Which NBA Centers Fit in Building a Rondo-Centric Running Team?

[EDWARDO]

To me, the point is a bit moot. You don't win with running centers. You win with centers that rebound and play defense. Finding a center because you think he'll be able to run with Rondo is probably the wrong way to build the team. There's not much run and gun in playoff basketball. The advantages a running team gets used to in the regular season simply aren't there in the playoffs.

I think the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat and LA Clippers would beg to differ.
I understand what you're saying but obviously people want rebounding, defending centers. All NBA starting centers should be able to do both of those, but not all of them can run the floor.
DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard and Ibaka are what comes to mind these days. Athletes that don't always post up, but run the floor and catch lobs all day whilst rebounding and defending their Bynum/Gasol/Randolph opponents.
If Howard had a guard that ran the floor he would be like this all day.

You're kidding right? Those teams win in the playoff because the have centers that can run?

First, none of those teams have won anything. In fact, Miami probably would have if they had any sort of decent inside presence instead of a "running center".

OKC knew they had to go get a defensive presence at center, so they got Perk.

If Miami wins, the LAST reason will be because their center can get up and down the floor.

Deandre Jordan's ability to run works OK for him during the regular season, but those easy hoops will be few and far between during a tough playoff series.


When was the last time a running team won the title? The 1980s? Virtually every team since has won with stifling defense. Can't think of any of those teams that won because they were beating the other team down the court on fast breaks. In the playoffs, scoring goes down, shooting percentages go down, rebounding matters, toughness matters.

Obviously if you have a guy like Howard and he can run the floor, that's great. But I think if we're deciding to go after a guy like Deandre Jordan who might be the most obvious running center in the league right now and trying to build a team around a guy like that, its bound to be a loser. Just get a guy who can play and whether he can run or not should be ancillary. I want DH12 to block shots, rebound and score in the paint. Could care less if he gets out and runs with Rondo.

I'll take DH and Ibaka all day, but its 100% due to inside presence ,rebounding and shot blocking, not alleyoop dunks on the break. Deandre Jordan you can have. Nice player, but I'm not sure I'd want to go to war with him in a 7 game playoff series against a tough team.

[2short]

kid from washington
javaal mcgee?

[greenlion]

javale magee and  ryan hollins are both perfect for his methods of creating havoc on the court..

[chambers]

To me, the point is a bit moot. You don't win with running centers. You win with centers that rebound and play defense. Finding a center because you think he'll be able to run with Rondo is probably the wrong way to build the team. There's not much run and gun in playoff basketball. The advantages a running team gets used to in the regular season simply aren't there in the playoffs.

I think the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat and LA Clippers would beg to differ.
I understand what you're saying but obviously people want rebounding, defending centers. All NBA starting centers should be able to do both of those, but not all of them can run the floor.
DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard and Ibaka are what comes to mind these days. Athletes that don't always post up, but run the floor and catch lobs all day whilst rebounding and defending their Bynum/Gasol/Randolph opponents.
If Howard had a guard that ran the floor he would be like this all day.

You're kidding right? Those teams win in the playoff because the have centers that can run?

First, none of those teams have won anything. In fact, Miami probably would have if they had any sort of decent inside presence instead of a "running center".

OKC knew they had to go get a defensive presence at center, so they got Perk.

If Miami wins, the LAST reason will be because their center can get up and down the floor.

Deandre Jordan's ability to run works OK for him during the regular season, but those easy hoops will be few and far between during a tough playoff series.


When was the last time a running team won the title? The 1980s? Virtually every team since has won with stifling defense. Can't think of any of those teams that won because they were beating the other team down the court on fast breaks. In the playoffs, scoring goes down, shooting percentages go down, rebounding matters, toughness matters.

Obviously if you have a guy like Howard and he can run the floor, that's great. But I think if we're deciding to go after a guy like Deandre Jordan who might be the most obvious running center in the league right now and trying to build a team around a guy like that, its bound to be a loser. Just get a guy who can play and whether he can run or not should be ancillary. I want DH12 to block shots, rebound and score in the paint. Could care less if he gets out and runs with Rondo.

I'll take DH and Ibaka all day, but its 100% due to inside presence ,rebounding and shot blocking, not alleyoop dunks on the break. Deandre Jordan you can have. Nice player, but I'm not sure I'd want to go to war with him in a 7 game playoff series against a tough team.

Um no, I'm not kidding. I highlighted your quote. Do you want to re-read what you wrote?

There's not much run and gun in playoff basketball. The advantages a running team gets used to in the regular season simply aren't there in the playoffs.

Your statement that there is not much run and gun playoff basketball is simply incorrect. You're making something up to support your own opinion.
There are many different styles of playoff basketball, some teams choose to defend hard and attack with and inside out game ie: the Lakers, Memphis.
Some teams like OKC and Miami like to defend hard and push the ball on the open court. Ibaka is a large part of this running game for OKC. Chris Bosh is a large part of this running game for the Heat. Tyson Chandler, while being very tough defensively, is also basically a one dimensional offensive player, taking advantage of put backs and alley oops from Jason Kidd, and also running the floor on the open break and getting in front of his slower opponent.
It's how the Mavs beat the Lakers last year, or as Rick Carlisle puts it "  THESE GUYS (Lakers) ARE FEELING THIS GAME OUT AT THEIR OWN PACE, GET OUT AND RUN".

