Taking a Look Back on Last Season: SDH Presents the Top 30 Performing Centers of the 2012 NBA Season

They were once considered as an extinct species and their craft an nearly vanished art form, but the center position has reawakened and has gone through a massive renaissance thanks to a new generation of big man who have brought old fundamentals back into the game.  They are no longer tall power forwards that have masqueraded as centers in years past preferring to shoot outside jumpers than pound for them in the paint.  This new crop of big men have returned back to the basics returning home at the low block and using their God given gifts of size and strength to their advantage instead of trying to be "versatile" and playing fancy.  It is almost liken to the era when the NBA were dominated by mighty titans who went by the names of Kareem, Wilt, Russel, Cheif, Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, and O'Neal to name a few and how opposing team cowered to the mere mention of their names.

The circle is now complete as the center has finally returned to prominence and hopes to stay there for a very long time.  Here are the names of the thirty men who should be credited to bringing back this once fading art form to life and returning basketball to it's roost in the middle.  They represent not only the best that the league has to offer in the center position, but the return of an era.  Stay tuned as I will be posting the best of the best in the other four positions in basketball in the upcoming weeks.

30	Bismack Biyombo Charlotte Bobcats	One of the few bright spots of a rather woeful organization, Biyombo led his team in rebounds (5.8) and blocked shots per game (1.8)—not bad for a 19 year old kid that no one even expected to play this season because he was considered too raw.
29	Chris Andersen Denver Nuggets	Before the arrival of Javale McGee, Anderson led the Nuggets in blocked shots per game (1.44) while at the same time averages about five points and five boards per game in 15 minutes of playing time.
28	Timofey Mozgov Denver Nuggets	Mozgov started in 35 of the 51 games that he played averaging about 5 points, 4 boards and almost one blocked shot per game for the Nuggets.  He was one of three Denver big men to average the same numbers at around the same playing time.
27	Kosta Koufos Denver Nuggets	Altogether Koufos, Mozgov and Anderson, and later on Javale McGee combined for 27 points, 22 rebounds and about seven blocked shots per giving the Nuggets one of the most imposing front courts in the league.
26	Kendrick Perkins Oklahoma City Thunder	Since coming over from Boston the season before and signing a long term extension, Kendrick Perkins has not been much of a factor for the Thunder as he has essentially has become a bystander on the offensive end and an occasional shot blocking presence on the defensive end.
25	Omer Asik Chicago Bulls	In less than 15 minutes per game, Omer Asik has been rather efficient on both ends of the floor averaging 3 points, 5 boards and a block a game making him one of the best back up big men in the league.
24	Ian Mahinimi Dallas Mavericks	Mahinimi certainly looks as he will be Dallas’ center for the future as posted some of his best numbers as a pro (5.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 18.7minpg, .546FG%) proving to be the reason why the Mavericks felt comfortable letting Tyson Chandler go at the beginning of the season.
23	DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers	Let’s face it: for guy that is getting played franchise player salary, he has shown that he’s anything but that.  He’s hardly a factor on the offensive end (just 7.4ppg in 27.2minpg), an average rebounder (8.3 per game), and a somewhat decent shot-blocker (2.02 per game).  Otherwise, there is nothing much else to his game.
22	Zaza Pachulia Atlanta Hawks	Zaza Pachulia stepped up his game in a major way stepping in for Al Horford, who sat out the regular season due to injust by posting his best numbers in four years averaging close to 8 point and 8 boards per game while shooting close to .500.
21	Jason Thompson Sacramento Kings	Thompson proved to be a solid complement to DeMarcus Cousins in the Kings’ starting front court averaging about nine points and 7 boards per game in 26 minutes of action while shooting a rather respectable .536 from the field.
20	Spencer Hawes Philadelphia 76ers	Spencer Hawes was on his way to having a career season along with a possible nod for Most Improved Player Award until he got injured and finished the season in rather mediocre fashion.  Hawes started the season averaging a double double in points and rebounds per game with 12 and 13 respectively while shooting close to .700 from the field, but finished it with 9.3 point and 7.8 rebounds per game shooting .489 from the field.
19	Al Horford Atlanta Hawks	Horford may have only played 14 games total this season, but he certainly made them count—especially in the playoffs. With his team down 3-1 and looking in the face of elimination, Horford scored 19 and grabbed eleven to send Atlanta to a game six where he and his Hawks would be subsequently eliminated.
18	Derrick Favors Utah Jazz	Possibly one of the greatest hidden talents in basketball, Favors has been tucked away in Utah’s bench averaging close to 9 points, 7 boards and a blocked shot per game in about 20 minutes of play.  If his minutes were to double, he would seriously be given All Star consideration
17	Byron Mullens Charlotte Bobcats	Before heading to Charlotte from Oklahoma city, Byron Mullens had just played 32 games for his entire career; however as a Bobact, he would have a breakout season averaging career highs in points, rebounds and minutes per game and showed all who watched the league that he has the potential for greater things.
16	Mareese Speights Memphis Grizzlies	The Sixers must have been eating a lot of crow after shipping away Mareese Speights to Memphis as he would end up having a career season in points (8.8), rebounds (6.2) standing in the place of the injured Zach Randolph for much of the Grizzlies’ regular season.  Speights also contributed big time in the post season as a backup averaging 7 and 4 while shooting .488 as a backup off the bench
