227 replies to this topic

[AtLaS]

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You're going to tell me getting a hand in the face doesn't drastically alter FG%?

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The tallest center in the NBA is 7'6".  Horford's standing reach is 8'11".  I'd say his hand is in his face.

[exodus]

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The question is whether a player of Horford's size can be successful at the 5 position, is it not?

The answer that we ought to both be able to agree on: Yes, it is possible, but it is not common.

Surely that's not too hard to sign-off on.

  

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Exactly, however i feel your definition of uncommon is probably different from mine.

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How many teams start centers who are in that 6-9 range to begin with?

Not many.

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And what does that tell you?

There are a lot more guys Horfords size than there are guys
much bigger so if going small at center was the way to go a lot more teams would be doing it.

The reality is that going undersized at C only works in very exceptional circumstances.

I don't think it is a coincidence that the most dominant team of the last few years prefers to have a big center playing next to Duncan. Oberto is probably the smallest player that Duncan has ever started next to.

The more common scenario is that a team puts a pf at C and quickly abandons it when they realize it doesn't work. Like two seasons ago when Bosh started at C and they had the worst defense in the league.

[AHF]

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It actually isn't all that uncommon in NBA history, even, to have 6-9-or-thereabouts centers.

Again... not optimal... but also not a factor that damns a team to lottery hell.

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Here are a couple:

Dave Cowens 6'9''

Billy Cunningham 6'6''

Dan Issel 6'9''

Neil Johnston 6'8''

Clyde Lovellette 6'9''

Moses Malone 6'10''

Wes Unseld 6'7''

Willis Reed 6'9''

Bill Russell 6'9''

(Some of the HOFers who fit this category).

[exodus]

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I would challenge you (or anyone) to find more than a few players with anywhere near Horfords talent level in the NBA with more strength and stamina than him

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We have one on our own team in Shelden. Then there is Okafor. Even some small forwards have beaten 20 reps (Joey Graham).

[exodus]

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just because Amare plays a poor defensive C at 6'10 240 or whatever he is doesn't mean that all natural PFs who are his size will be the same.

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There are more guys 6'9" to 6'10" than there are guys bigger than that. So obviously if playing an undersized C was the right way to go then a lot more teams would be doing it.

[Dolfan23]

[sarcasm]You're right. I actually said that Smoove was the best positional defender on the team. How could I have been so confused between 2 posts in a matter of minutes?[/sarcasm]

You seem to believe that there is a difference (at least worth debating on your part) between saying "Smoove who is maybe the worst positional defender on our team" and "Smoove being a poor positional defender" when they both refer to him the same way ... The bottom line is that Smoove is NOT a good positional defender (uh oh different wording again)

From now on I will try to make it a point to use the exact same verbiage when describing a player so that you don't get confused as easily.

[Dolfan23]

Were you one of the guys saying "So obviously if playing ________ was the right way to go then a lot more teams would be doing it" when BK talked about having a versatile roster consisting of 6'8 - 6'9 forwards? Now you are seeing more teams going towards doing that. It's almost like BK is being imitated because people see that the game is moving that direction. Maybe he is onto something with wanting to use Horford and SW at C.

[Vafan]

Horford is an excellent prospect as a PF.  But only an average prospect as a C.  He is not even 6'9 and his standing reach is not above average.  For all the people who say that he is 6'10, that is baloney.  No one measures height with shoes on. There is this saying "You can't teach height."

[AtLaS]

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I would challenge you (or anyone) to find more than a few players with anywhere near Horfords talent level in the NBA with more strength and stamina than him

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We have one on our own team in Shelden. Then there is Okafor. Even some small forwards have beaten 20 reps (Joey Graham).

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[image]http://graphics.fans...ion/156035.jpeg[/image]
What a horrible argument.  I would EXPECT this guy to bench 20 reps.

[exodus]

First of all saying that Smith may be the worst positional defender on the team is flat out dumb. No way around that.

Secondly saying he is a poor positional defender at the 4 is wrong. The main thing he needs to do better is make his man work hard for position initially.

If you want to make that argument when Smith plays the 3 you have a better case. Smith isn't quick enough to keep up with many 3s.

Try finding a few starting 4s who scored well above their average against Smith when Smith was the starting 4. And keep in mind that when Smith got beat he didn't have much help behind him.

[exodus]

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Now you are seeing more teams going towards doing that.

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So why don't you list all the teams that have a starting center Horfords size (and don't try listing guys with 9'2" standing reaches or guys who weight 20 pounds more).

[AtLaS]

NOTHING, quit making that rediculous argument.  It's a good thing you have me blocked so your argument isn't pwned.

[exodus]

Yeah when i play i always shoot the ball with my head, not my hands. I get rebounds with my head, not my hands.


If they have a course in college that teaches common sense i would highly recommend that you take it.

[AtLaS]

good rebounder, another horrible argument.  Marvin has a 9' standing reach and gets his shot blocked 25% of the time inside.  You are completely dismissing basketball skills and saying a player's standing reach is the END ALL argument as to whether he can be successful.  Good to know.  Don't whine when I bump this thread in the future.

[Gray Mule]

Why do I think the guy can play center in the NBA?

Because he is over 6 ft. tall, at least by some measurements
we have observed.

Because he is strong enough so that he won't be easy to
push around by other big men of the NBA.

Because he has a history of being a good rebounder, can
score inside, provided all those other "tall" centers
don't look down on him and smother him from above.

Come on.  He's over 6 ft. and can reach a tad higher
than that - Can "Possibly" jump a few inches more.
Seems I remember another guy who was a decent rebounder
several years ago, Rodman or something like that and
he probably wasn't over 6 or 8 inches taller than our
man, was he?  

All that being said, a lot depends on the offensive
and defensive sets that the Hawks employ.

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