(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9)
Maurice Cheeks -A+ :
No matter what the
situation has called for
this season and in every
season since his rookie
year, Maurice Cheeks has
cane to the front. Again,
Cheeks is among the league
leaders in assists and
steals. Yet these numbers
are not what really make
him distinct from other
guards in the NBA. It is
his unselfishness and his
ability to steer the 76ers
offense that makes him
stand in a league by
himself .
Although he has had
his share of injuries
during the season, Cheeks
continues to play admirably
under sane of the most
horrid situations in the
76ers history (namely the
injuries to each and every
man). Last year, he led the
NBA in minutes played. This
year, he is among the
leaders once again. As with
Barkley, how much can his
body produce before it
conks out? Will he make it
through the playoffs? His
skills are there yet it is
his endurance that is in
question.
Andrew Toney - C: I am
being fair about this
grade, perhaps just a tad
too fair. Yet I have, what
I feel is substantial
proof, to back up my claim
Although he missed the vast
majority of the beginning
of the season due to
recurring pain in both
feet, Andrew has exploded
as of recently and has
showed the "fire in his
eyes" that he possessed
just a few years ago (prior
to his foot problems).
In the past few
weeks, Toney ' s scoring
average has virtually
exploded along with his
assists per, game. This may
be a little bit optimistic
in some readers opinions.
However, he has proven
himself as of late and
could possibly be
thedifference as to how far
the 76ers go in the
playoffs in this, Julius
Erving's "Farewell Tour."
Tim McCormack - B+ :
At first, I was skeptical
about this trade (involving
Center-Forward Clemon
Johnson) . I did not have as
much knowledge about
M6Cormack's ability to
shoot the ball or
rebounding ability. Thus,
the rise of my pessimism.
However, McCormack
has proven his value to the
team as a center (with the
loss of Ruland for the
year). Every time I have
seen him , play, he has
dominated the game and has
been a force that opposing
teams that aren't capable
of stopping. Against' the
Houston Rockets, on a
nationally televised game,
McCormack truly outplayed
his oppostion,
Olajuwon (one of the most
dominant centers in the
NSA) in every category:
scoring, rebounding, and
every other aspect involved
in the game.
The same was true
against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
of the Lakers in another
nationally televised game.
Yet 2 games does nat make a
player. Hawever, McCormack
is second on the team in
rebounding (Barkley is
first) and is becoming a
serious scoring threat to
opposing teams. He will be
another key figure in the
final leg of this frantic
NBA race to the finish.
the 76ers traded for
Vranes, they knew they were
getting a defensive
specialist (similar to the
likes of former 76er Bobby
Jones ) .
scoring ability was in
doubt - and is still in
doubt. At times he has
shown to possess scoring
punch but has failed to
show such a quality on a
Akeem
regular basis.
receives a "C" for the
course.
tremendous defense, he
would have probably
received a much lower
grade. His offense must
cane together by the
commencement of the
playoffs. The 76ers bench
is scoring is anemic. If
Danny Vranes - C: When
However, his
Thus, he
If it weren't for his
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 11