Ive always felt that Ewing was an overrated center. With his retirement, i thought to myself where he ranks as far as centers go that i have actually seen play. (I'd probably have him as sixth) My top five centers would be
1)Hakeem -the second greatest player ive ever seen. Hey if you dont believe me go ask Shaq or Robinson. They'll tell ya. Here in Houston, they still talk of what Dream did to Robinson in the 95 playoffs. That MVP ceremony sealed the Spurs'fate that year, me thinks. 2)Shaq- its like watching a high school kid playing basketball with a bunch of middleschoolers. 3)Duncan- Olajuwon part deux. He's that freakin good. Intresting to see the effect on his game when he starts having to defend opposing centers as opposed to power forwards. 4)Robinson- if not for Duncan, Robinson would have been yet another great player with no ring. Great defensive center. 5)Mourning- his run might be over. Sucks for Miami. Has he ever played with a great player by his side? The only person i can think of is Tim Hardaway.
Originally posted by albert44Ive always felt that Ewing was an overrated center. With his retirement, i thought to myself where he ranks as far as centers go that i have actually seen play. (I'd probably have him as sixth) My top five centers would be
1)Hakeem -the second greatest player ive ever seen. Hey if you dont believe me go ask Shaq or Robinson. They'll tell ya. Here in Houston, they still talk of what Dream did to Robinson in the 95 playoffs. That MVP ceremony sealed the Spurs'fate that year, me thinks. 2)Shaq- its like watching a high school kid playing basketball with a bunch of middleschoolers. 3)Duncan- Olajuwon part deux. He's that freakin good. Intresting to see the effect on his game when he starts having to defend opposing centers as opposed to power forwards. 4)Robinson- if not for Duncan, Robinson would have been yet another great player with no ring. Great defensive center. 5)Mourning- his run might be over. Sucks for Miami. Has he ever played with a great player by his side? The only person i can think of is Tim Hardaway.
Key question in this is what is the modern era? Because if the Modern Era begins with Bird/Magic, that means Kareem, Moses, and The Chief would all be eligible, and would be in the top 5 ahead of Duncan, Robinson, and Mourning.
Thank you Mr. Wanz for the check, now you get an AWA World Title Reign. But be careful, my boy Greg is a heat machine.
You've got the same top five as me, but as much as I hate to say it, I think Shaq deserves to move up two spots on that list. Kareem could no doubt score, but in the 'era'(I'm assuming '80's on) in question, Kareem was only pulling down about 6 or 7 boards a game, and was sometimes a complete liability on defense. He was a dominant rebounder in the 70's, but we did see him begin to deteriorate in some facets of the game once the 80's came along. Other than that, your list would match mine exactly
1. Shaq (God it pains me to say that) 2. Kareem (had the first ever un-defensable shot) 3. Moses (If he would have had the 3 extra inches that Shaq had, he would have been number 1) 4. Hakeem (the most graceful center ever) 5. Parish (the recipient of many easy shots via Bird, but still a great one)
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1) Shaq 2) Moses 3) Kareem (judged by post-1980 play) 4) Hakeem 5) Artis Gilmore
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Originally posted by NickBockwinkelFanIf the modern era is being defined by post-1980:
1) Shaq 2) Moses 3) Kareem (judged by post-1980 play) 4) Hakeem 5) Artis Gilmore
If it was post '75, I'd leave Gilmore in their. But post '80, Parish was far more consistent. By the late 80's, Artis was a 5 minute a night back-up for Chief.
Thank you Mr. Wanz for the check, now you get an AWA World Title Reign. But be careful, my boy Greg is a heat machine.
My top 5 of the “modern era”, assuming since 1990:
1. Hakeem Olajuwon
One of the best centers ever to play the game, probably behind only Russell and Chamberlain. He has excellent athletic ability and is capable of lighting it up on any given night. Having said that, he needs to retire, NOW. He's become irrelevant since his last year in Houston.
2. Shaquille O'Neal
As much as I don't like to admit it, the man is becoming a great center. Still can't shoot worth a damn, but he's unstoppable in the post. He's great at passing out of the double-team when he needs to, leaving guys like Robert Horry open for easy threes.
3. Tim Duncan
A graceful player, a guy who came into the NBA and was immediately ready. He led the Spurs to the NBA Championship less than three years into his career. But since then, they've been the bitches of the Lakers.
4. David Robinson
Put up big numbers for the Spurs and made them a “name” team for the first time since the days of “The Iceman” George Gervin. A very gracious and kind individual. Once scored 71 points in the final game of the season to eke out a scoring title over Shaquille. But he was torched by Hakeem in the (I think it was) '95 Playoffs, and he has a reputation of being a “soft” player. I don't think the reputation is all that fair, but it wouldn't exist if there wasn't some truth to that.
5. Dikembe Mutombo
Can't really score worth a damn, but he can block shots into the twentieth row. Back when he was allowed to do it, I loved it when he'd wag his fingers at opposing players after blocking the shit out of them.
In my second tier, I would include Rik Smits, Alonzo Mourning, Vlade Divac, Marcus Camby and Patrick Ewing. (THERE! I gave Ewing a little bit of credit, OK? But I still listed him below nine other centers for the '90s.)
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Posted by Red Sox Nation: If it was post '75, I'd leave Gilmore in their. But post '80, Parish was far more consistent. By the late 80's, Artis was a 5 minute a night back-up for Chief.
The final eight seasons (1980-1988) of Artis Gilmore's career are virtually identical to that of Robert Parrish's prime (with the exception of Artis' last year backing up the Chief).
1987-1988 Artis Gilmore's final season, backing up the Chief in Boston
Artis Gilmore Career Statistics Points: 24,941 (18.1 ppg) Rebounds: 16,330 College Highlights: Averaged at least 20 ppg and 20 rpg for NCAA Career (1 of 7 players to do so) Led Jacksonville Dolphins to 1971 NCAA Championship Game (27-2 record) Set NCAA Career Rebounding Record 22.7 rpg Led nation in rebounding as a junior and senior
ABA Highlights: 9362 Points (22.3 ppg) 7169 Rebounds (17.1 rpg) 750 Blocks 1975 ABA Champion Kentucky Colonels Led ABA in rebounding 4 times Led ABA in FG% 2 times 5 time All-ABA First Team 4 time All-ABA Defensive Team MVP & Rookie-of-the-Year in the same season (only Wilt and Wes have also done it)
NBA Highlights: 6 time NBA All-Star 1747 Blocks One of only 22 players to score over 20,000 points in his pro career Led NBA in FG% 4 times All-Time NBA FG% leader--.599 Played 670 consecutive games
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 21.9.02 1824) Bears 14 Falcons 13 Michael Vick talking pre-game smack = 12 tackles, 2 sacks and a victory for Urlacher and the Bears
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Posted by Red Sox Nation: If it was post '75, I'd leave Gilmore in their. But post '80, Parish was far more consistent. By the late 80's, Artis was a 5 minute a night back-up for Chief.
The final eight seasons (1980-1988) of Artis Gilmore's career are virtually identical to that of Robert Parrish's prime (with the exception of Artis' last year backing up the Chief).
1987-1988 Artis Gilmore's final season, backing up the Chief in Boston
Artis Gilmore Career Statistics Points: 24,941 (18.1 ppg) Rebounds: 16,330 College Highlights: Averaged at least 20 ppg and 20 rpg for NCAA Career (1 of 7 players to do so) Led Jacksonville Dolphins to 1971 NCAA Championship Game (27-2 record) Set NCAA Career Rebounding Record 22.7 rpg Led nation in rebounding as a junior and senior
ABA Highlights: 9362 Points (22.3 ppg) 7169 Rebounds (17.1 rpg) 750 Blocks 1975 ABA Champion Kentucky Colonels Led ABA in rebounding 4 times Led ABA in FG% 2 times 5 time All-ABA First Team 4 time All-ABA Defensive Team MVP & Rookie-of-the-Year in the same season (only Wilt and Wes have also done it)
NBA Highlights: 6 time NBA All-Star 1747 Blocks One of only 22 players to score over 20,000 points in his pro career Led NBA in FG% 4 times All-Time NBA FG% leader--.599 Played 670 consecutive games
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 21.9.02 1824)
It wasn't a shot at Artis, because I believe he is slightly below Parish (but way above Ewing). The ABA numbers show why I said if '75 was the starting point I'd have him ahead of Parish, but Parish was equal or better after '80, and his numbers were good through '93. Also, Parish did have great college numbers, but because of the Centenary problems with the NCAA his numbers were never allowed and the school not allowed any NCAA appearances.
(edited by redsoxnation on 21.9.02 2234) Thank you Mr. Wanz for the check, now you get an AWA World Title Reign. But be careful, my boy Greg is a heat machine.
Ewing has to be atleast ahead of Mourning. Ewing was better than Mourning and did it for more year. Mourning never played with another great player, that's true, but neither did Ewing, but Ewing somehow took them to the East Finals several times and do the finals once while Mourning hasn't taken anybody anywhere.
And Shaq is overrated. If "modern era" is the guys listed in the original post then ok I can see him being #2 behind Hakeem, but I saw on ESPN the other day that they had him #3 all time because he's "the most dominant center ever". That's true, I don't argue that for one second. But there is also less competition now than ever. As a matter of fact i'd say that the talent (or lack of talent) at the center position throughout the entire league is the weakest that any position has been at any time.
Originally posted by QuezzyEwing has to be atleast ahead of Mourning. Ewing was better than Mourning and did it for more year. Mourning never played with another great player, that's true, but neither did Ewing, but Ewing somehow took them to the East Finals several times and do the finals once while Mourning hasn't taken anybody anywhere.
And Shaq is overrated. If "modern era" is the guys listed in the original post then ok I can see him being #2 behind Hakeem, but I saw on ESPN the other day that they had him #3 all time because he's "the most dominant center ever". That's true, I don't argue that for one second. But there is also less competition now than ever. As a matter of fact i'd say that the talent (or lack of talent) at the center position throughout the entire league is the weakest that any position has been at any time.
Chamberlain was a more dominant center than Shaq.
Thank you Mr. Wanz for the check, now you get an AWA World Title Reign. But be careful, my boy Greg is a heat machine.
Plus, it's not like Shaq didn't dominate Hakeem, 'Zo, Ewing, and especially Robinson when they went head-to-head. The guy has been in the league since '92, so those guys were all in their primes when Shaq was 20 and he still got his 25 and 10 on them.
If you could make five equal teams and change only the centers to put those guys in and out I'd think they would finish in this order.
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