Re: European Centers??? forget it...

[Joe Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

You could make a case for Vlade Divac for his passing and smarts. But I admit it
took him years to become an above-average center. Rik "Dutch Boy in the Paint"
Smits has flirted with All Star status as well.

It is true Sabonis arrived very late in his career to the NBA, and a bit thicker
and slower. From the little I remember, he had a little Bill Walton in him.
Maybe not the younger Walton who could swat shots 14 feet off the ground, but at
least a late-career (but healthy) version of Walton who could make great passes,
rebound, shoot and was immoveable and heads-up in the paint.

****
danextbestthing2000@earthlink.net wrote:

> Sabonis is a very good center and dominant in the floor. It would of been
> even better of seen him in the NBA 10 years ago.
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Jaims <jaims@impactnet.com>
> > To: Celtics <celtics@igtc.com>
> > Date: 6/15/00 7:29:10 PM
> > Subject: European Centers??? forget it...
> >
> > I don't know guys.  But I can't recall a european center ever being
> dominant
> > or threatening in the NBA...never ever.  Sabonis?  sheesh runs like a log
> > and gets blocked a lot despite being 7'3 and over 300 lbs....  Ilgauskas
> was
> > almost the one who'd jinx that stigma about european players but he's too
> > injury prone.  So why are we even considering a gamble on an unknown Greek
> > player(Tsak)?
> >
> > No offense to them but they are simply too soft and too scared to bang and
> > get pushed.  I know they are capable scorers and outside shooters but was
> > there ever a Euro player named into the all defensive team?
> >
> > If we are to take Tsak at the 11th spot, I'd say that it's a waste.  Why
> > fill up the need for a center when the one you are taking in is an unknown
> > talent?  I don't get it!  All we have to do is get the best talent
> available
> > regardless of position and decide from there on.  Would you take a Sam
> Bowie
> > again over a Jordan if lightning strikes the second time???
> >
> >
> > Jaims
> >
>
> DaNBT2000