'Hoops Analyst' Ed Weiland is not a fan of Drummond. At best, according to their stats, he's nothing more than a good backup C. Ouch.
dominant centers don't just develop. you know they're coming because they are the once in a decade types (i.e. Oden) when they are coming into the draft.
If you go by his analysis you'd be in your best interest to leave this draft with: -Dion Waiters -John Henson -Jae Crowder
You're kidding me, right... You're telling me because OKC, the Heat, Thunder and Spurs don't have a dominant center, they should be what we replicate? Do we have Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan? Kevin Durant? LeBron + Wade? Sheesh. Lets not forget, the Bulls and Magic were both hampered in the playoffs, and they both have "legit" Centers. KG guarding Dwight? Noah isn't the best offensively, but he is really solid everywhere else. I guarantee the conference finals look different with Dwight/Noah/Rose than they did without them. How about we look at the past NBA Champs Perkins (legit size - solid starter) Tyson Chandler (legit size, top 5 center, DPOY this year - very good last year) Bynum, Gasol If we go back in further - a DOMINANT Center, with a strong supporting cast damn near always wins, excluding when they play the GOAT. Shaq, Duncan + Robinson. If we don't have a dominant center, we need AT least a polished offensive as well as above average defensive player manning the middle.
First of all, there are no dominant centers in this draft....2nd of all, what those teams should tell you is the need for 3 all star caliber type of players, preferably that can create offense for themselves.... POR currently has 1 such player... PG & C are minor compared to filling THAT need first...
Those type of centers you definitely know coming out they'll be amazing. A better question is could he be a Howard/Tyson/Ilbaka
There are 2 causes of the demise of the great center: The drive to imitate European basketball. The lack of great center coaches. There were 4. Auerbach and Wooden retired voluntarily and died. Motta and Fitch were put out to pasture and still live. They knew how to funnel all offense and defense into the center and still win.
I think that dominant centers win championships is a myth. Wilt had his troubles, as did Kareem. They won when they became secondary options on well rounded teams. The Magic have the closest thing to a dominant center, and struggle. Shaq needed Kobe and Wade as the alpha guys. The Bulls won 6 championships with Cartwright and Longley - neither was "dominant."
The way today's NBA rules are constructed, elite wings are substantially more important than they used to be. I really don't see many traditional-style centers out there, anyway. Bynum, Howard, Hibbert?
These are by any objective criteria the best-performing and therefore elite teams of this season are they not? I agree with you that they may not qualify as some of the best teams of all time, but those are subjective determinations unless you count playoff wins or some such. Other NBA organizations were able to put together talent that got them to the final four and final two in the NBA tournament this year. They are dominant teams without a dominant center. There is more than one way to an NBA title.
the fact Shaq/Duncan were in every finals from 99 to 07 says a lot. how many championship teams have won a title without an all NBA level big on the team? Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk 2
