[gdani]

I would argue that Darryl Dawkins, at least, was NOT ready for the NBA......Dawkins should have rammed it down LA's throat, but instead he went into his usual big-game disappearing act......

My response to that would be that Dawkins was obviously qualified to be in the NBA. The proof -- he was in the NBA for years & was a starter for many of those years.

Now, whether or not he choked against the Lakers & in other games is a different story. That would only indicate that he's a choker or that he wasn't a superstar -- but was still certainly qualified to be in the NBA.

[Tallguy]

Now, whether or not he (Darryl Dawkins) choked against the Lakers & in other games is a different story.

Ordinarily I would agree with your argument, but this is a case where a 7-foot center cannot utilize his physical presence to impose his will on a smaller 6'8" point guard who is also playing out of position. Teams drill constantly to achieve a mismatch like this and here the Lakers were handing it to the Sixers on a silver platter. It's not like Dawkins had to 'recognize' the mismatch -- he knew he had it all night long.

Not ready for Pime Time.