Celtic's lack of a true center

[fairweatherfan]

They also lack a true superstar, a true #1 scoring option, outside shooting, team balance, experience and chemistry

The answer to all of these is MARCUS THORNTON, baby!   

[Mr October]

I dont get the obsession with true centers by some on here. Those slow lumbering low post centers are usually overpaid, and are usually not found on contending teams.

most contenders and teams have athletic centers that are *gasp* shorter than 7 feet.  The average starting power forward  is probably 6'9 now. The long stringy 6'11 PF is no longer common, those guys are the new modern center.

the sooner you adapt to the new NBA, the sooner you'll stop being frustrated by our lack of a "true" center.

Centers are still long and big. Outside of Dwight Howard, who is still a Hulk physically, the top 30 centers are all 6-11 or bigger. Miami was an anomaly. And even then they often used 6-11 Chris Bosh as a center.

San Antonio has a big time legend at center. The Pacers, Clippers, rockets, Grizzlies, Mavericks, trail Blazers, Golden State, Wizards, Bulls, Raptors, Cavs, Nets all have big starting centers.

the NBA no longer has any in their prime superstars as center, but every good team has at least one really good center. Even the Thunder use a high flying shot blocking power forward to compliment their tall rotation of Perkins and Adams.

[D.o.s.]

They also lack a true superstar, a true #1 scoring option, outside shooting, team balance, experience and chemistry

But by god they have grit and gumption to spare.

[Csfan1984]

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.

[Phantom255x]

They also lack a true superstar, a true #1 scoring option, outside shooting, team balance, experience and chemistry

Outside shooting (Bradley, Green, Young, Thornton, even Rondo) and chemistry are there. Team balance is debatable. The superstar might come from next years FA and no. 1 scoring option too (Aldridge? Rudy Gay?)

[Waew]

I dont get the obsession with true centers by some on here. Those slow lumbering low post centers are usually overpaid, and are usually not found on contending teams.

most contenders and teams have athletic centers that are *gasp* shorter than 7 feet.  The average starting power forward  is probably 6'9 now. The long stringy 6'11 PF is no longer common, those guys are the new modern center.

the sooner you adapt to the new NBA, the sooner you'll stop being frustrated by our lack of a "true" center.

Centers are still long and big. Outside of Dwight Howard, who is still a Hulk physically, the top 30 centers are all 6-11 or bigger. Miami was an anomaly. And even then they often used 6-11 Chris Bosh as a center.

San Antonio has a big time legend at center. The Pacers, Clippers, rockets, Grizzlies, Mavericks, trail Blazers, Golden State, Wizards, Bulls, Raptors, Cavs, Nets all have big starting centers.

the NBA no longer has any in their prime superstars as center, but every good team has at least one really good center. Even the Thunder use a high flying shot blocking power forward to compliment their tall rotation of Perkins and Adams.

the people clamoring for a true center would say bosh is a pure PF, when in reality he is a modern NBA center.

[D.o.s.]

Talk about cherrypicking -- you're literally ignoring the host of "true" modern NBA centers that October listed to hoist a strawman about Bosh's position.

[nickagneta]

They also lack a true superstar, a true #1 scoring option, outside shooting, team balance, experience and chemistry

The answer to all of these is MARCUS THORNTON, baby!   

Tommy point for fwf. That got a legit laugh out of me.

[puskas54_10]

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.

[Csfan1984]

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.

[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.

[D.o.s.]

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.

Almost exactly 10 years ago *

[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.

[Csfan1984]

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.

[puskas54_10]

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.