Open Thread: Dispelling the notion that NBA big men are obsolete
It’s time Jakob Poeltl get involved with how the big boys play
The Spurs are currently sitting on a 6-4 record. All season long, fans have been hearing how the NBA has gone small ball. LaMarcus Aldridge is playing center more often, Pau Gasol now coming off the bench to relieve him. And Jakob Poeltl seems to be lost in the mix before the season truly kicks into gear.
But by my count, the last five teams, half of the games the Spurs have played, have featured a prominent big man.
On October 29th, the Spurs hosted the Dallas Mavericks who feature DeAndre Jordan as their center this season. He’s one of the most efficient players around the basket and plugs up the paint.
On Halloween, The Spurs traveled to Phoenix to meet the number one draft pick DeAndre Ayton. Sure, the former Wildcat is still wet behind the ears, but at 7’1” the Suns are not playing small ball.
Back at home on November 3rd, the Spurs hosted Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. Sure, Davis is listed at 6’10” and power forward, but he plays more like a center with extreme agility.
On the second night of the back-to-back, Mo Bamba brought his 7 foot game back to Texas (he was a Longhorn before this summer’s draft).
And last night, the Spurs faced Hassan Whiteside in Miami.
So, given the young, strong centers currently hitting the court, shouldn’t Poeltl be sent out to get schooled by the likes of DeAndre Jordan and Hassan Whiteside?
What about you, Pounders? Do you think we have seen the end of the era of big men roaming the hardwood? Or have a few undersized three-point ballers made everyone think better of anchoring the offense and filling in the paint?
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Source: Pounding The Rock
