Owning The Paint In The Playoffs - Hoopsworld

[jack daniel 999 27]

For all of the talk about the National Basketball Association promoting this new style of basketball - affectionately referred to as "small ball" - the teams that win championships will feature a prominent big man patrolling the lane.

 

In case you doubt the accuracy of this statement, all you have to do is look at the rosters of the NBA champions over the last 20 years. With the exception of the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls (and even this is debatable), all of these teams have had a powerful inside presence. And there is no reason to believe this trend will be broken this season.

 

What makes the center position such a pivotal one is because the centers are required to wear many hats throughout the course of a game. They are responsible for the protecting the paint on the defensive end; not only defending the other big men but providing assistance when their fellow teammates are beaten. In addition, they must rebound, block shots, and alter shots. On offense, the more successful centers are able to score easy points around the basket and take some pressure off of the team's guards and forwards.

 

Dwight Howard

 

In only his third season, Howard has become one of the best and most popular players in the league. Because of his outstanding play this season, the Orlando Magic have become a force in the Eastern Conference and will be the third seed in the playoffs.

 

Howard is a throwback to the powerful centers of yesterday whose primary job it was to strike fear in the hearts of the opponent and with averages of 21 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 2.22 blocks per game, he is doing exactly that. Dwight is young, athletic, and just beginning to come into his own. It's probably not a stretch to crown him the best center in the league this season and without Dwight playing at a high level, the Magic have no chance in the world of making any noise in the playoffs.

 

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8222

_________________________________________________

 

With Superman at the helm...

 

Anything is possible.

[jack daniel 999 27]

For all of the talk about the National Basketball Association promoting this new style of basketball - affectionately referred to as "small ball" - the teams that win championships will feature a prominent big man patrolling the lane.

 

In case you doubt the accuracy of this statement, all you have to do is look at the rosters of the NBA champions over the last 20 years. With the exception of the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls (and even this is debatable), all of these teams have had a powerful inside presence. And there is no reason to believe this trend will be broken this season.

 

What makes the center position such a pivotal one is because the centers are required to wear many hats throughout the course of a game. They are responsible for the protecting the paint on the defensive end; not only defending the other big men but providing assistance when their fellow teammates are beaten. In addition, they must rebound, block shots, and alter shots. On offense, the more successful centers are able to score easy points around the basket and take some pressure off of the team's guards and forwards.

 

Dwight Howard

 

In only his third season, Howard has become one of the best and most popular players in the league. Because of his outstanding play this season, the Orlando Magic have become a force in the Eastern Conference and will be the third seed in the playoffs.

 

Howard is a throwback to the powerful centers of yesterday whose primary job it was to strike fear in the hearts of the opponent and with averages of 21 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 2.22 blocks per game, he is doing exactly that. Dwight is young, athletic, and just beginning to come into his own. It's probably not a stretch to crown him the best center in the league this season and without Dwight playing at a high level, the Magic have no chance in the world of making any noise in the playoffs.

 

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8222

_________________________________________________

 

With Superman at the helm...

 

Anything is possible.

[Ambrose 0]

Boy has it only been 3 years, wow look how great he is. It seems longer, can't wait to see him next year after a real playoff experiance with a team that can do some damage.