Kings' Players NBA-wide Positional Ranks -- Center

[Bricklayer]

Well, in response to a trolly feeling thread on a somewhat similar topic, I thought I would start a series of more interesting ones just to see where peeps heads are.

So, for the upcoming season, where would you rank DeMarcus Cousins amongst the league's Cs?

ATL: A. Horford
BOS: J.O'Neal
CLE: Varejao
CHA: Diop??? Biyombo as a 6'9" rookie?
NYK: Chandler
NJN: Lopez
PHL: Hawes?
WSH: McGee
MIA: E. Curry? J. Anthony?
ORL: Howard? (maybe briefly, but decent chance he'll start somewhere)
MIL: Bogut
CHI: Noah
DET: Monroe?
TOR: calling Bargnani a PF, so...Gray??? Alabai?? Davis? Magloire?
IND: Hibbert
MEM: M.Gasol
DAL: Haywood
NOH: Okafor
LAC: Jordan
LAL: Bynum
PHX: Gortat
SAS: Duncan
HOU: probably Dalembert eventually. Otherwise Hill??
MIN: Milicic?
UTH: Jefferson?
DEN: Nene
GSW: K.Brown??
OKC: Perkins
POR: Camby?
SAC: Cousins

 

[mr. moustache]

Well, in response to a trolly feeling thread on a somewhat similar topic, I thought I would start a series of more interesting ones just to see where peeps heads are.

So, for the upcoming season, where would you rank DeMarcus Cousins amongst the league's Cs?

ATL: A. Horford
BOS: J.O'Neal
CLE: Varejao
CHA: Diop??? Biyombo as a 6'9" rookie?
NYK: Chandler
NJN: Lopez
PHL: Hawes?
WSH: McGee
MIA: E. Curry? J. Anthony?
ORL: Howard? (maybe briefly, but decent chance he'll start somewhere)
MIL: Bogut
CHI: Noah
DET: Monroe?
TOR: calling Bargnani a PF, so...Gray??? Alabai?? Davis? Magloire?
IND: Hibbert
MEM: M.Gasol
DAL: Haywood
NOH: Okafor
LAC: Jordan
LAL: Bynum
PHX: Gortat
SAS: Duncan
HOU: probably Dalembert eventually. Otherwise Hill??
MIN: Milicic?
UTH: Jefferson?
DEN: Nene
GSW: K.Brown??
OKC: Perkins
POR: Camby?
SAC: Cousins

Need more context. I'm going to assume you mean "how many centers in the league would you rather have over Cousins".

I'd rather have Howard, but that's about it. Even then; Cousins in is early twenties on a rookie contract vs. Howard in his late twenties at 20m+ a year...

Lopez, Horford, Noah, Hibbert, and Gasol are all up there, but I think Cousins has something special about him. I would not be shocked if he was the best center in the league at some point in his career. As wild and out of control as he's looked; there's an effortlessness to his game that is missing in every other center's game; especially Howards. Noah would be an awesome front-court mate.

 

[Uncia03]

When looking at Top Center stats DMC got killed due to his poor FG% and his TOs.
In the top 100 Centers Post All-Star break he had the 2nd most TOs (4.1) only behind Howard (4.2). And all the other Centers had less than 3.
In the top 30 Centers Post All-Star break he had the 2nd worst FG% at (42.1%) only behind Camby's abysmal 34% shooting.
And the 3rd worse was Spencer who was at 45.7% which is 3.5% better than Cousins, which shows how much DMC needs to improve.

Also, he had more fouls/game than any Center in the Top 50 at 4.2/game. And the high foul rate impacts his playing time on the floor and can cause him to lose his aggressiveness and rhythm.

But I do expect to see improvements in FG%, TOs and fouls this year, in fact I expect significant increases in FG%, though the TOs will probably hover around 3/game.

So when I consider his size, aggression, passing, skills, and expected improvements in FG%, TOs, and fouls, he has to be hovering around Top 5.
But I need to deduct him somewhat for his defense, and I want to see these improvements before placing him in the top 5.

