Top 5 Centers: Name them!

[Spilling Green Dye]

I challenge you to name the top 5 centers in the NBA today.  After Dwight Howard you'll find there's a significant dropoff.

My List:  Howard, Bogut, Bynum, Nene, Marc Gasol.

If anything, this should highlight the huge lack of quality centers in this league today.  As a result, I think we should temper our expectations with regards to trading for a good center.  It sounds nice, but isn't very realistic considering the supply & demand in the league today.

So, who are your top 5??

[ManUp]

Centers are an endangered species in the NBA.

Nene is a power forward and he still deserves to be in the top 5 that's sad.

[KCattheStripe]

Howard, Marc Gasol, Bynum, Nene, Noah

[syfy9]

Uhhh...In no particular order...

Dwight Howard : He's Superman. Nothing else to it.

Marc Gasol : Huge improvement, great passer, defender, banger, and shows low post potential.

Al Jefferson : A best low post threat in the NBA, I say, despite being labeled for lack of defense.

Andrew Bynum : He's approaching dominance in this league, and gives everything you want in a C.

JaVale McGee : Despite lack of offense, he is a presence in the paint. I would be as scared of this long 7 footer as much as Howard. He is legit.

[celtsfan619]

1) Dwight Howard
2) Andrew Bynum
3) Marc Gasol
4) Al Jefferson
5) Roy Hibbert

[indeedproceed]

This year, Howard, Bynum, Bogut, and probably Nene then Gasol.

Chandler, deandre Jordan, and al Jefferson round outthe top 8.

Joakim Noah has been just awful, and Hibbert is the other top 10 guy. (I'm missing someone I'm sure).

Spencer Hawes and Greg Monroe both making strong showings as well. Horford should be there too, but injured now.

[indeedproceed]

How's gortat been playing? He's a top 10 center as well.

[PosImpos]

Hawes and Monroe have been great this season, and Marcin Gortat hasn't been too shabby either, but we'll put them down as still unproven.

Howard, Bynum, Big Al, Bogut, Chandler

It's really hard to make the list after Howard, Bynum, and Big Al, though -- the field is filled with guys who are solid starters but not dominant players.

[indeedproceed]

And Hibbert, although I'd put him closer to hawes/Monroe right now

Hawes and Monroe have been great this season, and Marcin Gortat hasn't been too shabby either, but we'll put them down as still unproven.

Howard, Bynum, Big Al, Bogut, Chandler

It's really hard to make the list after Howard, Bynum, and Big Al, though -- the field is filled with guys who are solid starters but not dominant players.

Bogut is ahead of big al. Less impressive stat line for eons better defense, both individual and as an anchor.

[Celticjay]

Howard, Bynum, Bogut, Gasol, Chandler, Nene, Horford, Big Al, Gortat, Hawes,







DEAD LAST  Jermaine O Neal

[manl_lui]

Talents for centers are diminishing, hard to find a good quality center

but I'd say

1. Dwight Howard
2. Andrew Bynum
3. Al Horford
4. Tyson Chandler
5. Marc Gasol/Andrew Bogut

special mentions DeMarcus Cousins can be top 5 if he matures

[raynman]

Talent-wise:
Dwight, Bynum, Cousins, Nene, Bogut...

Gasol is not too polished offensively, and Pau is a PF, right?
Chandler, Noah , Javale, DeAndre and the likes are only good defensively..
JO is actually a top 3 center - for the Celtics only!

I miss the good ole' 90's when Hakeem, Ewing, Shaq, Robinson, Mourning and others were dominating the league (though Longley had more rings).. but like the big dinosaurs that once ruled the planet, the NBA Center species has been extinct..

[manl_lui]

Talent-wise:
Dwight, Bynum, Cousins, Nene, Bogut...

Gasol is not too polished offensively, and Pau is a PF, right?
Chandler, Noah , Javale, DeAndre and the likes are only good defensively..
JO is actually a top 3 center - for the Celtics only!

I miss the good ole' 90's when Hakeem, Ewing, Shaq, Robinson, Mourning and others were dominating the league (though Longley had more rings).. but like the big dinosaurs that once ruled the planet, the NBA Center species has been extinct..

i love that analogy with the dinosaurs, for that TP For you

[PosImpos]

And Hibbert, although I'd put him closer to hawes/Monroe right now

Hawes and Monroe have been great this season, and Marcin Gortat hasn't been too shabby either, but we'll put them down as still unproven.

Howard, Bynum, Big Al, Bogut, Chandler

It's really hard to make the list after Howard, Bynum, and Big Al, though -- the field is filled with guys who are solid starters but not dominant players.

Bogut is ahead of big al. Less impressive stat line for eons better defense, both individual and as an anchor.

Eh, considering how rare it is to find a center capable of being a number 1 scoring option in this league, I place Big Al ahead of Bogut.  In other words, Big Al brings to the table what almost nobody else at his position can bring.  You can't say the same for Bogut, though what he does bring to the table is quasi-elite.

[ianboyextreme]

True centers, not PF's playing center (so no al horford or al jefferson)
1. Dwight
2. Bynum
3. Marc Gasol
4. Demarcus Cousins (kid is going ham this year)
5. Greg Monroe (his 32/16 effort tonight definetly helps this)
then...Bogut, Javale McGee, Martin Gortat
The league def needs more talent at this position though... heres to Andre Drummons being the first big time center prospect to live up to the hype in a big way since Dwight. Cheers.

I feel like putting my top 5 all time as well
1. Bill Russell
2. Wilt
3. Hakeem Olajuwon (my starting center on an all time team)
4. Kareem
5. Shaq