FGA Restricted All-Time Fantasy Draft - Draft Thread

[Statlanta]

Ostertag, Greg
On phone and outta town

[BasketballFan7]

Marques Johnson 1980-1981



Because he has been somewhat forgotten, are some excerpts from Sports Illustrated in November of 1980:

AT THE TOP OF HIS PROFESSION
Marques Johnson, who may well be the best forward in the NBA, performs high above the opposition, stopping time, defying gravity
...
If Marques Johnson is not generally conceded to be the best all-round basketball player in the game today, it is only because comparing players at different positions is as difficult as comparing pitchers with hitters, quarterbacks with linebackers or goalies with wingers. In the NBA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stands alone at center and Magic Johnson has no equal at guard. But at forward, the game's glamour position, two players stand out. One is Philadelphia's 6'7" Julius Erving and the other is Milwaukee's 6'7" Johnson.

Ask any NBA coach which of the two he'd rather have on his team and he will say "both." Each is a superb scorer—Erving averaging 26.6 points and Johnson 20.2 so far this year. But press a little bit, and the coach will say that Johnson is the superior defender; his 218 pounds provide more strength than Erving's 200.
...
Just as today's centers—even Abdul-Jabbar—are still measured against Bill Russell, forwards are compared to Elgin Baylor. "Elgin, Doc and Marques, in my opinion those three guys are the best forwards ever," says Wayne Embry, the former NBA center who is now a Bucks vice-president. "Marques is closer to Elgin than Doc because of his great strength and defense. He not only has the quickest first step of anyone I've ever seen, but once he makes it he's way up above everybody. Put those two things together and he can get anywhere he wants."

"Doc's the Doc," says Bucks Coach Don Nelson. "But Marques is the best all-round. We ask him to do more and he does do more. I never want to limit his abilities to one or two areas. There's no doubt I could get 30 points a night from him if I went to him more. But he's got to work his butt off on the D, so I limit him to 35 minutes or so. I could play him at guard if I wanted to, he's that versatile. Sometimes in practice I do."

"Playing forward in the NBA requires a wider repertoire of skills than any other position," says Johnson. "You have to be able to handle the ball, shoot from the outside, rebound, play defense against a variety of players. Like myself—I might have to guard Maurice Lucas one game, Walter Davis the next. That's like guarding a center and a guard, totally different types. I have to play against Larry Bird, a phenomenal offensive player, also rebound, then get out on the fast break and run."

https://www.si.com/vault/1980/11/10/825131/at-the-top-of-his-profession-marques-johnson-who-may-well-be-the-best-forward-in-the-nba-performs-high-above-the-opposition-stopping-time-defying-gravity

[Colbinii]

Mark Eaton

[ardee]

[quote="micahclay]
Your last go
[/quote]

[Colbinii]

Your last go

[THKNKG]

The Birdman, Chris Anderson

bring it home

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[ardee]

Time for the game winner

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[Doctor MJ]

Time for the game winner

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You got it:

Ryan "Giantsbane" Anderson