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Shaq: I'm done

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186343.18 in reply to 186343.17
Date: 6/5/2011 11:53:11 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
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Dunno about "dying out"... it's just that it's such an unique mix that truly dominant big men are kinda rare. I mean, that kind of size, with that kind of power... mixed with enough agility to utilize it. Rare 'tis.
Usually, there'll only be one or two in any generation playing. I'd suggest that Dwight Howard's of that ilk, and Andrew Bynum might be too.

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
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186343.19 in reply to 186343.18
Date: 6/6/2011 10:48:59 AM
Overall Posts Rated:
9191
I disagree. There may not be Shaq or Howard like centers in abundance but the lack of even solid centers in the NBA is glaring. It has become more of a utility position than it used to be. I read an article in sporting news about production of centers in the NBA since zone D was introduced and the numbers support this theory. Of course numbers only show part of the picture and can be deceiving.

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186343.20 in reply to 186343.15
Date: 6/6/2011 3:09:54 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
137137
I'd go Kareem #1, or Russell - because of what they achieved (Russell in the NBA, Kareem from HS-college-NBA).


FYI...Russell won two college championships at USF with KC Jones and company.

Russell led USF to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, including a string of 55 consecutive victories. He became known for his strong defense and shot-blocking skills, once denying 13 shots in a game. UCLA coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen".

This Post:
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186343.21 in reply to 186343.19
Date: 6/6/2011 6:45:11 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
I'm not sure that says anything at all about centers, or the fact that zone D has impacted them greatly.
I get what you're saying about "great centers", but I think the fact that we can look back over a 50 year period and pull out a dozen doesn't mean that it was any better then. We're cramming a mighty big sample size into a few sentences...

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
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186343.22 in reply to 186343.21
Date: 6/7/2011 12:51:33 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
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Well, if you dont think there is any difference between when zones were illegal and when they became legal, I guess there is no difference.

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186343.23 in reply to 186343.22
Date: 6/7/2011 5:42:23 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
Well, if you dont think there is any difference between when zones were illegal and when they became legal, I guess there is no difference.

Well... without having read the article, it's a lil' difficult to comment. But wouldn't the fact that zone D's limit them - and are now legal, be one reason why the 'very-big-power-center' is disappearing?

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
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186343.24 in reply to 186343.23
Date: 6/7/2011 8:50:11 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
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Well, if you dont think there is any difference between when zones were illegal and when they became legal, I guess there is no difference.

Well... without having read the article, it's a lil' difficult to comment. But wouldn't the fact that zone D's limit them - and are now legal, be one reason why the 'very-big-power-center' is disappearing?



exactly my point

This Post:
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186343.25 in reply to 186343.24
Date: 6/8/2011 12:37:16 AM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
Well, if you dont think there is any difference between when zones were illegal and when they became legal, I guess there is no difference.

Well... without having read the article, it's a lil' difficult to comment. But wouldn't the fact that zone D's limit them - and are now legal, be one reason why the 'very-big-power-center' is disappearing?



exactly my point

I'm confused then. Yes, the rule changes have impacted "dinosaur" centers - perhaps more than any other position. But that doesn't mean there aren't great anchors - just that they have a (largely) different skillset now. As Shaq himself said: there are far more "finesse" centers now.
Additionally, I think it goes to the point of perspective: we're looking back at a very large timespan, and saying that there were heaps of talented giants "way back when", when in fact they were spread out over several generations.

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
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186343.26 in reply to 186343.25
Date: 6/8/2011 12:47:39 AM
Overall Posts Rated:
9191
If you say so

This Post:
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186343.27 in reply to 186343.26
Date: 6/8/2011 12:49:52 AM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
If you say so

Ouch. Not exactly furthering the discussion, didn't mean to upset/annoy you. You disagree with my premise of a time-frame?

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
This Post:
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186343.28 in reply to 186343.27
Date: 6/8/2011 2:36:37 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
9191
As I said before, I am not just talking about the Shaqs, Howards, Wilts, and Kareems. The center position isnt what it used to be, with the zone defenses particularly useful against inside players. This negatively impacts center stats from star to scrub. It is my belief and my point that even such inside dominant players like Howard would put up better stats in the absence of zones. If we compare stats from Wilt or Kareem or even Shaq to the inside dominant players of today or the future, no matter how rare they are, the old timers will have the benefit of 'no-zone' stats.

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