Dwight HowardEmeka OkaforAndrew BynumGreg OdenEddy CurryYao mingAmare StoudamireAll these players are true centers, so my question is..is the center back and to stay? Is Shaqs kind not really extinct? I think so...
Why do you list Greg Oden? He's not in the NBA right now, and it's not even certain that he'll come out this year. Also, Amare is a real PF playing center.But I guess that center position is improving, no doubt, but it's nowhere near "back" with the likes of Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, etc. all in the league at once. There are no seriously dominant centers in the league right now.
Memphis not to be a jerk here but only 3 guys from the list of "true" centers that you named really are proven....That being Dwight, Yao, and Amare if you call him a center...! But to your question, I dont think that the center spot is back in the NBA. In today's game the most important position on a team now is the SG spot...
I call Amare a center...hes alot stronger than people would think.I think most people have Oden being a pretty good center...and Curry and Okafor have both shown they will be Allstars in there career. Bynum is so young and has one of the greatest centers working with him. Just cause your not 7'0 doesn't make you not a center. I remember Bill Russel said Elton Brand can start C and still be a allstar simply cause of his wingspan. Russel btw was 6'10....same height as Amare Stoudamire.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphis Fan @ Jan 28 2007, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I call Amare a center...hes alot stronger than people would think.I think most people have Oden being a pretty good center...and Curry and Okafor have both shown they will be Allstars in there career. Bynum is so young and has one of the greatest centers working with him. Just cause your not 7'0 doesn't make you not a center. I remember Bill Russel said Elton Brand can start C and still be a allstar simply cause of his wingspan. Russel btw was 6'10....same height as Amare Stoudamire.</div>It doesn't matter. I classify Ben Wallace as a center, and without shoes he's probably 6'8.'' I wasn't even talking about his height, and I know he is strong. He's just not your prototypical center. He doesn't have much of a back to the basket game at ALL, he isn't a guy that is a real banger. He is an athlete that fits in an up-tempo style. He's mobile. Most of his points are dunks or a pick n roll play with Nash. He's not a banger. He's not a true center, Memphis Fan.
Okay, so your saying you need back to the basket moves to be a center? Ben Wallace doesn't have that, Shaq really doesn't if you think about it...so they arent true centers? But thats your opinion on what a center is. Point of the topic...do yall think NBA is stronger in the center now?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphis Fan @ Jan 28 2007, 01:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Okay, so your saying you need back to the basket moves to be a center? Ben Wallace doesn't have that, Shaq really doesn't if you think about it...so they arent true centers? But thats your opinion on what a center is. Point of the topic...do yall think NBA is stronger in the center now?</div>SHAQUILLE O'NEAL DOESN'T HAVE A BACK TO THE BASKET GAME? I'm sorry, but are you Pacers fan? WOW! I'm sorry if I sound like a prick, but that was the dumbest statement I have read on BBW in a LONG time.Ben Wallace is a center. He is an all-out banger, a great low-post defender, he's built like a refrigerator, and an amazing shot blocker. Amare is a strong athlete, not a banger, has nothing back to the basket, likes to score on the move, and he's not exactly a great low-post defender.Back to that Shaq comment... :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA: :HAHAHA:
Shaq has a strong hook shot..everything else is muscle and dunk. Watch him play, I didnt believe it either until Kenny Smith pointed it out during that Finals last year.This is besides the point but the arguement was, Shaq couldnt dominate cause of his age and Dampier and Diop bangning him and not giving him his muscle dunks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphis Fan @ Jan 28 2007, 01:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Shaq has a strong hook shot..everything else is muscle and dunk. Watch him play, I didnt believe it either until Kenny Smith pointed it out during that Finals last year.This is besides the point but the arguement was, Shaq couldnt dominate cause of his age and Dampier and Diop bangning him and not giving him his muscle dunks.</div>Maybe not last year in the finals but shaq does have moves.
As for the original topic, the center position is improving but it has a LONG way to go before it gets anywhere close to the dominate centers of previous eras.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Dwight HowardEmeka OkaforAndrew BynumGreg OdenEddy CurryYao mingAmare Stoudamire</div>Dwight Howard, Emeka Okafor, and Amare Stoudemire are not true centers. They are being forced to play center because the position is lacking.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Shaq has a strong hook shot..everything else is muscle and dunk. Watch him play, I didnt believe it either until Kenny Smith pointed it out during that Finals last year.</div>Maybe not last year, but Shaq has a great amount of low post moves. He's quick, agile, and explosive. Watch some film of him during his time with the Magic/Lakers.
