Best center in the NBA?

[Supergirl]

As of right now, headed into the 2009-2010 season, who is the best big man in the NBA? As in, not Shaq in his prime, not Dikembe Mutumbo of a million years ago, not Yao Ming-if-only-he-was-healthy. Who are the best NBA big men (I suggest you pick no more than 3) right now?

[jacobdrj]

Good question:

Dwight Howard
Pau Gasol
Mehmet Okur

[lefty]

Jacques Vaughn

[sonic21]

Dwight
Jefferson
Dirk

[Supergirl]

Hmmm, left off Okur and Dirk, the latter of whom I think barely qualifies as a "big man" since he doesn't really play that way. Vote other if you want to vote for them, I guess.

[IronMexican]

Tim isn't a C.


It's Dwight Howard.

[jacobdrj]

Bigmen, ugg, different question:
Duncan
Howard
Dirk

[monosylab1k]

Where the hell is Marcin Gortat on this list?

[stretch]

oden

[IronMexican]

Why does the poll say best big man, but the thread says best Center? That threw me off. In either case, I still vote Dwight.

[Findog]

By his own admission, Erick Dampier is the second-best center in the Western Conference.

[R4R]

lol Greg Oden

[Supergirl]

well, go with what the poll says - best "big man" -- what I mean is, best player who plays like a C, even if they prefer to be listed as a PF, are undersized, etc. There are very few traditional big man who play C anymore.

[JamStone]

It has to be Greg Oden, but since he's the second best center on his team, that must mean the guy who starts ahead of the best center in the league must be the best.

Joel Przybilla.

[sonic21]

Ian Mahinmi career PER is 35.3, he has to be #1.

[stretch]

I generally classify big men as players at the PF and C positions. If that is the case, Dirk is the best in the league.

If we are talking about what is known as "traditional big men", then I consider that guys who do most of their playing in the post (whether mainly by rebounding, clogging lanes, blocking shots, putbacks, post up offense). If that is the case, Dwight is #1 (the only thing he lacks is the ability to consistently create offense)

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

lol how did dickface vote for each option?

[Gino]

LOL. Shaq has five votes.

No doubt from DOK who logs in on one of hundred different alts and votes for him over and over.

Not like theres anything else going on at mom and dad's, eh Dok? Hows that job hunt going?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Not like theres anything else going on at mom and dad's, eh Dok? Hows that job hunt going?


Better than your NAMBLA meeting. It must suck that you're a register sex offender.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

And I voted for Al Jefferson, it's a fuckin public pole you pasty moron you can see who voted for who.

[Gino]

I wonder if DOK knows you cant actually get a job by being a douche bag 24/7.

Or a girlfiend.

Or a life.

But hey, chattin with the KFC CREW is cool. Do you watch "Ratatouille" on repeat all day?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

lol internet tough guy/child molester telling me I don't have a life :lmao everyone on ST hates Gino

[lefty]

Damn,

You can tell real centers are no more (almost) in the NBA

Remember in the mid 90's when whe had: Hakeem, D-Rob, young Shaq, young Zo, younger Mutombo, Ewing, Divac ?

Good times, good times :tu

[R4R]

Oh yeah, Al Jefferson is a beast inside. I remember watching the Houston game when he got injured, and he was a beast. Very athletic, kinda like Dwight, but with more offensive moves.

[Dr. Gonzo]

According to Shaq, Shaq is the best center in the league.

[Gino]

Damn,

You can tell real centers are no more (almost) in the NBA

Remember in the mid 90's when whe had: Hakeem, D-Rob, young Shaq, young Zo, younger Mutombo, Ewing, Divac ?

Good times, good times :tu

Itz cuz playing that way isnt as much fun as taking your man off the dribble. We still have seven footers, theyre just more versatile and like to play like a SF.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

According to Shaq, Shaq is the best center in the league.

According to Gino, Gino is the biggest child molester in America.

