Quick look at Erick Dampier...

[Goldfield]

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/erick_dampier/

He is still in his prime. He has a very desirable Size & strength.

People have questioned his stats & his durability. After a second look, I dont think there is anything to worry about.

The last 3 seasons Dampier has played 73, 82, 74 games... That is a good amount of games, considering how physical he plays.

People also have brought up his jump is stats on his contract year. Now EVERYONE has incentive to stay extra motivated on a contract year. But that isnt the reason his stats have jumped this year IMO.

Dampier has averaged about 24 MPG up untill this year. This year he was given alot more playing time. He averaged 32.5 MPG this year, and was able to double his defensive rebounding(7.3), grab allmost 2 more Offensive rebounds(4.60), he scored about 4 points per game more(12.3), while increasing his fg% alot(53.5).

Dampier ranks very high in the NBA in RPG (#4), Efficiency per 48 min's(#9), FG%(#3), Blocks(#15)...


I was alot higher on Camby b4, but after a close look at the number Erick Dampier IS the best center for the Suns IMHO...

 

[elindholm]

Dampier's minutes were down in '02-'03 because Foyle tended to be more effective, especially in the fourth quarter. Foyle was hurt last year, so Dampier had less competition.

He put up great numbers, but would it translate into more wins? As F-Dog has pointed out, he didn't exactly make the Warriors a contender. I'd sure like to know more about his impact on the floor, but it's too late for me to have watched every Warrior game over the past three seasons.

It's not too late for Suns management, though. Someone should be spending weeks sorting through stacks and stacks of tape, figuring out whether it makes sense to take a $70-80 million gamble on this guy.

 

[Goldfield]

On the link I posted it shows his efficiancy when he is on the court. he is rated #9 in the NBA. Thats pretty good.

If I am reading it right, it says his team has a 20 point difference with him on the floor. If that isnt making a dramatic improvment to your team I dont know what is.


All I know is he would be a great fit in Phoenix I am officially on the Dampier bandwagon

 

[elindholm]

If I am reading it right, it says his team has a 20 point difference with him on the floor.

If I understood F-Dog's post correctly, the statistics that he found suggested the opposite. I'm not going to sort it out.

Regardless of what the stats say, there are legitimate questions about Dampier's motivation, and I think that would be the biggest concern. But for sure, if he is going to be close to the player he was last year, I say bring him aboard.

 

[scotsman13]

my problem with dampier isnt his stats or the number of games that he has missed, it is his age. right now this team is one of the youngest in the nba and will only get better as they grow down the line. this teams time is 4 to 5 maybe 6 years down the road, not now. by adding a player like dampier who wont be there when this team reachs their pike you not only shorten the window for this team but you are also insuring who ever they do get will be a weakness down the line.

 

[Goldfield]

my problem with dampier isnt his stats or the number of games that he has missed, it is his age. right now this team is one of the youngest in the nba and will only get better as they grow down the line. this teams time is 4 to 5 maybe 6 years down the road, not now. by adding a player like dampier who wont be there when this team reachs their pike you not only shorten the window for this team but you are also insuring who ever they do get will be a weakness down the line.

4,5, or 6 years????

This is the NBA, you can turn a team around in 2-3 years easy.
Does Marion need 6 more years? does JJ need 6 more years? in 6 years Amare will be in his ninth year in the NBA. Whats Dampier in his 8th or 9th year?

This team is in the 2 or 3rd year of its rebuild.

There is no reason The Suns cant be playoff contenders next year. Amare will be in his 3rd year, that should be the suns prime year to become a force in the west.

This team is a center away from really improving. With or without Kobe this team MUST have a center...

 

[Joe Mama]

I think the biggest reason Erick Dampier's statistics shot up was the change in the team around him. Troy Murphy was injured all season, and they traded Antwawn Jamison. The starting power forward was Cliff Robinson who is a notoriously weak rebounder.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

I think the biggest reason Erick Dampier's statistics shot up was the change in the team around him. Troy Murphy was injured all season, and they traded Antwawn Jamison. The starting power forward was Cliff Robinson who is a notoriously weak rebounder.

Joe Mama

Being the only rebounder on a team does help pad the stats. It just blew me away to read that Joel Przybilla averaged 8.4 rpg in Atlanta - until I looked at the rest of the lineup.

BTW, Przybilla could possibly be the worst offensive center in the NBA. It is routine for centers to average over 49% from the field with some like Dampier over 55%, since it is mostly layups and putbacks. Przybilla shot 36% from the field and 44% from the foul line. Ouch.