If you had to title

[kuethstheman]

How am I the first person to mention Pearl? I mean Magic Johnson said he handled the ball like it was on a yo-yo.

Good point! On offense, he always looked like he was going in slow motion (as he left defenders grasping at air).

 

[miamicuse]

No doubt about it. We all remember the Richmond game, but we had a 16 point second half lead with 9 minutes left in the game against Nova in the BET. Win that and we're well on our way to being a #1 seed and not having to even deal with Richmond.

My memory is a little vague but wasn't Billy playing with a back injury towards the end of the season?

 

[Grbac]

I would say Elijah Hughes. Guy is always smooth. Great shooting stroke and took over when needed. Made it look effortless at times.

 

[Col. Bleep]

Whenever there's a question like this there's always just one answer: Elvir.
It means "silk" in Bosnian...can't be any smoother.

 

[alphaorange]

Offense? Otis Hill. His footwork was beyond compare.

 

[RoatanCuse]

Lawrence was called ”silk” and “poetry in Moten” for good reason. I’ve seen ‘em all and he is still #1 in my book.

 

[OrangeinDC]

Moten is one of the hardest player to explain to someone who didn't watch him in regard to how good he was. He was not quick (first step was more deceptive), not overly athletic, no highlight real dunks and average basketball height. Even in games, sometimes it would be hard to point out specific play or points. BUT, when you look at the box afterwards, from day 1, he'd dropped 23, 25 points, high socks still in place!

 

[dollarbill44]

Moten, hands down. I'm going to throw this guy in as my #2: Erich Santifer.

 

[721Comstock]

Moten is one of the hardest player to explain to someone who didn't watch him in regard to how good he was. He was not quick (first step was more deceptive), not overly athletic, no highlight real dunks and average basketball height. Even in games, sometimes it would be hard to point out specific play or points. BUT, when you look at the box afterwards, from day 1, he'd dropped 23, 25 points, high socks still in place!

Exactly this.

You'd watch the game, and think he had a "quiet" or "off" night.
Then find out he had 19 & 6, and be like - oh, OK, dude got it done!

 

[OrangeinDC]

Exactly this.

You'd watch the game, and think he had a "quiet" or "off" night.
Then find out he had 19 & 6, and be like - oh, OK, dude got it done!

Can't remember a guard of ours that worked the baseline like Moten either.

 

[sufandu]

One more quick point on Billy, these numbers were in the era of a 45 second shot clock, so much fewer possessions in a game to generate those stats.

But even with the longer shot clock, so many teams played at a faster pace. We averaged nearly 90 ppg in '88-'89 and finished 14th in the country in scoring.

 

[sufandu]

My memory is a little vague but wasn't Billy playing with a back injury towards the end of the season?

Probably played too many minutes.

 

[Frisbee]

Can't remember a guard of ours that worked the baseline like Moten either.

I may be to old for you guys, but there is no question in my mind that Dave Bing was the smoothest of all time. I would put Moten at No. 2, though.

 

[Eric15]

But even with the longer shot clock, so many teams played at a faster pace. We averaged nearly 90 ppg in '88-'89 and finished 14th in the country in scoring.

Yep fair point.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Joe Girard.

Wait is this not peanut butter related?

 

[CuseNickens]

1-Billy - His around the back dribble leading his own fast break or helping break pressure was a thing of beauty and smooth as silk
2-Moten-Best baseline player I have ever seen play, everything he did was smooth
3-CJ - underrated smoothness, always under control and deceptive quickness. (hard to find a lefty that isn't smooth.)

 

[CapitalO]

I agree with Moten as #1 and I like a lot of players mentioned throughout this thread but It's time to add a few from the old school such as Louie Orr - Leo Rautins - Rafael Addison - and not so long ago Demetrius Nichols.

 

[721Comstock]

Can't remember a guard of ours that worked the baseline like Moten either.

Agreed. Maybe Raf?

And as far as Forwards go, only CJ was even close to Moten in terms of that baseline game.