RealGM top 10 Centers

[Indy]

http://www.realgm.com/src_feature/694/2 ... f_the_nba/

I guess that explains why Jermaine wasn't in the power forward list, although I don't care what 82games.com says, JO did not play more minutes at Center then he did Power Foward last year.


10) Andrew Bogut

Last year's top pick may not deserve this spot just yet, but I think that he has more legitimate talent than anyone who ranks on the honorable mentions list. He has solid shooting abilities, he can block shots occasionally, he's a crafty passer and he's a team player.

Thus far, his impact has not shown up on paper, but the year before he arrived in Milwaukee they won the top pick in the lottery and they're currently a reigning playoff team. Whether you attribute it to Bogut entering the league or T.J. Ford returning from injury is your choice, but one thing's for certain, Bogut can play and thankfully, it's at a position that is severely weak around the league.

9) Alonzo Mourning

Over the hill? Plagued by injury? A shell of his former self? Maybe, but don't tell Zo that, especially after this past season. In just 20 minutes-per-game, Mourning trails only Marcus Camby in blocks per game for centers with 2.7 per. He shot just under 60 per cent from the field and was one of the driving forces behind Miami's championship.

Say what you will about his New Jersey and Toronto debacles, but Mourning is an inspiration to his teammates after recovering from his kidney ailment with his strong play on the court and with his humanitarian efforts off of the court.

8) Mehmet Okur

2005-2006 was finally the breakout year for Okur that everyone had anticipated. In his years with the Pistons, it was clear that Memo was oozing with potential and the Jazz felt the vibe and rightly overpaid the once unproven talent.

Okur is simply reliable – period. He shoots 46 per cent from the field, 34 per cent from three point land, where he averages around three attempts per game and a squeaky clean 78 per cent from the line. But forget about percentages, his averages of 18 and 9 speak for themselves. While Carlos Boozer's contract may be suspect, critics of the Jazz's 2004-2005 offseason can no longer accuse them of overpaying Okur.

7) Zydrunas Ilgauskus

I mentioned Mourning's miraculous NBA return earlier, but something has to be said about Big Z's amazing recovery from his foot injury – an ailment that usually plagues bigger NBA players.

In 2005-2006, Big Z shot over 50 per cent from the field for the first time since his rookie year and he had a career high 83.4 per cent from the line. Without Ilgauskus, Cleveland is an entirely different team and his presence will be vital to their success.

6) Brad Miller

Much of Miller's impact on the court cannot be summed up numerically, his stifling post defense and his ability to irritate offensive players with his tenacity on the boards and his strength cannot be summed up in statistics.

However, one statistic shows what Miller's all about, which is his 4.7 assists-per-game, which is more than many of the league's starting point guards, including Jason Terry and Smush Parker. Miller also shoots a reliable 82.8 per cent from the line, which he frequents with 4.3 attempts-per-game. Another interesting statistic is Miller's minutes-per-game, which tops every other player at his position at 37 mpg.

The Sacramento Kings are rebuilding on the fly, but an asset like Brad Miller is too important for them to consider giving up.

5) Marcus Camby

Early on in the season, before his trademark annual injury, Camby was looking like an MVP candidate – yeah, I said it, an MVP candidate. Here are some of his lines from November of 2005:

1) 19 pts, 14 reb, 2 blocks
2) 23 pts, 17 reb, 6 blocks
3) 20 pts, 11 reb, 6 blocks
4) 17 pts, 22 reb, 7 blocks
5) 21 pts, 21 reb, 4 blocks
6) 24 pts, 14 reb, 6 blocks

All of those lines are from November and I dare you to find a player who can compare, because you simply cannot. When people write off Denver, they can only do so if Camby isn't healthy and while that's probable, you can't help but wonder how dangerous the Nuggets can be with a healthy Glass Man.

4) Ben Wallace

Whether Detroit was right to let Wallace walk is arguable – it was likely his worst season with the team, they had lost in two consecutive years and giving a 32 year old Wallace a five-year deal that ends at around $18 million is questionable at best.

But there's no doubting Wallace's impact. I don't think there's a scarier player to go up against in the post because Big Ben has the ability to make offensive players look like clowns when he swats their shots, dunks, lay ups, etc.

Would I have given Wallace the same contract that the Bulls did? Probably not. Will I be surprised if Wallace exceeds expectations and takes the Bulls to the NBA Finals? Probably not.

