Five years ago if you were under 6'5" you couldn't play SG or you were frowned upon, if you were 6'8" you are too short to play PF, if your 6'0" your too small to play PG...I get a little tired of it sometimes and i'm glad people are starting to look past it when you have a slew of 6'4" SG's in the game now and smallish PF's are a big part of the league. I get tired of draft people knocking guys for being an inch short of average..etc...
Height is almost everything in NBA. if you are small, you bette rbe a lights out shooter when you have some room and better be fast enough with a good enough vertical leap to get fouled when driving paint.
it's not only height that thye knock on, some of these people don't have the athleticism to make up for it. But i'm glad to see guys like Elton Brand, Ryan Gomes, etc. prove ppl wrong.
It just creates some matchup problems if you are say, 6"2 and you play SG. It gives the oppenent an advantage over the 6"2 guy to score. I think it is fine if they come off the bench and they are undersized though. Because then, if they are having troubles you just bench 'em
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ May 6 2006, 07:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>it's not only height that thye knock on, some of these people don't have the athleticism to make up for it. But i'm glad to see guys like Elton Brand, Ryan Gomes, etc. prove ppl wrong.</div>You hit the nail on the head! Height can be compensated for with athleticism. For instance JJ Redick will struggle because he is "undersized" whereas Tony Allen does just fine. Another guy proving people wrong is Boris Diaw, 6'8" center, I love his game.
Height is way overrated. Ben Wallace is a perfect example. A guy that most people would say is about 6'7 is one of the best centers in the league, and also a four time defensive player of the year at a postition that on average guys are 7'0.
Height is definetly overrated. Take Ben Wallace for instance, he has to play against some of the biggest guys in the NBA, guys that are 6 inches taller than him. Even though he's been defensive player of the year 4 years straight.
Height is everything. If you think about it, only a few guys made the adjustment for the lack of height.Wade did it with his upper strength.Ben Gordon did it with his shooting and speed.AI did it with his speed.Ben Wallace did it with athleticisim.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pistonz4life @ May 8 2006, 04:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Even though he's ben defensive player of the year 4 years straight.</div>Umm, no he hasn't. He's been DPY 4 times but not 4 years straight. Artest won it in 03-04'. I agree with what your saying, but Ben is more of an off ball defender.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (anypoint @ May 8 2006, 09:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Height is everything. If you think about it, only a few guys made the adjustment for the lack of height.Wade did it with his upper strength.Ben Gordon did it with his shooting and speed.AI did it with his speed.Ben Wallace did it with athleticisim.</div>Wow are you serious? there are a ton more people that adjusted to a lack of height. Eark Boykins, Tony Allen, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Kenyon Martin, even some of the retired players like Calvin Murphy and Mugsey Bogues.
I agree that athleticism compensates for a lack of height. If you're short and aren't very athletic then you will have trouble, but it really only takes either height or athleticism to be succesful.With guys like Elton Brand, being shorter and having a heavy build can help make up for the height disadvantage also.
If your Earl Boykins on Shaun Livingston it could be a matchup problem. But if that was the matchup, Boykins might win the battle because of his other charicteristics, his speed, agility, and quickness are all better than Livingston, if Boykins drives to the lane, Livvy is burned. So height is not as importent as draft people say..
Height is definately overrated. A big name to throw out there is the 6'5 power forward Charles Barkley. He is a beast on the boards, hench the nickname "Round Mound of Rebound." That's easy enough.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kingjamez @ May 8 2006, 07:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If your Earl Boykins on Shaun Livingston it could be a matchup problem. But if that was the matchup, Boykins might win the battle because of his other charicteristics, his speed, agility, and quickness are all better than Livingston, if Boykins drives to the lane, Livvy is burned. So height is not as importent as draft people say..</div>They would obviously have him guard Mobley at that point... :closedeyes:
