ESPN Top 10 Centers

[Extra Stout]

And to think...Mario Elie had the balls to call them soft that year.

Mario remembered playing all those DRob-led teams throughout the 1990's.

[RC's Boss]

And the les before that?

Magic, Michael, and Bird

[Spurminator]

one of a few articles i've found about it.

Could you post some of the others, because that's the only one I found. Not saying you're lying, I'm actually interested in reading more.

[slayermin]

As usual, Bill Russell is way overrated.

My top ten.
Kareem
Wilt
Shaq
Hakeem
Admiral
Moses Malone
Russell
Walton
Mikan
Cowens

[mabber]

1. Chamberlain
2. Abdul-Jabbar
3. Russell
4. Olajuwon
5. Robinson
6. O'Neal

i have no idea how good a player malone was, but these are the guys i think you could say are better than robinson. although i think oneal, robinson, and olajuwon are all about even. olajuwon gets overhyped just because of that one playoff series (you know which i'm talking about)

Malone was a dominant rebounder and could score with the best of him. His defense was average. He really wasn't tall enough or able to jump very high to be a good shot blocker. He was all about strength and positioning.

[SilverPlayer]

I can't believe I'm defending Shaq but it is clear that Shaq is better career wise than David Robinson. Any non homer would see it.

I'd take Dave any day of the week over Shaq. A healthy young David's game would school the best of shaq's game all game long. David was way the too quick when he was young to be stopped by Shaq. The early games are the best you can go on even though Shaq's not at his peak yet, he was still breaking rims. And Shaq always ended up on the losing side of the game, with a talented Orlando team.

[whottt]

Mario remembered playing all those DRob-led teams throughout the 1990's.

That's not what he said after they won. In fact he said just the opposite.

[dallaskd]

amare?

[Extra Stout]

I'd take Dave any day of the week over Shaq. A healthy young David's game would school the best of shaq's game all game long. David was way the too quick when he was young to be stopped by Shaq. The early games are the best you can go on even though Shaq's not at his peak yet, he was still breaking rims. And Shaq always ended up on the losing side of the game, with a talented Orlando team.

You are correct that Shaq would have been too slow to stay in front of Robinson when David faced the basket with the hall. Karl Malone also was too slow to do that.

If only double-teams had been outlawed in the 1990's, the Spurs would have racked up les.

[dbreiden83080]

As usual, Bill Russell is way overrated.

My top ten.
Kareem
Wilt
Shaq
Hakeem
Admiral
Moses Malone
Russell
Walton
Mikan
Cowens

He is totally overated. Russell played on the best team for a decade he had so much around him. People always say he beat Wilt all the time in the big game. Wilt would own Russell just like he did everyone else, dropping 40 and 50 on him with regularity. Wilt wins every bit the les that Russell did with the same people around him. He was the most dominant force the game has ever known.

[slayermin]

Olajuwon was a monster on both ends and had an incredible low post game. If you think the West was strong now, it was just as strong in the early and mid 90's.

[Extra Stout]

That's not what he said after they won. In fact he said just the opposite.

The opposite of what?

He reiterated that when he was a Rocket, he thought the Spurs were soft and heartless.

Of course we all know that wasn't true of the 1999 team. Part of that was because guys like Elie and Kersey lit a fire under Dave's ass and held him accountable.

[SilverPlayer]

You are correct that Shaq would have been too slow to stay in front of Robinson when David faced the basket with the hall. Karl Malone also was too slow to do that.

If only double-teams had been outlawed in the 1990's, the Spurs would have racked up les.

Or you give David a Hornacek instead of Del Negro and you got yourself a le team.

[dbreiden83080]

Olajuwon was a monster on both ends and had an incredible low post game. If you think the West was strong now, it was just as strong in the early and mid 90's.

Well there was not that one big team out there though that you had to get bye. In the east in the 90's it was always the Bulls year in and year out. Knicks and Pacers were always very strong as was Orlando when Shaq was there.

[whottt]

No big man could guard Robinson 1 on 1, but when teams had time to scheme against the Spurs in the playoffs and could push Robinson away from the rim, he did not have the polished offensive skills to be efficient enough in the halfcourt offense for the Spurs to beat the best teams.

Yeah...Drob should have lead the NBA in 3 point shooting like Hakeem did when he finally started winning les. ing choker. ..Hakeem taught Elie and Horry how to shoot threes.

[Extra Stout]

He is totally overated. Russell played on the best team for a decade he had so much around him. People always say he beat Wilt all the time in the big game. Wilt would own Russell just like he did everyone else, dropping 40 and 50 on him with regularity. Wilt wins every bit the les that Russell did with the same people around him. He was the most dominant force the game has ever known.

Wilt was not always willing to sacrifice his statistics for the good of the team.

[whottt]

AJ + Vinny > Magic, Oscar, Kobe, Wade, Penny, Cassell, Drexler, Pippen, Manu Parker...

Got it.

[Extra Stout]

Yeah...Drob should have lead the NBA in 3 point shooting like Hakeem did when he finally started winning les. ing choker. ..Hakeem taught Elie and Horry how to shoot threes.

Well, I guess one guy was better at creating opportunities for teammates out of double-teams than the other was.

Interesting how much better the Spurs got at the inside-out game once it was Duncan in the post rather than Robinson...

[whottt]

The opposite of what?

He reiterated that when he was a Rocket, he thought the Spurs were soft and heartless.

Of course we all know that wasn't true of the 1999 team. Part of that was because guys like Elie and Kersey lit a fire under Dave's ass and held him accountable.

Good thing Mario wasn't watching the Series VS LA and Portland that year, he might have concluded Duncan was the soft one.

[mabber]

He is totally overated. Russell played on the best team for a decade he had so much around him. People always say he beat Wilt all the time in the big game. Wilt would own Russell just like he did everyone else, dropping 40 and 50 on him with regularity. Wilt wins every bit the les that Russell did with the same people around him. He was the most dominant force the game has ever known.

I agree with Wilt being the best center but it's funny how he gets a pass on not being able to shoot free throws but Shaq doesn't. I guess it's because most people on this forum never saw Wilt play (and miss free throws). Also, there's a lot of hate toward Shaq on here for some reason. I only saw Wilt play toward the end of his career. I recall him playing in the NBA finals in '71 I believe when I was 8 years old. That was a great team. Wilt, West, Goodrich, Harrison and I believe it was the year that Elgin Baylor retired either before hand or during it.

[Extra Stout]

Kenny Smith + Vernon Maxwell = borderline Hall-of-Famers

[bdictjames]

Walton works for ESPN, whatd you guys expect?

[whottt]

Interesting how much better the Spurs got at the inside-out game once it was Duncan in the post rather than Robinson...

Yeah...because Elie couldn't hit outside shots with the Rockets...


But yeah...you are right, I keep forgetting that Duncan is 2-0 against Karl Malone.

[LAKERS4LIFE]

Andrew Bynum

The Next Great Center

[dbreiden83080]

Wilt was not always willing to sacrifice his statistics for the good of the team.

He did not have the people around him that Russell did. Wilt had little choice but to take it on his shoulders and be the man all the time. Russell just had to play great D and rebound for most of his career because he had the best team around him for a decade and Wilt did win 2 les lets not forget.