Post by Stannis Baratheon on Oct 24, 2011 20:50:26 GMT -5
1. 
Wilt Chamberlain
Stats: 31.3 PPG 13 RPG 3.9 APG 2.5 BPG .506 FG% .890 FT%
In this day and age, it's extremely hard to find a pivot with the skills and physical ability to dominate at both ends of the floor. You'll find specialists who can block shots into the fifth row but couldn't make a contested layup or catch a ball off the pick and roll if their life depended on it. You'll find centers with such sophisticated post moves that they would make Hakeem Olajuwon's head spin, but they also happen to be completely allergic to playing D. Wilt happens to combine the best of both worlds, that rare mold of big men who are able to be elite defensive anchors and elite offensive options at the same time.
2.
Bill Russell
Stats: 23.1 PPG 12 RPG 5.5 APG 1.5 SPG 3.8 BPG .486 FG% .788 FT%
If you thought Wilt was the top flight all around center of BBS, you thought wrong. It makes the game so much easier for everyone when you have a big man who can throw a pass. Russell will tip a blocked shot to himself or corral a defensive rebound only to turn around and fire a pinpoint outlet pass to a leaking Lee Shaffer for an easy 2 points. He is the reason why the Hornets are rated 4th in both offensive and defensive efficiency. In a world where Wilt did not exist, Russell would easily be the best center in BBS, but Russell is just not efficient enough and not quite the offensive threat that Wilt is, so he will have to settle for 2nd best. Not a slight on Russell at all, they are both damn good.
3.
Jerry Lucas
Stats: 24.9 PPG 13.6 RPG 3.6 BPG .477 FG% .907 FT%
This man is the next generation of centers. Only 23 years old and putting up stats that can rival Bill Russell already? Not to mention he's the featured post threat for the best offensive team in the league. Scary. It's a pity he doesn't draw fouls at a higher rate because when you put him on the line, he doesn't miss, he's better at shooting free throws than most guards. It is great that Lucas had his coming out party this season, as they will need him to be firing on all cylinders in order to get back to the promised land this year.
4.
Connie Dierking
Stats: 23.3 PPG 12.7 RPG 3.7 BPG .495 FG% .739 FT%
One of the more under rated players in BBS, probably because Greg doesn't talk him up enough. Still, his game should speak for itself, and I was amazed a couple of days ago when I found myself on the Mavericks roster and saw what kind of stats he was putting up. He basically does everything you want out of a center: score, rebound, and block shots at a very high clip. Connie has really made a big step this season as he has never averaged over 20 PPG, but now that he has done so, he easily belongs in the upper echelon of centers, just below the tier of Russell and Lucas.
5.
Walt Bellamy
Stats: 20 PPG 11.8 RPG 1.6 BPG .464 FG% .705 FT%
I debated for awhile over to put here and I ultimately went with Bellamy. Honestly, after the top four centers, there's a really big drop off in talent and production. Going into this, I was expecting to put Walt a lot lower, but after looking around the league, he slots in here because there aren't too many centers capable of 20 PPG 10 RPG while also being competent on the defensive end. Clearly there are some limitations to his game, as his shot blocking ability is not on par with the elite centers at all. Not to mention his percentages are not up to snuff as well. Bellamy is a good center, probably would not be a top 5 center if the crop of centers in BBS wasn't so horrible. Buckle in folks, it's all downhill from here.
6. Randy Sinclair
Stats: 15.6 PPG 10.8 RPG 1.8 BPG .440 FG% .654 FT%
Ugh. He's only a shadow of his former self, yet he's the 6th best center. I have him here over the next ranked guy because of the difference in defensive capability. All things considered, putting up nearly 16/11 as a non-option with almost 2 blocks on the defensive end isn't bad at all. Just not sixth best center in the league worthy.
7. Jason Robinson
Stats: 19 PPG 12.4 RPG 1.6 BPG .450 FG% .771 FT%
Robinson is still a very credible post option, and his defensive capability is vastly improved from his early days. Too bad he's stuck playing on such a bad team. I actually expect him to increase his numbers as the season goes along because the Cavaliers really don't have a lot of players that can score the ball
8. Durell Valentine
Stats: 14.7 PPG 12.7 RPG .485 FG% .578 FT%
At the ripe old age of 33, Valentine is still better than a lot of the shmucks that have a job as a center in BBS. Age hasn't affected his ability to clean the glass. Probably still strong as an ox, so he's able to muscle defenders out of the way for easy layups. His shooting from the field is actually pretty impressive, but his free throws leave a lot to be desired
9. Bob Hopkins
Stats: 13.5 PPG 10.2 RPG 1.8 .465 FG% .638 FT%
He's actually not bad offensively, given his limited touches from playing with West and Greer. I actually thought he was a better shot blocker, must've confused him with someone else.
10.
Darrall Imhoff
Stats: 11 PPG 10 RPG 3.5 BPG .429 FG% .684 FT%
Not really a credible post threat at all, but Imhoff manages a double-double and a lot of blocks. Congrats, that's good enough to be the 10th best center in the league!
