5th Annual SI Player Rankings: #5 PF

[jonathanlambert33]

I'm going to be that guy because everyone except for a few clowns on this board know Tim Duncan is a center. Popp himself has put this argument to rest saying Duncan is the center and always has been.

I'll put it this way, we can call him a "hybrid" in the same way Anthony Davis and a few others are, but the guy is undoubtedly a center and plays more minutes at center than power forward. Injuries or no injuries, so it's not like he's being forced into it.

 

[buzzy]

We'd honestly profit from making these rankings something like

Points
Wings
Big Men

 

[bosoxlover12]

^

 

[Hurricane Season]

I'm pretty sure Bosh is also a center, but positions are almost a crapshoot these days. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I'm pretty sure Bosh is also a center, but positions are almost a crapshoot these days. 

He's a PF that plays C when necessary imo

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I'm going to be that guy because everyone except for a few clowns on this board know Tim Duncan is a center. Popp himself has put this argument to rest saying Duncan is the center and always has been.

I'll put it this way, we can call him a "hybrid" in the same way Anthony Davis and a few others are, but the guy is undoubtedly a center and plays more minutes at center than power forward. Injuries or no injuries, so it's not like he's being forced into it.

Where a guy plays and what his natural position is aren't the same though. Magic Johnson played center one game.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

He's a power forward who plays some minutes at center.

 

[Hurricane Season]

He's been starting at center ever since their first finals year, if I'm not mistaken.  I'm sure he gets some burn at the four, but he's primarily been the five for the past three years.

 

[Hurricane Season]

Whiteside might settle into the five full time after his breakout year, though.

 

[buzzy]

He's a PF that plays C when necessary imo

 
which was like the entirety of their championship runs?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

He's been starting at center ever since their first finals year, if I'm not mistaken.  I'm sure he gets some burn at the four, but he's primarily been the five for the past three years.

If you are going to go by the true "positions", then it all depends on who you view as what. The years he played next to Splitter, I definitely view splitter as more of a "center" than Duncan. Same with Blair and the way he plays. On the other hand, Diaw is more of a perimeter guy.

But any site that tells you how much % a guy played at one position is speculative because they're all based on how whatever person/site views a lineup. Like I've seen sites that say Redick has played PG in his career which he never has except maybe in garbage time his rookie year.

Regardless, the common philosophy is that positions are disappearing (Nola too has said this, and later backtracked when it was convenient for him [i.e. DeAngelo Russell]). Which is why it's better to do these polls just based on natural fit, for which Duncan's is power forward. Hell, Nola drafted Duncan as his PF in the re-draft last summer -____-

 

[buzzy]

He was talking about Bosh

 

[Hurricane Season]

He was talking about Bosh

 
You must have forgotten Bosh's stint with the Spurs.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Where a guy plays and what his natural position is aren't the same though. Magic Johnson played center one game.

Then Duncan is a center playing power forward lol

Look it's clear neither of us will change our mind so it's pointless to keep talking about it, I'll let Sal make the final call.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

 
You must have forgotten Bosh's stint with the Spurs.

I'm at work lol. That statement could've applied to either so I just ran with it

 

[Pugz]

We'd honestly profit from making these rankings something like

Points
Wings
Big Men

yep. said this a few polls back too

 

[RipCity32]

Well we are going to continue to do this position based. And Duncan will remain a PF as it literally doesn't matter in the slightest as we are a small sports forum doing a makeshift ranking process.

If someone has an issue with these they can run it next time around.