3) Jermaine O'Neal

Whether it was negligence on my part or my buying into the notion that JO will be starting at center this upcoming season, something blinded me into leaving him off of my top power forwards list and earning apt criticism for excluding him.

But low and behold, JO has arrived on the top centers list and according to 82games.com, he played more minutes at center than he did at power forward in 2005-2006.

He was plagued with injuries and he was partially responsible for Ron Artest's exile from the Pacers, which in turn lead to the departure of Peja Stojakovic with nothing in return. Eventually, Al Harrington jumped on board to soften the blow and the Pacers are a lock for the playoffs if O'Neal is healthy.

While he has only played 95 games combined in his last two seasons, his averages have remained consistent with those amounted throughout his glorious Pacers tenure. This year, from all indications, the Pacers will be playing small ball with a lineup of O'Neal, Danny Granger, Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley (if healthy). I have a feeling that this lineup could result in the Pacers landing atop their division.

2) Yao Ming

I have no doubts that at this time next year, Ming will top this list hands down. However, with a Larry O'Brien trophy on Shaq's mantle and a losing record on Ming's conscience, he's still not there just yet.

When Yao was healthy this season, he was simply dominant. He was Dream-esque minus a few blocks and he had finally arrived in the NBA. Unfortunately, his shortened season weakened his impact and it went generally unnoticed by many basketball fans. This season, I expect that Ming will play around 80 games and revive the Rockets alongside T-Mac and the newly acquired Shane Battier and Bonzi Wells.

Statistically, Ming was the league's best center, but until the Rockets get somewhere in the playoffs, he will remain second best.

1) Shaquille O'Neal

This was easily Shaq's worst season to date in the NBA and he still wound up with a championship. However, Shaq has promised another one next season and if anyone can do so with credibility, it's Shaq daddy.

Even though it was his worst season, 20 and 9 is nothing to laugh at and as long as he trusts Dwyane Wade to carry the scoring load, there's no reason for him not to be the Big Decoy rather than the Big Diesel.

He'll never be the league's free throw champion, but the rest of his game is without weakness and he is still the league's toughest matchup.

Honorable Mention: Chris Kaman, Eddy Curry, Jamaal Magloire

Names for the future: Emeka Okafor, Tyson Chandler

Here would be my list (I'll play along and pretend Jermaine's a Center.

1.) Yao Ming
2.) Shaq
3.) Jermaine
4.) Ben Wallace
5.) Marcus Camby
6.) Brad Miller
7.) Chris Kaman
8.) Zydrunas Illgauskas
9.) Mehmet Okur
10.) Alonzo Mourning

So overall the list is pretty good.

[3th]

id say

1.) shaq
2.) jermaine
3.) ben
4.) yao
5.) camby
6.) miller
7.) okur
8.) illgauskas
9.) kaman
10.) mourning

[Jackal]

I still wouldn't put Yao ahead of Shaq and Ben. His stats are really good and all, but the beastiality both Ben & Shaq have, I just don't see that in Yao.

It probably has to do with the fact he's chinese.

[Indy]

Just because Yao isn't a player that plays with power doesn't put him behind Ben and Shaq.

Yao and Jermaine have the best array of post moves in the NBA.

[koberulz]

I still wouldn't put Yao ahead of Shaq and Ben. His stats are really good and all, but the beastiality both Ben & Shaq have, I just don't see that in Yao.

It probably has to do with the fact he's chinese.

[maes]

I still wouldn't put Yao ahead of Shaq and Ben. His stats are really good and all, but the beastiality both Ben & Shaq have, I just don't see that in Yao.

That seems to be a poor method for determining a good Center. So you wouldn't rate Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as top Centers?

[Gundy]

At this point in their careers, I think both Yao and JO are better than Shaq. He did have his second highest FG% of his career but he is just too old now and he gets tired quickly.

[CERVANTES]

I would say 7 footer Krstic is better than 6'6 center Ben Wallace . He's damn small, but I don't care that, I think he's not a good basketball player. Yes, he's strong and plays good defense.. but that's only half of the game. Krstic is developing really well on my Nets, and he's gonna be an allstar soon.

[Jackal]

Just because Yao isn't a player that plays with power doesn't put him behind Ben and Shaq.

Not basing it solely on power, Yao doesn't give the impression of being a winner. That could just be me though. When I look at the guy, I just don't see the hunger to win.

That seems to be a poor method for determining a good Center. So you wouldn't rate Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as top Centers?

