Technical comparison and analysis of traditional center and center in the small ball era

In the world of basketball, the center position has always been a crucial existence. However, with the changes of the times, the basketball tactical style has undergone a huge change, and the technical characteristics of traditional centers and centers in the small ball era have also been very different.

In the past, when traditional centers dominated, the inside line was their world. A super center like O'Neal, who is 2.16 meters tall and weighs more than 147 kilograms at its peak, is simply a giant in the inside line. His low singles are excellent, with his back-to-back singles success rate reaching 58.7% in the 2000 playoffs, and his average penalty area score per game remains above 18 points all year round. Who can withstand the lethality? There is also Olajuwon, who has a unique inside footwork skills. After getting the ball at a low post, he can create space for shooting with his delicate footsteps.

The traditional centers basically use back-to-body singles, hook-handed shooting, close-fitting shooting, low-handed shooting, backhand layups, throwing, and dunking techniques. The offensive area is mainly concentrated near the restricted area and near the basket. The offense under the basket is extremely tough, with a high scoring rate and damage rate under the basket. However, their proportion of mid-range and long-distance shooting is relatively low, and they use less to break through with the ball and dribble. In terms of team cooperation, usually covers and pick-and-rolls for outside players near the free throw line, and then plays misaligned singles down or at low posts. The ball's reception rate is not high during the rapid transmission process, and is often the finisher of the offense, and the ability to support is relatively weak.

In the small ball era, the technical requirements of the center have undergone earth-shaking changes. In the small ball era, the ability of three-pointers has become a necessary skill. Lopez transformed into the "center version of Klay Thompson", averaging 6.4 three-point shots per game, and his shooting percentage reached 37.4%. Towns even made his opponent dare not let go easily with a three-point shooting percentage of 42.1%. With the threat of three-pointers, the center's tactical changes during pick-and-roll are much richer, no longer limited to the pick-and-roll attacking the basket, and the pick-and-roll external bounces are used to shoot three-pointers with cover and other options to make the opponent unable to defend.

From the perspective of the offensive initiation method, modern top centers no longer rely solely on low posts. Like Embiid, his playing style is like a tall version of the shooting guard. Most of the offenses are launched at high positions. After a set of three threat combos, he ends the offense with a mid-range shot like a defender. A thin inside lineman like Wenban Yama, who is slightly short of low-post confrontation, often launches ball-holding attacks from high positions. Wenban Yama can even complete gorgeous technical movements like Sam Gord like a defender. The support ability of the modern center has also been greatly improved. Jokic is averaging 6.1 assists per game, completely subverting the position of the center. The Nuggets have built a "positionless basketball" around him. He hand-passed the ball at a high position and tore the defense line like a scalpel. The support of the center has become the optimal solution to the tearing and switching defense system. On the defensive end, there are also great differences between traditional centers and small ball era centers. Traditional center defense at the basket is mainly used to prevent players from playing singles on their backs and turning back, and assist in defense of bottom and empty cut players. The defensive area is mainly concentrated at the basket, and the effective interference area is relatively fixed, which also leads to more fouls. The defense range of the modern center forward continues to expand, and with its physical advantages, it can reduce the quality of the passing and hit rate of the outside line. Facing a high pick-and-roll, you can decisively switch defenses, flexible footsteps and tall arms, making the defense effect significant. The defense is highly oppressive, with excellent ability to supplement and assist. He often uses front-range defense to prevent inside players from receiving the ball, avoiding being trapped in passive defense.

In terms of offense and defense conversion, traditional centers often play the role of rebounding protection and first pass. After the offensive players shoot, they rely on predicting the basketball landing point and foot movement to stagnate the opponent's starting position to grab the rebound. If you get a frontcourt rebound, you can choose to make a tip-in or reorganize a second offense, while the backcourt rebound is passed to the guard or push the half-time by himself, but you move slowly and participate in the fast break. Modern centers have a more significant role in offense and defense conversion. After protecting the backcourt rebounds, if the opportunity is right, you can quickly advance over the half-court to hit the basket; you can also rely on your height and strength to pass the ball to your teammates who are fast to get off the ball based on the on-site situation; when you get off at the same time as your teammates holding the ball, you can choose to follow up with a tip-in, pass the ball to get a layup during the marching, or open the space to the three-point line and shoot the outside shot to chase three points.

It can be seen that the technical characteristics of traditional centers and centers in the small ball era are completely different. Traditional centers dominate the inside with their strong physical confrontation and solid basket skills, while centers in the small ball era need to be more comprehensive and have the abilities of mid- and long shots, support, flexible defense, and rapid offensive and defensive conversion. So the question is, in the small ball era, is it possible for traditional centers to revive their technical styles?