cavs_playa23
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:gtfo:James 23 (07) said:
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Z the best true center right now
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Eddy Curry is a true center no matter what they call it. He is 6'11 and weighs 280 pounds. He is averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds a night and takes 81% of his shots from inside and has a 58% field goal percentage. He is almost always the biggest player on the floor for the knicks.
Players like Duncan and Jermain O'Niel have blurred the line between a center an power forward, because they are big, but agile enough to play a power forward type pf game.
In my own mind a true center is a player 6'10 or taller, that weighs 260 +, can block or alter shots in the lane and has a strong post game. He pretty much has to love basketball in the paint.
That doesn't mean a a true center is a good idea, given Phoenix success without one. In some ways Z has properties of a power forward that most centers don't have. He has a solid mid range jumper and is not a bad ball handler at 7'3. Sometimes his game is not inside (although we are a lot better as a team when it is). The only thing really which keeps Z from playing power forward is his foot speed. He would have a tough time with a Kevin Garnett or an Elton Brand.
Players like Duncan and Jermain O'Niel have blurred the line between a center an power forward, because they are big, but agile enough to play a power forward type pf game.
In my own mind a true center is a player 6'10 or taller, that weighs 260 +, can block or alter shots in the lane and has a strong post game. He pretty much has to love basketball in the paint.
That doesn't mean a a true center is a good idea, given Phoenix success without one. In some ways Z has properties of a power forward that most centers don't have. He has a solid mid range jumper and is not a bad ball handler at 7'3. Sometimes his game is not inside (although we are a lot better as a team when it is). The only thing really which keeps Z from playing power forward is his foot speed. He would have a tough time with a Kevin Garnett or an Elton Brand.
Eddy Curry is almost playing to his potential. He has been a lazy piece of shit previously. Defensively he is still weak, and isn't very active on the boards. However he has the capabilities to destroy teams.
Unfortunately Ilgauskas often finds himself guarding this type of player due to frontcourt partners difficulties.
Like others I'm not as sure as Karma what a "true" center is, but based on the people who play the position listed as center, here's how I'd rank Z. The five best centers in the league in my opinion are Ming, Stoudemire, Howard, Duncan, and S. O'Neal, in no particular order. There's a big drop off between that group and the next five, which includes, again in no particular order, J. O'Neal, Camby, Okafur, Z and either Gasol or Okur. There are a number of other centers not listed above that I'd trade Z for based on their lesser ages and salaries, but that's another issue.
I don't mean any of this to be a put down of Z. He's the only Cav, other than Lebron, who ranks in the top third of his competitors by position. Hughes and Gooden are probably around the midpoint of shooting guards and power forwards, respectively, and Snow would rank among the lowest of the point guards. We should all be thankful for Z's talents and good health in recent years.
I don't mean any of this to be a put down of Z. He's the only Cav, other than Lebron, who ranks in the top third of his competitors by position. Hughes and Gooden are probably around the midpoint of shooting guards and power forwards, respectively, and Snow would rank among the lowest of the point guards. We should all be thankful for Z's talents and good health in recent years.