Wood You Consider Spending Over the First Apron

[Dahlsim]

DallasMaverick Wrote:
Right.

And two years ago, when the Mavs almost made it to the finals, Dwight Powell was their starting center.

Seems a little silly to compare the impact of 16 & 12 in 36 mpg to 3 & 3 in 14 mpg

It's all about the chosen style of play as to which players and positions are leveraged and featured, especially in the offense.

Not many people thought in or out of the NBA thought a center with Nikola Jokic's athleticism and body type could be the dominant force in today's NBA. In terms of projecting value, I mean he was drafted #41   
Why was Nikola Jokic drafted so low in the NBA Draft? | Marca

If Jokic wasn't utilized the way he is so well featured in Denver's offense he might not ever have become as dominant a force as he is not.  Big props and credit to Mike Malone and his coaching staff. 

Not every NBA coach today has made the adjustment to how to use a given center's talent in the new 3-point space and pace era.  In fact my observation is most have not but this new Jokic era will probably cause a few coaches to consider the possibilities in how to use a particularly talented BIG at the 5.

The Warriors caused a shift in NBA coach think similarly with the way they leveraged the talent of Curry and Klay along with Draymond.  Most people missed however the high quality of big men and size the Warriors went out and kept behind and around Draymond so they could hold their own against quality size.

Let's look at the big men, the centers that played key roles on the 4x modern 'small ball' championship rosters.
Their big men men in the middle besides small ball Gree included guys like Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, David West, David Lee, Kevon Looney, and yes even Mav's washout-turned-NBA-champions Zaza Pachulia and Javale McGee had huge impact supporting the GSW championship rosters.

That's represents a team that never featured or leveraged their center. Still the quality of centers they pursued and the way they leveraged them so well is outstanding.

If on the other hand you have a talent at center than can be featured more it's been more of a question mark as to his value.  I think Nikola Jokic just forced a rethink of that and a players like Ayton can make the case that their value is all about how they are used, or not used.