the center position is known to be the dominant player on the court because of their size and strength under the rim. but nowadays the center position has evolved, centers now can shoot 20 feet away from the basket and can dribble the ball. so i ask is shaq the last true center in the NBA?is he the last dominant player in terms of his size and power?who do you think is his heir apparent?
2007-04-20 04:40:11 · 20 answers · asked by engineer magnum 1 in Sports ➔ Basketball
I'm glad the center position has evolved, because it allows Yao Ming to be the most dominant center in the league. I wouldn't call Shaq the last "true" center. Maybe the last "traditional" center.
2007-04-20 10:37:23 · answer #1 · answered by smeiou78 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The center position has DEFINITELY evolved. More and more big guys are trying to increase their shooting range, many with great success.
Also, there are a lot more centers in the NBA who are of little or no use to their teams offensively, and they basically set up on the opposite side from the ball every time, so as not to get in the way of the real players.
Shaq is one of the very few classic, low post centers left, among centers today who have some skills. Yao is as well. And, as "jmf" pointed out earlier, Greg Oden looks like he will be a "classic" big man as well...and I imagine Hibbert of Georgetown will be in that same mold.
It used to be that EVERY center in the NBA played the low post (sometimes the high post), and as a rule, they didn't wander all over the place and try to shoot from outside 20 feet... there were exceptions, even in the 70s...guys like Dave Cownens, Bob McAdoo and Willis Reed all were excellent outside shooters as well as great post and inside players.
It's possible we're in the middle of a transition period of some kind when it comes to centers... along with Shaq, I'd say that David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutumbo and Hakeem Olajuwon were all centers in the classic sense.
And while it's true that no one can really be compared to Shaq, I understand your question perfectly. The center position is evolving...I think that, for a while at least, the NBA will have somewhat of a mix of centers, some of whom can hit from downtown, and some of whom are "classic" low post players.
2007-04-20 05:19:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO! They are still a lot of true centers actually. He's just the best.
Andrew Bynum is a true center, so is Camby, Ming, Dalembert, Kaymen, Curry, Okafor, Dampier, Stoudamire etc. Basically every team in the NBA has one. They're just not as many dominate ones nowadays, but they always win they championships unless Jordan is playing. Shaq, Duncan or the Wallace Wall in Detroit. Look at this years draft, Greg Oden? Everybody knows that Durant is better but Oden will go number 1 because he is a true center.
2007-04-20 06:58:40 · answer #3 · answered by Indy Finesse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shaq didn't have to shoot from 20 feet because he muscled his way inside. If that is the definition of a true center, then he could be the last. Greg Oden could possilby fit that role, as well as Dwight Howard. Yao is a monster on the block, but he can shoot from 20 feet, so I guess that disqualifies him. Bottom line, no one will ever be as dominant as Shaq in between the blocks.
2007-04-20 04:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Yao Ming is a true center, Andrew Bynum could develop into a true center, but most NBA centers are power forwards playing out of position (Ben Wallace, Amare Stoudamire, Dwight Howard)
2007-04-20 04:52:38 · answer #5 · answered by Quiet Storm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Compairing anyone to Shaq is pretty unfair. Considering his size and power. I think Oden will have that sort of impact, but of course he is not as big as Shaq is. But, if you saw Shaq in college, he was no bigger than Oden was. He just grew and grew once he entered the NBA. Another good one is Dwight Howard. He just plays the block and is putting up some amazing numbers (18 and 12). Those are my 2 predictions.
2007-04-20 04:47:04 · answer #6 · answered by jmf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a way he is and isn't. No one will ever match his ability, but there will be other great centers. I feel in a few years, Andrew Bynum from the L.A. Lakers will be a great center and Greg Oden will be there one day. So he won't be the last true center, but he will be remembered as one of the best ever.
2007-04-20 04:47:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shaq is the best of all time. Everywhere he goes his team wins the championship. Shaq was and still is the most dominant player on the court!
GO HEAT!
2007-04-20 04:47:41 · answer #8 · answered by Lorena 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it extremely is completely ethical, yet i do no longer think of it could have been a reliable call. Shaq replaced into having a reliable shooting nighttime and stroking the ball quite lots. Hack-a-Shaq fails except the guy you foul hits much less then 50% of his pictures. Shaq replaced into 7-12 from the line. the different objective of the Hack is to make the participant uncomfortable via forcing him to make unfastened throws while he would not decide to. as nicely as Shaq replaced into enjoying, i do no longer think of sending him to the line could have fazed him. it would merely piss him off and make him play extra useful.
2016-10-28 13:24:01 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shaq was really the only player of his size and type. Yao is pretty close in size and power but, look at Kareem, Bill Rusell etc etc. They werent HUGE guys, they had finesses, and defense and brains. Shaq was really the only player of his type to be honest.
2007-04-20 04:46:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