Whats your take on this thread?

[Baseline Runner]

Here is a long argument in the general board feel free to contribute in that thread.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=965546


My argument is that to be a title contending team you need big men who play in the post. No team has ever won a title in the last few decades with big men like Rashard Lewis, Andrea Barginiani or Channing Frye starting at the PF or C spots. I even stated that I'd take Varejao over Rashard Lewis for the Cavaliers because we'd be one of the worst rebounding and defensive teams in the league if we replaced Varejao with Lewis. That move would be lateral at best and wouldn't make us any closer to winning the chip while others thought it'd guarantee us the title.

[DBrimstone]

Here is a long argument in the general board feel free to contribute in that thread.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=965546


My argument is that to be a title contending team you need big men who play in the post. No team has ever won a title in the last few decades with big men like Rashard Lewis, Andrea Barginiani or Channing Frye starting at the PF or C spots. I even stated that I'd take Varejao over Rashard Lewis for the Cavaliers because we'd be one of the worst rebounding and defensive teams in the league if we replaced Varejao with Lewis. That move would be lateral at best and wouldn't make us any closer to winning the chip while others thought it'd guarantee us the title.

I came up with this same theory like a week ago

Andrew Bynum/Gasol
KG
Rasheed Wallace + Ben Wallace
Tim Duncan
Sorta young Shaq (Miami)
The other younger Shaq (Lakers)
The other other even younger Shaq (Orlando)
David Robinson
Hakeem Olajuwon or however the friek you spell his name
Patrick Ewing
Scotty Pippen
Kareem Abdul-Jabar
Wilt Chamberlain

[JonFromVA]

At least in recent years (since the decline of the big man in the league), you could say that list of champion bigs is more defined by their ability to defend the paint then by their ability to score in it.

Going inside is a great option, but defenses will always favor packing the paint and taking their chances on the jump shots; and since bigs can't pass the balls to themselves all the great teams have terrific perimeter players as well.

Andy is a better fit for us because he completes our defense, but Orlando already has Howard and that lets them get away with playing Lewis at PF.

[prekazi]

Most important thing in the modern basketball is spacing. Without shooting bigs you cannot space the floor well therefore it's totally wrong to argue that "shooting bigs are useless". It's the oppostie: Shooting bigs are vital.

[eyejayem]

I definately understand the point. Shooting bigs are not as vital as Bigs with a post prescence. If you look at every championship just over the last 20 to 30 years the only championship that didnt have a big post prescence was the Chicago Bulls.... and they had the best player ever. But I have a theory on this.

There are two things you demand from this post prescence , High percentage shooting and rebounding. Bulls had Michael Jordan who was one of the only guards whose FG% was that of a post player(normally higher than 50%FG) and Dennis Rodman who was the best rebounder in the league for someone who was 6'9" and normally led the league in rebounding.

But as we see the league is changing. The Bulls and players like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan should have shown us. It is going to be more about versatility and athleticism. When you have guys like Jordan, Magic, Kobe, Lebron, Vince Carter, Dwayne Wade, and even TMac. These guys are or were guys who score, rebound more than 5 boards from the wing, give assists and get steals like a PG, Blks shots at a high rate. If you want to go even deeper they are starting to shot better. Lebron is taking more outside shots but his FG% is closer or over 50% in what you would expect from your big.

I think we will see a transition where more hybrid forwards will play the 4 and maybe one natural big in the lineup. Something like Philly and Atlanta or Orlando. There will still be a place for natural bigs. But I think we wil start to see more championships with these different lineups. And less big man oriented.