I'm not arguing with you that defense is the most important thing, because it is, but for you to make a statement that there isn't much run and gun in the playoffs is ridiculous. What have OKC and Miami won? Lets have the same conversation in 6 months time shall we? I guess the Heat owe their success to Joel Anthony and OKC owe their success to Perkins more than anything?

[LooseCannon]

To me, the point is a bit moot. You don't win with running centers. You win with centers that rebound and play defense.

So, among centers with an acceptable level of rebounding and defense, which centers would best fit into that running offense that some people want to see the Celtics craft to play to Rondo's strengths?

[Who]

The center doesn't need to be a runner so long as there's some pace elsewhere in the lineup.

[the_Bird]

If you want to run, get a center who grabs a lot of rebounds and can make a quick outlet pass.  There aren't many centers in the league who are going to be one of the first options on the fast break.  If your big man's playing under the basket, he's not likely going to be the first man down the court anyway.

And yeah, once the playoffs start, fast breaks are much less frequent.  You really need a guy who can play D and rebound - ideally, someone who can get some offensive rebounds.

[nickagneta]

If you want to run, get a center who grabs a lot of rebounds and can make a quick outlet pass.  There aren't many centers in the league who are going to be one of the first options on the fast break.  If your big man's playing under the basket, he's not likely going to be the first man down the court anyway.

And yeah, once the playoffs start, fast breaks are much less frequent.  You really need a guy who can play D and rebound - ideally, someone who can get some offensive rebounds.

Read some of the posts here and I am glad some who understands fastbreak basketball said something. Others have said similar stuff.

the_Bird is 1000% right. Centers who are best at fastbreak basketball are the ones grabbing the defensive rebounds and as fast and effectively as possible finding the outlet man so the break can start. The best fast break centers never finish on the break, they are the ones still running up court in case the fastbreak was unsuccessful or to pick up their man at the three point line and/or get into a defensive position in case the other team attempts to fastbreak back if the fastbreak was successful.

[the_Bird]

You know who I remember watching in Summer League, who I thought would be great for a fast-break team?

The last person you would guess.  Oliver Miller.  I remember seeing him grab defensive rebounds, and before you could blink the ball was at halfcourt.  Had a really, really quick release on the outlet pass.  

Now, he was never able to get himself back in any kind of NBA shape, but that was a guy probably pushing close to four bills at the time, who was effective (at least in short stints) at starting the fast break.  Now, he was probably too slow to be an effective defensive rebounder at the NBA level, but you can be a BIG big guy and still be very complementary to fastbreak basketball.

[drax]

Our new center should be the new anchor of defense, in preparation for KGs leaving. If he is athletic and can run the floor great but it's not a necessity. Rebounding and boxing out in the paint is way more important.

So if i could choose a center i'd take Marc Gasol. Not the athletic choice but a all-round solid center.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Our new center should be the new anchor of defense, in preparation for KGs leaving. If he is athletic and can run the floor great but it's not a necessity. Rebounding and boxing out in the paint is way more important.

So if i could choose a center i'd take Marc Gasol. Not the athletic choice but a all-round solid center.

There's not a lot of those kind of Centers in the coming FA. There a few PF's that could fit that mold. Forwards who are solid rebounders, good defenders (not great but good). It would  cost the team maybe around 5-8 million but these guys would be solid pickups for that amount of money. And, they rebound.

Jason Thompson (Restricted)
Marreese Speights (Restricted)
Ersan Ilyasova (Unrestricted)

How about resigning Chris Wilcox. It wont cost us a lot and for the production he can bring, it'll be worth it.

Asik is unrestricted. If the Bulls for some reason won't offer him an extension, he's worth taking a look, i mean TAKE A LOOK.

[drax]

There's not a lot of those kind of Centers in the coming FA. ...

... How about resigning Chris Wilcox. It wont cost us a lot and for the production he can bring, it'll be worth it.

Asik is unrestricted. If the Bulls for some reason won't offer him an extension, he's worth taking a look, i mean TAKE A LOOK.

I know there are not many centers that fit that profile, unfortunately. Resign Wilox, yeah great back-up big man, signing Asik sure, great defender. But then we need a new power foward, if possible an athletic.

[xmuscularghandix]

Teams that are built AROUND pass first PGs don't win Championships.

Sorry to be negative but it really is true.

[nickagneta]

Teams that are built AROUND pass first PGs don't win Championships.

Sorry to be negative but it really is true.

But teams WITH pass first PGs do win championships.

Teams like Dallas and Boston(all versions) and San Antonio, Detroit(all versions) and the Lakers(80's and 90's versions)

[Yoki_IsTheName]

There's not a lot of those kind of Centers in the coming FA. ...

... How about resigning Chris Wilcox. It wont cost us a lot and for the production he can bring, it'll be worth it.

Asik is unrestricted. If the Bulls for some reason won't offer him an extension, he's worth taking a look, i mean TAKE A LOOK.

I know there are not many centers that fit that profile, unfortunately. Resign Wilox, yeah great back-up big man, signing Asik sure, great defender. But then we need a new power foward, if possible an athletic.

We have JaJuan for that. And they can slide Wilcox to the PF spot if needed.