Top 10 Centers

[Charsace]

I don't think he's a center any more than I think David Lee is a center. Just a guy playing out of position.

You understand that players have a natural position, then can play outside of that natural position, right?

Amare is a PF through and through. You can start him at PG, that doesn't mean he's a PG. Not for our purposes.

I know his natural position is the 4. The thing is he has played most of his career at the 5 and has had great success. I think its a flimsy argument that he can't be ranked at the 5 because it isn't is natural position, but his career shows that he should be ranked.

[Trader_Joe]

Thats the truth, he runs back on offense while the ball is still at the rim all the time.
Thats not poor rebounder, thats laziness

It's also Avery's fault since he asked him to run back on offense faster and he's has been playing him away from the basket, both of which he admitted were mistakes.

[jazzfan1971]

I just looked it like who would I trade Al Jefferson for. All the folks above him I would either immediately say yes, or at least think hard about it.

The folks right below are obviously close, I'd have to think about them as well, but, I think I'd lean towards no.

Would I trade Jefferson for Noah? Yup. For Lopez? No, I don't think so. It'd be close, but, I prefer Jefferson.

[Trader_Joe]

Noah averages more assists and less turnovers....

Look, I think Brook has a sweet jump shot. I just don't think his game is a center's game.

He doesn't have a sweet jump shot.. he expanded his range as Avery pulled him away from the baskeyt, but he did much better the latter part of the season when he was playing much closer to the basket and Deron was getting him the down low. Brook is MUCH better in the low post than the high post. Not only does he shoot much higher percentages and get to the line more, we don't have to worry about him putting the ball on the floor.

[Trader_Joe]

He can't rebound...that easily keeps him out of the top 5, probably out of the top 8.

And yet he was #10 his rookie year among qualified C's (8.1).
He was also #10 his 2nd year. (8.6)

I'm not sure why 1 season should define a 3rd year player who just turned 23.

[Duffman100]

Most of the people that have an negative opinion on lopez haven't seen him play more than 2 games.
The rebounding issue isn't even a big deal, he can rebound, its just that he didn't feel like it this year.

Thats the truth, he runs back on offense while the ball is still at the rim all the time.
Thats not poor rebounder, thats laziness

You can say the same thing about ANY big man who is a bad rebounder. Hell, Bargnani has shown flashes and grabbed 11, 12, 13 rebounds. It's all about intensity and consistency.

[jazzfan1971]

He can't rebound...that easily keeps him out of the top 5, probably out of the top 8.

And yet he was #10 his rookie year among qualified C's (8.1).
He was also #10 his 2nd year. (8.6)

I'm not sure why 1 season should define a 3rd year player who just turned 23.

Where do you rank him again? Do you think I put him too low, or are you just upset by the knock on his rebounding?

[Duffman100]

He can't rebound...that easily keeps him out of the top 5, probably out of the top 8.

And yet he was #10 his rookie year among qualified C's (8.1).
He was also #10 his 2nd year. (8.6)

I'm not sure why 1 season should define a 3rd year player who just turned 23.

Fair enough, shouldn't define...but can't it be ignored? Why the massive drop off?

Did Kris Humphries steal all of his rebounds?

[Trader_Joe]

Where do you rank him again? Do you think I put him too low, or are you just upset by the knock on his rebounding?

The rebounding is a concern, but overblown IMO for several reasons I have stated.
What I was more contending was that he is a jump shooting Barganani type, when he is anything but.

For now, there are plenty of C's better, but given his age and room for growth there are very, very few C's I would rather have on this Nets team.

Right now my top Centers in terms of production....

...which I find very hard to do, since you cannot produce when you are not playing, but I don't know how to take into account the oft injured guys like Bynum, Bogut, Noah.

So I guess you have to assume they will be healthy... and their health would be reflected in their trade value as opposed to who's the best C's are.


1. Howard - duh
2. Bogut - offense, defense, passing, IQ
3. Bynum - raw skill and physical skills
4. Nene - might be better at PF, but a nice all around game
5. Hoford - see Nene.. but I prefer Nene's inside game to Horford's jumpers
6. Gasol - may have peaked here with age and production
7/8. Lopez - an elite offensive player - depends what your team needs
7/8. Noah - an elite defensive player - depends what your team needs
9. Chandler - About to be a very overpaid player, but a great role player none the less
10. Gortat - I guess I'm kind of drinking the Kool-aid

Just missed:
Hibbert - will be there soon enough, just want him to continue to grow
Okafor - ragged on for his contract, but as steady as it gets at C
Varejao - I love his hustle game and find him underrated

My trade value rankings would be much different considering those would take into account age, injuries and contract.

