How Important Is The Big Man?
There has been discussion whether or not a great team needs to good big man. A good big man, in a power forward or a center can drastically change the game because of their presence down low. They are responsible for many of the rebounds, points and alter and protect the lane. Some centers are so good that they can pass the ball, like a guard can. However, does a championship caliber team need a good big man? Well, there is only one way to find out.
1) Spurs: The spurs do not have the best talent in the NBA, but they win games because of their collective play. They understand and read each other well enough to help one another. They also have Tim Duncan, one of the best power forwards of all time. Tim Duncan is a strong player who is great on defensive and can score when needed. The spurs would not be where they are without him.
2) Miami: This team had Wade, one of the best players in the NBA, who took over against Dallas. However, he also had Shaq, one of the best centers of all time. Shaq did not play very well during the playoffs, but his presence has helped the team.
3) Detroit: This team had a good collection of players, Rasheed, Ben, Richard, Chauncey and more. Ben Wallace is not a good offensive player but is good on rebounding and defensive. His play helped the team win the NBA title against the Lakers.
4) Lakers: Kobe Bryant led the team with his jaw dropping dunks and his jump shots. He also had a younger and better Shaq, who was a monster. Shaq was hard to guard and was a great defensive player. The Lakers still have Kobe and where are they now?
5) Bulls: Michael Jordan helped the team win 6 titles in a short span of time but was it all his doing? No, he had Dennis Rodman, one of the best rebounders in modern NBA history. Dennis was not a great player offensively, but was a beast on the boards, averaging about 15 for his career.
From this breakdown, it is easy to say that a good big man is needed to win big. Teams who do not have a good big man will struggle because the center position is so important. A guard can be amazing but his control over the game is not as strong. The Cavs, who lost to the Spurs this year for the title also had a good big man in Z.
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