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We already did.
i don't think so. last year proved we need a center who can defend the paint and rebound consistently. the year before, nazr played very well at the center position and did that for us. the year before, rasho wasn't that player, and the year before that the admiral gave it one last run and played pretty good. i just get the feeling that they're riding way too much on duncan still. he seems to be the only capable defender and rebounder inside. i think we will need good rebounding and defending in the paint during the playoffs and i'm not sure either of the 2 guys we signed to contracts will be able to do that with their experience.
We already did.
Duncan will play center. Small ball.
The Bulls of the 90's don't think it's possible.
Rasho and Nazr were 2nd rate.
3rd rate? The Bulls did, though Wennington, Perdue, and Luc Longley all performed their roles exceptionally well.
They did with a 2nd rate center, too: Bill Cartwright.
Rasho isnt 2nd rate, maybe Nazr and that may even be a stretch. If we get Elson and Butler, I would think that they would be more "2nd rate" duo than Rasho and Nazr were
Dallas did it with virtually no center at all.
Disagree. Both have served long stints as respectable starting centers and no one batted an eye, except for Stephen A. "Rasho Stole My Wife" Smith. Elson and Butler have not been confused with starting caliber centers yet, but at least Butler will become one.
However Dallas only go so far with their tandem. They fell short when they went up against a "bigger, meaner dog" (Shaq/Zo) at the 5 spot. Of course, the performance of Wade contributed as much to Dallas' demise as anything else too.
Just because they have played longer doesnt make them better. Rasho put up the same if not worse numbers than Elson except for blocks, and No hands Nazr only put up mildly better numbers than Elson last year. And you are right about Butler, he will be a good center, but when was the last time we had a young center with potential? I think that makes that duo much better, if we even get them
The thread asks if we can get there not necessarily win it. Besides maybe by midseason we can get a trade for a better Center. Really it doesnt matter who you put on Shaq, that is going to be a tough matchup and all you can do is body him up. I think our big 3 can carry us in and the role players will follow. We have proven leaders, they just need to give the other guys the confidence to beleive they can contribute.
Longley, despite his complacency, was 7'2", had a jump shot, could pass, had sure hands, and could block shots. His 12 points, 7 boards and ability to know where to be on offense and defense would have been a step up from what the Spurs had the last two years.
Crappy Longley > Rasho+Nazr
Personally, I don't think we can win it with a 3rd rate center. Thus far, we've been fortunate to have gotten solid production out of the 5 spot during all thre championship runs.
Since we no longer have an Adminral or even "no hands" Nazr around, we can only hope that Butler (if we're able to obtain him) becomes more than 3rd rate.
As for Elson, he would classify as 3rd rate to me. I'd rather see the Spurs go in a different direction there.
We lost in Overtime the game 7 vs Dallas without a Center
So we can win the Champioship without Duncan as Center
Elson last year- 21 min a game, 53% fg, 4.7 reb., 5 points a game, .63 blocks
Nazr-17 min a game, 50% fg, 5 reb a game, 6 points a game, .61 blocks, who knows how many dropped passes
Rasho-19 min a game, 51%fg, 4 rebounds a game, 4.5 points and a block a game, and probably at least one missed layup
So how do these stats make Rasho and Nazr 2nd rate and Elson 3rd
Jackie Butler-13 min a game, 3.5 rebounds, 54% fg, 5.3 points, half a block and surprisingly 75 % from the line
Ill take Butler and Elson over Rasho and No hands anyday
small ball.
We came within one point, we're back with essentially the same team. This time Manu won't foul.
When the other players in the starting line up are all first rate in their own right, I don't see why the they couldn't. With the exception of the Rockets there's not really a team in the west where having lacking a good center will really hurt. The Spurs could start me at center and be in the hunt. Actually...
Mr. Holt, Mr. Buford, if you read this forum I can assure you two things: I have better hands than Nazr, and I will play for the league minimum. Just PM me the contract terms.
tru that. that foul must have hurt manu bad, with how compe ive he is/how much he wanted to win it all again
funny
last year, all three were 3rd rate centers....
people who are claiming rasho and nazr to be 2nd rate and elson 3rd are taking their entire NBA careers into account
Can I eat a jelly doughnut without spilling some of the jelly out from the side?
How much jelly is in the middle??
Even a 2nd or 3rd rate center is better than no center at all. As long as they can run the floor and pretend to defend the paint. Like that old hippie, Scott Pollard.
wasn't this in like the early 90s?
um...the game's changed quite a bit since then.
Even Diop is better than anything we have and he wasn't even their real starting center.
not trying to disagree with you, but just pointing out that even their 2nd or 3rd center was better than any of the centers we had during the playoffs.
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