Is Sullinger a starting center in today's NBA?

[arambone]

I'm starting to think Sullinger could be our opening day starting center.

Yeah, he's short, but his standing reach is 8'11", three full inches taller than center Tyler Zeller, and 2.5" shorter than Fab Melo and Andre Drummond.

Sullinger certainly isn't lacking weight or strength, and has as strong a leg base as there is in the NBA.

Taller than Big Baby, longer than Big Baby, more disciplined than Big Baby, and a better scorer and rebounder.

Am I crazy, or is Sullinger our starting center by the All-Star break?

[Who]

No, Sully is a PF.

He proved in college that he was a less effective offensive player when playing against taller guys who are shot-blocking threats. You want to keep Sullinger at the PF spot as often possible playing against guys of comparable or lesser size.

Sullinger also showed that he was a weak defender both in man-to-man defense scenarios and as a rim protector. That limits his value as a center also.

Sullinger is an out and out power forward in the NBA. Much more effective there than at center.

[gar]

Sullinger and KG could play together if KG moved to center. Sulinger can clear out a lot of space so I was hoping we could pair him with JjJ; but JjJ and Melo may make more sense.

[ctrey]

In a small line up he can play center but not as a starter.

[arambone]

What would starting at center entail for Sullinger?

Garnett says he doesn't want to play center because he doesn't want to take the beating. Well, Sullinger can take that beating on the defensive end, guarding the most physical big.

On offense, Garnett can still play his perimeter game, and post up as often or as little as he wants.

Center may not be Sullinger's best position, but he still might be better at center than anybody else on the Celtics.

He's a rebounding upgrade over everybody not named Garnett, and he's probably the strongest as well. An that lower center of gravity works to his advantage against the skinnier centers in the league.

Sure, Sullinger won't get his shot off as easily, so he'll pick and choose his shots. He's still a good passer, and still has a better jump shot than Steamer or any other center. A better ball handler as well.

As far as blocking shots, Garnett will be on the floor, so that obvious weakness is somewhat compensated for. When weighed against the upgrades Sullinger would provide in so many other categories, I still think Sullinger might be more effective for the Celtics next to PF Garnett, than any other guy on the roster.

Basketball player. Hungry, jilted, disrespected player with new-found motivation to expand his game in a Kevin Love direction.

Blast from the past, 2009:
The NBA's Next Great Center: Kevin Love of UCLA?
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oG7h0teO5PHCYAMcxXNyoA?p=Kevin+Love+center&fr2=sb-top&fr=moz35&type_param=

Not saying Sullinger is Kevin Love, just ever so closer to Kevin Love than Steamer or Hollins or developmental Melo.

[xmuscularghandix]

No. But if you can convince KG that he's playing PF and Sullinger is playing center... that'd be great.

[arambone]

No. But if you can convince KG that he's playing PF and Sullinger is playing center... that'd be great.

I'm actually a bit nervous to find out which position Sullinger is more bad at defending at the NBA level.

Sullinger might get exploited more as a 4 defending away from the basket than he would getting scored over down low.

Most PFs in this league will blow this guy away from the high post or mid-range. Not that Garnett is the quickest guy around anymore either.

[arambone]

Here's a "Rookie Retrospective" on Kevin Love. It analyzes his rookie performance and compares it to his pre-draft scouting report projections.

Very interesting, though obviously indicative only of Kevin Love and his rookie year, and not Sullinger.

Keep in mind that Love is the quicker guy, but Sullinger is the stronger guy, naturally, and he can get much stronger if desired.

This excerpt is from the Defense, then and now section of Kevin Love's rookie retrospective.

Love must continue to work on his lateral quickness and pick-and-roll defense if he wants to avoid being labeled as a liability moving forward. He’s been able to mask his weaknesses somewhat lately by playing primarily at the center position, but moving back next to playing alongside Al Jefferson (an extremely poor defender himself, particularly on the perimeter) next year will likely mean that Minnesota will continue to find itself amongst the league’s worst on this end of the floor.

When defending the interior, Love has been able to sufficiently hold his ground and force players to shoot over him. Although this technique doesn't lead to many spectacular defensive plays, it's fundamentally sound and puts him in great position to snatch up defensive rebounds. Very similar to his defense last season, Love has struggled against smooth, finesse-oriented post players with quick first steps. Though it won’t be easy for him to remedy this issue, he can still improve his body to maximize his ability to keep his man away from the rim.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz1zFad2bBS
http://www.draftexpress.com

Sullinger doesn't seem to have quite as much agility as Love, and he is probably going to get toasted even more than Love from the face-up game.

But Sullinger is even stronger than Love, and can get stronger still. Sullinger will be a sub-par defender either way. I'm still not sure where Sullinger's less bad position is on defense.

[CFAN38]

Sullinger is going to be a 4/5 in the NBA. His strength will allow him to defend bigger centers in the league. Much the same way BBD used to do an admirable job defending D Howard. He has similar size/ length to Al Horford who plays out of position as Atlanta's center.

I expect DAnny to sign a vet Center who will start along side KG and Sullinger will back up both the 4 + 5 this year.

[hwangjini_1]

perhaps the best celtic to compare sullinger with is not KG, but bass. i think sully will be better than bass as a pf in a few years...maybe even next year.

i watched videos of sully, so of course it looked good. but he is a determined rebounder. he wants the ball and plays physical and smart to rebound it.

he will help the celtics. my concern is how much he can help THIS year.

[tyrone biggums]

Can he be a center? Yes especially when the Celtics play small ball it does give us an edge for when KG needs a breather. But for 48 minutes a game? No, he's better off as a 4 in the league, will probably be more effective.

[wdleehi]

When he plays next to KG, KG will guard the more dangerous offensive player. 

[theswitch]

Celtics coaches on Sullinger: We think Jared is a starting-caliber power forward, down the road.

There ya go. He's a 4.

[theswitch]

When he plays next to KG, KG will guard the more dangerous offensive player. 

Also, this. You guys are overrating the whole 4/5 thing. On offense, they do the exact same thing in most of our sets. On defense, KG will guard the tougher matchup.

[Vermont Green]

I think many have got this right.  Yes, I think Sullinger and KG can play together and it doesn't matter to me which one you call the C and which the PF.  What is important is that KG plays with someone that can play the low post on offence because I think KG is at his best when he is doing the pick and pop. Forcing KG into the low post is taking away that valuable weapon.

On defense, it is just the opposite.  KG is best when he is patrolling the lane and directing the defense.  Sullinger will need to cover the opposing player that drifts more outside.  For example KG didn't do well against Bosh when Bosh drifted outside.

I think Sullinger is going to play well and you will see KG and him playing together this season.