The Myth of the Dominant Center

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Bynum has developed into a very good player.

will he ever become a Shaq/Hakeem/D-Rob?

I doubt it.

 

[Rhal]

will he ever become a Shaq/Hakeem/D-Rob?

I doubt it.

Those type of centers you definitely know coming out they'll be amazing. A better question is could he be a Howard/Tyson/Ilbaka

 

[MARIS61]

The eastern conference championship pitted Garnett against a backup until Bosh returned.

The western conference championship paired Duncan (who wants to be called a PF) against Perkins (who played less than 30 MPG).

Is this not counter evidence to the myth of the dominant center being necessary for eliteness?

Not in my opinion.

None of those 4 teams are even close to what I'd call "elite".

 

[jlprk]

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.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If you go by his analysis you'd be in your best interest to leave this draft with:

-Dion Waiters
-John Henson
-Jae Crowder

LOL. Man that draft would piss me off

 

[Denny Crane]

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."

 

[RayDavies]

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?

 

[maybeso]

Not in my opinion.

None of those 4 teams are even close to what I'd call "elite".

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.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

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."

Shaq was the alpha on the lakers team. Not even close.

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[Rhal]

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?
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[Denny Crane]

Neither of the teams in this year's finals has a dominant C.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Well, there is no traditionally dominant center in the league really. We are talking the types that need double and triple teams.

{Poasted via palm pilot}

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Neither of the teams in this year's finals has a dominant C.

They have two of the most dominant scorers in the game.

You can get by with Perk/Anthony as your starting centers.

 

[Rhal]

Neither of the teams in this year's finals has a dominant C.

I'm talking about dominant big doesn't have to strictly be a C just a pf who can play C at times.
while its true neither team has a dominant offensive big but OKC has two very good defensive bigs in perkins and ilbaka.
With the game as it is now there really are very few dominant bigs, you dont see many pf or c play in the paint. They would rather shoot a face up jumper then back down there defender into the paint and do a hook shot or try for a dunk. Also have everyone fall over from a little contact in the paint trying to draw the offensive foul.
I think that more then anything has lead to the death of the dominant big.


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[jlprk]

When NBA teams started playing in Europe in the 80s, one of the many differences noted (most have since been eliminated) was how the referees called it. You couldn't touch players out where the guards played, but you could get away with murder on inside play. So when Europeans entered the NBA, big men weren't used to dunking (the physical penalty had been too much--Magic would yell at Vlade to stop the gentle finger rolls) and guards were no longer good shooters and drivers (think of the fragile Sergio and Rudy).

This Euro style was a decade behind the NBA style. NBA referees by then were instructed to allow what had previously been considered dirty play, in response to 2 coaches. While Dick Motta's teams had forced a permanent change around 1980 to more physical defense, Chuck Daly permanently made it even tougher in the late 80s. Until him, a top center had always been required to win a championship, back to George Mikan.

In the culture shock of transition in ruling paradigms from clean play to dirtier play, the Celtics and then Bulls hated the Pistons, because they got their heads knocked off, especially big men. This produced dirtier frontlines like Laimbeer and Rodman, and forced the Piston opponents to depend less on the frontline. SGs and SFs became more important than Cs. The league never returned to the pre-Daly style.

In a league ruled by Daly's physical defense, it is impossible for a great center to be great. Yao Ming would have been another Artis Gilmore, but was permanently injured because of what the refs allow now. What prevents great centers is the ghost of Chuck Daly.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

With the exception of a healthy Dwight Howard (and probably Oden), there is no such thing as a dominant center in today's league.

Add a star next to Dwight and they'd be legit. That's how much impact a dominant center would have.

The dominant center isn't a myth. It's just a remnant, a legend from a bygone era.

 

[KingSpeed]

There are only two players that come close to being called a dominant center in the NBA right now. Dwight Howard who is hurt and Andrew Bynum who is a knucklehead. That's it. Thats why a dominant Oden would've given us a huge advantage in this league. Back when I was a kid, Ewing, Shaq, Robinson, Hakeem all played in the league at the same time. Also, Mourning and Mutombo on the next tier.

 

[KingSpeed]

With the exception of a healthy Dwight Howard (and probably Oden), there is no such thing as a dominant center in today's league.

Add a star next to Dwight and they'd be legit. That's how much impact a dominant center would have.

The dominant center isn't a myth. It's just a remnant, a legend from a bygone era.

No doubt. Dwight went to 09 Finals and his only All Star teammate didn't even play in the first three rounds.