15	Nene Washington Wizards	He is grossly overpaid and his bloated contract will most likely never be removed, but Nene had a rather decent season averaging about 14 points and 8 boards in less than 30 minutes of action per game.  The question is whether or not he can maintain that production while at Washington and if he can stay off the injured list as he only played 39 games this season.
14	Dwight Howard Orlando Magic	He turned his team from perennial playoff contender into a living sideshow filled with rumors, fear, intrigue and uncertainty.  It resulted in his team stumbling into a low playoff seed, getting eliminated early and having probably one of the best coaches in the league fired.
13	Javale McGee Denver Nuggets	This guy is so gifted with size strength, agility, soft hands, and the footwork of a ballerina.  If he were to get his head on straight and start playing smart, he would easily be the best center in the NBA.  He saw traces of greatness in Denver’s first round series against the Lakers giving fans a preview of what’s to come in the future
12	Tyson Chandler New York Knicks	Sure he won Defensive Player of the Year, but it does not mean he is that great a center.  Chandler’s has been in the league for more than a decade and is just as raw athletically as he was just come out of high school in the 2001 NBA draft—he has yet to develop a post up game, has terrible footwork for an elite big man, and only be counted on for rebounds and blocked shots.
11	Tiago Splitter San Antonio Spurs	Some may consider this rather high for a player that comes off the bench, but here’s my reasoning way he’s is All Star material—the man average close to 10 points and 6 boards per game while shooting close to .620 from the field in less than 20 minutes per game.  Spurs fans need not worry about who’s going to replace Tim Duncan once he inevitably leaves as the team has a capable successor to the future hall of famer.
10	Chris Kaman New Orleans Hornets	Much of Kaman’s season was spent in limbo as the Hornets took him out for a stretch in an effort to trade him, but that did not get him down as he posted yet another solid season averaging close to 14 points, 8 rebounds and a blocked shot per game.  At 30 years old and coming off of numerous injuries, Kaman showed that he still has enough in the tank to be still considered an elite center in the NBA.
9	Joakim Noah Chicago Bulls	Okay, so physically he is not a prototype center but more of a power forward, nor does he have the traditional back to the basket game preferring to face up his opponents, but when Joakim Noah takes to the court he flaws are ignored as he play with all heart and all balls hustling and fighting for every possession on both sides of the floor.  Add the fact that he was within a couple of tenths of a double double in points and rebounds per game make Noah a worthy mention in the top 10.
8	Nicola Pekovic Minnesota Timberwolves	Pekovic should have been considered for a mention for Most Improved Player of the Year instead of Ryan Anderson because he is a commodity that most teams would love to have: a true center that can take on the best in the league.  He played well as a solid complement to Kevin Love in front coming second on the team in scoring (13.9ppg) and rebounds per game (7.4) along with performing rather well on the defensive end averaging close to a block and a steal per game in the regular season as well.
7	Greg Monroe Detroit Pistons	Greg Monroe is by far one of the best big men to ever come out of Georgetown University as he led the Pistons in both scoring and rebounding averaging 16 and 10 respectively.  That is quite impressive considering he is on a team of ball hogs that rarely passes the ball choosing to go one on one instead.  Monroe would have also been a better pick for Most improved player than Orlando’s Ryan Anderson, but he probably did not get a much attention as Anderson considering the fact that he was on a rather crappy team.
6	Andrew Bynum Los Angeles Lakers	Bynum is bar none one of the top centers in the league and probably will be for a long time—the problem, however that kept him from being the top guys was his immaturity.  At the end of the season, he seemed less of an All Star who had two championship rings under his belt than a cry baby pre-Madonna and a spoiled brat which possibly hurt his team’s chances of continuing further in the playoffs.
5	Marcin Gortat Phoenix Suns	Here’s another guy who should have gotten the nod for Most Improved player along with an appearance on the Western Conference All Star squad as he certainly played like one.  Statistically, Gortat was one of the top five centers in the league as he led his team in scoring (15.9ppg) rebounds, (10.0) and blocked shots (1.5 per game).  Add to the fact that he was one of only seven to average more than ten points and ten rebounds per game.
4	Al Jefferson Utah Jazz	The man went from being a possible lost cause to the hero that helped carry what was supposed to be a lottery team to the NBA playoffs.  Jefferson certainly made himself known not only as the Jazz’s franchise player but also has placed himself among the best big men in the league as well.
3	Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies	He mirrors his older brother Pau in many ways except that he’s bigger, stronger, tougher and far better looking.  To think this guy was a second round pick while his brother was selected 3rd in the NBA draft almost seems baffling today as Marc Gasol has cemented himself as one of the league’s most physically imposing and intimidating big men.
2	Roy Hibbert Indiana Pacers	Seriously if this guy got more touches he would simply be the best center to ever come from Georgetown University since Patrick Ewing and probably the best center in Indiana since Rik Smits.  During the regular season and the playoffs, he had shown that not only is a capable big man, but he can also be counted on down the stretch when the game is on the line making him one of the best centers in the game.
1	Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs	Once considered a washed out shell of his former self, Tim Duncan has proven his doubters wrong as he has returned to being the dominant force that helped his team reach far in the playoffs for the past fourteen years. At 36 years old and one the last year of his contract, this man finds himself once again leading his team to a potential fifth NBA Championship title.  He will most certainly leave the NBA as he first entered it—at the top of his game and a cut above all his peers.