BIG
|Laker fan (is that still a good thing to say???), and if the trade would make
|the Rockets worse, that's even better. I foolishly was defending the Lakers'
|crappy play earlier this season.  What was I thinking!!!!  They looked like 
|SHIT again against the Bucks.  Vlade even had 20 pts.  I once said "When Vlade
|decides to play and quit being lazy, they win".  Wrong!!!!!  I hate to say it,
|but they need some serious work.  Somebody please let Jerry West know that I'm
|NOT pleased so far...and to do something about it soon!!!

Beautifully stated. Change *one word*, and it would be diminished. You've
captured the essence of our plight.....

				R.S.
From: tannerg@carson.u.washington.edu (Glenn Tanner)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Trade Rumors
Date: 12 Jan 1993 23:35:48 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
NNTP-Posting-Host: carson.u.washington.edu

Here's a quiz.  THIS WILL NOT BE GRADED!!!

1. Estimate the ratio of trade rumors posted in this newsgroup to trades
which have actually occurred.

2. Explain why this ratio is at least 10 times higher than the ratios
which could be calculated from the NFL and MLB newsgroups.

You may begin...

GT
From: sheyn@csa.bu.edu (Igor Sheyn)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Suns file protest in San Antonio loss
Date: 11 Jan 93 01:36:07 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Science Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Originator: sheyn@csa


In article <93006.140938U47526@uicvm.uic.edu>, David E. Thomas <U47526@uicvm.uic.edu> writes:

|> The protest was not upheld, but the NBA as much as admitted that the Bulls
|> were correct since they adopted the current 'three tenths of a second' rule
|> as a response.
|> 
|> 
|> David E. Thomas
|> University of Illinois at Chicago
|> 
What exactly does the rule state?
Igor
From: cs163wav@sdcc8.ucsd.edu (Anthony Minkoff)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Sonics' draft picks
Keywords: Sonics Seattle
Date: 11 Jan 93 01:05:45 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <1iqeftINNc68@shelley.u.washington.edu>,
tannerg@carson.u.washington.edu (Glenn Tanner) writes:
>From what I've heard, and this is really confusing, Seattle has the best
>of their, Portland's? (or some other good team), and Philly's 1st round
>pick next year.  Since it appears Philly's will be the highest pick,
>Seattle basically has the 76ers pick in the first round.  But, if this is
>pick is in the lottery, Philly has the option of keeping it and giving the
>Sonics their 1994 pick instead.
>
>Hope that clears it up (and I'm just really sure it will).
>
>GT


Uh, well, as has been discussed on this group, Phoenix has Philly's
No. 1 next year (unless it's a lottery pick, in which case Philly can
retain it and give Phoenix their No. 1 in 1994).

It could be that Phoenix's own No. 1 is one of the picks Seattle may
have access to.  Seattle received that pick from Phoenix in the
Xavier McDaniel trade, and then traded it to the Clippers in the
Benoit Benjamin trade.  Seattle may have worked out some kind of
arrangement with the Clippers wherein they keep Phoenix' pick if is
higher than their own, giving the Clippers their own pick instead.
Of course, this is all speculation.

Come to think of it, I suppose it's possible (though it seems a
stretch) that the McDaniel trade arranged that Seattle get the best
pick available to Phoenix in '93, and that the Benjamin trade
arranged that the Clipper get the lowest No. 1 available to Seattle
in '93.  If this is the case, then Seattle would have the best of
Philly's, Phoenix's, or their own in '93.

This sort of info certainly ought to be available somewhere.  Does
anybody have a clue where?

Tony
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: jscott@micom.com (James Scott)
Subject: Re: Good/Bad pick-ups (was Re: How dumb is Red McCombs?
Organization: yo-yo dyne propulsion 
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:02:57 GMT

jamesd@techbook.com (James Deibele) writes:
>
>	letting strickland go -
>	picking Lucas up +/-
>	...

this is BY NO MEANS meant to defend mccombs ... but ... to understand
why strickland is gone ... you had to be there.  his nickname was
"strychnine" and ... mark my word ... he WILL poison the blazers
eventually.

james
From: kracht@farout.Eng.Sun.COM (Jim Kracht)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: opinions sought about GS trade rumor
Date: 8 Jan 1993 16:36:00 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc., Mountain View, CA
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: farout

To Warriors' followers:

Did anyone else hear or read about the rumor/report that Mike Dunleavy
offered Don Nelson to trade Frank Brickowski for Chris Gatling straight up, 
and Nellie *refused*?  If true, I'm a bit surprised, given 
  (1) the way Nelson blasts Gatling and generally discounts his performance
      in interviews
  (2) the fact that Brickowski is currently doing quite well on a team 
      *without* any Mullin- or Hardaway-like stars to surround him, scoring
      in the high teens to nearly 20 pts. a game
What do you supposed turned him off to this trade?  Brickowski's age,
inflated salary, or slow-footedness?  The fact that the Ws don't need 
that much scoring from the center, just rebounding and shotblocking?  Or
do you think Nellie sees much more potential in Gatling than he's willing
to admit in public?

