From: u_nique@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Jerray Wei)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Subject: Re: Why Golden State will be the next dynasty.
Date: 19 Nov 92 03:06:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: jhunix.1992Nov19.030621.25369
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

In article <102524@bu.edu> kpho@acs.bu.edu (Kevin Pho) writes:
>Reasons why Golden State will be THE basketball team of the 90's.
>  
>1. Ability to Score at Will.
>Even with the loss of Richmond, Golden State could score at will against
>ANYBODY.  It seems this year that Owens, with his 23.0ppg, is more than a
>suitable scoring replacement.  PLUS, he's 6-8, meaning that he could pull
>down more boards, AND he's a capable ball handler.  If there ever was the
>next Magic Johnson, it would be him.  Mullin is unmatched in the NBA in
>terms of smarts - he knows the game inside out.  Not to mention his consistency
>in shooting in the big games, and the fact that he plays 40+ minutes game in
>and game out.  There's no stopping Mullin.  Finally, we've got Hardaway - 
>what can you say? He could shoot, drive, pass. He is the ultimate offensive
>point guard.  Plus with an awesome bench that includes Marcioulonis, Jennings (
>he shot 70%+ from the 3-pt line in college); this team is unmatched in terms
>of firepower - nobody could outscore them.

1. Ability to get Scored Upon at Will

I notice you didn't nominate any of these guys to any all defensive teams.
Without any big guys, they lack intimidation, inside scoring punch and
rebounding.  No team wins big without these factors.  Mullin is an awful
one on one defender.

>2. Youth
>The average age of Golden State is 23.1 years.  They are almost as young as
>some of the expansion teams.  Nelson year in and year out impresses me with
>his moves.  Last year was the ability to pick up Owens, a lottery pick; this
>year, he picked up Byron Houston, who was a potential lottery pick before
>he slumped at the end of last season.  Thus in two years time, he has picked
>up enough young talent to make any expansion team jealous.  Plus, with the
>addition of Keith Jennings, makes the back-court of GS unstoppable.  I was a
>huge fan of Jennings when he was playing in East Tennesse State two years
>ago, and was wondering why he wasn't in the NBA. I mean, he shot 70+% from
>the 3-pt line and averaged 30+ppg.  He was a scorer, period - and what
>better place for a scorer to be than Golden State? . . . look at Golden
>State's starting lineup - you've got Hardaway, Owens, Sprewell, and Hill.
>All four of which are quite young.  Mullin is the only really experienced
>person, and even he isn't that old.  Plus with up and coming players like
>Jennings and Houston - they will be UNSTOPPABLE.

2. Inexperience

The average age of Golden State is 23.1 years.  They're young and raw.
And short on big men.  I don't think Mister Jennings makes that much of a
difference when you've got Owens, Mullin, Hardaway, Sprewell and Sarunas
all of whom should be playing in the backcourt.  Why wasn't Jennings drafted?
Can you say open jump shot against a 5'7'' guy?  Why did Houston drop so
low in the draft?  Don't look for a reincarnation of Larry Johnson here,
the guy is short.  Why else on a team with no inside strength isn't he getting
more playing time?

>3. Coaching
>Don Nelson is a genious.  He could adapt to any situation, any time.  I was
>impressed in how he single-handedly dismantled San Antonio two years ago.
>Golden State, without a real centre, made David Robinson look real bad. And
>this year, still without a real centre, they are able to take down the real
>power teams like Utah.  Nelson, coach of the year last year, can confuse any
>coach in the NBA with his unorthadox lineup, (man, having Hardaway and
>Jennings in the back-court is a scorer's dream).

Nelson has also butchered a lot of big men picks dating back to Milwaukee.
Randy Breuer?  Trading Alton Lister and numerous #1 draft picks for Jack
Sikma (not good on an old team).  Passing on Stanley Roberts last year?
Missing the chance to get Dikembe Mutombo last year (if that Richmond trade
had been worked out earlier...)?  Beating San Antonio and Utah is not such
a big deal.  But they were romped the round right after that, and last year
they couldn't beat Seattle in round 1.  "Having Hardaway and Jennings in
the backcourt is a scorer's dream" for which team?  Giving up a foot is
not the way to stop someone.

>So, that's my two cents.  Golden State could be helped by a real centre, I
>admit - maybe Olajuwon? . . . but they WILL win the NBA championship within
>the next 3-5 years.

Ah, here's the rub.  Golden State would win if they get say one of the top
five centers in the league.  Only a dime a dozen.
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