Wilt ChamberlainStats: 31.3 PPG 13 RPG 3.9 APG 2.5 BPG .506 FG% .890 FT%
In this day and age, it's extremely hard to find a pivot with the skills and physical ability to dominate at both ends of the floor. You'll find specialists who can block shots into the fifth row but couldn't make a contested layup or catch a ball off the pick and roll if their life depended on it. You'll find centers with such sophisticated post moves that they would make Hakeem Olajuwon's head spin, but they also happen to be completely allergic to playing D. Wilt happens to combine the best of both worlds, that rare mold of big men who are able to be elite defensive anchors and elite offensive options at the same time.
2.
Bill RussellStats: 23.1 PPG 12 RPG 5.5 APG 1.5 SPG 3.8 BPG .486 FG% .788 FT%
If you thought Wilt was the top flight all around center of BBS, you thought wrong. It makes the game so much easier for everyone when you have a big man who can throw a pass. Russell will tip a blocked shot to himself or corral a defensive rebound only to turn around and fire a pinpoint outlet pass to a leaking Lee Shaffer for an easy 2 points. He is the reason why the Hornets are rated 4th in both offensive and defensive efficiency. In a world where Wilt did not exist, Russell would easily be the best center in BBS, but Russell is just not efficient enough and not quite the offensive threat that Wilt is, so he will have to settle for 2nd best. Not a slight on Russell at all, they are both damn good.
3.
Jerry LucasStats: 24.9 PPG 13.6 RPG 3.6 BPG .477 FG% .907 FT%
This man is the next generation of centers. Only 23 years old and putting up stats that can rival Bill Russell already? Not to mention he's the featured post threat for the best offensive team in the league. Scary. It's a pity he doesn't draw fouls at a higher rate because when you put him on the line, he doesn't miss, he's better at shooting free throws than most guards. It is great that Lucas had his coming out party this season, as they will need him to be firing on all cylinders in order to get back to the promised land this year.
4.
Connie DierkingStats: 23.3 PPG 12.7 RPG 3.7 BPG .495 FG% .739 FT%
One of the more under rated players in BBS, probably because Greg doesn't talk him up enough. Still, his game should speak for itself, and I was amazed a couple of days ago when I found myself on the Mavericks roster and saw what kind of stats he was putting up. He basically does everything you want out of a center: score, rebound, and block shots at a very high clip. Connie has really made a big step this season as he has never averaged over 20 PPG, but now that he has done so, he easily belongs in the upper echelon of centers, just below the tier of Russell and Lucas.
5.
Walt BellamyStats: 20 PPG 11.8 RPG 1.6 BPG .464 FG% .705 FT%
I debated for awhile over to put here and I ultimately went with Bellamy. Honestly, after the top four centers, there's a really big drop off in talent and production. Going into this, I was expecting to put Walt a lot lower, but after looking around the league, he slots in here because there aren't too many centers capable of 20 PPG 10 RPG while also being competent on the defensive end. Clearly there are some limitations to his game, as his shot blocking ability is not on par with the elite centers at all. Not to mention his percentages are not up to snuff as well. Bellamy is a good center, probably would not be a top 5 center if the crop of centers in BBS wasn't so horrible. Buckle in folks, it's all downhill from here.
6. Randy Sinclair
Stats: 15.6 PPG 10.8 RPG 1.8 BPG .440 FG% .654 FT%
Ugh. He's only a shadow of his former self, yet he's the 6th best center. I have him here over the next ranked guy because of the difference in defensive capability. All things considered, putting up nearly 16/11 as a non-option with almost 2 blocks on the defensive end isn't bad at all. Just not sixth best center in the league worthy.
7. Jason Robinson
Stats: 19 PPG 12.4 RPG 1.6 BPG .450 FG% .771 FT%
Robinson is still a very credible post option, and his defensive capability is vastly improved from his early days. Too bad he's stuck playing on such a bad team. I actually expect him to increase his numbers as the season goes along because the Cavaliers really don't have a lot of players that can score the ball
8. Durell Valentine
Stats: 14.7 PPG 12.7 RPG .485 FG% .578 FT%
At the ripe old age of 33, Valentine is still better than a lot of the shmucks that have a job as a center in BBS. Age hasn't affected his ability to clean the glass. Probably still strong as an ox, so he's able to muscle defenders out of the way for easy layups. His shooting from the field is actually pretty impressive, but his free throws leave a lot to be desired
9. Bob Hopkins
Stats: 13.5 PPG 10.2 RPG 1.8 .465 FG% .638 FT%
He's actually not bad offensively, given his limited touches from playing with West and Greer. I actually thought he was a better shot blocker, must've confused him with someone else.
10.
Darrall ImhoffStats: 11 PPG 10 RPG 3.5 BPG .429 FG% .684 FT%
Not really a credible post threat at all, but Imhoff manages a double-double and a lot of blocks. Congrats, that's good enough to be the 10th best center in the league!
