[laarethekingsParticipant]

Looking back at the golden years of the Center’s in the NBA. Ewing, Olajuwon, Robinson, Shaq, Mutombo and even Rik Smits all had long runs playing lots of games a season. The last to be able to do it is Tim Duncan. Now it seems like this run of bigs that can’t stay on the floor. It started with Yao and his foot problems that ended him in the long run. Tyson Chandler has had 3 to 4 seasons of missing 25 to 30 games. Bynum’s knees and poor Oden who didn’t even get himself started before his body let him down. Lopez and his foot.

And now Embiid who had the back in school and now the foot before the draft. It’s just a lot of talent that the league didn’t get to see bloom. Hopefully for the young guys like Jordon, Drummond and Cousins and stay on the floor…

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 Bowie, Walton, Ralph Sampson, Bill Cartwright, Brad Daugherty…..

Made of glass? No. Injuries just happen. Not an indictment of a generation

[IhateusernamesParticipant]

 Bowie, Walton, Ralph Sampson, Bill Cartwright, Brad Daugherty…..

Made of glass? No. Injuries just happen. Not an indictment of a generation

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

Didn’t Rick Smith end his carreer because of injuries ? 

Once a player is 7ft it’s really a crap shoot and usually the odds of having a healthy carreer is 50/50.

[For_Never_EverParticipant]

Didn’t Rick Smith end his carreer because of injuries ? 

Once a player is 7ft it’s really a crap shoot and usually the odds of having a healthy carreer is 50/50.

[BallinmvpParticipant]

Well like the guy said, it’s pretty much a crapshoot. If you get a heathy great 7ft bigman it makes a team so much better. You have to double honor let him destroy you, it hurts seeing guys like oden and ayo have injuries because I think doen would have been a monster and Yao was a Allstar center for awhile.  There will be more 7ft great players in the future .

[BallinmvpParticipant]

Well like the guy said, it’s pretty much a crapshoot. If you get a heathy great 7ft bigman it makes a team so much better. You have to double honor let him destroy you, it hurts seeing guys like oden and ayo have injuries because I think doen would have been a monster and Yao was a Allstar center for awhile.  There will be more 7ft great players in the future .

[chaParticipant]

I believe his point is that there are no elite centers that can even match ups with the previous generations’ top centers. That’s how much injuries has robbed that world of 7 foot monsters on the court. I can only one center that has a chance to be a HOF-er (considering his accomplishments and projection of career; barring injuries) and that is Howard. And sad part is that, I don’t see Dwight matching up with the Hakeems, Ewings and O’neals at their primes. Granted there are on their way : Drummond, Embiid, Okafor and Turner (if he can work on his fluidity). 

[chaParticipant]

I believe his point is that there are no elite centers that can even match ups with the previous generations’ top centers. That’s how much injuries has robbed that world of 7 foot monsters on the court. I can only one center that has a chance to be a HOF-er (considering his accomplishments and projection of career; barring injuries) and that is Howard. And sad part is that, I don’t see Dwight matching up with the Hakeems, Ewings and O’neals at their primes. Granted there are on their way : Drummond, Embiid, Okafor and Turner (if he can work on his fluidity). 

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

I think the OP is partially right, but its not because of any inherit traits. It is because most the players (not including Embiid), are playing a lot of basketball at a younger age. Especially if they exhaust their bodies in their formative years, that has to create some weaknesses in their bodies. 

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

I think the OP is partially right, but its not because of any inherit traits. It is because most the players (not including Embiid), are playing a lot of basketball at a younger age. Especially if they exhaust their bodies in their formative years, that has to create some weaknesses in their bodies. 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Well a lot of skilled 7 footers aren’t pigeon-holed to play center these days, unlike the 80s and early 90s. If you include all 7 footers there have been others in recent memory; Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol and even Dirk Nowitzki are three who have been durable for most of their careers.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Well a lot of skilled 7 footers aren’t pigeon-holed to play center these days, unlike the 80s and early 90s. If you include all 7 footers there have been others in recent memory; Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol and even Dirk Nowitzki are three who have been durable for most of their careers.

[TheTruth86Participant]

Maybe the game changed – faster, more physical.

[TheTruth86Participant]

Maybe the game changed – faster, more physical.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

There is a reason why the average man is not 7 feet tall. 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

There is a reason why the average man is not 7 feet tall. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Are you talking about the longevity of Patrick Ewing or Patrick Ewing’s Knees?

Last I heard, Patrick Ewing is still kicking it.

Patrick Ewing’s Knees went out 20 years ago.

Ewing missed the ’99 Finals.  Maybe he booked a vacation that week and couldn’t cancel it. 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Are you talking about the longevity of Patrick Ewing or Patrick Ewing’s Knees?

Last I heard, Patrick Ewing is still kicking it.

Patrick Ewing’s Knees went out 20 years ago.

Ewing missed the ’99 Finals.  Maybe he booked a vacation that week and couldn’t cancel it. 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Are we talking about two different eras?

Early to mid-Eighties guys: Ralph Sampson, Manute Bol, Hakeem, Patrick Ewing, Keith Lee, Brad Daugherty, William Bedford, David Robinson, Rik Smits.  Some greats, some busts, some flameouts, some injury cases.

Early to mid-Nineties guys: Dikembe, Shaq, Zo, Shawn Bradley.  These guys had bumps and bruises, but yeah, other than Zo’s kidney issues they had long careers, and even Zo hung on awhile. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Are we talking about two different eras?

Early to mid-Eighties guys: Ralph Sampson, Manute Bol, Hakeem, Patrick Ewing, Keith Lee, Brad Daugherty, William Bedford, David Robinson, Rik Smits.  Some greats, some busts, some flameouts, some injury cases.

Early to mid-Nineties guys: Dikembe, Shaq, Zo, Shawn Bradley.  These guys had bumps and bruises, but yeah, other than Zo’s kidney issues they had long careers, and even Zo hung on awhile. 

[tuck243Participant]

It’s almost impossible for a big man to get above 25+ points average playing entirely in the post like Shaq and them…  Simply because there isn’t iso ball anymore…  Yea, you might get a few touches down there, but you won’t be able to dominate…  If you look at all of the post players numbers starting when the rules changed you will see a drastic drop off in points…  They now need to get there points in almost garbage man type of ways…  Offensive rebounds and pick & rolls…  Yes, a post game is needed when the game slows down (cough Blake), but these players aren’t being groomed for that role anymore… 

 

[tuck243Participant]

It’s almost impossible for a big man to get above 25+ points average playing entirely in the post like Shaq and them…  Simply because there isn’t iso ball anymore…  Yea, you might get a few touches down there, but you won’t be able to dominate…  If you look at all of the post players numbers starting when the rules changed you will see a drastic drop off in points…  They now need to get there points in almost garbage man type of ways…  Offensive rebounds and pick & rolls…  Yes, a post game is needed when the game slows down (cough Blake), but these players aren’t being groomed for that role anymore… 

 

[Author]

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