Assessing the Mavs size…or lack thereof
October 1st, 2009 | by crstuckey |Do the Mavs have a size problem? We would not be asking this question if the Magic had not matched the Mavs offer to restricted free agent center Marcin Gortat. But nonetheless, the topic must be broached.
If you take a look at the depth chart, two centers are listed…Erick Dampier and Nathan Jawai. We all know what Damp brings to the table. He is a serviceable big man that isn’t going to wow you with his skills or spectacular plays. He is going to go out every night play his 25 to 28 minutes, score six or eight points and grab eight boards.
As for Jawai, I’m not sure anyone really knows what to expect from him this season. Assuming he makes the squad, I would keep my expectations relatively low. Jawai has played in six career NBA games (mostly mop up duties). What can he realistically contribute? I’d say he’s just a body.
Rick Carlisle has tabbed Drew Gooden as the starting center for “most of the games.” The only problem with that is the “Gortat Consolation Prize” is a power forward. Not an ideal situation in my mind. Don’t be surprised if the Gooden at center experiment is short lived.
We know the Mavs situation but what about the other teams in the league? I have compiled a list of players on each team that are 6-10 and taller.
Here it is…
Atlanta Hawks-
Al Horford C 6-10
Zaza Pachulia C 6-11
Jason Collins C 7-0
Randolph Morris C 6-11
Joe Smith PF 6-10
Boston Celtics-
Kendrick Perkins C 6-10
Kevin Garnett PF 6-11
Rasheed Wallace PF/C 6-11
Charlotte Bobcats-
Tyson Chandler C 7-1
DeSagana Diop C 7-0
Nazr Mohammed C 6-10
Alexis Ajinca C 7-0
Vladimir Radmanovic SF 6-10
Chicago Bulls-
Brad Miller C 7-0
Jerome James C 7-1
Joakim Noah C 6-11
Cleveland Cavaliers-
Shaquille O’Neal C 7-1
Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7-3
Anderson Varejao C 6-11
Dallas Mavericks-
Erick Dampier C 6-11
Nathan Jawai PF 6-10
Dirk Nowitzki PF 7-0
Drew Gooden PF 6-10
Tim Thomas PF 6-10
Denver Nuggets-
Nene C 6-11
Chris Andersen PF/C 6-10
Johan Petro C 7-0
Malik Allen PF 6-10
Detriot Pistons-
Kwame Brown C 6-11
Chris Wilcox PF 6-10
Charlie Villanueva PF 6-11
Austin Daye F 6-11
Jonas Jerebko F 6-10
Golden State Warriors-
Andris Biedrins C 6-11
Ronny Turiaf C 6-10
Anthony Randolph SF 6-10
Brandan Wright SF 6-10
Mikki Moore PF 7-0
Houston Rockets-
Yao Ming C 7-6
David Andersen F 6-11
Indiana Pacers-
Jeff Foster C 6-11
Roy Hibbert C 7-2
Solomon Jones PF 6-10
Troy Murphy PF 6-11
Josh McRoberts PF 6-10
Los Angeles Clippers-
Chris Kaman C 7-0
Marcus Camby C 6-11
DeAndre Jordan C 6-11
Blake Griffin PF 6-10
Los Angeles Lakers-
Andrew Bynum C 7-0
D.J. Mbenga C 7-0
Pau Gasol PF/C 7-0
Lamar Odom PF 6-10
Memphis Grizzlies-
Marc Gasol C 7-1
Hasheem Thabeet C 7-3
Hamed Haddadi C 7-2
Steven Hunter PF 7-0
Miami Heat-
Jermaine O’Neal C 6-11
Jamaal Magloire C 6-11
Milwaukee Bucks-
Andrew Bogut C 7-0
Dan Gadzuric C 6-11
Francisco Elson C 7-0
Minnesota Timberwolves-
Al Jefferson C 6-10
Ryan Hollins C 7-0
Mark Blount C 7-0
Kevin Love PF 6-10
Oleksiy Pecherov PF 7-0
New Jersey Nets-
Brook Lopez C 7-0
Josh Boone C 6-10
Yi Jianlian PF 7-0
Tony Battie C 6-11
Sean Williams PF 6-10
New Orleans Hornets-
Emeka Okafor C 6-10
Hilton Armstrong C 6-11
Sean Marks PF 6-10
Peja Stojakovic SF 6-10
New York Knicks-
Darko Milicic C 7-0
Jordan Hill F 6-10
Eddy Curry C 6-11
Jared Jeffries PF 6-11
Danilo Gallinari F 6-10
Oklahoma City Thunder-
Nenad Krstic C 7-0
Etan Thomas C 6-10
B.J. Mullens C 7-0
Nick Collison PF/C 6-10
Serge Ibaka C 6-10
Orlando Magic-
Dwight Howard C 6-11
Marcin Gortat C 6-11
Adonal Foyle C 6-10
Ryan Anderson PF 6-10
Rashard Lewis PF 6-10
Philadelphia 76ers-
Samuel Dalembert C 6-11
Marreese Speights PF 6-10
Primoz Brezec C 7-1
Jason Smith PF 7-0
Phoenix Suns-
Amare Stoudemire PF 6-10
Robin Lopez C 7-0
Channing Frye PF 6-11
Portland Trailblazers-
Greg Oden C 7-0
Joel Przybilla C 7-1
LaMarcus Aldridge PF 6-11
Sacramento Kings-
Spencer Hawes C 7-0
Jason Thompson PF 6-11
Donte Greene SF 6-11
San Antonio Spurs-
Tim Duncan PF/C 6-11
Theo Ratliff C 6-10
Ian Mahinmi C 6-11
Matt Bonner PF 6-10
Marcus Haislip F 6-10
Toronto Raptors-
Andrea Bargnani PF/C 7-0
Rasho Nesterovic C 7-0
Patrick O’Bryant C 7-0
Chris Bosh PF 6-10
Hedo Turkoglu SF 6-10
Utah Jazz-
Mehmet Okur C 6-11
Kosta Koufos C 7-0
Kyrylo Fesenko C 7-1
Washington Wizards-
Brendan Haywood C 7-0
JaVale McGee C 7-0
Fabricio Oberto C 6-10
Andray Blatche PF/C 6-11
As you can see, the Mavs have five players that fit the criteria but only one that is a true NBA center. Tim Thomas is a small forward that will never see a minute at the five and our favorite German is strictly a power forward. It’s times like these when I miss DJ Mbenga.
How do YOU feel about the Mavs big man situation?
Until next time…
Peace. Be good.
Tags: Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, DJ Mbenga, Drew Gooden, Erick Dampier, Marcin Gortat, Nathan Jawai, Rick Carlisle, Tim Thomas
By Cory on Oct 7, 2009
Given how weak a lot of teams are at center, I think a rotation of Gooden and Dampier could be serviceable for the Mavs. They could probably trade for guys like Nazr Mohammed and Hamed Haddadi for very cheap and they would help against teams with interior threats. The Sixers would love to get rid of Dalembert, but his contract blows. The Clippers and Wizards also have some real nice talent in the middle. And of course there’s always Eddy Curry