the best centers in the nba right now

[tpols]

Once again, the thread is about where the players are right now, not what your personal opinion is by the end of the season. You would have to be utterly insane not to give Varejao the nod at this stage of the season.

Varejao's "pathetic lack of blocks" is really going to be your sticking point?

Varejao gets over double the amount of rebounds per game as compared to Lopez, which is absolutely crucial for a big man. The disparity in scoring isn't nearly as large as the disparity in rebounding. Varejao leads the entire league in rebounding... Does that not count for much these days? I've always felt rebounding was a rather important aspect of the game, especially for a big man.

Varejao is a FAR superior rebounder, a far superior passer, a far superior individual man defender.

Lopez five more points on three more shots per game and he blocks shots better.

And, furthermore, Varejao embarrassed the guy head-to-head. Nothing more to see here.

Ok so..

Varejeo is clearly a better rebounder, man defender and passer

while Lopez is clearly a better scorer, primary or secondary offensive option(aka not a cleanup man), and rim protector

and Varejeo is clearly better? And Lopez does it on a competitive team while varejeo is stat stuffing on a lottery team. I think you're the one who needs his head checked.

Lopez is better by a fvcking country mile at the most important defensive category there is while Anderson is better at the less important man post defense(in a perimeter oriented league where there are few traditional post up guys). Anderson is much better at rebounding which gives him a small defensive edge when combined with his man D and put up against Brook's traditional rim defense. But then on offense you're comparing a glorified clean up man to the highest scoring and most offensively skilled center in the league. Brook is actually an OPTION on offense. He isn't just feasting off the normal flow of the game. He has the ability to get the ball in an iso and do something with it. He can dictate momentum in a game. Varejeo is Kris Humphries with a little more skill and flair. This comparison is a joke.

[ChuckOakley]

Once again, the thread is about where the players are right now, not what your personal opinion is by the end of the season. You would have to be utterly insane not to give Varejao the nod at this stage of the season.

Varejao's "pathetic lack of blocks" is really going to be your sticking point?

Varejao gets over double the amount of rebounds per game as compared to Lopez, which is absolutely crucial for a big man. The disparity in scoring isn't nearly as large as the disparity in rebounding. Varejao leads the entire league in rebounding... Does that not count for much these days? I've always felt rebounding was a rather important aspect of the game, especially for a big man.

Varejao is a FAR superior rebounder, a far superior passer, a far superior individual man defender.

Lopez five more points on three more shots per game and he blocks shots better.

And, furthermore, Varejao embarrassed the guy head-to-head. Nothing more to see here.

He embarrassed him? Then why couldn't he defend Lopez?
Meanwhile which front line...
Had more points
More rebounds
More blocks
Scored much much more efficiently
Won the game
?

And if you watched the game intently, Lopez wasn't matched up with Varejo in 1-1 often, when they were Lopez did fine. The biggest problem for the Nets all season (and last season) has been Derons defense which makes the bigs vulnerable. Irving owned Deron that night and his penetration and dish offs to varejao are what got AV 80% of his points.

Right now Lopez is the best scoring center, one of the best shotblocking centers and he is by far and away the MVP of the Nets...best in the league...no that's Dwight, but depending on your team, theirs needs and their PF lopez could be the 2nd most desirable for some teams.

[tpols]

He embarrassed him? Then why couldn't he defend Lopez?
Meanwhile which front line...
Had more points
More rebounds
More blocks
Scored much much more efficiently
Won the game
?

And if you watched the game intently, Lopez wasn't matched up with Varejo in 1-1 often, when they were Lopez did fine. The biggest problem for the Nets all season (and last season) has been Derons defense which makes the bigs vulnerable. Irving owned Deron that night and his penetration and dish offs to varejao are what got AV 80% of his points.

Right now Lopez is the best scoring center, one of the best shotblocking centers and he is by far and away the MVP of the Nets...best in the league...no that's Dwight, but depending on your team, theirs needs and their PF lopez could be the 2nd most desirable for some teams.

EXACTLY.

Cant believe Im arguing with someone who doesnt even watch the games hes using as evidence.

