The center position matters again

[Mr October]

We might be entering a new golden (or at least silver) era at the center position. I can't even remember the last time the NBA had 20-30 quality centers. For a number of years during the past decade there were maybe 10 good centers in the NBA. I would have called Perkins a top 10 center back in 2009 or 10. Now Perkins might not crack the top 40 as a center.

Granted we aren't seeing the likes of Olajuwon, Robinson, Ewing, Shaq; or Jabbar, Moses, Parish, Olajuwon, Sampson, and so on.

But now i can count 20 or 30 really solid players at that position.

You still have the 30 years or over veterans:

Duncan,
Pau Gasol
Garnett (equally effective at the 4 or 5 depending on the rest of the roster),
Chandler
Nene
Okafor (if he ever gets healthy)
Kaman

But then check out the giant list of 20-somethings that are either seriously balling, solidly effective, or are loaded with size and potential. As these guys get better the paint is going to once again be dominated by true centers.

Howard
Marc Gasol
Hibbert
Noah
Brooke Lopez
Cousins
Horford (i like him better at the 4, but he is still effective while forced to play center)
Monroe
Pekovic
Sanders
Drummond
Bynum (even if he returns as half the player he was)
Asik
Vucevic
Splitter
McGee
Bogut
Jordan
Bargnani
Gortat
Amir Johnson (solid at either the 4 or 5)
Valanciunas
Kanter
Hawes
Koufos
Cody Zeller
Tyler Zeller
Nerlens Noel
Blatche
Pachulia
Robin Lopez
Meyers Leonard
Festus Ezeli
Alex Len
Lavoy Allen

I might even slug Mr Faverani down here somewhere. If healthy, Greg Oden belongs on this list too.

Across the NBA there are about 7 or 8 centers with a legit claim to an all star spot. A guy like Andrew Bogut is probably the 20th best center. I love seeing size return to the NBA front court.

[Mr October]

In addition to the Rondo injury, I think this is another big reason why Ainge knew it was time to blow up the team. With only Garnett holding down the center position for half a game per night, and surrounded by short power forwards, he probably saw that the Celtics were going to have a hard time dealing with all the new found size in the NBA.

[kozlodoev]

Most of these are decent players, but I'll consider very few of them actual "difference-makers", as you pointed out.

There's always been "solid" players at the position, so I don't feel like this season is any different.

[Mr October]

Most of these are decent players, but I'll consider very few of them actual "difference-makers".

A lot of them are still at least effectively solid. Even a guy like Zaza is very worthy of an NBA paycheck. During the KG-Pierce-Allen era in Boston I felt like there were only 3 teams to really take seriously at the center position: Howard's Orlando team, the Spurs, and the Gasol/Bynum Lakers.

Current difference makers (on at least offense or defense): Hibbert, Howard, Duncan, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Lopez, Chandler, Noah, Horford, Pekovic. Bynum and Bogut crack this list if they are healthy.

And then there are the young guys who are seriously on the verge this season or within 2 more seasons: Cousins, Monroe, Drummond, Vucevic, Valanciunas, Kanter. Perhaps more.