Ferry Avenue wrote:GutUNC wrote:Ferry Avenue wrote:If the game were won with traditional centers like Embiid, don’t you think there would be more of them?
When Michael Jordan stormed through the league with a dynasty with the Chicago Bulls, it wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for the development of centers at the high school and college levels.
Similarly Patrick Mahomes isn’t inspiring anything up-and-coming at the running back position in football.
Yeah, I see a whole bunch of freakishly athletic 7-foot guys roaming the streets. They just get routed to things other then basketball. My financial planner...7-foot-3 and runs a 4.35, just couldn't say no to Merrill Lynch.
Jesus Tapdancing Christ dude....there's a reason the NBAs best centers are Jokic, Embiid......GIGANTIC DROPOFF......next guy. They're one (or two) of a kind and any team would kill to have one. They're not automatic tickets to championships but they're insanely valuable pieces.
The game used to be organized around the paint and it no longer is -- it's organized around the perimeter and the three-point shot. This is common knowledge and it fundamentally alters the role of the center in the present day game. Consequently the tall kids running around in middle school and high school gyms are practicing three-pointers, not post-up moves. And the tall players in the NBA are doing the same thing.
If the referees do not allow physicality, the game opens up and scoring becomes easier for everyone. Perimeter players, in particular, can score more efficiently because their speed often leaves defenders out of position, leading to more free throws. Additionally, smaller players are naturally better shooters, benefiting further from a less physical game.
Conversely, when referees permit physicality, scoring becomes more difficult for everyone. The best way to score under these conditions is by getting into the paint through post-ups. In this scenario, having size becomes crucial, as it is often the only way to get a shot off in that congested area.
I believe a balance of both is necessary due to shooting variance and the fact that referees officiate games differently from the start of the regular season to Game 7 of the finals, and from the first second of the game to the last. This variability in officiating highlights the importance of adapting to different levels of physicality and maintaining versatility in both offensive and defensive strategies.
The Celtics have a balanced approach, combining strong three-point shooting with the ability to exploit weak defenders. Players like Doncic and Kyrie can be targeted defensively, and smaller defenders are vulnerable to Porzingis' post-up game. This dual-threat strategy makes the Celtics a versatile and formidable team on offense.
