besides height?? Seems like they both do pretty much the same thing... Except that C's usually are taller and are better shot blockers... But on offense, aren't they pretty much interchangable? ------------------ Check out my homepage! Loads of sports pics! http://www.public.asu.edu/~sykim/
Nothing except the letter designation by the player's name. Centers, typically, are looked to more to clog the lane, block shots, etc. But there are many player in the league that can play either. Theo Ratliff, Antonio Davis, Kenyon Martin, Chris Gatling, and others have played mostly PF most of their careers, and not find themselves playing center for their teams. If you have the skillset, why not play some of both. But then there are others...Karl Malone being a notable, that don't really have the shot blocking ability and the 6'10" stature normally associated with being a center. I think the mold of a true center is gone. Sure, there will be true centers here and there, but for the most part, it is a dying breed. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Everyone associated with the Rockets regard Cato as a center, but when I see his name other places, he is listed as a forward/center. Why don't the Rockets ever put Dream and Cato on the floor together? ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
Yeah. Before we got Mo, i was for using Cato at PF as a kind of Twin Towers thing. ------------------ The next time I have meat and mashed potatoes, I think I'll put a very large blob of potatoes on my plate with just a little piece of meat. And if someone asks me why i didn't get more meat, ill just say, "Oh, you mean this?" and pull out a big piece of meat from inside the blob of potatoes, where ive hidden it. Good magic trick, huh?
How many games have both Hakeem AND Cato been healthy and ABLE to play together? ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
The C position is really changing. I used to think of it in this fashion...Centers like to play with thier back to the glass, and a PF likes to face it. A Center usualy squats on the box, and the PF floats around the key. The way this kid are developing, there really isn't that much difference. You still see the older veterans playing the "typical" roles. But the new guys tend to play mostly facing the hoop. ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
Nowitzki started at center last night for the mavs but on defense he matched up against Duncan and Howard matched up against Robinson. Holly Hell what a war Duncan and Nowitzki were having under the basket. Those guys had to be sore after the game. In any case it looks like the new breed of seven footer can sometimes play Sf PF or Center. See Nowitzki and Garnet. ------------------
Funny you should ask- Cato's awe-inspiring preseason of '99 happened with him starting at the 4 next to Hakeem. Barkley was injured and resting. Averaged five blocks a game, and never blocked fewer than three in a game. God, what a monster. If we could only have that back...
I think it all depends on a particular system. Walton was a C, but as heypartner and others pointed out, was more of a pivot man and played at the high post quite a bit. On the other hand, Barkley (during his PHX days) played almost exclusively on the block, a traditional characteristic of a C. And remember, Bird was LISTED as the Celtics' PF. And we all know what kind of game he had. The main differences I see are: 1. Size - Centers are supposed to be bigger/stronger than the PF. 2. Versatility - PFs are more versatile players and athletes. ------------------
Bird was the Celts small forward. McHale was the power forward and Robert Parish was the center. ------------------
Crash: McHale played PF, but he started on the BENCH. Best 6th man ever . ------------------ Why is it that everytime BC defeats a major conference opponent, that opponent promptly goes on a losing streak? PS. Notre Dame sucks
The traditional C seems to be a dying breed in the NBA. Outside of Shaq, Dikembe, & as of late Dream there don't seem to be many. I will preface this by saying that I think both Duncan & D-Rob both seem to be more PFs than Cs. Seems like alot of teams have discovered they can put 2 quality players on the court by playing 2 PFs rather than a traditional C and a PF. Same thing seems to be happening at the SF position as well, where some teams use an agile PF (like KG at times) or more than likely another SG (S. Anderson or D. Anderson for the spurs). I think the biggest problem is that there aren't many skilled big men out there who play the C position. Especially witht hte young guys there isn't alot of talent there, outside of Shaq who isn't young any more either.
Thanks for backing me up with that post, haven. Bird WAS for a time listed as their PF, but notice I write LISTED. In reality, crash, you're right, Bird was the SF. My point is, as Calvin likes to point out, don't get caught up in what position so-and-so plays, i.e. a G is a G first and foremost, a F is a F, etc. It's what a player bring to the table that's most important. ------------------
My thoughts on the difference is that a PF should be the stronger rebounder and the PF protects the center and lessens their load on defense and rebounding, even though that has changed somewhat in recent times. ------------------ Dream a deadly Dream. . .
McHale didn't start on the bench his entire career. For instance, in 1985-86 season, Bird and McHale started at the forward spots, and Walton won the 6th man award that year. McHale had won it the two years prior. Bird did play quite a bit of SF in his career. Actually, I loved it when he did, he had some great battles with the likes of English and especially Chuck Person! ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." [This message has been edited by HOOP-T (edited February 26, 2001).]
I don't really agree with that statement anymore. Sure, 5-10 years ago, centers were known to play a certain way. But now, players at every position are learning and playing a post up game, and facing up as well. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Hoop-T: I agree. I don't think Vlade Divac or Sabonis are anything but centers, but they play facing the basket quite a bit, and often shoot from the top of the key. I'd say the real difference is your relationship to the rest of your team. The C is almost always your tallest guy, who draws the assignment of guarding the other team's biggest guy. I would agree with Live, though, that positions aren't nearly as important as some believe. ------------------ Why is it that everytime BC defeats a major conference opponent, that opponent promptly goes on a losing streak? PS. Notre Dame sucks
True Haven.....Sabonis and Divac also have had the luxury of having played the European game, and LEARNING to shoot the ball from out there. But some of the American centers can shoot well from the perimeter too. If you look at how the center position has evolved, you see the progression of skills since the days of Wilt, Walton, Jabbar and Russell, the true centers. They played inside, physical, and were not known for any sort of jumper or finesse moves (I guess Wilt had that nice finger roll). Kareem did develop his sky hook, and his outside shot did eventually improve though, which makes me see him as the "transition" center. He sort of paved the way and made it OK for the big guys to have a reportoire offensively. Then you move to the next generation of centers, Hakeem, Admiral, Sabonis, and Divac. Still the true center mold (body-wise) but these guys added a skillset not common before. They were quicker, more agile, and had midrange jumpers or set shots......finished on the break, could pass the ball well, and some could even dribble a little. There will still be the old model center here and there (Shaq). Now you have guys like Antonio Davis, Ratliff, J. O'Neal etc. that are caught between PF and C, with skills somewhere between. That seems to be the standard now. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
