Nocioni Is "The Next DeBusschere" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGR]http://hoopshype.com/nocioni.jpg[/IMGR]An unfair and burdensome label that too often is stuck on talented young white forwards is ?the next Larry Bird.? Bird is one of the ten greatest players of all time. Chances are we?ll be waiting for decades for anyone of any color to match his immense and varied talents. Today?s white forwards would benefit from a more reasonable and reachable measuring stick, which is why I have launched a search ? and found a nominee ? for ?the next Dave DeBusschere.? As for ?the next Larry Bird,? I hereby declare that title open to players of every hue, and below I propose a premium-blend international recipient. But first, ?the next Dave DeBusschere.? As every hoop geezer knows, Dave DeBusschere (DD) was voted in 1996 one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time. The power forward for the 1970 and 1973 world champion New York Knicks, DD began his career playing for and briefly coaching the Detroit Pistons ? and pitching in the offseason for the Chicago White Sox. In 1968, early in his seventh season, he was traded to the Knicks for center Walt Bellamy. Coach Red Holzman moved power forward Willis Reed to center and put DeBusschere at Reed?s vacated 4 spot, thus giving the Knicks something unique in NBA annals: a complete, well-rounded player at every position. It?s easy to have great ball movement and shot selection ? New York?s new calling card ? when everyone can catch, pass, cut, dribble and shoot. DD was a perennial all-league defender and strong rebounder whose 22-foot range (in the pre-trey era) achieved a similar effect to what Piston power forward Rasheed Wallace achieves with his three-point range: stretching the opposing team?s defense and making it pay when it doesn?t. Both as a Knick and for his career, DD was good for 16 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes. Even in the 1960s and early 1970s, 6-6 was a bit short for a power forward, though DeBusschere was certainly strong and rugged enough at 235 pounds. What he surrendered in height he more than made up for in coordination, quickness and skill ? the three areas he generally had an edge on his opponent. Bear in mind, though, that the league was less compartmentalized then, with some teams featuring two all-purpose forwards rather than clearly defined 3s and 4s with separate duties and decidedly different bodies. My nominee for the ?the next Dave DeBusschere? is Andres Nocioni, the Argentina-born Chicago Bull who splits his time at both forward positions and really provides a spark when he?s at DD?s 4 spot.</div> <div align="center"> Source</div>
