They each represent a different kind of ranking though. You can rank players statistically, you can rank them based on production vs contract, you can rank them based on team performance, injuries, and minutes played. It would be very difficult to work all those factors into a single ranking because some of them contradict each other.
RIGHT NOW….Off the top of my head: 1- Cousins 2- Gasol 3- Hibbert 4- B. Lopez 5- Drummond 6- Howard 7- Noah 8- Horford 9- R. Lopez 10- Jordan There's actually a lot more competent centers than I thought before compiling my list. Howard at 6 seems low to me, but I'd take everyone above him over him. Throw in attitude issues and it feels right to me.
Blair eats up minutes in the regular season. Pop wouldn't let him see the court in the playoffs the last two years.
Not sure about my complete list, but the top three centers I'd currently swap with Lopez straight up (taking into account attitude, age, health & the way they play): Hibbert, Vucevic, Drummond. Marc Gasol would take Drummond's place if he were healthy. Drummond is on my fantasy team so I've been watching some Detroit games. He's still pretty raw, but reminds me of Oden to be honest, in the way he moves and looks. Maybe not quite as big, but seems a little more coordinated in his movements. Very good around the basket, but step out a few feet to say the freethrow line, and he's God awful. I think he'll eventually be an allstar though.
I don't mean to troll here, but what I am interested in is who is the best player for the Portland Trail Blazers with the schemes we're running offensively and defensively. So, yes I think that Robin is better than his brother, for example - not in a vacuum but for US. We have the best ORtg in the league by 2.4 points, so we really don't need a player that shoots better than Robin but makes fewer picks. Here's what I'm looking for in a Center: Takes pride in defense and rebounding, Takes pride in picksetting instead of scoring, Enough of a threat so the opposition can't leave him completely on offense, Team first player, Likes Portland, Doesn't make near a max contract. Generally, analytics hint at what we need, but are not even close to the last word. With MY measures Robin Lopez ranks very high. Of course so might someone like Asik.
Robinson, and I wouldn't think twice about it. He brings an energy off the bench that I love to watch. Plus, Blair may be the worst PF in terms of defense in the NBA. He fouls the opposing player a lot. He's a beastly garbage player, I do give him that.
The thing is, because of Aldridge we really don't need an offensive minded center. Someone like Cousins or Howard would demand touches. We don't need that. I could see Noah, Gasol, or Hibbert being plugged in seamlessly though. Gasol would be amazing. We need a guy who is capable of scoring when necessary, plays tough defense and rebounds. That fits Robin down to the letter. His defense isn't quite as good as a Hibbert or a Gasol, but he's decent.
Asik is way overrated, he is basically on par with JJ Hickson's level of talent; a guy who could be a contributing role player on most teams but less than ideal as a starter. He is a one dimensional player with major holes at the other end of the court. He benefited from a crazy pace on that Rockets team and defensive schemes that highlighted his rebounding. His actual production is closer to his career averages on the Bulls as well as this season. I would hate having Boogie Cousins on my team. Yes athletically the guy can score with the best of them but he has all sorts of Josh Smith moments out there and is a horrific teammate. I don't think his teams will ever be a legit playoff team as that attitude makes everyone around him play a bit worse then they are capable of. He's basically the Stephon Marbury of centers.
I think we are forgetting Tyson Chandler because of his injury. When healthy, not including salaries, you take Chandler over rolo
Robin Lopez is awesome, he looks and talks like an Ogre, I love watching his facial expressions when he gives interviews. He's been doing a pretty good job this year, but if he could grab the ball more as opposed to tipping it, and if he could finish strong inside instead of missing a point blank layup, it'd be even better.
http://bkref.com/tiny/Bv7qc FTA per 36 minutes: Hickson 4.2, Lopez 2.8 FG%: Hickson .562, Lopez .503 Hickson got opponents to foul him more, yet still put in his FGs better.
That's last year for Hickson... But I bet he was fouled more because he was shaky at the line. Robin makes nearly as many FTs per game with a full attempt less.
