Biyombo, Center or Power Foward ?

[SJackson1]

i say center !

[superb1]

I say center, especially that we are geared up to play him there and draft someone to play PF. Silas wanted to move him to PF and he is not the HC anymore. It would probably be up to the new staff.

[Black]

Center without a doubt. He has a longer wingspan than Howard or Bynum. Whatever he lacks in height, he makes up for in arms.

[dnbman]

I say center, especially that we are geared up to play him there and draft someone to play PF. Silas wanted to move him to PF and he is not the HC anymore. It would probably be up to the new staff.

I say Ben Wallace. Guy usually covered the beefiest dude in the middle. Sometimes Sheed would take the centers. On the offensive end. Wallace mostly played underneath, occasionally getting out to ten feet. Sheed would often go out to the perimeter.

I think Biyombo will be that kind of guy for us, we just need to make sure our coach sees that in Biyombo.

[JGib23]

This is a huge question.

If the team believes he's a power forward, no way an we draft T-Rob

I too think he's a center.

[bes628]

Center..dude literally possesses no offense skill set at this point. All he's good for is blocking shots and rebounds..which is good enough for me.

[WAM9]

Center. No question for me personally.

[SJackson1]

i think Biyombo and Robinson would be a good combo for us, they are both very strong and Robinson would score alot of points in the paint which we need more than anything.

[dnbman]

I think he's a center, but that's a bit more abstract than it sounds. In today's NBA, a lot of "centers" are 6'11/7'0 face-up wing players. We don't need Biyombo covering those guys, though he's capable. We just need to have a guy paired with him that has a bit more range and some size. On our end, BB is the center and the other guy is the 4. On the defensive end, you just play the matchups.

[McBeastie]

Definitely a center. I think he's said before that's how he views himself, too. Maybe one day he'll develop range outside of 10 feet, but right now all we need him to work on is his post offense & ball handling. If he can finish consistently at the rim, along with his continued growth on defense, he'll be very good. Hopefully he grows into those arms another inch or two over the summer, too. Lol

[JGib23]

One more thing... It would be great if he grows another inch or 2 this offseason.

[CatNation1]

He wants to be a center, thats good enough for me

[WAM9]

One more thing... It would be great if he grows another inch or 2 this offseason.

That is not out of the question.

1/2 inch or more...probably not 2" :)

[Black]

That is not out of the question.

1/2 inch or more...probably not 2" :)

Hey, Paul George grew two inches over the last offseason, it's not unheard of!

[BlockParty]

He's a situational center, yeah, that's a new word. He guards the big on the other team that plays closest to the basket (which is not always the Center). On offense, we run no plays for him and he has to scrap for baskets and get junk off pick and rolls.

[Felton for Prez]

Wow...I am the only one that thinks he's a PF. If he grows 2in, then I'd change my mind. While I agree he can play C, ideally, I wanted him to be a PF and have a 7 footer as our C. I wonder if I am in denial that we didn't get our 7ft center last night or everyone else is because the T-Rob push is on.

[Black]

Wow...I am the only one that thinks he's a PF. If he grows 2in, then I'd change my mind. While I agree he can play C, ideally, I wanted him to be a PF and have a 7 footer as our C. I wonder if I am in denial that we didn't get our 7ft center last night or everyone else is because the T-Rob push is on.

There aren't that many great seven foot centers anymore. Plus, your standing reach is more important than your height; you don't play defense with your head, you play it with your arms. Bismack is near the top of the league when it comes to wingspan and standing reach.

[skratch]

Center but not a starter unless he improves dramatically

[Ezell]

I lean towards Center, but honestly besides Ben Wallace there is no one who i can think of very closely related to him skill wise in recent or distant history. I just hope he can improve and help this team as best as possible his character, humbleness,and work ethic is threw the roof as is the case with most African big men (Diop being the exception).

[SJackson1]

he has a terrific wingspan so that helps him block taller players

[Wolfpackbobcat]

He is your end of game center. OKC uses Ibaka the same way.

[SJackson1]

he averaged 1.8 blocks last season and he didn;t get many minutes to be honest so he will average over 2 blocks next season and it will keep going up and up

[dnbman]

he averaged 1.8 blocks last season and he didn;t get many minutes to be honest so he will average over 2 blocks next season and it will keep going up and up

I think he finished second in block rate Ibaka. No doubt he'll average over 2 a game next season.

[SJackson1]

I think he finished second in block rate Ibaka. No doubt he'll average over 2 a game next season.

he will also grab more rebounds and if we get Robinson that would be two players grabbing 18/19 a game

[teej]

While he might not be a true center, there's no reason to get anyone closer to a true center at this point.

He's the defensive, strong big. You need an offensive, post-move big with adequate peremiter defense beside him. Who plays who is irrelevant.

[QC Thundercats]

Am I the only one that thinks the distinction doesn't matter?

These days, there isn't the specific specialization of skills for each position as there was in the past. Now, there is such crossover in abilities, where most players are developing a more versatile, multifaceted skillset. Big combo guards are playing point, power forward sized players are venturing out to the perimeter and utilizing a dribble drive game, and 7 footers are becoming 3 point specialists.

To me, there are maybe three broad categories for players - primary ballhandlers, wings, and bigs. Who they're matched up against, regardless of size, would be determined on a game to game basis.

