And the bench woes continue

[Errntknght]

I guess you lumped Danny Shayes and Tim Kempton into the mediocre category... which, if you meant average among NBA centers then thats elevating them above the level they played at. Same for Joe Klein. James Edwards I would say was a cut above them and most of the others - he was average among NBA centers, maybe a tad above.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Actually, I'm glad the Suns found one I like.

When you look back over our whole history at Center . . .

-- Neal Walk. A good guy, but the consolidation prize to Lou Alcindor/Kareem.
-- Alvan Adams. 212 lbs. at Center for a decade. 'Nuff said.
-- Mark West. A good guy, but a walking foul call.
-- Andrew Lang. Held the bell about two feet off the floor.
-- Oliver Miller. A big baby at 300+ lbs. (I used to see him at Paradise Valley Mall acting like a big baby).
-- Rick Robey. A third-string, role-playing Center at Power Forward (at the expense of Dennis Johnson).
-- Joe Klein, James Edwards, etc., mediocre.
-- Robin Lopez. The worst of Oliver Miller and Andrew Lang combined. A man-child who fell into the starting Center position until someone better comes along.

-- Marcin Gortat. The "someone better" we've been waiting for 40+ years.

Where's William Bedford, Rich Kelley, Dale Schlueter, Dennis Awtrey, Jeff Cook, Bayard Forrest, Paul Silas, Jim Fox etc.?

I don't think we used Edwards or Kelley correctly. Both of them were decent enough players. Silas was only 6'7 and usually played PF but he also played some center for us and was pretty effective, at least on the boards. I think you're really selling Oliver short. He had incredible gifts for a man his size and if he'd been able to control his excesses I think he would have had a HOF like career.

Steve

 

[Errntknght]

Did you have to mention William Bedford? I am happy not to remember this pitiful excuse for a basketball player (among other things.)

Oliver was one of my favorite players... he was an excellent position defender and probably the best I've ever seen at springing a trap on the pick and roll. Too bad Scott Skiles hated him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Did you have to mention William Bedford? I am happy not to remember this pitiful excuse for a basketball player (among other things.)

Oliver was one of my favorite players... he was an excellent position defender and probably the best I've ever seen at springing a trap on the pick and roll. Too bad Scott Skiles hated him.

For some reason, your comment about Bedford made me remember another waste of space we brought in. I wonder if Golden State wishes they had retained Robert Parrish instead of drafting Joe Barry Carroll? And I agree with your Oliver comments but would add he had some of the best hands I've ever seen.

Steve

 

[BC867]

Where's William Bedford, Rich Kelley, Dale Schlueter, Dennis Awtrey, Jeff Cook, Bayard Forrest, Paul Silas, Jim Fox etc.?

I did it from memory and knew I was leaving some out.

I didn't include Paul Silas, who was, as you mentioned, a Power Forward covering Center. Just as our many Power Forwards during the Alvan Adams decade had to cover Center, while he camped out at the top of the key. Same as before Frye finally moved from C to PF, standing behind the 3-point line.

In any event, it doesn't change my opinion that Marcin Gortat represents the "someone better" we've been waiting for at Center for 40+ years. Looking over all the Suns Centers, I don't think we'd ever be able to say that about Robin Lopez.

 

[JCSunsfan]

James Edwards was actually pretty decent.

And cmon, what about Luc Longley, Chris Dudley, Big Jake, Little Jake and Neal Walk was a very good center but what despised because his name was not Lew Alcindor (actually averaged 20 and 12.5 boards for us in 72-73)

 

[BC867]

James Edwards was actually pretty decent.

I liked big James. He was a tough defender and rebounder. But he, too, played 20+ feet away from the basket on offense, the opponents would switch and our Power Forwards were out-muscled by their Centers.

Rich Kelley, who was used sparingly at Center, actually averaged more rebounds per minutes played than Truck Robinson (our 6'7" Power Forward) who led the Suns in rebounding when he replaced Mo Lucas.