Whether it's the NBA or College, why have Centers been down played?

[Exit117]

I know there are only so many 6'10"- 7'+ players in the world, but it seemed in the NBA and college game I grew up with in the 60's-70's, and part of the 80's, the game revolved around the center. Even players considered small back then excelled at center. Players like Wes Unseld at 6'7" , and Dave Cowens,dominate centers in my day, would be playing the 4, or maybe the 3 today. I won't even touch on Wilt, Kareem or Russell. When schools, or NBA players come in at that size, the offense never seems to go through them,why? My guess is with so much training at the AAU level, these kids just don't get to play the game of feeding it inside first. It's all about swing it around the perimeter, and reverse the ball.I was at the Nets, Pelicans game last night at the Barclays, and with three 7' players and two 6'10" players,one being Anthony Davis, the Pelicans were still guard first offense, but they did work the ball inside more than I've seen from anybody this season.

 

[MadRU]

3 point shot has something to do with it.

 

[higgins3]

3 pt shooting, in general the quickness of the game has changed, players have gotten more versatile and centers have added new facets to their game. In general, a lot is based around guard play.Fast, good shooters.

I am old school. I still like a center on the floor.

 

[LSRF]

I agree it's due to the 3 pt shot, it is too easy right now. It is fairly low risk/reward, move it out to make it a more difficult shot, the game will change.

I have heard that HS basketball is considering (or maybe decided) to move the 3 pt line to the college distance. That will be a good first step.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

shot clock and AAU basketball.

Don't ask why..I had Francessa while i ran an errand at lunch (and then quickly turned it off). He was so wrong in his analysis about the college game not being attractive. He blamed kids going to pros after 1 year. That only explains a small percentage of games.

watching the Ridge-Linden game you can see how basketball can be so beautiful. No shot clock gives teams the ability to move the ball attempting to the get the ball inside and get the best shot possible. The shot clock was Linden contesting every pass making each second used attempting to get a good look the possibility of a turnover.

 

[Knight_Light]

Originally posted by higgins3:
3 pt shooting, in general the quickness of the game has changed, players have gotten more versatile and centers have added new facets to their game. In general, a lot is based around guard play.Fast, good shooters.

I am old school. I still like a center on the floor.
Thats why I think is the biggest change...as former big centers were something slow a foot...and they are no match for fast quick guards/wings, let alone some fast 4's (i.e. like Durant type tall quick players).

With NCAA testing 30 sec shot clock in NIT this month..making the game faster makes it even harder for normal old 5's (tall, big, not nearly as quick or fast).

I think you can still win with a dominating center...but that center has to be in very good shape to be effective (i.e. 26-30 plus min player)

This post was edited on 3/11 12:57 PM by Knight_Light

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

i HATE reducing shot clock!

Do we want the game to be more similar to the NBA? Pick and rolls replacing ball movement?

Makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[Seton75]

I think kids are told if they want to go the furthest, they need to take their game away from the basket. It is no unusual to see a talented 6'5 kid in college with no post game whatsoever.

 

[Knight_Light]

Originally posted by Greene Rice FIG:
i HATE reducing shot clock!

Do we want the game to be more similar to the NBA? Pick and rolls replacing ball movement?

Makes me sick to my stomach.

Dribble/drive (usually off high post picks) is becoming much more of the norm in college hoops today (influenced greatly by AAU Ball).

I do like that college basketball and especially college football is different than the pro game...and hope that's always the case...but moving shot clock to 30 secs might still be a good thing for the college game.

 

[higgins3]

Knight light, you would think Russel Westbrook was a running back with how quick he can go from one side of the floor to the other. A center might be able to block a shot when half court plays are going, but in transition they will get beat 75% of the time. Guard play is just way too fast. Can't stop that.

I like a center like Diallo who seems to be more athletic. Hopefully hell be able to help us out.Him and Lewis. I think we have some inter changable parts, but who knows what EJ will do.

 

[higgins3]

Grf, what guys can you tolerate to listen to on the radio these days? Francesa is somewhat arrogant in my opinion. Also, knows very little about basketball it seems sometimes. College hoops is more exciting than NBA for me. You still get some fundamentals. NBA stands for Nothing But Athletes a lot of games.

I've been having a lot of fun watching BYU recently. Just some good play on that squad.

 

[knight82]

A three point basket is one more point better than a two point basket. Two three point baskets are two points better than two two-point baskets. See where I'm going with this?

 

[Caliknight]

European influence. They were the first to have their bigs playing on the wings. Guys like Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol can shoot and were used outside of the paint. Soon everyone wanted to play that way.

 

[CollegeAve]

they are too slow, especially with shot clock and they can't hit free throws.

 

[rutger80]

It's definitely the 3 point shot.
In the old (pre 3 pointer) days, the game was played inside out. It was all about getting it down low where your big man would hopefully have the advantage. Think Wilt, Kareem, Walton, Lanier.

Now with the 3 point shot, it's to the team's advantage to have more shooters, because, as it's been pointed out above 3 > 2.
So, it became a priority to find big men who could shoot the 3 or take defenders away from the basket, with the threat of a 3.

 

[Knight_Light]

Originally posted by rutger80:
It's definitely the 3 point shot.
In the old (pre 3 pointer) days, the game was played inside out. It was all about getting it down low where your big man would hopefully have the advantage. Think Wilt, Kareem, Walton, Lanier.

Now with the 3 point shot, it's to the team's advantage to have more shooters, because, as it's been pointed out above 3 > 2.
So, it became a priority to find big men who could shoot the 3 or take defenders away from the basket, with the threat of a 3.

I would say inside out game helps 3 or shooting because if u can threaten offensive penetration inside (dribble or pass), that will only help 3 pt percentage/scoring.