Oden vs. Durrant...

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Spurs won without a dominant center.

Pistons won with a very good defensive center, but lousy on the offense.

Mavs will win without a dominant center.

Tim Duncan and David Robinson were pretty dominant...and yes Tim Duncan while also a power forward is just as good a center.

Greg Oden is a fantastic defensive center.

You're right about the Mavs...they will win w/o a dominant center. Their depth is scary. Nowitzki is an amazing human flopping machine, but still I have to give the guy props for continuing to elevate his game. A few years ago he was a awful defender, but under Avery Johnson he's become solid in that area now, virtually leaving the guy with little to no weaknesses.

If Dirk doesn't win the MVP this year it's a joke.

[MikeWaters]

In the past 11 years, six NBA champions have not had an MVP type center. Five teams have. And four of those are accounted by Shaquille O'Neill. The other was Robinson. (I don't count Ben Wallace as a MVP type center, although a reasonable person could make the argument).

Shaq is the most dominant center of his era.

If you think about the days of yesteryear, Olajuwon, Jabbar, Ewing, Robinson. The 5 was the most important position. It's significance has declined.

And with zone defenses allowed, a good 5 is worth even less IMO.

At the end of the day, basketball is a team sport. It's the whole package that matters.

[cougjunkie]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

In the past 11 years, six NBA champions have not had an MVP type center. Five teams have. And four of those are accounted by Shaquille O'Neill. The other was Robinson. (I don't count Ben Wallace as a MVP type center, although a reasonable person could make the argument).

Shaq is the most dominant center of his era.

If you think about the days of yesteryear, Olajuwon, Jabbar, Ewing, Robinson. The 5 was the most important position. It's significance has declined.

And with zone defenses allowed, a good 5 is worth even less IMO.

At the end of the day, basketball is a team sport. It's the whole package that matters.

Ben Wallace is a three time defensive player of the year I would say that is dominant. Shaq is dominant, Tim Duncan and David Robinson were dominant, While Jordan was playing baseball and the rockets were winning Olajuwon was dominant, Before the Jordan era when the celtics and lakers were winning, Parish and Abdul Jabbar were dominant. When the Pistons won in the 80s Laimbeer was i wouldnt say dominant but he averaged 14 and 10 for the season and no one dared enter the paint wiht him in there.You cant count Dallas because they have not won anything yet.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

Ben Wallace is a three time defensive player of the year I would say that is dominant. Shaq is dominant, Tim Duncan and David Robinson were dominant, While Jordan was playing baseball and the rockets were winning Olajuwon was dominant, Before the Jordan era when the celtics and lakers were winning, Parish and Abdul Jabbar were dominant. When the Pistons won in the 80s Laimbeer was i wouldnt say dominant but he averaged 14 and 10 for the season and no one dared enter the paint wiht him in there.You cant count Dallas because they have not won anything yet.

Well Laimbeer also had Rodman, Salley and Mahorn to help with the intimidation factor. All of them would knock you on your butt without blinking.