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View Full Version : 1972 ASG centers: 3 giant "traditional" centers face 2 "undersized" centers



CavaliersFTW
02-28-2015, 07:56 PM
You'd be surprised how well the small East centers did. I think it is interesting to watch the contrasting size/style of play. Note, on both squads assists are WAY underrepresented. A lot of assists just did not get tallied I have no idea why:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXLvZg_HEKg

West Centers (Combined)
22 points (8-15fg, 6-13ft)
20 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal in 48 minutes

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
12 points (5-10fg, 2-2ft)
7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal in 19 minutes

Wilt Chamberlain
8 points (3-3fg, 2-8ft)
10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block in 24 minutes

Bob Lanier
2 points (0-2fg, 2-3ft)
3 rebounds *1 assist (uncredited) in 5 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1pf4BdiOJ0

East Centers Combined
16 points (6-17fg, 4-5ft)
27 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 blocks in 48 minutes of play

Dave Cowens
14 points (5-12fg, 4-5ft)
20 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks in 32 minutes of play

Wes Unseld
2 points (1-5fg)
7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks in 16 minutes of play

CavaliersFTW
02-28-2015, 08:00 PM
Just for the sake of comparing their size differences in the matchup:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
7-1 7/8ths without shoes
7-5 armspan
235lbs at the time

Wilt Chamberlain
7-1 1/16th without shoes
7-8 armspan
300lbs at the time

Bob Lanier
Listed 6-11 (by self admission a little shorter than that, probably 6-10)
unknown armspan
286lbs at the time
Should be noted Lanier was actually a good jump shooter and thus an effective face-up shooting/stretch center unlike Wilt and Kareem.

vs

Dave Cowens
6-8 and 1/2 without shoes
6-9 armspan
230lbs at the time

Wes Unseld
6-5 and 3/4 without shoes
Unknown armspan
likely about 265lbs at the time

Wavves
02-28-2015, 08:01 PM
The two undersized centers are hall of famers and are well known to be fantastic players at the C position even at their size.

This still doesn't make up for the argument that Wilt dominated short white guys throughout his career.

CavaliersFTW
02-28-2015, 08:04 PM
The two undersized centers are hall of famers and are well known to be fantastic players at the C position even at their size.

This still doesn't make up for the argument that Wilt dominated short white guys throughout his career.
I think you think I had an ulterior motive here... I didn't. Save your 6 foot white guy spiel for another thread. Here? Watch the footage or don't IDGAF. This thread is meant to generate discussion about the players in question in the footage, or the footage itself. Nothing else.