Perhaps I worded it incorrectly, as I mentioned above, he doesn't seem to possess that fire within him. Tim Duncan, Hakeem and Kareem all have that passion in them. I'm probably not doing a swell job on explaining myself, I don't know, I just feel odd about Yao. He's not going to go down as one of the all time greats. Not in my opinion atleast.

[air gordon]

that does raise an interesting topic. what are the characteristics that a player needs to have that would make him is a "winner"??

[Jackal]

Good question, can't say I would have a set of qualities a player has to possess to be qualified as a "winner".

I know Tim Duncan is reserved when it comes to showing emotions and Yao has the same thing, he doesn't burst out randomly on the court or shout and everything...but it's just different. It's almost as if Duncan has a certain swagger that I am just not able to see in Yao. Hehe, I'm digging myself deeper and deeper with this one, I just can't seem to explain how I feel about Yao. He's a really good player, no doubt, but there is just something missing in him. Something that the other guys mentioned in this thread have, call it a certain swagger or that look in their eyes, whatever it is, I don't see it in Yao.

For all I know Yao could average 25+ points and grab 12+ rebounds, but the "leader" of the team will remain Tracy McGrady, he's got that passion in him.

[nets4life]

Krsitc not even on the honourable mention or players for the future? thats bullcrap

[maes]

.
For all I know Yao could average 25+ points and grab 12+ rebounds, but the "leader" of the team will remain Tracy McGrady, he's got that passion in him.

I think i understand what you're saying in terms of leadership, charisma, passion, etc..

And those things are big factors to success, but I don't think it's necessary for just evaluating Centers. Magic was the leader for Showtime, not Kareem, but he's still one of the best centers to have ever played the game.

[BigKaboom2]

But low and behold, JO has arrived on the top centers list

Editors are really on top of things at RealGM

[Jackal]

But Kareem had that passion, meaning he could run a team on his own, I don't see Yao being able to do that. I think the language barrier has an effect to a certain extent. I don't see him becoming real buddies with his team mates and that's something that's quite important to be the anchor point of a team.

[Riot]

Where is Mark Blount?

[Indy]

I've always thought of Kristic as a power forward, but if you want to consider him a Center then I'd put him at number 7 right behind Brad Miller but before Kaman.

[Matthew]

Why do realgm articles get so much exposure here?

that does raise an interesting topic. what are the characteristics that a player needs to have that would make him is a "winner"??

First and foremost killer instinct. Having the heart to do whatever it takes to also win. The ability to raise their game when its needed at the most critical times in their careers.

[Jackal]

Why do realgm articles get so much exposure here?

Probably has to do with the fact that a lot of the members over here, are members on RealGM boards aswell.

First and foremost killer instinct. Having the heart to do whatever it takes to also win. The ability to raise their game when its needed at the most critical times in their careers.

He basically summed up everything I was babbling on about.

[J@3]

Boooooooguuuuuttttt

[Jugs]

Boooooooguuuuuttttt

Lol yeah take that Darko!

[Indy]

Why do realgm articles get so much exposure here?

I hardly ever go to realgm, and I don't post there but people posted all the other lists and I was shocked at Jermaine being left off of the Power Forward list so I posted this one more as a follow up to my previous tirade.

Plus it makes for good training camp season discussion to rank the players by position.

[---]

I agree with what you said about Jermaine being better than Ben. Im a big Ben Wallace fan but he is a one dimensional player. He is an outstanding defender, but he isnt a great scorer. Although he never was given the oppurtunity to put up big scores, I have a feeling he may be given alot more oppurtunities offensively in Chicago. Jermaine on the other hand is great offensively, but I think everyone has forgotten about JO's defence. Hes been hurt lately, but when he's healthy he is a beast in terms of rebounding and shot blocking. Up until now in their respective careers, JO has been better. If Ben comes out as a pretty good offensive force in Chi while retaining enough of his defence, he could go as high as 2nd.

[Ty-Land]

IMHO I don't think Bogut deserves to be on that list just yet. Even though I'm a big fan, Kaman is way ahead of him. Yet in saying that I believe by the end of this season he will deserve a position in the top 10 centre's list.

[funk99]

IMHO I don't think Bogut deserves to be on that list just yet. Even though I'm a big fan, Kaman is way ahead of him. Yet in saying that I believe by the end of this season he will deserve a position in the top 10 centre's list.

I agree with you there. I really think Kaman or Kristic deserve to be here instead of the Aussie. Even though Bogut had a good year. Kaman had a stand out.