[Papaya Petee]

1.) Gortat

2.) the rest

[RedBlackAttack]

He embarrassed him? Then why couldn't he defend Lopez?
Meanwhile which front line...
Had more points
More rebounds
More blocks
Scored much much more efficiently
Won the game
?

And if you watched the game intently, Lopez wasn't matched up with Varejo in 1-1 often, when they were Lopez did fine. The biggest problem for the Nets all season (and last season) has been Derons defense which makes the bigs vulnerable. Irving owned Deron that night and his penetration and dish offs to varejao are what got AV 80% of his points.

Right now Lopez is the best scoring center, one of the best shotblocking centers and he is by far and away the MVP of the Nets...best in the league...no that's Dwight, but depending on your team, theirs needs and their PF lopez could be the 2nd most desirable for some teams.

Wait, so you are arguing that perimeter defense contributes to Lopez's defensive problems? If that's the case, what about Varejao who has Kyrie Irving attempting to defend the point (awful defender) and a rookie defending the 2? There is essentially a path to the line all night, every night for the Cavs and it is Varejao and Thompson, primarily, who have to clean up the mess.

Also, I would agree that Irving and Varejao's two-man game are what has helped make Andy an offensive weapon this year, but he also deserves credit for making the tandem work so well. He plays the high pick and roll very well and they have a wonderful feel for one another's game. You couldn't just stick any big in the league out there and he is going to produce the way Varejao has. He has incredibly soft hands around the basket, is a good finisher, and has even added that little 15-18 foot jumper to his game.... Plus, he's a very good passer for a big man and he cleans up misses like no one else in the league.

Btw, I did watch that game closely and Varejao couldn't miss that night and a lot of his points came from offensive rebounds and put-backs... Which is no surprise considering he is the best offensive rebounder in the NBA and extraordinarily good at put-backs. He had 11 offensive rebounds that night.

Yes, Kyrie set him up several times, which is because they work extremely well together offensviely... A credit to both players. I would also note that the vast majority of Lopez's points came from inside the paint that night, as well, which I'm sure had nothing to do with a bad defensive backcourt for the Cavs.


Look, I showed Varejao's pretty amazing statlines this season above. You have to try really hard not to be impressed.

That includes the last two games, during which time Kyrie has been injured.

vs. Philadelphia - 10 points, 19 rebounds, 2 assists
@ Orlando - 19 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists

Clearly, this isn't just a case of Irving making Varejao a very good player... He's just very good.

[Lord Leoshes]

1A. Howard
1B. Bosh
1C. Duncan

[arifgokcen]

based on recent play:


1. Duncan
2. bosh

+1

[Bigsmoke]

Are people really thinking Varejao is better than Brook Lopez?

[ncrizzle]

Marc Gasol is averaging all of 7 boards a game and you claimed he was the best.

Gasol is teamed up with the best rebounder in league in ZBO (14boards a game). Of course his boards are going to suffer a bit, but he doesnt fight zbo for rbds because he knows zbo is going to get them. Last night he led all players in assists with 8. Gasol plays team ball. He does what it takes to win

[Bigsmoke]

Gasol is teamed up with the best rebounder in league in ZBO (14boards a game). Of course his boards are going to suffer a bit, but he doesnt fight zbo for rbds because he knows zbo is going to get them. Last night he led all players in assists with 8. Gasol plays team ball. He does what it takes to win

true

Gasol would average 10 rebounds a night of Z-Bo was hurt or something

[Heavincent]

Tim Duncan has arguably been the best big man this season. A top 10 player overall too.

[rmt]

Duncan is playing very well this season:

18.5 points / 10.9 rebs / 2.4 assts / 0.9 steals / 2.3 blks 51.7% FG 74.6 % FT in 30.7 minutes.

[disel]

Duncan is an ever green bastard

[Cali Syndicate]

Duncan is playing very well this season:

18.5 points / 10.9 rebs / 2.4 assts / 0.9 steals / 2.3 blks 51.7% FG 74.6 % FT in 30.7 minutes.

He plays well every season. Dude is seriously the epitome of consistency.

[LongLiveTheKing]

Chris Boshasaurus is playing like one of the best.
20 ppg/8.2 rpg/1.4 apg/1.3 bpg/.8 spg/56% FG/ 33.5 mpg