From: dxj@cci632.cci.com (Dennis Joyce)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Retraction, regarding Karl Malone
Date: 19 Aug 92 18:18:57 GMT
Organization: [Computer Consoles, Inc., Rochester, NY

In article <1992Aug19.125941.17605@NeoSoft.com> claird@NeoSoft.com (Cameron Laird) writes:
>A few weeks ago, I tossed off an incidental remark about
>how the two Jazz Olympians are "marginal Hall-of-Famers".
>Various people called me to task.  On further reflection,
>I've decided it *was* a mistake:  I can't think of a
>power forward appreciably better than Karl Malone (McHale?
>not Debusschere (sp?).  Lucas?  Pettit?  One suspects that
>Bird, Erving, McGinnis, McAdoo, and E. Johnson *could* have
>been better, but they played other roles).  Go ahead,
>r.s.b.p netters: we've hashed over who were the best centers,
>scorers, Ainge-biters, and so on.  Who was the best big
>forward?
>-- 
>
>Cameron Laird

OK time to throw in my two cents....

Malone is a good player but the best big forward? Hmmmm.... I think not...

I used to think that he was one of the NBA made superstars. You know the
ones that the NBA made when it was apparant that Magic and Bird wouldn't be
around forever. It just seems that he pushes and shoves his way into 
position, then grabs the ball and gets fouled or scores. He does this very well.
But you give Karl the ball 8 feet and beyond the hoop and he is lost. 

But it just seems to me that on the Defensive end of the floor he isn't that
great a player. I know that I am going to get reemed for saying this but 
K. Malone just doesn't impress me on D.

My opinion after the Olympics is that, he does get alot of calls and does
get away with alot of pushing and shoving and that I wouldn't play money to see
him play. BUT he can play...his game is just ugly and boring. 

Stockton gets the ball at the top of the circle.
Malone Posting up on the left block.
Stockton dribbles to the right and back to the left.
Malone still posting up on the left side.
Stockton throws a pretty bounce pass to Malone.
Malone spins and is fouled.
The ref blow the whistle.
Play is dead.

REPEAT FOR LENGTH OF GAME.

Throw in the occasional 12-15' brick that Malone throws up. OK go ahead
and quote some stat that says that he is the best shooter from 12 feet out
who ever was his weight and size, or some other useless stat saying that he
can actually shoot the ball. I have only seen the man dent the rim with his 
outside shot. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
So who is the top Big Forward? Tough question.... My vote goes to K. McHale.

McHale invented more inside moves than Malone has, unless Karl is saving 
some for when he stops getting all those calls. He is a potent shot blocker and
a very good rebounder.

Ok so now you are licking your chops. You are all ready to type how he was
helped by playing beside Parish and Bird. Well, I am sorry that he never
got drafted by the Kings or Nets. He might have had a few more rebounds 
per game and would have scored a hell of alot of points. I feel that playing 
next to Bird and Parish hurt him more than helped him. Ofcourse he has the
rings....

						Dennis Joyce

P.S.

I will agree that there is a definite lack of quality Power Forward (who 
actually play the "power" forward position) in todays NBA.