From: davem@uvmark.uucp (Dave Meeks)
Subject: Re: INSIDE SPORTS poll: best players by position
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 93 02:15:14 GMT
Organization: VMARK Software, Inc.

In article <1993Jan8.201055.8398@ennews.eas.asu.edu> koehnema@enuxhb.eas.asu.edu (Harry Koehnemann) writes:
>In article <1993Jan08.153221.57724@uvmark.uucp> davem@uvmark.uucp (Dave Meeks) writes:
>>Well, looking at the lists, I thought they were pretty accurate...  Though
>>I am not a huge Rodman fan, and wouldn't list him that high either, I can
>>understand why someone would want him...  After all, look at the last couple
>>of years.  He has blown away the competition in the rebounding dept (albeit,
>>all the arguments of how he gets them, he still gets them), and is a 2 time
>>Defensive Player of the Year winner.
>
>Yea, but he's all Defense and Rebounding - that's it (and I'm not even sure
>about the defense any more, I don't think his heart's in it).  The guy plays

Well, that's true..  But, in the last three year's he has been, in many ways,
the leagues BEST rebounder and defender.  I think John Stockton is one of the
leagues best players, but he can't rebound, and is not a huge scorer (about
14ppg).  But he is the leagues best passer/playmaker and one of the best at
steals (and overall good at defense).  It would be one thing if he was just
a good rebounder/defender, but being one of the leagues top 2 in both 
categories is worth quite a bit.  

>40 minutes/game, but only gets 6 points?  That's scary whne you consider he
>must be getting 5-6 offensive rebound/game - what the hekll does he do
>with them standing 2 feet from the basket?  I'd take Nance, Kemp, Johnson,

Well, offensive rebounds need not be 2 feet from the basket only.  And, he
need not always put the ball back up to be effective.  

>Coleman, Willis, and probably even Lattener, Perkins, and Gugs in front of
>him.  And there's probably more - these just come to mind.


Well, like I said, I wouldn't put him that high either, I just understand why
some people did.  I would definitely take Rodman before Laettner, Perkins, or
Gugs (geesh, Gugs and Laettner are only rookies... good ones but not THAT good
yet).  I would probably take Rodman before Willis (but it is questionable).
Some players are scorers, passers, etc... A smaller subset are great at more
than one category..  A few select players are great at many.  Rodman is 
argueably the leagues BEST in 2 categories.  
>
>>And, Lewis...  He is on MANY peoples list at #3.  He is a 20+ppg scorer that
>>can rebound, block shots, steal/defend, and take over games.  He isn't the
>>worlds best passer, but does everything else.  I can see arguments for others,
>>such as Hornacek/Dumars/Richmond, etc...  but I think Reggie gets the nod..  
>
>Well almost everyone on that list is a 20/games scorer, rebounder, defender,
>etc.  Taking over games is questionable, I honestly don't see the guy that
>often (despite NBC shoving them down my face).  The 2 and 3 spots are tough
>to call, different teams use them in such different ways, but...
>

True... I have seen Lewis quite a bit and he is a great player.  He is a VERY
good defender, a great scorer/shooter, and can rebound and do other things.
He just is SLIGHTLY better than the others in my mind...

>>Majerle has some real rough competition to beat out, and just doesn't quite
>>cut it yet...
>
>How can Dan "the best player in the NBA" Majerle not make the list.  Shit,
>he was on the all-star team and isn't in the 10 in his position?  He's
>easily taken over Gill, Rice, and for God sakes Marcelonis - however you
>spell it.  I'd even take him over Lewis, Richmond, Miller, Horny, and
>Dumars.  I hate to say this because I hate stats, but look at the numbers.
>Barkley hasn't done it on is own (although he almost has and probably could
>if he wanted to).

Well, I wouldn't take him over Lewis or Hornacek, but might over the rest.
Lewis was an AllStar as well.  And, I don't think this list was done based
on this year.  Majerle has been more of a 6th man, albeit one who plays alot
of minutes.  Most of the others mentioned are the teams main guy, where
Majerle is probably #3 (behind Barkley and probably KJ).  Shows how talented
that team is, but I think many of the others deserve it a little more.  
-- 
David T. Meeks            || "New shadows tugging at the corner of his eye
VMark Software, Inc.      ||  Jostling for attention as the sunlight flares
uvmark!davem@merk.com     ||  Through a curtains tear, shuffling its beams
davem%uvmark@merk.com     ||  As if in nervous anticipation of another day"