The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall In The NBA

There is a saying that is synonymous with winning in the NBA: you can’t teach size.

Height has always been coveted deeply by general managers in the NBA. From the early days when Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell would face off against one another in the 1960s, through 1990s battle in the trenches between Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing; front office personnel have always viewed stature as the foundation for winning in pro basketball.

That vision is now askew for the NBA in the 21st Century.

With the game spreading all over the globe, kids now improving their basketball ability at a younger age, and players bulking up to look nearly superhero-like with intense workout regiments, professional basketball is now moving at a quicker pace with teams getting up and down the court constantly. The giants who were the most important ingredient in the recipe for creating an NBA champion are now seeing their miniature counterparts as the x-factor for success in the league.

The NBA is now becoming a point guard-driven league as they can control the tempo and their teams. The objective is no longer to decelerate, but to push the cadence of the game as smaller players try to beat bigger ones up the court. Key stars for many of the teams barely break the six-foot mark, such as Rajon Rondo (6’1), Derrick Rose (6’3), Chris Paul (6’0), and Deron Williams (6’3).

In order to stick with these smaller rode-runners, centers now must evolve to combine the qualities of a guard with the height of a center. Today, being a superior big man means having freakish agility and athletic ability in addition to superior length. Possessing these qualities is what makes players such as Dwight Howard, Amar’e Stoudamire, and Tyson Chandler remain atop the league at the center position.

Centers who don’t have the necessary flexibility, agility, mobility are finding it tough to keep up with the evolution of the league. Just being tall is no longer the crucial element in being a big man in the league, an issue that is becoming more apparent now given the status of many current centers in the NBA.

In 2002, the Houston Rockets had the first pick and the top player available was an overseas, seven-foot, six-inch colossal giant by the name of Yao Ming. Many pundits viewed him as a cornerstone pick that could carry a team on his back and lead them to numerous titles. He would be their choice and Houston believed they had taken their first step towards a new dynasty since after Olajuwon’s retirement.

The evolution of the NBA into a full-court league was just hitting full throttle at this time and the years that would follow would prove to be difficult for Yao. After his first two seasons, the big man from China would battle nagging leg injuries that would never allow him to complete a full campaign. With many teams in the league playing a more full court style and Yao spending more time in a suit than in a uniform since the middle of 2009, he recently decided to retire at the young age of 30.

Although he was extremely effective every minute he played on the court, Yao never reached the full potential others envisioned when the seven-foot Goliath joined the league in 2002.

This issue of being able to keep up with others on the court and staying healthy consistently has been a pattern for numerous players similar to Yao.

When Zydrunas Ilgauskas was the Cleveland Cavaliers selection in the 1996 draft, people didn’t view his potential at the same level as Yao. They did, however, see him as a player with the ability to be a prominent center in the NBA given his lengthy stature (seven-foot, three-inches). His first season illustrated the budding talent he had, but the style of the league took a toll on his body and he dealt with numerous injuries and surgeries for the three years after his freshman campaign.

Luckily, he was able to bounce back and remain on the court for the following five seasons, but aging and the constant running up and down the court over time would take a toll on his body and diminish his minutes significantly from 2008-2011.

At the opposite end of the country, another big man is finding his career ascending rapidly down the same trail as Yao’s.

Greg Oden left Ohio State with the moniker as the next big man to dominate the league. His massive height and ability to protect the paint where unheralded qualities that Portland felt were too good to pass up and used their number one selection on him in 2007.

Already dealing with a leg problem that manifested during his only college season, Oden entered the NBA as damaged goods due to the up-tempo style of basketball opponents would utilize as a counter against him. He would have micro fracture surgery on his right knee just prior to the start of the 2007-08 season and would miss that whole campaign.

He would return the next season, but would have another setback with a chipped knee cap late that year. The following season, he would hurt his left knee and have season-ending surgery once again. This past year proved to be no different, as he would never make it into a single game as he had micro fracture surgery on that same left knee.

Yao, Ilgauskas, and Oden all have similar qualities and body types, making it visible that centers that appear stiff will look even more rigid when they get on the court with other more athletic stars. The game can no longer cater to the old days; when nine to eleven other players with very little ability dumping the ball into an enormous target who can turn and dunk it on opponents who can’t even stand toe-to-toe with them. These days though, players like Dwyane Wade and Rose can easily reject any lay-up or throw down attempt by their bigger adversaries.

The style of the NBA will continue to evolve, as will the position of center, making it even more difficult for sluggish, inflexible seven-footers to continue to be a part of this progression. Being tall in the league is now like being a dollar in the world economy; it will just continue to lose its value.

Size may not be teachable, but now more than ever, it is becoming more anonymous with success in the NBA.

Early Stories For 2010-11 NBA Season

It’s still very early for the NBA hoops season in 2010, but the results have been quite intriguing so far.



Come back wins galore, a 30-30 game for the first time in decades, and a rookie posting a triple-double early in his career are just a small percentage of what the general public is raving about currently. Along with the ups of the season include some of the downs so far already with teams underperforming, incomprehensible trash talking and certain issues that just never change.



