Wuthering, Not Height: The D'Antoni Revolution

Genius in a simple observation - that NBA big men are now more effective facing the basket than posting up - has revolutionized the formula for success in the modern NBA. Since fewer and fewer fours and fives have the skillset to play in the post anyway, why not play quicker, more skilled players at the traditionally "power" positions so they can take advantage of the new No Perimeter Contact Rule too? This very thought ran through the collective D'Antoni-Colangelo head in the summer of 2004, and the league hasn't looked back since.


Exibit A: Carlos Boozer Succeeds as C in West

No one in their right mind would draft Canadian Carlos Boozer as an NBA Center. Yet he (6-9), along with fellow success stories Boris Diaw (6-8) and Ben Wallace (6-9), has excelled playing against the biggest players on the court. He's notched 23 and 10 for the past five games, including match ups with KG, Duncan, and Yao. How, you ask? More speed, and comparable rebounding. D'Antoni's formula for the new frontcourt, derived by the chain reaction of moving Shawn Marion to the four spot last year. Mike's Theory of Relativity: Since Post-Up Skills have been Neutralized, If A Player Can Grab Defensive Rebounds at a Good Rate for His Position, Play the Best Player Regardless of Height. Amare, previously thought of as the protypical Power Forward, secures a regular spot on SportCenter by becoming a Speed Center. Diaw becomes a Speed Point Center, causing opposing coaches to stash kegs of Ibuprofen behind their bench. And as the NPCR dictates, the officials (and the fans, by the way) value Speed over Power. Coaches around the league must start to think accordingly -- Charlie Villenueva, PJ Brown, Antoine Walker, Ike Diogu, and Mike Sweetney have already seen some time at C. Why not 6-10 Lamar Odom? 6-9 Marvin Williams? If the Nets could find another PG, how about 6-4 Jason Kidd in the middle?

It is no longer a crisis that the skilled bigman is a dying breed -- replace him with a skilled slightly-less-big man! Despite being "soft", oft-critized Eurobigs like Pau and Mehmet are enjoying fabulous seasons because of their mobility. Rasheed succeeds with the threeball because he knows the block is where even talented post players like himself pick up offensive fouls. Choosing to forgo size for speed is no longer a necesary evil brought on by injuries or poor GMing; it's the right decision.


Why more coaches don't let all five positions take advantage of the NPCR is anybody's guess. Perhaps it just hasn't Okurred to them?



Exibit B: Tony Parker effectively guards Nowitzki

Well, not really. Despite being really fun to Google image, little TP allows the uber-forward to shoot about .500 at last count. But remember last year's playoffs? When T-Mac made Dirk look like a helpless kitten? Nowitzki's MVP candidacy relies on the failure of most NBA teams to realize what the San Antonio Spurs have certainly figured out -- that you can guard an amazing perimeter PF with a lanky SF if he doesn't have the post-up skills to use his height advantage. Heck, even the 6-2 Frenchman gave the Autobomber trouble with fleet-footed close-outs in their showdown this past Friday. Dallas won the game, but mainly because of a stuggling Tim Duncan. And this exemplifies the antithesis of the NPCR--more contact is allowed under the basket.
With his mobility-impairing foot injury, Timmy has had even more trouble this season because defenders are allowed to lean on his arms and bump him as he slowly saunters into the lane. Shaq faces the same obstacles, and career lows result. Don't pay Big Z $10 mil per -- his dinosaur game isn't worth it in the post-Mesozoic basketball era.

Thus, Diggler is right to keep his 7-foot frame moving from the arc to the stripe, but other teams should take note and play him with the Shane Battiers of the world instead of the Pau Gasols.



Phoenix's front line can average 6'7" in height and still have the visitors locker room trembling with fear. All 230 pounds of Marcus Camby can defend the league's big men as well as anybody. On offense, the paint no longer needs to be occupied, held like a fortress. It is only the goal, and only a constant flow in and out of it will achieve new basketball Nirvana. If you have a KG or a Yao, don't force them to become low-post bangers; let them control the paint without controlling it. Zen and the Art of Movement are not chic fads; they are The Way. Give us your inspired, your short, your unused passers yearning to breath free. Attack and defend like the wind, not like a brick wall. We don't need big lugs, Danny Fortson thugs, any more.

You can't coach height. And now, you don't have to.