AROUND the NBA: Pat Bev Suspended 4 Games Next Season| PHX Fires Vogel, Hires Bud

[Jason Terry]

Cleveland's success in the regular season was an interesting counter-culture move.  The Clippers, hailed as the new formula for championships, were built around switchable mid-sized wings who could score.  And many other NBA teams seem to have embraced that formula.  Paint-bound post-up centers?  Dinosaurs! Smallish point guards?  Huntable!

But Cleveland went the other way - multiple bigs who could defend the paint.  A couple of smallish guards who's defensive deficiencies could be masked by good defense around the rim. Lots of pick and roll action.

So, is their failure in the playoffs a validation of the switchable, wing-centric era?  Or still an experiment in process?

Does Minnesota's failure to advance render the same verdict?

Will future NBA rule changes reestablish the value of the plodding big?

Inquiring minds want to know...

I think these are the right questions. Clippers failure seems more about health of the stars rather than their style of play. The teams with twin towers aren’t having success. Boston has switchable twin towers but is having success. Teams and players built on pick and roll and drawing fouls are not having success(atlanta). Grizzlies built on transition offense and not good in half court are frauds in the playoffs. Teams without multiple great ball handlers (Bucks, nets) are not having success.

Seems like switchable bigs for defense and multiple ball handlers for half court offense is the way to go. Shooters and big wings help tremendously as well