Here are some story lines that are dominating a year just starting in its early infancy stage:



Surprise Play Of Teams, Both Good And Bad.



Let’s just get this out of the way because it’s the team everyone will concentrate on all season long: The Miami Heat.



Disappointing doesn’t speak enough on how the Heat have been playing in their first eleven games. They do have a winning record, but could only manage seven wins during that time point, a paltry record for a team with such high expectations at this point.



Two of the big three have come on well at the start of the season. Lebron James is playing well, but that’s not encouraging for a player who set the bar high for himself over the summer. Dwyane Wade is recovering well from injury and is establishing himself as the best on his team uplifting his game to a higher level.



Chris Bosh, though, is the Achilles heal of this team currently and is becoming the biggest reason for their meager start. Although he has a 35 point game in his last outing, his numbers have to start mirroring his Toronto days if the team is to improve.



While the most captivating team in recent memory continues to find cohesion, other teams have quietly become the toast of the league.



New Orleans became the last team to remain undefeated…



Wait…



The Hornets became the last team to remain undefeated? As hard as it is to believe, they won their first eight before losing their ninth, and have Chris Paul second guessing the requests he made for a trade over the summer.



Utah has always been a contender and this season is no different as they were expected to be in the playoffs again, despite losing inside powerhouse Carlos Boozer. It’s not the fact that they are 8-4 and sit atop the Northwest, but how they have gotten those valuable wins. Four of those wins have been road comebacks against Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, and Charlotte.



Golden State was coming off one of its worst seasons and appeared to be in a state of influx with new owners overseeing the team and a new coach bringing a new philosophy. While this was supposed to be a team lost in transition, the Warriors appear to have found their way at the moment. They are 7-4 so far and are just behind the Lakers for the top spot in the Pacific.



The Monta Ellis Effect



The credit to most of the Warriors success can be given to Monta Ellis.



The sixth year guard has been scorching the rim as if he were “on fire” in the NBA Jam video game. He is second in the league in scoring behind Kevin Durant and is ahead of the likes of Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, and Dirk Nowitzki. He and Rose are also currently the only players to average ten field goals made per game.



What is even more impressive than his scoring average is his ability to score at an alarming percentage. So far, he is shooting 51.4% from the field, an impressive mark for man who stands at a miniscule six foot, three inches and doesn’t even eclipse 200 pounds.



Ellis has a chance to become the first All Star for the Golden State Warriors since Latrell Sprewell made it in 1997.



Is Everything Melo Up In Denver?



From the end of the summer to the start of the season, one of the biggest questions on the mind of many fans has been centered within the Rocky Mountain area.



What will happen with Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony?



He is currently fifth in the league in scoring and playing some of the best basketball of his career according to his stat line. Despite that, his play hasn’t inspired the team to a great start. The Nuggets are 5-5 and fourth in their division, sitting on the outside looking in on the early playoff picture.



Questions about him leaving or possible trades have been looming around for months, but now appear to be at a standstill. Although Denver and Anthony have been all quiet on their front, the barrage of requests he made and numerous trade options that were reported give the impression that he is likely gone at some point. This concept will burn hotter with truth if the team continues to play sub-par like they have so far.



Don’t be shocked if Anthony’s jersey comes with a new color and logo at some point before the trade deadline.



Can Yao Really Make A Full Return?



2009 was a Yao-less year for the NBA as the big man had to recover from foot surgery.



Now, Yao Ming returns back to Houston’s active roster for 2010, but is being held to a 24 minute per game restriction and the Rockets holding him out of second games for back-to-backs.



So far, the seven foot, five inch mammoth giant is playing below his usual greatness, but is slowly getting back into his grove. He’s averaging a mere ten points and five rebounds a game and hasn’t gone past that 24 minute restriction.



Now, the native from China is dealing with a strained tendon in his leg and has the front office people of the Rockets worried about future injuries to his foot or any other areas of his body. With their record at 3-8, will they be able to keep their franchise player’s minute restriction down?



The Rookie Watch



During each season, the most fascinating players to watch are the first timers who come into the league. Seeing or hearing about them in college or overseas and watching their freshman season in the NBA is one of the most fascinating parts of the basketball year.



Washington Wizard’s John Wall is as good as any, not just with rookies, but with all point guards at this point. He’s averaging nearly 18 points and just under 10 assists a game, as well as a triple-double under his belt. Along with the statistical factor is the leadership quality, which he has assumed over Gilbert Arenas as the face of the franchise.



Demarcus Cousins and Wesley Johnson are playing decent for their teams, but look like rookies with their reasonable play. They appear on their way to improving into key players for their squads in the next few years.



Evan Turner’s corner has been extremely quiet all season long. Although he’s getting a good amount of minutes on the floor with just under 29 minutes per game, his level of play as one of the best young players to come out of college in the 2010 NBA Draft doesn’t equate his current statistics. There is still plenty of time with the season just underway and Turner’s ability is too good for him to just be a face in the rookie crowd