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From: plw@panda.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hoops
Subject: Re: The NBA Finals...
Message-ID: <1419@panda.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Feb-86 12:50:09 EST
Article-I.D.: panda.1419
Posted: Tue Feb 18 12:50:09 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Feb-86 20:11:09 EST
References: <1293@pucc-i>
Reply-To: plw@panda.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 40
Keywords: Lakers, Kareem
Summary: 

>
>    So now the matchup is set: LA vs. Boston, with Boston probably having the
>home-court advantage.  A lot of what happens will depend on what kind of shape
>Bird's battered body is in.  Let's face it, as good as Larry is on Offense and
>at being at the right place on D, he really isn't very good at guarding *his*
>man one-on-one, although he usually manages to keep his man off the boards.
>So does he guard Worthy?  Worthy doesn't rebound much, and he's lightning 
>quick.  I think that Bird must guard Rambis.  McHale is an outstanding player
>but is not quick enough to prevent Worthy from lighting him up, like last year.
>The bottom line is:
>
>   If (Kareem + Worthy) = (Bird + McHale + Parish) then the Lakers win.
>
>    That's oversimplifying things a bit, but I think that's the gist of it.
>Both teams improved themselves about equally with the acquisitions of Lucas
>and Walton, but they will have a bigger impact on Boston than LA, I think.
>
>    My prediction: Lakers in 7, one of the greatest championship series of all
>    time.

Assuming Boston can get by the SIXERS, (always a very tough task!), I
believe that Boston will beat LA in six games.  Regular season games aside,
Boston is simply a stronger, deeper team anyway.  Wild Bill Walton
WILL make quite a difference in the LA matchup.  Kareem must be continually
banged to contain him to a mere mortal performance and Walton historically
plays Kareem well.  And without Kareem, LA is just another team.

Boston with rotten performances from Parish and Ainge and without McHale
can obviously beat LA. (Sunday's game was never in doubt). The game in
Boston a few weeks ago wasn't even a game.  All else being equal, the
Lakers will not repeat this year.

The above equation is oversimplifying.  It is also wrong. Kareem and
Worthy combined obviously outplayed Bird and Parish and McHale on
Sunday.  Team depth made the difference during the regular season.
Hopefully it will make the difference during the playoffs.

-- 
						Pete Williamson
"By hook or by crook, we will !!" ... #2