Re: Mark Berry's fears, etc...

[Kestutis.Kveraga@dartmouth.edu (Kestutis Kveraga)]

--- You wrote:
I didn't say the rookies won't significantly contribute this year, Kestas. I
said they wouldn't contribute much more than Stith did last year. I consider
Stith a significant contributor last year, but if the rookies do the same
thing Stith did, that doesn't improve the team much. Is that clear? 
--- end of quote ---

Yes, I stand corrected. If your prediction is correct (which I don't think it
is), the team won't be better (relatively speaking) *with others things being
the same*. But let's not get into the improvement rates of Eastern Conference
teams again. 

--- You wrote:
El-Amin, on the other hand, plays a position of considerable weakness and
plays it differently than anyone else on the team. I don't think he'll have
as significant a role as either Johnson or Brown, but the simple fact that
he could bring something the team didn't have last year-true point guard
play-makes him a factor. Do you see the difference? 
--- end of quote ---

Yes, I do.  

--- You wrote:
I like all three of
these players, but Johnson and Brown, in my opinion, will basically replace
Stith's production *this season*. 
--- end of quote ---

Both of them? You mean they'll *combine* to score around 9.7 ppg, get 3.6 rpg,
2.2 apg, 1.2 spg, and average 40% shooting?  I'd willing to bet that they
exceed these lofty goals (personally, I think JJ will do better than that by
himself). This is good - now we have concrete predictions. We can see who's
right at the end of the season. 
Kestas