The point that he plays defense against teams without a big center is the point of this article. I have been very impressed with his perimeter defense and outside shooting. If he can effectively guard the perimeter be it a SF or PF with a solid defensive big behind him he could turn out to be a really good cog in a competing team. By the way, they will never get 2 or 3 picks for him. 1 at best.
Wood as Small Forward? Ahhhhh no according to 82games.com Wood has logged in: 0% of Rockets minutes at SF 27% of Rockets minutes at PF and 37% of Rockets minutes at Center Player 48-minute Production by Position Wood at: PF 12.4 PER C 26.3 PER Opponent Counterpart 48-minute Production PF 20.2 PER C 19.4 PER _________________ Chances are Wood production at SF would decrease while counterpart SF would be worse.
Not that this is 100% accurate, but 82games.com has Mobley playing basically no SF as an fyi. http://www.82games.com/2122/21CLE15.HTM It's principally PF, with some C mixed in. I've been hoping for a legit SF for what seems like forever. Chandler Parsons was sadly the closest we've got to it since probably Pippen's one disaster year. CWood isn't it. Dude struggled playing PF.
True, basketball-reference.com has C Wood playing 100% at Center https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/woodch01.html#pbp Scroll down to "Play-by-Play" category
And even with all those limitations he's still young, multiple All Star, All Defense, top DPOY candidate year in year out, top 10 in his position group. Rockets only wish they had a player as accomplished on this current roster. Ben Simmons is head and shoulders above (talent wise as well as height) than any player on the Rockets right now and likely in the future too. Dismiss him all we like but if any of the rooks can accomplish even half of what he has they would be lauded from here to eternity. But I'm tired of litigating these facts.
He's simply not quick enough and doesn't have good enough handles to be a 3. He might be good on the perimeter D front, but he's a mismatch the wrong way offensively. Easy pickings for any strong on-ball defender as a wing. He might not be much of a post player, but he's a better mismatch at the 5 against anybody who isn't an elite rim protector/powerhouse big man. His agility is too much for many bigs to handle, but it's not at the level of the average small forward at all.
I feel that all these position stats mean very little. The NBA is clearly shifting toward a positionless game. The only position that still has meaning is the 1. The fact that there are point guards, point forwards, and even point centers shows that the "guard-forward-center" nomenclature is getting obsolete. The way Wood plays would not be recognized as "center" 30 years ago. Not to mention the prevalence of switching defense renders many traditional "big men" dinosaurs. If a guy can't play at least decent defense in the perimeter, he is a liability on defense. And if he can't shoot from outside, he is a spacing problem on offense. What needs to be shown is how different styles of players fit well together as a team. I don't like Wood and don't want to keep him. But let's not make him like a stinking piece of garbage that needs to be thrown out no matter what. He is a skilled but flawed player--kind of, you know, like most players. I hope that can get something valuable trading him before the deadline. But if they can't find a good deal and decide to keep him, I won't be crying and hope the team can find some way to maximized his strengths and minimize his weaknesses--just like, you know, any other player. I don't know if the OP's idea would work. But at least it's something worth exploring. BTW, I see that some people are projecting how Wood and Sengun might fit with Chet or whoever we dream of getting. That might be some interesting fans discussions. But it ultimately has no bearing on what should be done with Wood NOW. We don't even know which player we will get in the next draft.
Nice try but most people just don't think outside the box. I think it's an idea I could definitely see working, paring him with a mobile big who can block shots and man the paint. I bet if you would have said put Sengun at SF, even though he can't guard on the perimeter, you would've gotten less push back.
I would agree with you in terms of offensive perspective. But when it comes to the rule of thumb: you are labeled by position by who you guard. Many here on CF's got all hot and bothered and insist Sengun be labeled PF. Yes if we look at him from an offensive perspective. Point Forward or Point Center....but who are they guarding before the switch defensively? I want Sengun guarding Opposing Centers predominantly because he lacks foot speed. Because Sengun switches on to a point guard does not make Sengun a point guard. Jalen Green switches on to centers defensively.....Jalen Green is not a Center. So I do like how 82games.com indicates Counterpart production Time they are matched up vs their villainous counterpart. Here on CF's I've noticed offense gets the nod over defense. Sometimes the game as seen only from the offensive perspective. It's po tay toe - paw tah tow stuff As an old fashion conventionalist I could say, "we need two PF's and two Centers" New wave position-less basketball people will say, "we need 4 bigs." Same crap different cow.
I would agree with you a few years ago, that positions is about defense not offense. Not anymore. Here's why. 1. As I said, the switching defense, like the 3pt shot, is the new normal now. A guy has to be able to guard outside at least decently or he will be attacked again and again with the mismatch switch. 2. If the offense is becoming positionless, what is the meaning of guarding a "center" or "forward"? Now position in defense only has meaning in zone, which is rarely used. One on one defense is about matching size and speed. But because of the constant switching, you have to be versatile enough to stay on the floor.
Player will get attacked again and again. Yes. But a Big attacking Jalen Green or CP3 in the post again and again doesn't make Green or CP3 a "Big"and it certainly doesn't make Embiid or Jokic a guard. It's about where they defend to START the SET....before the switch
I said this last week ..... Wood is not a big man, he's a wing, at least on the defensive end of the court. He's a competent outside defender on guards and wings - as a rim protector, he's unwilling and inept. Yes, with the right big man you can play Wood at the 3 spot & Tate at the 4 but that big man has to be a very good shooter from 3 and a good rim defender.
Here's a real example. When Wood and Sengun are both on the floor, who is the center and who is the forward? Is the guy who starts out guarding Wood a center or a forward? And why does it matter what you call them anyway?
No, I don't think so, OP. I appreciate the unique thread idea, though, and your enthusiasm for the guy. Me? I'll cheer if Stone deals Woody. I have to add that I continue to be mystified by the fact that Mr. Wood has yet to learn how to set a pick. That's something he should know how to do regardless of the position he plays.
I just don't like that Augustine sets better picks than Wood. It would open things up more for the ball handler.
Yes,. Not too long ago Wood was criticized for not guarding the center. I believe Sengun played but also had a hard time guarding the Center. (The message board crucified Wood). Tate had to move over and guard the Center. I'm guessing it was KAT. In that instance I would call Tate the Center. No, it doesn't matter in this day and age of everyone getting participation trophies. Why does it bother me that a player is called a position-less spot? Why does it bother people that I call a player PF or Center or 4 or 5? I can turn the table on that debate as well I guess we are leading to just everyone being called "basketball player" Or "hey you"
I really don't know if he could play sf or not. I'd really just rather trade him and let someone else figure it out.
I’m not really enthusiastic about Wood. I would trade him for a top 15 in a second. I was just trying to start a conversation about how he could be used if don’t get reasonable trade offers. His lack of ability to set a pick is one of my major concerns.
