Derrick Favors is a Center

[StocktonShorts]

Watching how Favors plays on both ends of the floor it's becoming increasingly clear to me that he's a center in today's NBA. Having him chase stretch fours around the perimeter makes ZERO sense as it removes his defensive presence from the paint. On offense his game is much more similar to centers than to other power forwards: he wants the ball close to the paint and can occasionally knock down a 15-footer, but I don't ever see his range going out to 18-feet.

Do you think the Jazz see him as a center? If so, how does that change what's likely to happen with Millsap. Jefferson and Kanter?

[Charlie_S]

Well, offensively it doesn't really make a difference what you call him. Unless we're talking about huge centers (Hibbert, Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez, Pekovic...) plenty of big men could be either 4s or 5s and it looks like the NBA will keep going towards this direction, so he needs to keep working on his offensive repertoire - although I do think he should limit those turnaround jump shots he seems to like a lot.
Defensively, yeah, out of our four big men he's probably the more suited to guarding true centers. He might not have the height but he should have enough length and strength to handle those mentioned above. But sometimes it might feel like you're kind of wasting his mobility and athleticism by having him fight in the post against the big guys instead of just putting him on a PF, especially if that PF is a talented scorer that could really hurt you. Ultimately, it depends on the matchup. I do agree that he shouldn't be chasing stretch 4's on the perimeter, though, and down the road the Jazz should build their defense around his presence in the paint.

As far as how the Jazz see him, I don't think they have a definite view right now. So far they've matched him up with both 4's and 5's and really, you don't have much of a choice when he's paired with Paul - too small to guard the bigger 5's - and Big Al - too slow-footed to guard most 4's. It's interesting how they usually put him on the PFs when he's playing with Kanter: I think they've got it backwards, and they should realize it once the two get more minutes together (IF that ever happens).

[StocktonShorts]

It's interesting how they usually put him on the PFs when he's playing with Kanter: I think they've got it backwards, and they should realize it once the two get more minutes together (IF that ever happens).

Agree 100%

[red4hf]

Kanter is not quick enough to chase most PFs around.......

And I agree that Favors is actually a Center.......

[reapaman]

He is a center. He just plays mostly PF and guards 4's because Jefferson's and Kanter's defense outside the low post is utter crap. Those two running around chasing PF is even worse because that means Favors gotta worry about those two getting broken down by their man, as well as his man, and also the gaurds/wings that our guards/wings keep letting penetrate the post with ease. Thats too much on one guy. At least with Favors guarding 4's, their less of a chance that Kanter and Jefferson gotta worry about the PF so they can concentrate on their man and the little penetrating guards/wings (Favors can all help with the penetrators depending on how far the PF drags him out).

Offensively, Favors isn't hurt by those two much but ideally you want him with PF that is a stretch 4 and can play uptempo. It takes away from Favors atheltic ability when he's playing in slow and half court offenses. Plus it easier for him to operate in the post if neccessary when his stretch 4 teammate has his man away from the post and its harder for them to get help defense on favors.

Millsap is closer to the ideal partner for Favors but hopefully we could get someone better and taller.

[countrybama24]

I agree he's best as a center individually, but Enes needs to be able to defend scoring 4s to play him at the 4 and move Favors to the 5. Otherwise the net result isn't really any better if Enes defends that much better at the 5 than he does at the 4. Hopefully Kanter puts it all together defensively to give Favors that flexibility.

[SoCalJazzFan]

When I think of player comparisons to Favors I think of Varejao, Chandler, Noah- all centers.

However, I have read quotes from Favors that indicate that he believes that he is a PF, and not a center. He points to larger and heavier centers (even Jefferson) and states that he is too small to defend them, and it might be true. If Favors really thinks that, he might be resistant to "being the center" and either begrudgingly do it (as Milsaps does when he plays SF) or even complain/refuse to do it.

[d-will8]

I agree that he's more of a center than a power forward, but I wouldn't see it as a problem if he rotated between the two frontcourt positions in the future. If we keep Millsap and Carroll alongside Favors and Kanter, we'll have the versatility to match up very well with most frontcourts, assuming Ty is flexible and creative enough to take advantage of that versatility (sadly, it's very unclear whether Ty is flexible and creative enough to do anything that requires a modicum of flexibility or creativity).

On the other hand, if we keep Al rather than Millsap, we may very well be dooming ourselves to obliteration courtesy of stretch fours. Favors has the potential to get better at guarding stretch fours, but, even if he gets good at it, it takes him away from the basket, which I don't really like, especially with Al being the other big. Playing Favors and Kanter together wouldn't be the best option against a team with a stretch four either. There are countless reasons why I'd prefer to keep Millsap than Al, but the versatility he'd bring on both ends playing with Favors and Kanter is a pretty big one.

[erudite23]

He can guard either position. To me, it depends on what you're trying to do. If you're playing small and trying to match up with all these stretch fours in today's NBA, you put him at the 5 and let him do his work. But next to another big guy like Enes, as part of a big frontcourt that can make these small ball lineups pay and still do a reasonably good job of staying with them on the other end, I think he's a great fit. He's excellent against the pick and roll, and agile enough that he doesn't get toasted a la Carlos Boozer against these face up 4s off the dribble. Offensively, he's more of a 5, but with Enes' jumpshot and stretch game, they should be very good complements to one another long term in that respect as well.

I don't disagree that in a vacuum he's probably closer to the 5 than the 4. But with the team we have, I think he's our 4 and very well suited to what we are trying to do. This will change over the course of his career, more than likely, and maybe even soon, but I don't think it's going to change short term.

Either way, we really don't know what he can do until we take the training wheels off and give him 36 minutes a night.

[RyanStorm]

I think this is why things didn't work out. Jefferson makes a better PF, Favors makes a better C, and Millsap makes an athletic tough SF.

Favors is a big man in the paint that can Block and Rebound. Millsap is under-sized on some bigger guys, and I think is more athletic of them all on this team, so he would make a better SF/PF or PF, I just can't place Jefferson cause he shoots like a SF, defends like a PF(towards centers), and pretends to be a C. I mean Kanter plays better defense then him and Favors.

I think Favors at C, and Jefferson at PF with Carroll/Marvin at SF is the smartest setup. Katner and Millsap would work much better cause Kanter is a true Center...While Jefferson could use Favors at rebounding while he shoots.

[eLo]

no he is not, simple reason he is physically weak, screw his athleticism and reach when he can't fight for position with other bigs, and thats why Fav is pf and Enes is c.