Counterpoint: Detroit Pistons 89-90. Also, note that the Lakers were Magic's team for at least the last couple of championships. And on the Celtics, Parish was an integral part but certainly Bird was certainly the catalyst. Really, I am not disputing height is important. What I am saying though, is that the notion of a top grade center dominating the paint being critical to a team's chances of winning a championship are over. It is something which is nice to have, but there are ways around it.
The point I made is that big men could win with scrub guards but guards needed to do it with at least above average big men. I mean a Jabbar or a Parish with half the leg was still better than the likes of Avery Johnson, Kenny Smith no? And you didn't my another pt: Lakers- Shaq Kings- Webber Spurs- Duncan
I don't know how much better John Salley is compared to Avery johnson. Or Luc Longley compared to Sam Cassell. It's a difficult argument to make.
Didn't I say EXCEPT the team of the arguably greatest player ever. And Rodman wasn't too bad. He might even be in the Hall one day. But no disrespect, the likes of Kenny Smith, Cassell and Johnson would never be.
Kenny was avg 17ppg when he first got here, cassell was amazing but had to split time with Kenny, don't forget about elie and clyde during our championship runs, This team had above average guards. Duncan and Robinson had Sean Elliot, Shaq has prolly the best player in the game today, and Kareem was a supporting play er to magic. Big men, Small men, doesn't matter, as long as they got game they can and should lead the team to victory.
I wouldn't exactly rank John Salley/ Bill Laimbeer/ James Edwards as above average big men either... Brand should not be ranked as one of the top 3 defensive men in their positions as mentioned way up there.. In fact, I think the clippers are terribly defensively and it starts at Elton Brand. He's short for his size as well as francis is short for a SG. On the maturity issue, I think it's normal that a person such as Francis would want to make an issue that he wanted to be a point guard and not a shooting guard. This is the rest of his life and he felt that he was more fit for a PG (whether that's true or not) Both players still has lots to learn, but I think that Francis seem to have more upsides as he's starting to force the issue less and learned to play more within the system.. anyways just my 2 cents
