NBA’s future: all small ball, all the time? What about Raptors & JV?

Our friends at Raptors Republic are paying attention to Dwane Casey’s comments about small ball. The Toronto Raptors’ coach has decided that he has seen the future, and it’s coming up short. The Golden State Warriors were in danger of being upset by the injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, after losing 2 of the first 3 games. The Warriors benched centre Andrew Bogut in favour of the smaller and more mobile Andre Iguodala, who frustrated LeBron James just enough to get the world’s best player under control, sort of. The remaining Cavaliers couldn’t pick up the offensive slack against the Warriors’ swarming defense, and Golden State ran off 3 victories to grab the title.

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Apr 26, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) defends in the second quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Basketball, like fashion, music and every other major sport, is constantly searching for the latest trend. The notion of playing small ball is hardly new, but GS’s title appears to solidify its ascendancy. Or does it?

A CONTRARIAN VIEW

I’ve been an NBA fan for long enough to have seen and admired many of the league’s greatest players. One aspect of today’s rosters is the striking absence of dominant centres. I witnessed the unstoppable brilliance of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the power game of Shaquille O’Neal, the best footwork ever from Hakeem Olajuwon, and some lesser lights whose careers were curtailed by injury, like Yao Ming and Bill Walton. Sadly, I can only enjoy the great moments of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell on YouTube.

By contrast, the best centre of the past 5 years has been Dwight Howard, a superior defender but a huge disappointment on the other side. DeMarcus Cousins, Marc Gasol and Brook Lopez are the heirs apparent. All 3 are fine players, but not in the same conversation as the giants of the past.

We’re in a down period for centres, folks. I don’t know when the pendulum swings back, but it might be sooner than we think. Look at the upcoming draft. The top two picks are almost certain to be Karl Towns and Jahlil Okafor, future starting centres and possible stars.

If a team doesn’t have a dominant centre, it must find another way to win. Small ball may work for a while, but it’s an exhausting way to play the game. The NBA is notorious for its punishing schedule, and I’m not convinced any team can endure a full season, followed by playoffs, with little guys. Did you notice how several Cavaliers had to be hospitalized due to dehydration? Sometimes you need to slow the game down, get in a half-court set, and dump the ball to the big man on the low block.

CONCLUSION

Jonas Valanciunas isn’t going to be dropped from the starters’ ranks. When the number of skilled two-way centres reaches a tipping point (in ’17-’18?), the position will become hip again.

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