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From: dashman@rti-sel.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sport.hoops
Subject: Re: MVP
Message-ID: <707@rti-sel.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Mar-86 09:46:39 EST
Article-I.D.: rti-sel.707
Posted: Thu Mar  6 09:46:39 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Mar-86 21:09:47 EST
References: <1501@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Reply-To: dashman@rti-sel.UUCP (Eric Dashman)
Organization: Research Triangle Institute, NC
Lines: 41
Summary: 

I absolutely agree that Bird is head and shoulders above anyone else in terms
of the MVP this year.  It is arguable that every year since he joined the
Celtics the same was true.  I say this as a dyed-in-wool N.Y. Knick fan (and 
beleive me, I've done a lot of dying with them recently) who has no love for
the men in green.  The usual rap on his defense is myopic.  It only attends
to his lack of quick feet (Tiny Archibald he ain't), but how many passes does
he slap away or intercept?.....and how many times have you seen him strip an
unsuspecting opponent being guarded by another Celt?....and he is an astounding
rebounder on the order of a DeBusschere or a Silas (not all guys who can't jump
are white) from a previous era.  

A lot of players have been arrogant, but only a few have been consistently able
to live up to it (Oscar, West, Kareem, Wilt, Russell come immediately to mind).
Bird is clearly in this elite group of the very best we have ever seen. (Bill
Walton might have gotten there had his feet taken him further, and Bernard King,
Ralph Sampson and Magic Johnson still might get there).

I agree with your general comments about Kareem's rebounding, but here again it
is not a statistic that represents much about this man's dominance in his time.
We're talking about arguably the best player ever....sure you'd like 15 boards
a game, but there is so much to him that I'm willing to overlook his lower
average, i.e. scoring, shot-blocking, intimidation, presence, leadership,
crunch-time play.

You did not include Magic in your group of MVPs.  I will never forget the game
he played at center as a rookie in the championship, when Kareem was hurt.  I
mean, a point guard at center.....He had the bad? fortune of coming to a team
with a legend in the middle, and I think this has suppressed much of his
capacity to dominate (it has done the same to James Worthy).  He has the
qualities that the other true greats have.  I am not one of those who thinks
the Lakers will fall apart when Kareem retires.....I think Magic and James
will emerge from their shells.  (Now if Ralph really does go free agent....
anyone notice how awesome he's been without having to play around Akeem.....
Houston should have traded one or the other rather than force them to play
together.) But I digress.  Magic has extended Kareem's career, if only because
the great one loves ending his NBA days with a truly great guard, just as he
began it in Milwaukee (Oscar).  And Magic is young....we're going to have the
pleasure of his company for a long time to come.

Maybe the Knicks will win the lottery again....Johnny Dawkins?  Len Bias?
Drool.