Celtic's lack of a true center

[puskas54_10]

That is not a secret. I know what they were in their time. The point is that Russell was not the typical Center even in his era. He did other things to be great. We shouldn't have this "ideal" idea of what a center should physically be. We should just say can a player be good at center and play well with the team. Find the smart center who can ball. Not the biggest guy who can look imposing. Shawn Bradley was a good shot blocker + a guy with size and that didn't make him great or stop guys from scoring 25 on him and dunking on him.

I can be a star if I go up against weaker, smaller players all day. Basketball IQ is one thing. I bet you they are a lot of people in the world who are knows basketball better, understand the finesse of the game more than 90 percent of NBA players. They just don't have the athletic ability to be an NBA player or just a pro basketball player.
You need phisical ability and basketball IQ at the same time to be a great player.

But being physical big won't make you a dominate player ask Roy Hibbert and the likes. Decent nba body with IQ and heart will trump special physical tools with limited skills.

That's what I said exactly. You need a good combination of phisical ability and basketball IQ (you can put here heart too).

I actually hate guys who are in the NBA just bacause if their size. Fab Melo and company.

[Csfan1984]

Here is the way I look at the position.

 Center height 6'9 to 7+ is fine. Weight 235 or higher so long as he is still mobile.

Weight is dependent on either using length to restrict shot (less weight needed) or girth to hold position.
 

Should be able to move well is most important. It helps defense and offense. Knowing where to be and having a feel for the game increases effectiveness of mobility.
 

Scoring should come from within the system or off defensive break downs. So a go to shot (8' to 17') must be developed as well as for a knack at finishing.

 With that said size and height isn't so much a factor as is execution of play on the court. Mobility and IQ is a must.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

This is one of those never ending Celticsblog debates where the answer is somewhere in the middle, isn't it?

[D.o.s.]

I agree with that.

That said, there are few things more impressive to watch than a big that really, really knows how to play basketball -- its one of the reasons I watched a lot of Charlotte last year: Al Jefferson's post moves are a joy to watch.

[nickagneta]

SMH at all the "true center" post stuff. We are Celtic fans! The greatest player in the history of the team and maybe the game was an under-sized 6'10* 225lbs Center by the name of William Felton Russell. So it's not the size of the man but the fight in him. It's not about blocking shots all the time. Some times it's about beating your opponent on the offensive side of the court. And most importantly it's about the team game. Where the Center is one of five all moving together to score and defend. Not a rim protector or a dunk machine.

I tell you a secret: Bill Russel played in an era where he and Chamberlain were like Lebron James and Shaq in our era. They were physical specimen. Nowadays a Bill Russell size center is not acceptable as far as being a legit starter. And his height would be the lesser problem. 225 lbs as a center is not gonna cut it.

Tell that to the 6'9" 235 lb Ben Wallace who was a dominant NBA center less than 10 years ago.

I was a big fan of Ben Wallace!
However he was not an all time great player. He was practically zero on the offensive end.
And he has Rasheed Wallace alongside him who was taller (6'11) than him. For example put an undersized player like a Sullinger or Glenn Davis besides him. They would never have the defense they had. Sheed compensated what Wallace lacked in size.

You never said superstar. Your exAct words were

Nowadays a Bill Russell size center is not acceptable as far as being a legit starter.

That's just not true. Not only was Ben Wallace legit he was a 4 time DPOY, 4 time All Star and during his best years was averaging over 12 rebounds per game. So he wasn't an All-Time great. So he wasn't an offensive threat.

He was a legitimate starting center that was just 6'9" and 230-240 pounds during his playing days. You can get legit undersized centers nowadays and always who can be more than just legit. Every era had them.