Curious for opinions.

Jim K.
From: erdmans@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (Wham! With 2 Hands!)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: BOXSCORE min20gsw22.19dec92
Date: 6 Jan 93 12:55:10 EST

min 116, gsw 122   19dec92

gsw coach nelson is ejected, 9:56 third
gsw coach nelson, 2 technical fouls, 9:56 third
min coach rodgers is ejected, 6:15 third
min coach rodgers, 2 technical fouls, 6:15 third

min ( 5-15)      min  fgm fga  3m 3a ftm fta or tr  as  pf st to bk tc ej  pts
laettner,christia 44    5  25   0  1   0  0   3  9   2   4  1  1  2  1  0   10
person,chuck      48    8  19   3  7   0  0   3 14   6   5  2  3  0  0  0   19
longley,luc       32    4   6   0  0   2  2   0  6   0   4  1  1  2  0  0   10
west,doug         47   16  26   0  0   7  8   0  2   3   3  1  2  0  0  0   39
williams,micheal  42    6  14   0  3  15 15   3 13  15   4  4  2  0  0  0   27
mccann,bob        25    3   5   0  0   0  0   0  3   1   3  1  0  0  0  0    6
smith,chris       11    0   2   0  0   0  0   0  1   2   0  0  0  0  0  0    0
maxey,marlon       4    0   3   0  0   0  0   0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0    0
blanks,lance       5    1   1   1  1   0  0   0  0   1   0  0  0  1  0  0    3
sellers,brad       7    1   1   0  0   0  0   1  1   0   2  0  1  0  0  0    2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
min totals       265   44 102   4 12  24 25  10 49  30  25 10 10  5  1  0  116
FG, 3P, FT averages:     .431   .333   .960       team rebs  6
bench technicals: JRodgers,JRodgers

gsw (11-11)      min  fgm fga  3m 3a ftm fta or tr  as  pf st to bk tc ej  pts
hill,tyrone       40    5   8   0  0   4  6   8 20   0   5  0  0  3  0  0   14
mullin,chris      49   12  30   2  5   8  9   1  8   4   2  2  3  0  0  0   34
alexander,victor  23    3   9   0  0   0  0   6  8   3   4  0  0  0  0  0    6
hardaway,tim      45    6  18   2  5   6  8   1  3  14   0  1  3  0  0  0   20
sprewell,latrell  26    1   8   0  0   3  4   0  2   3   1  0  1  0  0  0    5
grayer,jeff       29    9  17   0  1   6  8   3  8   1   4  1  2  0  0  0   24
gatling,chris     32    4   7   0  0   5  6   3  9   1   3  1  0  4  0  0   13
houston,byron     10    0   0   0  0   2  2   0  5   0   1  0  1  2  0  0    2
pressey,paul       7    1   3   0  0   0  0   0  0   2   0  0  1  0  0  0    2
buechler,jud       3    1   2   0  0   0  0   0  1   0   0  0  1  0  0  0    2
nealy,ed           1    0   0   0  0   0  0   0  0   0   0  0  0  0  0  0    0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
gsw totals       265   42 102   4 11  34 43  22 64  28  20  5 12  9  0  0  122
FG, 3P, FT averages:     .412   .364   .791       team rebs  9, team TO's 1
bench technicals: DNelson,DNelson

min    0  19  24  31  31  -  116
gsw   24  22  35  24  17  -  122

attendance 15025, time 2:25, officials: DCrawford,DGarretson,TWashington
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
From: wgr@rti.rti.org
Subject: Re: Jordan & Pippen: No Olympics
Organization: Research Triangle Institute, RTP, NC
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 93 16:16:19 GMT

In article <1993Jan2.183905.22101@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei) writes:
>This is true.  Any other Dream Teamers suffering from the extra summer of
>"play?" (when you romp by 50 in every game and play 20 minutes...)  Barkley,
>Malone, Robinson, Laettner, Mullin, Stockton (who got injured) are all doing
>just fine.  Patrick Ewing is a bit off, and Drexler had knee surgery.  Huh,
>it doesn't seem like Jordan and Pippen have an excuse.

Well, only Jordan and Pippen played in the NBA Finals [tm] the last two
years.  On Phil Jackson's "Know Bull" TV show last night (Sundays at 10 CST
on WGN), the Bulls' trainer said that Pippen has not recovered fully from
an ankle injury suffered against the Knicks in the playoffs.

As for Jordan, I think his problem is more one of mental rather than
physical fatigue.

In any case, I see these statements as comments rather than excuses.  The
Bulls may not be playing their very best,  but their performance so far
really doesn't require any apologies.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro