What was the last team to win a championship with a defensive anchor at center? The Pistons? The Heat sure didn't have one. The Spurs have never had a real rim protector. Maybe David Robinson way back in the day? The Lakers? Nope. Probably the Mavs actually. Tyson Chandler is the closest thing to a defensive specialist on a championship team.
Actually you are wrong... 1.) Lakers had Gasol and Bynum, who had +2 blocks a game. 2.) Spurs had a first team all defensive player named Tim Duncan 3.) Tyson Chandler was a beast anchor
Duncan isn't a defensive anchor in the post though. Are we talking about a guy who stays in the paint and blocks shots or are we talking about quality defenders in general? Rasheed was a really good defender. Do you think he was a defensive anchor in the post?
Bro, Duncan has a career 2.2 blocks per game. He is also a leader in defensive rebounds at a rate of 8.2 a game, even still getting 6.9 now. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duncati01.html Most importantly, his DWS is off the charts!
Blocked shots alone do not tell if a player is truly a rim protector. Much of the benefit of having someone like a Tyson Chandler is that they stay in the post and serve as intimidation, which can be just as valuable, if not more valuable, than actual blocked shots. Batum blocks shots. Dwyane Wade has averaged over a block a game multiple times in his career. Is he a rim protector?
You're using blocked shots as the sole evidence of being a defensive anchor/rim protector. I'm saying that someone like Dwyane Wade can average over a block per game as a 6'4 shooting guard.
I definitely see your point... however, if Dwayne Wade averaged 2.2 blocks per game at 6'4", he'd probably be deemed a rim protector.
2 blocks per game is a lot. Here's the list of every player who averaged 2.0 blocks or more per game during their career. http://bkref.com/tiny/7jYfr Is there anyone on that list other than Tim Duncan who isn't considered a rim protector?
Josh Smith is the only one I see that I would say isn't one but he is also about to fall off the list as he just barely made it and hasn't been blocking as much in later years (and I think Tim is one conversely).
When I think of a defensive anchor, I think of guys like Mutombo, Ben Wallace, Theo Ratliff, etc. I think that Duncan is an amazing defender, but you don't have to be anywhere near the basket to get a block. That's my point on why I brought up Wade. You can block a shot anywhere on the court. If someone wants to attempt a shot from under their own basket, you can record a block. Maybe I'm just not remembering Duncan camped under the basket that much.
During Duncan's entire career, how many long-distance shooting centers and power forwards have there been? More than a couple in the last three years, but in the last 15? All camped out down low with their butt up in Duncan't hips trying to get position like Barkley. Duncan is a rim protector.
