obssesion with having a PF play C for us? First it was Webber during the summer, then Mo, then Eddie, and now McDyess. Fact remains that you need to have a tall guy guarding the rim. I know that Griffin is a good shot blocker, but his blocks come from out of nowhere, as opposed to just standing around and guarding the goal. There are not too many 6 ft 9 guys in the NBA who can guard the goal effectively. We would get eaten alive by the other team's center if we put in midgets at C. If we were in the East, then it could work, but in the West size is vital inside.
Name a true shotblocking center in the West not named Tim Duncan/David Robinson or Shaquille O'Neal... Griffin's 6'10 and still growing, he's far from a "midget"...
BGM, Those are the guys that have won the last 3 championships, I think you reinforced his "need a center" argument. If your goal is to win a championship....that is... DD
Raef LaFrentz (2nd in the league) Eric Dampier (2.5 per game) Greg Ostertag (2 per game and 2nd in blocks per 48 minutes) But I think a 6'10 shot blocker who can contribute on the offensive end will do fine at center!
Well Raef fits into the "PF playing C" role as far as I'm concerned. Dampier isn't exactly a beacon of health either, averaging 30 games a season since the lockout year. You got me on Ostertag though, maybe kidrock wants us to swing a deal for that doofus?
As long as Duncan and Shaq are in the West, we must have a true C. I know it's easier said than done, but to think that some people feel like Griffin or Mo would be able to be a C is asinine. They are both PFs with SF game. They play "undersized" as is at PF, they will be exposed at C, if they do play there. A center is generally more physical than a PF. I don't think height plays a role of being a C, as much as being physical. If anyone thinks that Mo or Griff can bang with centers, then pass me the pipe.
too bad not everyone can have a shaq or duncan so we better find another way to win a title, because im not waitin 10-12 years for TD to retire
I kind of agree. I think our goal should be similar to the Mavs to offset the monster in LA. If we can put guys out there whom can do the same thing things, then it makes the game easier. Griffin is our 4, no matter how many Taylor threads we have, he will be our 4 man of the present and future. I guess we're ok with Rice at the 3 since Morris can't really shoot that good although he plays a good floor game. Cato sux and we can't ven get Collier on the floor. Taylor comes back next yr, but thats an uknown. I don't think Griffin or Taylor can hold down the 5 for a extended amount of time. Who wants a 3 pt shooting center or a soft no rebounding one?
What leebigez said. Instead of building our team to beat SA or LA, why don't we make them ADJUST to us?
You mean like Sabonis? Yeah, what a sorry excuse for a center. Seriously, I agree with you that we need a guy in the middle who can play physical, effective man defense (if not starting, still relatively high in the rotation), but why is range such a bad thing? Obviously, I'd love it if he had a low-post game as well, but as long as someone on the team (Griff, Taylor, Rice, if not Steve or Cuttino) can get a high-percentage shot close to the basket, what difference does it make if his offensive game is away from the basket as long as it fits well within the offensive system and is effective? This is sort of what I'd like to see from Collier. If he can be a guy we can give it in the post and can score every so often (like Othella), fantastic. But I'd be thrilled nonetheless if all he ever did offensively was set picks for Steve and hit the open mid-range shot when he had it. I think we can agree that the important thing is we need him to play tough inside, and make the opposing center, no matter how talented, work for his shot and not get easy layups. That, rebound and keep up with the team up and down the floor. It would also help not to be too foul prone either.
Please explain how griffin = center in a few years. As far as I know, the guy has no post-up moves whatsoever, nor does he play with his back to the basket well. These are two requirements a center must have to be successful. It seems some of you feel height to be the only requirement. Or maybe it's lowered expectations since a true center is such an anomaly these days. Whatever it is I say play him in his natural position - small forward - don't try to make him something he's not - a center!
The Mavs have been starting Evan Eschmeyer, Dirk Nowitzki, and Shawn Bradley at Center, are these the hardnosed rebounding centers that you want? They all look soft to me... I personally want to see Eddie put some weight on and be a PF playing the center position like a Dirk or Wallace. I believe this would cause the Lakers to adjust to us, I don't know exactly what kidrock is wanting since he said he wants a prototypical center to beat teams like the Lakers, only to follow that up by saying he wants teams like the Lakers to adjust to us. So which do you want kidrock, a center that can adjust to shaq, or a center that makes shaq adjust to him? It sounds like you're talking out of 2 sides of your mouth to me...
kbm, are you able to watch the games? Whenever EG does get a post-up, he usually scores. He's developing post-up moves, he's only 19 years old, maybe in a couple years he might actually refine his skills and become a pretty good back to the basket player?
What's point bgm? I already told you I don't watch many of his games. The ones I have seen, the memphis game among others, he wasn't posting up much. So you could say that my comments aren't as informed as yours - that's fine. I accept that position, but answer me this bgm: would you say that griffin is a natural back to the basket player, or not?