[Gino]

According to Shaq, Shaq is the best center in the league.

And DOK! :rollin

[ElNono]

Marcus Hairslip and Big Baby Davis... LOL

[Gino]

This is the thread that started it all.

Poor DOK doesnt like it when people make fun of his obsession with Shaqtus (or whatever he's called now).

Shaq aint gonna pay your bills or get you out of your parent's house, DOK!!!. Get a job!!

[afireinside20]

If it's the best big man, it's Tim Duncan. If it's best center, it's Dwight Howard.

[stretch]

Damn,

You can tell real centers are no more (almost) in the NBA

Remember in the mid 90's when whe had: Hakeem, D-Rob, young Shaq, young Zo, younger Mutombo, Ewing, Divac ?

Good times, good times :tu

The thing about post players nowadays, is that the league is changing. It's becoming more and more athletic each year, as well as the advancing of defensive strategy. Now, guards and forwards can run in and instantly double or even triple team a post player, and still get back to their man to deny them an open shot, or the coach can have a great rotating strategy to make it tougher to find an open man from the post. Granted, Dwight Howard isn't some great post scorer, but a big reason the Lakers (who are a much crappier defensive team than the Cavs, but more athletic overall) were able to exploit him is because they had a better strategy and better athletes. They would constantly double him the moment he touched the ball (much like Cleveland), however, he was having trouble finding the open man because of the fantastic rotation job by the Lakers, and even at times when he was finding them, the man who doubled was able to get back and deny them a wide open shot.

Also, the league is having more and more big men with perimeter and guard skills, like Dirk, KG, Okur, etc... who can get out and shoot long shots, or handle the ball and penetrate like a guard. So having big, lumbering guys leaving the paint to guard these guys are causing some major defensive problems (leaves the inside open for cutters and drivers, and allows them to get blown past by quicker PF's/C's). It's really negating the use of "traditional" big men more and more.

[redzero]

I voted for Timmy, because he is a Center in Power Forward's clothing. Second is Dwight Howard.

[DJB]

If we're considering all of these players in their prime. Duncan and Shaq are miles and miles and miles ahead of any of these guys.

Oh and LOLOLOLOL at Dwight Howard being in 2nd on this poll. That's just a shame.

[carrao45]

Damn,

You can tell real centers are no more (almost) in the NBA

Remember in the mid 90's when whe had: Hakeem, D-Rob, young Shaq, young Zo, younger Mutombo, Ewing, Divac ?

Good times, good times :tu

:lmao

[JJ Hickson]

I didn't see my name on the list.

[Brandon Bass]

I didn't see my name on the list.

Son, I'm twice the player you are.

[redzero]

Son, I'm twice the player you are.

Bass, you'll be changing your team to the New Orleans Hornets soon.

[BlackSwordsMan]

tim duncan winning on a spurs site
shocking

[j-money24]

You're stupid if you think Duncan is better then howard right now.

[Allanon]

1 part reality, 9 parts wishful thinking.

Bynum's gonna dominate 2010.

[scottspurs]

1. Tim Duncan
2. Dwight Howard
3. Pao Gasol
4. Al Jefferson
5. Al Horford

[scottspurs]

You're stupid if you think Duncan is better then howard right now.

Duncan can shoot. Howard is lol when shooting.

[VivaPopovich]

Timmy. But it's dissapointing that Dwight was runner up. The runner up is KG. Why does everyone think that KG is now a "jump-shooting" big man? He has never lost it in the post, he just doesnt take that many shots down there. When he does he still shoots a good percentage. And look at the leadership that KG brings to the table.

Timmy #1 KG #2, still.

[Danny.Zhu]

When healthy, it must be Yao Ming, if Tim is considered as PF......

[Danny.Zhu]

DH got beaten by Yao every time.

[JustBlaze]

Oden's better than Yao.:hat

[Chieflion]

So is it best big man or center? Two different things.

[sook]

lol homers.