SQ14 #62 Selling Our Centers Short?

Last year the Celtics had, well, no centers other than a perpetual teenager making the transition to a new league, on a new continent, with a new language, and in an extremely bright spotlight.  O.K. you could count the 6’9” Joel Anthony who was already on the last legs of a very lackluster career when he arrived in the middle of the season; and rookie Kelly Olynyk.  Power forwards Sullinger, Humphries, and Bass fought an uphill battle shoring up the outmanned front line.  When Faverani faded after a good first two games, from then on it was pretty much a damage control season at center with whomever manning the position giving up significant inches and pounds to opposing big men who uniformly bullied their way to the basket (as did most drivers attacking the bucket).

This year, improbably, if you read or listened to all the hue and cry from the pundits bashing the center corps, you must by now be convinced that the void in the middle is even more extreme than last year.  I’d like to cast a vote of dissent.  At the very least I believe our centers will allow our power forwards to play at their natural positions.  I’ve already expressed the opinion that Tyler Zeller will be our biggest positive surprise.  His naysayers skip over his very passable rookie season and ignore the emergency appendectomy that sidelined the start of his second campaign.  He finished last year strong in Cleveland and this summer has added the bulk and strength that the surgery sapped last October.  He uses both hand well around the bucket, runs like a deer and finishes well, has a nice looking set/jump shot from mid-range, and passes well with a smart, aware team-oriented game. 

Faverani fills me with mixed emotions.  I love his physicality and feisty attitude towards intruders into “his” lane.  He has a surprising outside shot and made some nice interior passes in his brief time on the parquet.  And, then he disappeared.  His game reemerged during a stint in Maine only to get hurt.  The problem went undiagnosed for more than a month and the meniscus tear and surgery were described as difficult.  He did his rehab work in Spain where we got almost no updates and the only reports were superficial (Vitor at play or light exercise) or negative (Vitor drunk and crashing into another vehicle)--bah, humbug!  I really think he can break out to provide solid backup minutes, but who knows?

Joel Anthony will not make many mistakes.  Then again he will likely not do much very well, in fact he probably won’t do much at all.  Sadly there was absolutely no chance he would not pick up his player option of $3.8M since he will never get another contract of more than the veteran minimum (if any contract at all).  I still have this dream that Philadelphia will trade Noel and a huge TPE for Bass. Thornton, and Anthony, plus a first and a second and $3M.  Well the 76er’s do have to add $15M salary or so, or just pay the league up to the minimum team salary mark; they want another bottom finish; and they‘ve got this year‘s #1 center healing in the wings for next year.  Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?

I’m all for Olynyk getting at least 30 min/game this year and he’s put on some muscle.  He needs at least a dozen minutes more than Sullinger would leave at power forward, and with his added bulk I think Kelly will be able to man the center position without getting abused physically this year.  He showed some finesse around the basket and with the additional strength should be able to power up some shots where he was just stifled last season. 

All-in-all, my belief is that our center corps will stand up just fine this season.  They won’t be a strength of this team, but I don’t think they are going to be a serious weakness either.  I’d be just fine with slightly below average, but adequate and improving.

Only 2 more days until training camp.[Discuss on CG Forums!]