Has there ever been a championship team with a perimeter 5?

[Kabookalu]

Rik Smits was quite perimeter oriented; but he had some mean PFs backing him up who were more than willing to do the dirty work.

IIRC Smits also had a pretty good post game too. They even went to him in the post sometimes in the clutch.

[The_Hater]

The '98 Pacers were closer than most people remember. They took the Bulls to a game 7 in the ECF, which was no mean feat.

Rik Smits was quite perimeter oriented; but he had some mean PFs backing him up who were more than willing to do the dirty work.

Also, the Trail-Blazers came extremely close in 2001 with Sabonis, who spent most of his time behind the three-point line. But Sabonis was a tough guy despite his three-point shooting ways. He was basically (at that point of his career) a considerably larger version of Rasho with the ability to pass very well, and hit the three.

One interesting similiarity is that both of those guys were giants even by NBA standards.

Smits defintely had a solid post game along with his range and he was a solid interior defender too. I think that his offensive aresenal was more like that of Ilgauskas as I remember that Indiana used to spend the early portion of most games getting Smits touches in the post. But he wasn't that great of a rebounder which is why Indy had Dale and Antonio around to help clean up the glass.

[pierrot]

IIRC Smits also had a pretty good post game too. They even went to him in the post sometimes in the clutch.

That's very true. But he was largely regarded as a perimeter player. And he was never a good rebounder, despite his tremendous size. He got about 6-7 boards a game.

Sabonis also had a very nice post game, but it was limited by his various leg ailments. The Blazers liked to go to him down low as well, sometimes.

I wouldn't compare Bargnani with either of these guys. But I would call them perimeter-oriented centers who almost won a championship, evem if they had a lot more to their games than just a jumpshot.

Edit:

Smits defintely had a solid post game along with his range and he was a solid interior defender too.

Maybe it's unfair to pigeonhole Smits as a perimeter guy, but I certainly wouldn't be the first person to do it. I would say that most of their offensive sets had him about 17 feet out from the basket, but it would be unfair to underrate the importance of his post game.

Maybe the problem is that attempting to divide NBA centers into "perimeter guys" and "non-perimeter guys" is silly.

[REM]

It's really a darn shame we didn't see Sabonis in his prime due to the contract issues. Even in his mid-late 30's he was an absolute joy to watch.

[pierrot]

It's really a darn shame we didn't see Sabonis in his prime due to the contract issues. Even in his mid-late 30's he was an absolute joy to watch.

I second that. He was one of the few guys with the height and mass to bother Shaq, and yet he had a lot of skill. He was a very intelligent post player as well, which is why I compare him to Rasho ... I see a lot of similarities in their ability to use size and positioning to off-set their lack of mobility.

I like your avatar, by the way. I think it would be fun to dress up as Batman and run down the street carrying a giant cartoon-style bomb overhead.

[UTMCretin]

No. That's why it'll be so innovative when we do win.

[Voodoochile]

Toronto has no perimeter-oriented center.
Toronto got a power forward who's forced to play center.

[Voodoochile]

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I second that. He was one of the few guys with the height and mass to bother Shaq, and yet he had a lot of skill. He was a very intelligent post player as well, which is why I compare him to Rasho

it's like you compare MJ to Anthony Parker.
Rasho is a good player, but the Prince of the Baltic was a legend.

[Harry Palmer]

-= original quote snipped =-



I second that. He was one of the few guys with the height and mass to bother Shaq, and yet he had a lot of skill. He was a very intelligent post player as well, which is why I compare him to Rasho ... I see a lot of similarities in their ability to use size and positioning to off-set their lack of mobility.

I like your avatar, by the way. I think it would be fun to dress up as Batman and run down the street carrying a giant cartoon-style bomb overhead.

Lack of mobility, in the later Sabonis, the post knees Sabonis, right? Because apparently before the injuries, mobility was one of hi chief assets.

[torsport]

Rik Smits was quite perimeter oriented; but he had some mean PFs backing him up who were more than willing to do the dirty work.

Rik Smits career makes and attempts at 3 point land: 3-26

[torsport]

although Sheed did split time at C and PF with Big Ben during their run

I'd say Big Ben was the C when they won their championship. Sheed played the 4, both on O and D.

Sheed never guarded the opposing Centre during that run...or did as much as any PF on a switch.

[gcsw]

Rasheed?

There's a big difference with Rasheed and Bustnani. First, when they won the championship, Ben Wallace was the 5 and he was the best interior defender in the league. Second, shooting 3s is not his main weapon. His low post game is much better than Bargs who is strictly a 3pt shooter. Third, Rasheed is an above average defender whereas Bargs is below average. Fourth, Rasheed is 10x better than Bargs at rebounding.

[torsport]

Seattle in the late 70's with Jack Sikma. He had 3-point range. Thing is, Sikma could rebound and score on the block too.

Sikma didn't make a 3 until after the 80 season, but he certainly started to hoist them up when he went to Milwakee.
http://www.databasebasketball.com/playe ... =SikmaJa01

Bill Laimbeer is a good comparion though (on offense) he certainly hoisted up the rock from behind the arc...even in the Piston glory days.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... bbi01.html

Maybe Bargs should model his game after Bill...at least it gives me some hope.

Thanks Hater.