From: u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei)
Subject: Re: La Lakers
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 15:13:21 GMT

In article <1h7on2INNj88@news.aero.org> robert@aero.org (R. S. Statsinger) writes:
>
>Originally, that was true. But Divac has had the help of James Edwards,
>who has - I think - taught Vlade some new moves and also is helping
>Vlade to be a bit tougher. And as I said, Scott's game has simply been
>less dependent on the presense of a 6'9" point guard who sees over
>the defense and can thread the needle with a bullet pass. If you'd
>simply read what I wrote above more carefully, I wouldnt have to be
>writing THIS. And it CERTAINLY DOES explain Worthy's lower shooting
>percentage - he's not getting the ball when he's ready to score right
>under the hoop anymore, so he's had to try to invent new ways to
>score. He's had to attempt much more one-on-one this year, and he IS
>a step or so slower than he used to. And mentally he's suffering, which
>has affected his perimeter shooting, which had been quite good for about
>the past 5 years or so.

If you WOULD READ what I was writing more carefully, maybe I wouldn't have
to re-explain my argument to you.  By the time Magic retired, Worthy was
scoring most of his points as a straight post up.  In their last season
together, all Magic did was pass him the ball.  Worthy would look around for
a moment to check for doubling and then spin into the lane and shoot.

In other words, the only time I think Worthy was really dependent on Magic
for points was on the Showtime express a few years earlier.  I've watched
the Lakers a lot over the last few years, and Magic threading the needle to
Worthy isn't exactly a play that the Lakers call.  In fact, Magic did that
a lot more with Divac than Worthy, and in fact he did it with everyone.

I felt that Scott was more dependent on Magic than anyone else.  Scott's
only offense seemed to come when Magic posted up and was doubled, or when
Magic passed the ball to him spotting up on the break.  That's it...Scott
didn't score any other time.

Last year Worthy's shooting suffered, but I think that's more due to all
the changes rather than the fact that he missed Magic threading the needle
to him.  Afterall, Magic has to make a great pass every time for that to
happen, and Worthy scored over 20 ppg.  And most of those points were from
straight posting up

>Hold on - all someone had to do was GET HIM THE BALL WHEN HE SAW DAYLIGHT
>UNDER THERE - ie, when he beat his man for a split second. Getting
>him the ball when he's posted up against his man is a different
>matter.
>
>|Worthy backed his way to 55% shooting
>|one year with basically a low post game.  
>
>AND with Magic there.

I don't buy this daylight business.  Magic was a playmaker for everyone, which
is why every Laker's shooting dropped.  Not only that, but include all the
changes, the lack of rebounding and leadership, and a major scoring threat
and it's easy to see why everyone dropped off.  Worthy shot 49% in '91 and
46% in '92 while still averaging nearly 20 ppg.  That's not too much of a
difference considering all of the above.  Still think that Worthy was totally
dependent on Magic?

>|Last year, he shot 45 or 46%,
>|which could reflect Magic's absence, but this year's 40% is definitely other
>|factors.
>
>OK. Like what? You name'em, I'll refute'em.......

Getting old maybe?  This year's awful shooting certainly has nothing to do
with Magic's absence...he's been gone for a long time.  Worthy was still an
all-star in '92...so what's your explanation for his stats being cut in half
this year?