There are other Centers who I expect will have a more steady year and will play to their strengths to help their team. A player like Chandler or Perkins might not be the offensive player that Cousins is, but they may be helping their teams more.

So at this time I'll put Cousins just outside the Top 5, but if he makes the expected jumps he could be in the discussion for top 3 by the All-Star break.

 

[bajaden]

I'll give you my top ten. And its not based on stats, but on my personal observations and overall talent.

1. Howard
2. M. Gasol (I just like his overall game, and he's a very underrated defender. He also has legit size for the position)
3. Bogut (If he's truely healthy, he's one of the best in the league. Very smart player who has complete game)
4. Chandler (I would have him higher if he was more of an offensive player)
5. Noah (A repeat of what I said about Chandler)
6. Nene (A player thats not great at anything, but good at everything. Just a solid player)
7. Cousins (Has the potential to move all the way to number two spot. He may be the most talented big man in the league)
8. Duncan (Even the mighty must at some time fall. Just not the player he used to be, but still better than 80% of the rest)
9. Bynum (I know some would rate him higher, but he's been in the league for a while, and still can't stay on the floor)
10. Perkins (Like Bogut, if he's healthy, he's an impact player at the center position)

Horford and Varejao were left off along with others because I don't consider them true centers. I consider PF to be the true position of both players. But both are very good and your welcome to disagree with me.

 

[Kingsguy881]

I'll give you my top ten. And its not based on stats, but on my personal observations and overall talent.

1. Howard
2. M. Gasol (I just like his overall game, and he's a very underrated defender. He also has legit size for the position)
3. Bogut (If he's truely healthy, he's one of the best in the league. Very smart player who has complete game)
4. Chandler (I would have him higher if he was more of an offensive player)
5. Noah (A repeat of what I said about Chandler)
6. Nene (A player thats not great at anything, but good at everything. Just a solid player)
7. Cousins (Has the potential to move all the way to number two spot. He may be the most talented big man in the league)
8. Duncan (Even the mighty must at some time fall. Just not the player he used to be, but still better than 80% of the rest)
9. Bynum (I know some would rate him higher, but he's been in the league for a while, and still can't stay on the floor)
10. Perkins (Like Bogut, if he's healthy, he's an impact player at the center position)

Horford and Varejao were left off along with others because I don't consider them true centers. I consider PF to be the true position of both players. But both are very good and your welcome to disagree with me.

You forgot Brooke Lopez

 

[Capt. Factorial]

And finally, the last one...

Howard
----------
Noah, Chandler, Duncan, Bogut, Nene
-----------
M.Gasol, Bynum, A. Jefferson
-----------
A. Horford, Cousins, Dalembert, B. Lopez
------------
Hibbert, Okafor, Gortat, Varejao, Perkins
------------
McGee, Monroe, D. Jordan, Camby
------------
Haywood, E. Davis, Milicic, Hawes, K. Brown
-----------
J. Anthony, J.O'Neal, Gray, Hill, Diop
-----------
Magloire, E. Curry, Alabi


Looks like Biyombo isn't getting FIBA clearance to get out of his contract, so I'm leaving him off entirely.

 

[Rookie]

I don't know if I would put duncan in the top 5. He's old and slow now..a shadow of the past. I guess I'm ranking cousins as top 5 base on expectation of this coming season and a little of homerism. He's young, talented and I wouldn't trade him for most of the players on the top 10 and would have a hard time for the top 5. So I just stick him there.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Gotta be top 5 if he cuts down on the turnovers and personal fouls and learns to play with a little more patience. He was top ten last year even with all his problems. If he even plays to 80% of his potential he'll be second only to Dwight Howard. if he plays to 100% of his potential Dwight Howard will be second to him.

 

[bajaden]

You forgot Brooke Lopez

No I didn't! I have him at number 11 or 12. I haven't seen much recent progress from him. I don't know if he's reached his potential or not. But until I see some improvement, he's not making my top ten.