The return of an endangered species…the center and teams of tomorrow

After yesterdays draft I started thinking that we might be seeing the rebirth of the center position in this league. Sure it will never be quite the same as it was in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s when we had great centers like Kareem, Moses, Big E, Dream, Ewing and Robinson. Shaq may be the last of the pure low post Centers but I think things are finally starting to look up for the Center position in the NBA.

Starting with the Chicago Bulls which have what might be the closest thing to a low post back em down type center this side of Shaq in Eddie Curry. Our very own Rockets draft what looks to me like the next coming of Kareem in Yao Ming. After watching his videos he looks like he can come in and make an impact right away. The Denver Nuggets then draft Nene Halario and he looks like a player cut out of the Hakeem Olajuwon mold. Throw in the Clippers if they resign Kandi and Pheonix too if the decide to play Stoudemire at the 5.

Some of those centers, specifically Nene and Amare, are still probably a year or so away from making a real impact. While players like Yao and Curry may not have their breakout years this year I still expect both to make a significant impact this year.

Speaking of Yao and Curry I also believe that both of their teams are now equipped to make a serious run at the play-offs. As far as talent I think that these two teams (along with the Clippers) are the most complete in the league next to the Lakers and the Kings. All they need now is experience and time to grow.

The Rockets starting five (at some point):
C – Yao Ming
F – Eddie Griffin
F – Bostjan Nachbar
G – Cuttino Mobley
G – Steve Francis

The Rockets have a very complete team of talented players at each position. Steve, Eddie and Yao are all picked to be superstars on some level. All three have all been described as special. This years 20 year old version of Eddie Griffin should be bigger, stronger and ready to make more of an impact then last years 19 year old rookie version. Of course all three still need experience and still needs to grow but of course that will come. Cuttino Mobley is an all star caliber guard, period and Bostjan Nachbar has been compared to Peja with major hops. We now have all five positions covered by all star potential or better. Teams have got to be looking at the Rockets and just shaking their heads. If this team develops it could be the most talented team the Rockets have ever had top to bottom. A bench that includes Cato, Maurice Taylor, Kenny Thomas, Terrence Morris, Titto Mattox and Moochie Norris should be a lot better than last year’s bench. It will be hard for any rookie to make this team in the next few years.

The Chicago Bulls starting five:
C – Eddie Curry
F – Marcus Fizer
F – Tyson Chandler
G – Jalen Rose
G – Jay Williams

The Bulls are another team that looks like they are stacked with all star potential players at almost every position (the one exception would be Marcus Fizer). Jay Williams, Tyson Chandler and Eddie Curry are all suppose to be very special players and Jalen Rose is an all star that showed his value to the team last year. Curry and Chandler should be ready to make more of an impact this year and Jay Williams should step in and challenge for rookie of the year to go along with Rose in the backcourt. The Bulls may be a year or two away from contending but for the Eastern Conference Championship but they should be serious contenders for a play off spot this year.

The most successful teams in the NBA the last several years have been teams with a dominating front court and those teams have been limited to LAL, San Antonio and Sac. This year we can add the Bulls and the Rockets to that list as having a very real potentially dominating front court. The Mavs still lack a real Center. The Nets still lack a real center or power forward. Only the Nuggets (that is still a least a year or two away) and the Clippers (if they resign Kandi) have a front court that is dominating at all three positions.

I think in a couple of years the Rockets and the Bulls could rekindle the kind rivalry that LAL and Boston had back in the 80’s. I think basketball is about to get real fun again and Stevie Franchise will be thrilled to be apart of it.

 

I think the Center position has just been going through a change. The Centers of the 70's, 80's and 90's were different than the George Mikan type centers of the earlier decades. Now the Centers have got to learn to mix it up in the paint but they have also turned into athletes that can step away from the paint and handle the ball. We are finally seeing some centers that could dominate again. IMO.

 

hardeji,
You missed my point. How many teams do you see where the center is the best player on the team?

1. Shaq

We are finally seeing the center position produce some players that may turn out to be very dominant players on their teams if not the best players.

Currently the majority of centers in the league are considered very good if they can get 9 baords, play a little defense and score on the occasional put back. This new group of centers entering the league will raise the bar considerably.

 

NIKEstrad,
Yeah I think the Rockets / Bulls games are gonna be real fun and a great matchup for years.

Halario, Camby and Skita should be pretty good too if Denver can just get a back court to groom with them.

Right now I would have to say that the Rockets, Bulls and Clippers (if they resign Kandi and manage to get Miller) are the top up and coming teams.

Rockets IMO are the most complete of the three since we are basically set at all five positions. LAC is still trying to get a point guard and the Bulls need either a SF or SG depending on how they want to use Rose.