Wednesday, October 13, 2010

2010-2011 NBA Preview - Top 10 Centers





Soooo... NBA is back. Preseason is here. I like basketball.


Ha.

I'm leaving Yao off the list because I just need to see him play first. Also leaving Al Horford off this list because, at 6'9", he really isn't a center. And I don't like him.

10. DeMarcus Cousins - Samuel Dalembert is missing the first month of the season so Cousins will get his shot to play early. The fact that a rookie can crack the top-10 doesn't say too much about the depth of the position, and the fact that he could easily finish top-5 says even less. But it also says a lot about Cousins, who is a BEAST. He'll definitely have his struggles, but at the end of the season he'll be right up there with John Wall as two of the best rookies in the business. 

9. Chris Kaman - Kaman actually stayed healthy last year and had a pretty good year putting up 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. Honestly I haven't seen him play much so I won't say much, but I've liked what I've seen, especially as a passer.

8. Nene - I've caught shit for it before but I think Nene is the most skilled center in the league. He'd be much more highly valued if he had a bigger role on his team. Then again, maybe he wouldn't handle it well. I don't know. But he's a solid rebounder, good defender, great passer, good finisher around the basket, he can put the ball on the floor and has great footwork... he really doesn't have any weaknesses. He always comes up with big plays when the Nuggets need 'em. But alas, 14 and 7 won't really warrant anything higher than #8.

7. Joakim Noah - I'd like to put him higher but his offensive game is ugly. Really ugly. It's more effective than it appears, but it's still not good at all (tho he's a very good passer). But he's a great rebounder and defender, and his energy is as contagious as anyone's on this list which is why he's this high.

6. Brook Lopez - 19 points, 9 rebounds, almost 2 blocks and 2.3 assists, 50% from the field and 80% from the line. That was on an AWFUL Nets team with no point guard. Devin Harris is healthy, Terrence Williams is a year better, Anthony Morrow and Troy Murphy spreading the floor... look for a nice year from Lopez.

5. Marc Gasol - Weird, right? Young Gasol is a much tougher version of his all-star brother. He doesn't have the shooting touch Pau does, but he's a better rebounder, stronger defender and he's a similarly proficient passer. Hope Memphis can afford to pay him and Mayo after that deal they gave Rudy Gay. (Ha when they can't pay OJ he can always come to DC when Gil inevitably leaves.)

4. Tim Duncan - Enough of the power forward thing, he's a center, end of story (I also didn't wanna add another center to the list). Write down 18, 10 and 3, and with Brazilian rookie Tiago Splitter finally hitting the league who knows how much better Duncan's numbers could look.

3. Andrew Bogut - The Aussie really stepped it up in the shot-blocking department last year, averaging nearly 3 blocks/game after January 1. Supposedly he won't be 100% healthy all season which probably makes this ranking a little too high, but he earned it when he was playing last season.

2. Al Jefferson - Liberated from the Minnesota ice cap, expect a return to the 23 and 11 he put up in 2008-09. He's a lot better than Carlos Boozer, who routinely put up 19 and 10. I dunno if it's fair to list him at center, but he's listed as Utah's starter (with Paul Milsap finally starting at the 4). Should be an interesting year in Utah.

1. Dwight Howard - He's been working with The Dream so as to improve on his nightmarish post skills. Apparently he has the moves, the issue is confidence. Always nice to have your franchise player who's unsure of himself with the ball in his hands. He's still the best center in the NBA though.

2 comments:

  1. CK basically avg a double double and can use either hand equally as well. He is a top 5 center in the NBA and there is no question about it. I would say he has one of the best back to the basket games in the league with all the post moves he has, and has a decent shot, and is a good passer. You may like nene and little gasol, and Joakim, but they should not be over Kaman in this list, unless it is where you think they will be this year, for what they have done, it isn't even close. Kaman is a all star, who is good for close to 20 and 10. enough said

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  2. Injuries are what cost him to me, but I'll get a better picture this year, actually being able to watch him. If he stays healthy he'd move up the list.

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