I couldn't help but notice every five minutes throughout the ECF the commentators noting that the Pacers are "one of the very few" teams that play a traditional big style with a true center. Why does the entire Blazers beat and blogosphere seem committed to C as our top need? We have a 6'11" star PF and a recent lottery pick C who shows promise. Is it essential for our future that we become another of the "very few" teams who use a huge C most of the time? I'm hoping we focus on a wing playmaker, not C, as our biggest acquisition this summer (Tyreke Evans). Go the dirt cheap route to get a little bigger up front (Jermaine O'Neal).
Technically it wasn't Center that Olshey specifically alluded to as our biggest need. It was "interior defensive presence". I can't disagree with that. Our D across the board HAS to improve for us to come close to taking the next step.
Who is the interior defensive presence for the eventual champion Miami Heat? They play such swarming defense it sometimes looks like they are literally able to double team every player on the court. Why can't we do that?
Well, without that big style of a true center, Indy is probably swept if they try to matchup with Miami. Similar to OKC. A 36 MPG C isn't a priority, but a solid defensive big who could give us 26-28 a game is.
LeBron is. LeBron is the only player I can think of that would be a All-Star at all 5 positions on the court if he wanted to play them all. Probably a combination of things on them vs us though. Scheme, and ability. Why can't every team do that? Maybe 4 in the NBA do it right now. So it isn't like we are alone. All I know is I would love a 6th man of the year candidate on our team but it won't do a lick of good unless we become a defensive team as well.
The fact that LeBron is awesome isn't lost on me. But when I watch Miami defend at 100% it seems more about scheme. The NBA is full of world class athletes who can come close to his defensive effort without also happening to be the best offensive player in history.
I would look to use our cap space on a starting SG. Use the draft, both in the 1st and 2nd round to find a center. I also like finding a diamond in the rough that hasn't been given in opportunity ala Asik. Hadaddi comes to mind.
Excluding LeBron's team, name one of the next 5-6 top teams. Any of those absent a big defensive center? (Indy, SA, GS, OKC, Mem)
We do need one big dude on this roster that gives us that physical presence against certain teams. But overall Towel Boy you are dead on IMO. It is the scheme that counts. Tim Duncan is not, nor has he ever been that great of a physical specimen opponents feared. But the scheme was so good, and he is really smart at playing D that they always were good at it. Same with Memphis this year. And Miami. Most importantly we need that wing player who can attack the basket and score at the rim. We need an elite scorer to play with Lillard and LMA for us to be true contenders. And of course we need them all to buy into playing D. Another center is needed, but not the only need.
Thanks nice post. My homer side is also thinking Leonard has the size, ability, and work ethic to become a great defensive center. My comp is Tyson Chandler. They have similar builds and Chandler has developed into an elite anchor despite rarely having gaudy BPG or RPG numbers. He's also a great finisher and smart offensive player, which I think Leonard can be as well. Your wing player sounds like mine: Evans.
I was just thinking the same thing today. Sign Evans and JO with our cap space. Draft Zeller at 10, and use the room exception to sign Maynor.
Because Meyers Leonard was horrible last year, and we were the worst interior defensive tam in the history of basketball......On any level.
