It reveals an agile seven - footer whose
turnaround jumper is accurate up to 20 feet; a heady
player who discourages double - teaming with canny passes; an outstanding athlete who has somehow figured out the exotic fast - break passing strategies
of point guards Mark Jackson and Rod Strickland, both
of whom never make a simple move when 13 complicated ones will do; and a defensive intimidator whose 3.7 blocks per
game at week's end were second only to Olajuwon's league - leading 4.2.
Spring
games and practices are a welcome change from the rest
of the offseason as long as everyone applies the appropriate amount
of skepticism to glowing reports on individual
players or the remarkable
turnaround of a unit that was a mess on the field just a few months ago.