[Trader_Joe]

Fair enough, shouldn't define...but can't it be ignored? Why the massive drop off?

Did Kris Humphries steal all of his rebounds?

Mono - he lost 25 pounds over the summer that he claims he got back, but it didn't look like it. Meanwhile he needed to train last off-season and gain about 25 pounds, but never did.

Calcium deposit - in his shoulder prevented him from going up with two arms often, but this only came out as news at the end of the season, while supposedly it was a season long hindrance.

Hump - yes he was stealing rebounds from everyone, but at least this team was even on the boards with their opponents until Hump went down despite poor rebounding from PG, SG and SF. Hump and Brook both took up alot of space down low.

Avery - he asked Brook to play more away from the basket on offense (lowered offensive reboundning) and run down on offense quicker (lowered defensive rebounds)

Lack of focus - with the rumors swirling, many Net players weren't focused or giving their all. Lopez played much better, even on the glass, after the trade motivated by Deron's presence.

[bullsnewdynasty]

Al Jefferson > Gortat

Also not sure how you have Marc Gasol so high. 12/7 isn't exactly setting the world on fire. No clue how you could have him over Noah.

[Brett]

Al Jefferson is an awful player. He is putrid at far too many things. And if you try to plan or strategize, at any point, around his overrated offensive ability, a team's success will suffer for whatever length of time you attempt it.

[Trader_Joe]

Al Jefferson > Gortat

Also not sure how you have Marc Gasol so high. 12/7 isn't exactly setting the world on fire. No clue how you could have him over Noah.

Forgot about Jefferson, but gasol you can't judge on stats. For rebounds he has to contend with randolph. for shots..randolph, gay, mayo, etc. Fact is he'd put up Much better numbers elsewhere , but he blends in perfect on Memphis. Hes a two way player with high iq, no reason to judge him on stats. Judge him on his play.

[ManualRam]

Al Jefferson > Gortat

Also not sure how you have Marc Gasol so high. 12/7 isn't exactly setting the world on fire. No clue how you could have him over Noah.

Forgot about Jefferson, but gasol you can't judge on stats. For rebounds he has to contend with randolph. for shots..randolph, gay, mayo, etc. Fact is he'd put up Much better numbers elsewhere , but he blends in perfect on Memphis. Hes a two way player with high iq, no reason to judge him on stats. Judge him on his play.

i dont think gasol is good enough on the defensive end to be considered a legit 2 way player. he's a slow footed space eater on that end.

[doctorfunk]

My top10;

1. Dwight Howard - elite defensive and offensive player
2. Pau Gasol - complete offensive and defensive player, easily no2 despite shameful playoffs
3. Andrew Bogut - has a case for being best defensive center in the league
4. Tim Duncan - declining but still great defensive presence and a complete player
5. Nene - great inside presence, scoring on historically high TS%
6. Andrew Bynum - great on the block,shot blocker, sadly injury prone affects his rank
7. Tyson Chandler - intelligent player on offensive end, among best rebounders and defenders.
8. Joachim Noah - great rebounder, defender; his offensive struggles keep him low on the list
9. Brook Lopez - suspect on D and rebounding at times, effective scorer in the post
10. Marc Gasol/Marcin Gortat - a tie, both young centers next season may be defining for their careers.

honorable mention; Chris Kaman would have made the list year ago, unfortunately wasn't healthy

not included from idealogical reasons PFs playing out of position:
LMA (though he's a sort of a tweener; was PF all career, but can be a legit center if needed)
Al Jefferson
Al Horford
Andrea Bargnani

[ikkoikki]

pau is not a center...

[doctorfunk]

Pau was center all his career, he shares floor with Bynum that's why he was moved to PF, but he still logs most minutes on center and it is his natural position. His amazing skillset and quickness allows him to play the PF spot too.

[grimballer]

I don't think he's a center any more than I think David Lee is a center. Just a guy playing out of position.

You understand that players have a natural position, then can play outside of that natural position, right?

Amare is a PF through and through. You can start him at PG, that doesn't mean he's a PG. Not for our purposes.

there is no such thing as "natural" position.

players role on the team = his position.

if i go by your logic magic johnson isnt really a pg, but a sf.

[grimballer]

Pau was center all his career, he shares floor with Bynum that's why he was moved to PF, but he still logs most minutes on center and it is his natural position. His amazing skillset and quickness allows him to play the PF spot too.

pau was listed as f most of his career.

[Frankie23]

Noah can't be a top 5 center with his luck of offensive game..

No Darkeem??? :p