European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday. March 14. 1988 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary kicks years from title Contention now that the new York kicks Are alive again so Are the scalpers on the sidewalks outside Madison Square Garden. We were getting $200 Down front one was say ing wednesday night. And $50 Tor on the marquee in their Only Garden appearance this scam in were the los Angeles lakers the reigning National basketball association champions who had arrived on a 37-4 Streak. But for any Knick Follower who remembers when it was fashionable to hit the open Man the real at traction was the Opportunity to measure these re tooled kicks especially Rookie Mark Jackson against pro basketball s Best team. And even though the kicks lost 104-99. Magic Johnson knighted the kicks Rookie Point guard. He s super magic said. He s going to be great. And 1 Don t say that about a lot of Point guards. He can pass it and he can take it in traffic and make the shot. Only one or two other Point guards can do that. And he s smart. He knows when to run and when not to run who to go to and who not to go to. He settles pm All Down. He s also where he wants to be in new York City and that s great. The kicks got a Point guard and a Center now and they can build from the Center is Patrick Ewing even though the 7 footer has yet to emerge in his third season As com Mandin Gly As Jackson already has As a Rookie with a 12-Point average and nearly 600 assists. Despite their 13-Gamc Garden winning Streak that the lakers ended and despite a new Home Streak started with a 108-105 Triumph Over Utah saturday night the kicks this season have shown More Prog Ress than proficiency. For All the talk about How the kicks might make the playoffs they could be better off if they Don t. If they were to get Lucky into the lottery and draw the first or second Choice in the draft Thuv could choose Danny Manning of Kansas or maybe of North Carolina precisely the Power for Ward they need to provide Points and rebounds. Dave Anderson but assessing draft possibilities is dangerous if not foolish. This time a year ago Csolty Stirling the the kicks general manager was about to be Dis missed for among other things having traded what turned out to be a lottery Choice to Seattle for Gerald Henderson a guard so valuable he was dealt to Phil Adelphia Early this season. So last year the kicks found up with the 18th Choice in the draft which they used to select Mark Jackson. But if the kicks had retained their lottery Choice they would t have used it to draft the St. John s Point guard. Not even if they had chosen a Point guard. Mark is great. He makes everybody on the team better which shows you How much 1 know said Dick Mcguire the kicks director of scouting who supervised last year s draft because Al Bianchi and Rick Pitino were not yet hired. Of the Point guards in last year s draft As much As i liked Mark i liked Kenny Smith and Kevin Johnson better. So you never Sacramento and Cleveland did t know either. With the sixth Choice the Kings took Smith who averaging 13 Points a game with nearly 350 assists. With the seventh Choice the Cavaliers took Johnson since traded to Phoenix. With the 12th Choice the Washington bullets look s-fool-3 Tyrone Bogues who s averaging 5 Points a game with More than 300 assists. I was talking to Scotty Stirling recently recalled Bianchi the Rookie general manager. "1 thanked him making that Deal with Seattle that let us draft for i Mark Jackson with the 18th pick. That will go Down As one of the Best trades the kicks Ever made. Peo ple ask me what Mark Jackson does and 1 Tell them whatever it takes whatever it takes to gel the Job done he if the kicks Are to continue to Progress into a championship contender. Bianchi knows that Jack son and Ewing need help. But with our Garden winning Streak Bianchi said we be established that when another team comes in it better come in ready. Portland used to be like that. When you went to Portland you were in for a dogfight. Winning at Home is important. That s half your games. And that s part of our plan that hopefully in three or four years will get us to the level of where Atlanta and Detroit arc As impressive As the Hawks and pistons have been this season the lakers still expect Boston to emerge from the Eastern conference playoffs. Once the playoffs come you know How the cel tics Are magic Johnson said. They still can play and they still know How to win. Atlanta has t beat them yet. Atlanta s got to do that before 1 believe it if the lakers win the Aba title again they will be the first repeat champions since the celtics of 1968 and 1969. You Only attain greatness if you win it All magic said. We re playing not to repeat we re play ing for greatness playing for a championship which translates into greatness. If the lakers win it also will be their fifth title of the 80s, enough to Brand them pro Basket Ball s team of the 80s. It s of to play for that to leave some foot prints said Pat Riley the Laker coach. With experience and maturity this team has More resolve now. But it won t be easy. I expect to see the celtics in the final. If they get Bill Walton Back in the next few weeks that will make their Deal for Jim Paxson a Brilliant Deal. They la have a perfect eight Guys for the playoffs. That s what you need to win the championship. Eight solid which shows How Many More solid Guys Thek Nicks need before they can even be considered a championship pretender. Elster homers again As mets rout Phillies by the associated press after a cold Start. New York acts Rookie Kevin Elster is heating up in Florida. Elster slated to be the mets regular shortstop this season went witless in his first 12 Al bats in Spring training. He now has two Home runs in his last two games. The latest was a two run shot that sparked the mets to a 13-4 Victory Over the Philadelphia Phillies saturday. I better Stop it or you Guys will Start to expect this from me All the time said Elster who is trying to fill the Hole Cre ated when the mils traded Rafael Santana to the new York Yankees. Mark Carreon Andre David Lee Mazzilli and Howard Johnson also hit Home runs for the acts who pounded out 16 hits against Philadelphia. Astros 13, red sox 3 Kevin Bass had three hits and Jim Pankovits drove in four runs sparking a 19-Hil attack for Houston. Dodgers 2, braves 0 Franklin Stubbs drove in two runs with a double and four los Angeles pitchers combined for a three hit shutout. Blue jays 4, rangers 2 Rookie Pat Borders two run double in the eighth provided the winning mar Gin for Toronto. Reds 9, tigers 5 Cincinnati s Eric Davis hit a towering two run Homer and Detroit Rookie Rich Ard Carter allowed two runs to score on wild pitches. Yankees 8, twins 4 Claudell Washington s two run Homer baseball Roundup highlighted a four run first inning for the Yankees. White sox 3, pirates Chicago was led by Pitcher Rick Hor ton and Center fielder Lance Johnson both acquired from St. Louis in an off season Trade. Athletics is 9, indians is 5mickey Tettleton and Dave Hender son homered during a five run ninth in Ning to Power Oakland Over Cleveland at Tucson. Athletics is 6, indians is 5in Phoenix in another split squad contest Between these teams Oakland scored six runs in the ninth off Doug Jones to beat Cleveland. Cubs 5, Brewers 3rync Sandburg tripled singled drove in two runs and scored another to Lead Chicago. Royals 6, cardinals 3danny Tartabull had three singles drove in a run and scored a run for Kan Sas City. Angels 11, mariners 3tony armas hit two homers and drove in six runs for California. Giants 3, padres 2right-hander Mike Lacoss allowed one hit Over the first five innings As san Francisco beat san Diego. Expos 9, Oriole 3 Andres Galarraga hit two of Montreal six Home runs As the expos beat Baltimore at Miami s Joe Robbie stadium. Phillies Phil Bradley dives Back to second under Wally mets won 13-4
