Centers that can Shoot the Three

It’s hard to call out just one great performance in game two between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers as everything was pretty much going right for the Celtics. However, there was one player that changed the composition of the game and that player was Rasheed Wallace. If Wallace plays the 5 spot, he is matched up against Anderson Varejao or Shaquille O’Neal – both centers that like to play in the paint. While Wallace can post up and pound the ball inside, he is also a great three point shooter. Due to his shooting ability, he often plays on the perimeter, dragging his defender from the key and opening up the floor. If the Cavs centers come out to guard Wallace on the three point line, the entire paint is left open for Rajon Rondo to easily penetrate to the basket. However, if O’Neal or Varejao do not come out to guard Wallace, he ends up being guarded by the Cavaliers backcourt, leaving the 6-11 center with a smaller defender and therefore a higher percentage shot. Another player with this type of impact on the game is Channing Frye of the Phoenix Suns - Frye is also a 6-11 center with the ability to shoot the three. Just by Frye standing on the perimeter and bringing out his defender, Steve Nash has more room to operate and create shots for his teammates. It would be interesting to track the difference in points scored in the paint by guards when they are playing with a center that is able to shoot the three, versus when they play with a traditional post up center - the shot blockers are removed from the paint thereby opening up the lane for the guards. Spreading the floor does not show up in the box score, but it is incredibly valuable to a team.