Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

[ProfessaPackMan]

Decided to create a separate thread so the other one would continue to get filled up with it.

If you were starting a team and these were the only 2 players you could take and build your team around, who would you take?

[Jasong7777]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

If both are healthy, give me Drew. I'm biased though.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

Give me Brook.

1. You can count on him.
2. He's better with his back to the basket.
3. He can knock down open short jumpers.
4. He can run a little bit.
5. He's already proven he can handle being the go-to guy.

[Weeks]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

Lopez, but that's because he can stay healthy. (he's played every game in his career so far)

He's also not immature like Bynum

I think his rebounding stats last year were just a down year because both previous years before that he averaged 8+

[ehh]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

Neither are worth of being in a "build your franchise around" discussion.

If I had to take one I'd take Bynum even with the injuries. Lopez is meh to me, overrated and probably a third banana on a contender. I shutter to think what he'd be like in an intense conference final or the Finals.

[l3ulvl]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

Neither are worth of being in a "build your franchise around" discussion.

Yep, not as a franchise cornerstone for sure. For the sake of argument I chose Bynum, I think his maturity will come with experience, and the overall skill set is better, once he figures it out he'll be very good.

[ScoobySnax]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

As others have noted, neither are cornerstones, but I would take Lopez simply for the fact that he'll be on the floor for you.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

@ this spinoff thread.

To answer the question- Neither.

But if I had to, I'd go with the guy who is less injury-prone since I basically know he'll be around.

Lopez.

[TMagic]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

If injuries are of no concern, then hands down Bynum.

With injuries factored in...Bynum by a smaller margin. Bynum's ceiling is higher than Brooks. He's only 24 and is very good in the post. IMO, he's better offensively, and MUCH, MUCH better rebounding and defensively.

I see Bynum as a game changer. Not so much when I view Brook.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

If injuries are of no concern, then hands down Bynum.

With injuries factored in...Bynum by a smaller margin. Bynum's ceiling is higher than Brooks. He's only 24 and is very good in the post. IMO, he's better offensively, and MUCH, MUCH better rebounding and defensively.

I see Bynum as a game changer. Not so much when I view Brook.

Bynum's definitely better defensively. Rebounding wise, with the exception of last year, he's better, but not WAYYYYYYY better like a lot of people seem to think.

And the only way Bynum is better offensively is on pick and rolls. Brook has him beat with his back to the basket and spotting up, and that's even with defenses focused on him.

[Checmate101]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

Gimmie Bynum......

[TMagic]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

Bynum's definitely better defensively. Rebounding wise, with the exception of last year, he's better, but not WAYYYYYYY better like a lot of people seem to think.

And the only way Bynum is better offensively is on pick and rolls. Brook has him beat with his back to the basket and spotting up, and that's even with defenses focused on him.

Bynum is a much better rebounder. If he wasn't playing with the likes of Pau, Odom, and on some occasions, Kobe, he'd be a perrenial 10+ rebounder.

Brooks rebounding numbers were an atrocity last year for a player his size and with his teammates.

I'd say their skill is about even in the post. But I say that Bynum is a tougher cover given his size and he's just more of a "fighter" down low.

[LionsFanNJ]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

I refuse to vote on this poll due to homerism unless Brook needs votes.

[Drewski]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

From the off-season thread. Quoting self.

Back to Bynum vs. Brook. It's pretty close I'd say, but I have a hard time taking Brook over Bynum.

Last year, for example, let's take a look at rebounding. Brook Lopez average 6 rebounds a game. It'd be easy to stop there, but lets not. Ok, so he grabs 6 boards. Kris Humphries averages 10.4, so that's going to soak up some glass. But the next best is Deron Williams with 4.6. Brooks rebounding %? 10% flat.

Bynum? 9.4 Rpg. Gasol grabbed up 10.2 rebounds, so lets wash him with Humphries (guy can rebound, or maybe it's the lack of rebounding around him?). Odom grabbed 8.7 rpg (you know, the guy who isn't worth anything?). Kobe grabbed 5.1 And finally you have someone who drops below Deron Williams, Matt Barnes with 4.3 (he's one of the best rebounders at the 3). Bynums rebounding %? Oh, that'd be 19.2 %. Nearly double Brook Lopez. Oh, and Pau Gasol is a fairly good rebounder right? Yet he has a 15.6% rebounding percentage.

Andrew Bynum is in the top 5 of rebounding percentage - Brook Lopez doesn't crack the top 20.

Give Bynum the touches Brook has and it's not even CLOSE in comparison. This isn't even considering defensive capabilities one way or the other.

Also, to those who will quote health and games played.

- Since Brook Lopez entered the league 3 years ago there is only a 25 game difference in the amount of games played between both big men. This is including playoffs, which provides an unfair game count advantage, you could say, against Bynum. I am strictly looking at the raw number of games played in those three years. We always hear how "Kobe has all those playoff minutes" and such, this is no different.

[1Rose]

Re: Which Center Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

Those numbers are so unfairly stacked in Bynum's favor. It's a lot different, because if Lopez was on a contender that 25 game difference would be even greater.

Brook has played in all 82 games his first 3 seasons in the league.

Bynum has missed almost 82 games due to injury in those 3 seasons. 77 to be exact.

Each player has their strengths. If you're looking for defense, take Bynum. If you're looking for scoring and durability, take Lopez.