Small Forward No Longer Glamour Position In Basketball
Written by T Reginald Sykes, Saturday October 31 2009
As we enter a new decade of NBA basketball, the dynamics have changed quite dramatically. Much of this has to do with the speed and athletic abilities of today's players. But more than anything, the lines that define positions have been obliterated.
The skill set of today's basketball player prevents him from being typecast because of height. There was a time that a player would have a clearly defined position once he put on an NBA uniform.
This no longer hods true.
It seems as if the only player that holds his position throughout a college and NBA career is the point guard. However, many outstanding point guards can find success as a two-guard.
Two-guards, by definition are greedy. They are supposed to be. Even after hoisting ten bricks in a row, two-guards are cocky enough to believe they can hit a game-winning shot without a problem.
Small forward is the position most affected by today's game. This used to be the superstar poaition. The likes of Julius Erving, Rick Barry and Larry Bird glamourized the small forward spot in a way that other froncourt positions couldn't at the time.
True, centers reached stardom simply because of their importnce in the scheme of things. But centers lacked the flash and excitement enjoyed by other players who played other positions.
In boxscores these days, the small forward position may as well be labeled "insert player here." Some small forwards are on the court to defend against two-guards. Others are there as a frontcourt passer. Often times, small forwards are the "third" guard. Then there are those who play simply because five men belong on the court.
But the small forward is no longer the first scoring option on a team's roster. The lone exception to that is LeBron James and soon even he will abandon the position. He would probably be better off becoming a power forward--todays new glamour position.
That's right. Power forwrd is the new glamour position in bsketball.
This probably began when Chris Webber grew into stardom. He had all the skills of a guard and the size that would have made him a center in days gone by.
But take a look at today's power forward. Dirk Nowitzki, Rasheed Walace, Kevin Garnett and Antwan Jamison would play different positions if they had played in other eras. Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan are centers that would likey play power forward on other teams.
Duncan, in fact, is playing center for the first time in his career. Nowitzki, Garnett and Jamison began their careers as a small forwards.
Paul Pierce is always going to be thought of as a small forward, but during crunch time, he brings the ball downcourt like like a point guard and would easily have been a great two-guard during his great career.
Other former small forwards include Vince Carter, who took on a two-guard role during his time in New Jersey and Stephen Jackson who has played both gurad positions since going to Golden State.
Power Forwards are no longer thought of as under-sized centers or over-sized small forwards. With Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Shawn Marion, Jason Thompson, Wallace Jamison, Garnett, Nowitzki, Duncan and i(n years to come) King James, the power forward has become the superstar position in basketball.
It will likely be that way throughout the next decade.
The small forward position will soon be thought of as the fifth most important player on any team's starting lineup. If it isn't already.
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2 comments
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The two-guard position is a scorers position, though. You're right about it being un-important. However, around the league, the two-guard is defined by Kobe, D-Wade, Rip and some of the younger stars like Derrick Rose. It's a position that is all about superstardom. (Thank you Mr. Jordan.) I Didn't mean to deminish the role of small forward (as a position.) I just think the position is not as glamourous as it once was. particulary as it's related to star-power. Star-power in the NBA is measured by points, rebounds and assists-per game, these days and the small forward is (although very important in the structure of a game ) no longer the marquee spot on a basketball court. You are right. Give me a small forward that can guard a Kobe one night and give me ten rebounds another. And if my two-guard is not shooting well, I want my small forward to contribute 18-25 points that night. Thanks for pointing out the importance of a small forward in today's game. It just seems as if it's overlooked.
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Very good article... one thing I would say, the versatility that small forwards are used for probably makes them more important, not less, although if you're ranking the positions by importance it does no better than 4th (I could make a case that SG is less important, I think).