Its past the halfway point in the NBA season for the Philadelphia 76ers and the injuries keep on mounting for this once dominant basketball team. Throughout the course of the season, the 76ers have been riddled with injuries which have effected every man on the team and which have effected the overall performance of the team. With this in mind, and being a fair judge in basketball talent and performAnce, here is how I grade the 76ers at this juncture of the NBA season. Jeff Ruland - brx : I am not going to give Jeff a grade because it would be unfair seeing that he has uy MAIII IUA professional /./ DIITCU -- •11N~CUIIIE only played in 5 games during the year. In the games that he has participated in, he has performed fairly well. However, because of the possibility of his career being over due to torn ligaments in his knee, it only adds gas to the fire pertaining controversial trade of hometown favorite Moses Malone, improving Terry Catledge (a former No.#l draft pick), and 2 other first round draft choices Ruland Center-Forward Cliff Robinson. Julius Erving The Doctor receives this grade despite the fact that he did not perform admirably for the majority to the - 13+ : of the beginning of the NBA season. It was not until the NBA All-Star Game, in which he played a flawless game, did a spark, ignite him. After the break, Doc's performance dramatically until his recent injury to his right index finger (on his shooting hand) . Up until that point, Does scoring average rose steadily along with his assists and rebounds per game. Charles Barkley "The Round Mound of Rebound" once again has displayed in an NBA season haw sheer power and domination can surpass height. In a league filled with many teams with 7-foot combinations, Charles, only at 6'6", leads the NBA in "is increased - A : withstand the continuous wear-and-tear that he has placed upon it? rebounding, field goal percentage, and is one of the league's top scoring threats. At this point in the season, the often outspoken Barkley has often had to carry the burden of the 76ers offense on his shoulders. Yet, he has responded well to such enormous pressure. However, with all of this burden and with all of the minutes that he has put in during the season, how much will he have left at the end of the season? Is his stamina and his physical condition in the right shape to (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10)
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