I don't think the Center position is back...I think the position that is much more developed is the PF position
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 28 2007, 01:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It doesn't matter. I classify Ben Wallace as a center, and without shoes he's probably 6'8.'' I wasn't even talking about his height, and I know he is strong. He's just not your prototypical center. He doesn't have much of a back to the basket game at ALL, he isn't a guy that is a real banger. He is an athlete that fits in an up-tempo style. He's mobile. Most of his points are dunks or a pick n roll play with Nash. He's not a banger. He's not a true center, Memphis Fan.</div>I disagree, CelticBalla. Amare doesn't have your prototypical center game, but he doesn't need Nash to get his points. He was averaging 25PPG in 03-04 after Marbury left and when they had no true PG. Now, he still isn't 100%, but he can still play big man and score without Nash.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Dwight HowardEmeka OkaforAndrew BynumGreg OdenEddy CurryYao mingAmare Stoudamire</div>Well Okafor, Stoudamire, Howard to me are power forwards. They may play center at times, but it's only because of the system and the bigs on their current team. Stoudamire is allowed to move to the 5 because of the Suns run and gun type of play. In addition, to accomadate Diaw and Marion in the lineup. Okafor was a 4 last year and if Brezec gets his act together, would allow Okafor to continue to play the 4. With Howard, I see how people say he's a center but I think he's a better player at the 4. It's his true position imo. Oden should not be listed. He's yet to step on an NBA court and this thread pegs the question on if centers are back. How does a player who has yet to play a game in the NBA help in this movement?Now on whether or not centers are back. It's hard to answer because there's always centers in this league but it's how good they are. And I don't see enough dominant forces that say they are back like in the past yet.
The Center position will never reach the level that it was at with Russel and Wilt. To even compare the position now to that is a terrible comparision. Yes, there may be some good centers, but they aren't at the level of greatness and probably won't reach that level.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L_C @ Jan 28 2007, 02:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Center position will never reach the level that it was at with Russel and Wilt. To even compare the position now to that is a terrible comparision. Yes, there may be some good centers, but they aren't at the level of greatness and probably won't reach that level.</div>I'll take the great centers of the 80's/90's over the Wilt/Russell era anyday.Shaquille O'NealHakeem OlajuwonPatrick EwingDavid RobinsonArtis GilmoreBill LaimbeerKareem Abdul-JabbarRobert ParishDikembe MutomboAlonzo MourningThe list could go on forever.
All these great PF's would have been playing C many years ago...I don't think it's a big deal, guys like Bosh, Amare, Dwight, Okafor can play either position easily...it's not as big of a deal as fans make it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Jan 28 2007, 02:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think the Center position is back...I think the position that is much more developed is the PF position</div>If you look at alot of teams though, the Center and the Power Forward spots are pracitcally interchangable. Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, and Emeka Okafor could all be considered Centers or Power Forwards.....But, I think the center position is somewhat back. Yao Ming is going to be one of the top 10 centers of all time once his career is over IMO. He is just too damn big for anyone one player to stop him. Dwight Howard is going to be a hell of a player in the next two seasons and he is going to have a crazy career as well. Amare is playing great right now, but IMO, we are yet to see the best of him.Basically, the next few seasons are stacked with people that can be classified as centers, and they are all going to be crazy good.
Im sorry, but Dwight Howard is a center, pure center. I dont see how you can ever argue that he isnt. Howard WAS a PF when he came into the league because of his lack oh strength, but hes defiently a center.
He can play the power forward position though....Just like Tim Duncan plays best as a center, but he played Power Forward for the majority of his career. And I think he is still listed as a Power Forward right now because Oberto is the Center.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphis Fan @ Jan 28 2007, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Im sorry, but Dwight Howard is a center, pure center. I dont see how you can ever argue that he isnt. Howard WAS a PF when he came into the league because of his lack oh strength, but hes defiently a center.</div>No I disagree. He's still a PF, but he can easily play the C. He's not a true center.Your first list is pretty sad. Amare, Dwight, and Emeka being true centers has no truth behind it.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Shaquille O'NealHakeem OlajuwonPatrick EwingDavid RobinsonArtis GilmoreBill LaimbeerKareem Abdul-JabbarRobert ParishDikembe MutomboAlonzo Mourning</div>You beat me to making the list...
