(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
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