The importance of the big man in modern NBA basketball has ben debated tirelessly in recent years. While in the past the recipe for success seemed to always include dominant interior presences, rule changes and the advent of analytics have led teams to build around perimeter players.
The topic seems settled, as traditional low post scoring centers have lost relevance, but every postseason we are reminded that the big man can still help massively, albeit in different ways than it used to. This year has been no different.
Three of the four conference finalists have star big men, while the Celtics have relied more on a stable of limited but productive centers.