From: sample@cardinal.ncsc.org (Michael F. Sample)
Subject: Re: was Re: Paxson sucks (was Re: Phoenix is absolutely scary...)
Organization: North Carolina Supercomputing Center
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 00:57:52 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.184653.22961@ennews.eas.asu.edu> koehnema@enuxhb.eas.asu.edu (Harry Koehnemann) writes:
>In article <1993Jan5.134343.12976@brtph560.bnr.ca> markham@brtph597.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205) writes:
>>>>you think the bulls just won two in a row because of jordan
>>>>and only jordan, don't you?  
>>>
>>>Yup.  That's because it's true and noone I know would argue it.  
>>
>>That's because all of your Western Conference anti-Bulls buddies think the
>>same biased way that you do.

<arguements deleted...>

>>>Therefore, claiming that the Bulls current "slump" is because Paxon is 
>>>injured (the reason all this shit got started) is bullshit.  
>>
>>Only given your twisted biased view of the Bulls.
>>Does Paxson hit the open jumper better than any other player on the Bulls?
>
>No it's true.  Paxon's their best shooter (other than Jordan) - so what.
>How much offense does he account for - 10-15%?  WHat do Jordan/Pippen
>account for - 50-60%?  How does Paxon being off effect the Bulls compared
>to those other two?  He's negligable.
>
>>If I recall correctly, you didn't say "who cares, it's Paxson. There's bigger
>>problems to fix", you said something to the effect of "who cares, it's Paxson.
>>He's a liability."  
>
>Both are true. 1 - He's not the Bulls problem and 2 - he's a defensive
>liability against quick point guards.  Paxon has it easy out East where they
>dominate up front.  He doesn't play Stock, Hardaway, Porter, KJ, that little
>guy on Seattle, ... night in and night out.  He's got Price to worry about
>and that's pretty much it.

I remember last year before the beginning of the finals, both here on the
network, in the newspapers, and on the sports shows, all you heard was that
the big advantage that Portland had was at the point guard position.  (I'll
admit I was a little worried about it due to the fact that Porter was coming
off of atleast one great semifinal series and I think he lit it up in the 
series before.)  The point is that Porter was supposed to eat Paxon for
breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in between snacks.  Well, it didn't happen
that way, mainly due to Paxon.(Not completely, but mainly...)  The fact of
the matter is that every championship team needs role players to fit in for
their type of team.  Cartwright, if nothing else, gives interior defense.
Grant gives interior defense and rebounding. (Especially off the offensive
boards.)  Jordan and Pippen give you give you a lot of if not all of every- 
thing.  They are the slashers that do the drives to the basket and gets alot
of steals that lead to the easy baskets.  What does Paxon do?  Not much.  Just
sound position defense, limit bonehead plays that kill the team,(Blazers in 
the finals!!), and either make the outside shot or have the "THREAT" of the
outside shot which opens up the middle for others.  Besides, he has two 
rings so he's doing something right.   I will admit that the Bulls are not
playing up to their potential, but they still are only two games behind the
"scary Suns" for the best record in the league.  I still believe the Bulls
will win it, but nothing is guaranteed.

Michael Sample
--
Go Bulls!
Go Heels!

ps  I guess that thread about Jordan not making the players around him better
    is dead, since the Bulls have won two championships with such "inferior"
    talent! ;)  

>
>>>That's because the Suns didn't have a franchise player ala Jordan - they
>>>do now.  They got as far as they could on "teamwork" (probably the best
>>>team from top to bottom in recent history - their second team would make
>>>the playoffs, 3 bench players are averaging double figures) and it isn't
>>>enough.  
>>
>>The Suns have 6 players in double figures.  Barkley, Majerle, Chambers, KJ,
>>Ainge, and Ceballos.  While looking at the stats, I noticed that Barkley,
>>Majerle, Chambers, KJ, and Ainge average the most minutes on the TEAM.  And
>>Ceballos probably gets the nod as 6th man on the team (now that KJ is back 
>>and Night doesn't see as much time).
>
>>Bench players?  Just because they don't start doesn't make them 'bench
>>players'.  Get real.
>
>Last I looked, Dumas was also averaging double figures - that makes 7 and
>3 come off the bench - Chambers/Ainge/Dumas.  And I would imagine Miller
>is damn close to double figures, which would make 4 off the bench.  The
>other 4 in double fiugures are starters.  Chambers is seeing a lot of time
>at center since Oliver Miller is out, that will change when he's off IR.
>Ceballos has started almost every game this season - he's not the 6th man.
>The Suns don't really have a "6th man", they have more of a second team.
>There are 10 guys on this team sees quality playing time.
>
>>>It's easier for CHicago.  Hell, the only thing between the Bulls and the 
>>>finals is NY.  The Suns have Portland, Seattle, LA, San Antonio, Utah, etc.  
>>>It's a little different out West.
>>
>>The difference, my friend, is defense.  The West simply cannot touch the 
>>East in defensive strength, and defense wins championships.  Just ask 
>>Chicago and Detroit.
>
>Detroit won on defense (it also didn't hurt the Magic&Byron were out
>either).  Chicago won because they were hands down the best team around.
>Are they this year?  They will be when Paxon gets off IR, right?  Wrong.
>They will be when Jordan and Pippen stop bitching and start playing ball.
>--
>Harry Koehnemann
>enuxha.eas.asu.edu


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