You of course pretty much need a superstar #1 scorer who can take over a game and run the offense through, but that can come from any position+
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+32. You need A LOT of things to win a title, talent and depth everywhere. But looking at successful and disappointing teams, is center the most important position in the league right now? Does any team win a title without a versatile center who can adjust to different styles of play during the playoffs?
- Nuggets are the best team and have the best center.
- Warriors won a litany of titles because they can play Draymond at center. He has always been the skeleton key that unlocks their death lineup, without him nothing works. Looney was key to their recent title run as well now that Draymond has slowed down.
- The Heat have recently outperformed their record in the playoffs, partly due to having a center like Bam.
- The Celtics are great all over, which includes the Horford/Williams two headed monster. This year with Porzingis having a career renaissance they look even better.
- The Suns best year coincided with Ayton’s best year, every since he’s been inconsistent and so have they.
- Lakers won a title with Anthony Davis healthy and playing out of his mind.
- Kings hit a wall last year because Sabonis is great but can’t adjust to different styles of play and sucks at defense.
- Timberwolves were disappointing last year with Gobert struggling, but he’s better now and they look great.
- Mavericks finally got a center and look much better.
- Thunder added a great center and look much better.
- Clippers have been so talented but Zubac and nobody else is a bad center rotation and they keep disappointing.
- 76ers prove having a great center doesn’t guarantee deep playoff runs, but Embiid is good enough that they are always solid despite turnover and turmoil.
- Grizzlies collapsed in on themselves last year without Steven Adams (among MANY other reasons of course).
- Recent versions of the Nets have been talented but disappointing, partly due to having unreliable centers.
- Bucks won a title with Lopez in DPOY form and shooting the lights out, alongside Giannis who often operates as a center as well.
Is this something? Could you do this for any position, and I just have confirmation bias when going through the league right now?
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Not like it was back in the days.
Grizzlies are missing several guys including you know….Their main star Ja Morant. To contribute their fall merely to Steven Adams is laughable. They are without their superstar too ya know
Nets fell apart because of Kyrie. They were the only team to drag the Bucks down to the wire of a game 7 over time with KD, one legged Harden and no Kyrie. Even half way healthy the nets could win that series without a prime time center
Warriors single handily erased the importance of the traditional center. The best centers now like Joel And Joker have skills that can be attributed to guards as well which is why they are in the positions they are in. The “old school” kind of bigs have been over with for years
no most centers are super replaceable
Could you do this for any position, and I just have confirmation bias when going through the league right now?
yes
If we’re talking about a guy like Duncan, Giannis or KG playing center then maybe. Those guys were/are complete cheat codes at center and Giannis especially is better there. See 2021 finals. But in terms of standard centers like Adams, Valanciunas, Ayton, Allen, those guys? Hell no. Not even close. The most valuable position is probably wings or a guy who can play anywhere (Durant, LeBron, Luka, etc). Center is the least valuable position outside of Joker, Embiid Adebayo. I do think the position is improving and Chet, Mobley and Wemby are extremely valuable players. Mobley and Wemby are fake PF’s and their best positions will be at center.
The most important position is the position your best player plays
Center is the most important position to have serviceable defense at. It’s why guys like Christian Wood who have a very good offensive presence can be walked off the floor. At the rim is the highest percentage shot. You absolutely cannot be giving those up.