Ideally, you would have a ballhandling guard to set up the offense (can be PGs like Paul, Rondo, and Parker, or a bigger player like Lebron, Ginobili, and Harden), a wing that can also handle the ball and create offense (smaller guards like Mayo, Terry, and Monta Ellis, or bigger wings like Iguodala, Stephen Jackson, and Wade), a tough nosed wing that can play defense and rebound (smalls like Tony Allen and Iman Shumpert, or taller ones like Sefalosha and Battier), a stretch big with range out to 3 (Kevin Love, Ryan Anderson, Dirk, Mullens), and a post up big that can get points down low (6'9 guys like Randolph, Jefferson, and Brand, or 7-footers like Bynum and Gasol). I don't think it matters which one of these is taller or bigger than the other, just that the lineup covers most of these abilities that you need to compete. Hopefully, you can find players that can do more of these.

Defensively, the coach would just match up their player with whoever they feel they can guard, or depending on personnel or any adjustments on a game to game basis. Our coach could put Biyombo to guard a big bruising center, or a finesse power forward post, depending on the opponent, and it wouldn't matter what label you put on him. And our coach can't control who the other team puts on our guys to defend.

[dnbman]

Am I the only one that thinks the distinction doesn't matter?

There were a few of us in this thread that said as much.

[SJackson1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMIRZ3iKwYY

[QC Thundercats]

There were a few of us in this thread that said as much.

Eh, not really. Looked back over, just about everyone either declaratively stated he was a center, or leaned toward him being a center. I'm saying (along with teej) that this doesn't matter at all, there's no need to find a label. He's a big, and we just need another big that compliments him, regardless of size or supposed position.

But I guess the new coach will call him whatever he wants to call him, its all semantics either way.

[SWedd523]

Eh, not really. Looked back over, just about everyone either declaratively stated he was a center, or leaned toward him being a center. I'm saying (along with teej) that this doesn't matter at all, there's no need to find a label. He's a big, and we just need another big that compliments him, regardless of size or supposed position.

But I guess the new coach will call him whatever he wants to call him, its all semantics either way.
I've said as much many times in the past without much support.

Bismack is a big, not a PF and not a C. He's defined by who he guards, where he's at on the floor, and who's playing beside him.

[QC Thundercats]

I've said as much many times in the past without much support.

Bismack is a big, not a PF and not a C. He's defined by who he guards, where he's at on the floor, and who's playing beside him.

Well, sounds like there's at least 4-5 of us now. Lets band together and start the movement, "Bismack the Big"

[teej]

"Bismack the Big"

He's right between Alexander the Great and Conan the Barbarian.

[WAM9]

We have had multiple conversations about his position throughout the season and the way I remember most of them, we were mostly in agreement about the Smack being a "big".

I was just answering the poll as it only had 2 choices but I do agree that it really doesn't matter what you call him...it is all about the matchups.

[SJackson1]

the guy is only 19 years old and he has bags of talent, I think he's going to be a special player for us

[spectre]

From back in March:


Smack is what, around 245 at a young 19? Kid ain't done growing yet.

But let me back up; I'm not saying Smack should never play PF. To me those 2 positions really are reasonably close to interchangeable (unlike PG/SG, or "wings"). Main thing is I don't want Smack getting the ball 20' from the rim and be expected to create offense. 10' and in please. On defense he's the most mobile of any big outside of Chandler I've seen on this squad...he just needs growing more vs. the finesse bigs like Jefferson.

What I disagree with is the line "Bismack is NOT A C".

[Mustachio]

I agree that he is a "big" no matter the label. But I would say that he is more of a center than a PF. Bottom line is he is going to be patrolling the paint... thats his home.

Bismack came to the NBA last year in a weird shortened season on a terrible team, without a summer offseason program, and very little training camp because of the contract. There is no reason to not be unbelievably excited about this kid.

Give him a good coaching staff, an off season program, add a little more bulk, and maybe 1/2 an inch and we are going to have a monster. Its why in the silly "maybe theres still a chance we get Davis cause he wants to be here" thread I said I would gladly give up this and next years first to move up for Davis. I think Davis is going to be special. Paired beside Bismack for the next 10 years and we would have 2 19 year old freaks and the best front court in basketball.

[SJackson1]

he was going toe to toe with Dwight Howard last season in the games we played against the Magic

[Plowright]

Right now he does not have enough skill to be a PF and is not clever enough on Defense. But in the future he may become a PF

[SJackson1]

Biyombo has defensive 1st team written all over him and i think he will continue to impress and improve next season. He only got 23 minutes a game last season so he will get more time on the floor which we need

[SWedd523]

the guy is only 19 years old and he has bags of talent, I think he's going to be a special player for us

Paper or plastic?

[WAM9]

Paper or plastic?

Steel...Smack's talent is too strong to be contained by either paper or plastic!

[adam187]

center, power forward, i don't care as long as he's a bobcat.

[dnbman]

Eh, not really. Looked back over, just about everyone either declaratively stated he was a center, or leaned toward him being a center. I'm saying (along with teej) that this doesn't matter at all, there's no need to find a label. He's a big, and we just need another big that compliments him, regardless of size or supposed position.

But I guess the new coach will call him whatever he wants to call him, its all semantics either way.

It really is semantics. That was my point about the Ben Wallace comparison. He was a PF/C -- a "big"-- and they played him where it made the most sense, usually near the basket on the offensive end. That's definitely the way Biyombo should play, at least until he develops more of an outside game.

[SJackson1]

im interested to see if he grows this post season, he might be over 6ft 10 !

[Scrapper1]

Center...he gonna be a defensive beast