Undersized Big Man’ literally refers to a player who is in a position to defend the post, such as a power forward or center, but is shorter than the league average. Most of the cases in which he played as a big man because he was tall from an early age, and then did not grow as much as expected. Or there are so few tall players on the team that you have no choice but to play under the net.
A player who grew up as an undersized big man has two options. 메이저놀이터 There are ways to acknowledge the limitations of a somewhat unfavorable size and continue to compete in familiar positions, or try to transform into a swingman by polishing the outside shot. If he succeeds in changing to another position, his size and strength, which were weaknesses in the case of a big man, can become strengths instead. However, there are players who insist on being a big man to the end despite these and other difficulties, and sometimes that itself becomes a charm and attracts many fans.
One of the first people to come to mind when thinking of an undersized big man is Alonzo Morning (52‧206cm), “Zo”. Morning goes beyond simply doing well and is remembered as one of the centers that will remain in history. While the majority of undersized big men fought with ‘survival’ in mind, Morning ran towards ‘the best’. Although he may not have reached the pinnacle he hoped for, he has had a well-deserved career, including one championship, seven All-Stars, two Defensive Player of the Year, two Block Shots, one First Team, and two Defensive First Teams. .
As an undersized big man, the fact that he won the defense award and the block shot king twice each shows how competitive he was as a center. Moreover, what can be given a high score is the fact that the 1990s, when Morning was at his peak, was one of the best centers in NBA history. Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Shaquille O’Neal, who were called the ‘Four Centers’, were each of the team’s leading stars and deserved to be called big men who could represent their contemporaries.
Where is that? Dikembe Mutombo, who gained notoriety as a block shot monster, was evaluated as more than a top 4 center in terms of defense alone, and white centers such as Rick Smits and Sean Bradley also brought their own strengths to gain competitiveness. It was a time when good big men poured like a flood. Morning was the smallest among them in size, but was at the top in terms of presence. If you are watching his play at the peak, it is not strange to receive rave reviews saying, ‘He is a big man who would not be surprised to be included in the top 4 centers’.
In its heyday, Morning was a warrior itself. In the case of an undersized big man who is pushed back by his normal size, he often competes by polishing other weapons such as his excellent shooting sense, but Morning basically prioritized a head-to-head match. In addition to his unique quickness and athletic ability, he was also strong in physical fights to the extent that he was not easily pushed back even when stuck with O’Neal. He was bold enough to try a block shot without hesitation even when a bigger player than himself rushed under the goal, and he had many offensive options such as a middle shot, so the weakness of undersize was not greatly highlighted in actual games.
When it comes to undersized big men who can succeed Morning in the current era, ‘BamBam’ Bam Adebayo (25‧206cm) deserves to be numbered first. Although their playing styles are different, they have many things in common, such as the presence they exude as an undersized big man in an era where powerful centers show off their power, and the fact that he is a player who can play both a center and a power forward.
In the case of Morning, I went to and from several teams, but the best performance was during the Miami Heat. Because of this, the Miami color is stronger than any other team, and Adebayo was nominated by Miami with the 14th pick in the 2017 rookie draft and is a growing franchise star candidate. If Morning had a solid and strong image, Adebayo stands out with relatively softer and more intelligent play.
He basically has a good shooting touch, so he can score points by going in and out of the perimeter, and he has vision and handling that is not like a big man, so he can play the role of a point center to some extent. If Morning showed off his power as an orthodox center who was not pushed at all by big players despite his small stature, Adebayo can be said to be a technician with more outstanding skills.
It’s not just because Adebayo is an undersized big man. In the era when Morning was playing, it was basic for a big man to play while keeping the bottom of the goal first. It’s different now. Multiplayer is required to the extent that even tall centers have to throw a 3-point shot when they get a chance. An undersized big man like Adebayo would need to be more proficient in that role.
The reason why Morning was able to run for a considerable amount of time despite his small stature is that he did not expose his weak points in the defensive part. The reason for the existence of the center is to protect the bottom of the goal, unless it shows the league’s top offensive productivity. Adebayo is also one of the best defenders in the league. Due to his height limitations, he sometimes shows his limitations in terms of height, but he boasts a firmness that is second to none as far as Garosu Rain is concerned.
Due to his low center of gravity and quick feet, he can defend not only a big man, but also a swingman or guard to some extent. No matter who the opponent is, it can persist and endure a physical fight, so it is not a nuisance from the point of view of attacking. He also has a good sense, so he is good at playing denial defense or hitting the ball. In a way, it can be said that he is the type of big man who fits well with the recent trend of small balls.
Of course, Adebayo has a long way to go to follow Morning’s career. He is a one-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Second Team. However, it is by no means a bad record compared to his competitors in the same age, and above all, it is making us look forward to the future in that he continues to grow rapidly. His All-Star performance is averaging 21.6 points, 3 assists, 10.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 44 games this season.
Recently, the NBA has been pouring in large big men for the first time in a long time since the 1990s. Despite his tall stature, Joel Embiid, who combines speed and shooting with great athleticism, is summoning the legendary Olajuwon, and Nicola Jokic, who is rewriting the history of the white big man, coined the term “point center.” On top of that, Domantas Sabonis continues the Lithuanian lineage of basketball heroes, following in the footsteps of his father, Abidas Sabonis. Let’s see how far Adebayo, an undersized big man, can advance in this heyday of the center.
Leave a Reply