It is most
certainly true that many of the dominating centers in the league are either
washed-up (Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson to name a
few), and that the league is dominated by the quick and the jumpy, but
I would argue that the NBA does not lack talented big men. What the league
is currently lacking is big players with big game.
Take for example
Keving Garnett, who last year played small forward while a guy named Wally
lit up the power forward position. Of course, Garnett was slated as the
4, but he played more like a guard. This of course, is particularly suprising
considering that Kevin McHale has been involved with the T-Wolves organization
for a few years now. If anyone could teach a young player post moves, it
would be the Celtics' "Black Hole." The fact of the matter is that Garnett,
at seven feet tall with leaping ability out the wazoo, should be able to
dominate scoring in the middle. With anything of a post game, he'd drop
at least 30 a night. Big man, little game.
Chris Webber.
Perhaps one of the most talented big men ever. Somewhat bulkier than his
counterparts Duncan, and Garnett, he truly has the strength to tear up
the middle like a bulldozer eating up concrete. Instead, he takes jumpers
and throws fancy passes. Webber too could lead the league in scoring, if
the 3 pointer was not the focus of the Kings offense. Big man, little game.
Tim Duncan
is perhaps the perfect center in the league right now. Yes, I know he plays
4, but on any other team (other than LA that is) he's the starting center.
Duncan has killer post game (that he's not afraid to use) combined with
a nice jumper. Big Game. He more than anyone currently in the league reminds
me of the dominant centers of old. His defense is also outstanding. In
this case, we have Big man, with Big game. And look for his game to get
even bigger this season with the loss of his supporting cast.
Then there's
Elton Brand. He's a little man with big game. Twenty and ten from a power
forward who's only 6'7''. Not bad. Given some coaching and some good teamates,
this guy could put up Barkley numbers at some point in his career.
What all this
comparative babbling is supposed to bring to light is the fact that the
NBA is full of big men, of all sizes. However, few of them play like big
men. The middle is a lost land, and it's navigation a lost art. Who in
the league has a hook-shot? Who uses the up-and-under? Maybe Calvin Booth
and Todd MacCullough do, but I'm not counting on it. For now I'll take
the occassional Ewing fade-away, or the rare Dream Shake. And until guys
like Garnett and Weber are taught what being a big man is, I'll be watching
ESPN Classic for any kind of real war in the paint.
