Center (C)

Center (Center), as the name implies, is the central figure of a team. A position in a basketball lineup; generally held by the tallest player on the team, traditionally emphasizing defense at the basket and protecting the ball. Due to their height advantage, some center players with offensive talents often become the main offensive points for shooting and scoring near the penalty area.

Although there is no fixed "height standard" for centers, according to the general level of today's world basketball, the height of men's basketball centers is generally above 2.08 meters (6 feet 10 inches), and the height of women's basketball centers is generally Above 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches). In terms of technical statistics, centers can usually contribute the most blocks and often achieve higher field goal percentage and rebounding performance.

Since the number of basketball players who can reach more than 2.13 meters (7 feet) in height and still retain good athletic ability is limited, a small number of center players with both height and flexibility can often determine the outcome of the game. important factors. Taking the NBA, the American professional basketball league, as an example, a center with athletic talent, spirit, skills and good physique is often the key to forming a strong team.

2. Responsibilities

First of all, he moves in the penalty area, rebounding is absolutely indispensable. Next, the penalty area is a battleground for each team's military strategists. Of course, opponents cannot easily attack here, so the ability to block attacks and block the hot pot is also indispensable. When attacking, the center often has the opportunity to stand in the penalty area near the free throw line (this is the center of the entire offensive field) to receive the ball. At this time, he should also have good ball-guiding abilities and send the ball to a more appropriate corner. . The above three are the basic skills that a center should possess. In the team, the center is often responsible for scoring. He is the main inside scorer, corresponding to the small forward inside and outside. Because he needs to be able to play in isolation, his shooting percentage requirements can be lower, but his shots are often closer to the basket, so his shooting percentage should be higher. Generally speaking, 52% can be used as a standard. The requirement for a center's shooting percentage is second only to that of a power forward.

3. Technical requirements

A good center must also be versatile. In terms of offense, the center must have the ability to play singles close to the basket. He must be able to perform singles actions with his back to the basket. Turning and shooting is the most common one, while jump hooks and hook shots are more difficult to defend. How to score. Defensively, to be called a good center, in addition to guarding the players you should watch, you must also help your teammates with defense in a timely manner. To put it simply, if the enemy player bypasses his teammates' defense and goes to the basket, the center must have the courage to defend his own penalty area. Of course, it doesn't mean that every game can be flawless, but there must always be the ability to "help". If a center can only defend his own man, it is not enough (unless the opponent is a super offensive center).

There is a variant of the center, which is the so-called outside center. The difference between him and a normal center is that his offense mainly involves running outside to shoot outside, and does less work in singles in the penalty area. Since the center is tall, other short people cannot guard it at all, so shooting from the outside can draw out the opponent's center, so it is also very useful when the forward is strong. When defending, he is no different from an ordinary center. He still defends the opponent's center and grabs rebounds as usual. Okur of the Jazz is an example.

1. Defense and rebounding: In traditional basketball, the center may not be able to attack, but he must control the entire interior defensively. As the last line of defense in the penalty area, the center needs to be able to defend against the offensive center's attack alone, and also needs to cover and block shots when teammates miss the opponent's peripheral players. It is necessary to defend the opponent's center individually and to make up for the defense. The technical requirement of these two tasks is that the center player must be quite experienced in judging the final position of the opponent's offense, and it also requires fast movement and skilled positioning skills. If the pressure of a general defensive player is 1, then the defensive pressure of a center player is more than 1.5. Only a center player with skilled defensive skills can protect himself from the number of fouls rising too quickly;

II , Back-to-the-basket offensive skills: In traditional basketball, a major feature of centers and power forwards is that they have completely different offensive methods. It is not uncommon for power forwards to catch the ball with their backs to the basket and then turn around and attack facing the basket, while centers pay more attention to using their height and weight to back-to-basket attacks. The technique of suppressing opponents against the basket.

Precisely because the center player's footsteps can match his height and weight, this often means that the center player's offensive actions are rarely blocked. The so-called "back to the basket" words, when put on the court, represent the skills of turning and shooting with the back to the basket, pressing into the penalty area; dribbling in the middle with a small hook; and once being double-teamed by the defense while dribbling the ball. Look for the passing skills of peripheral teammates immediately;

3. High post ability: In traditional basketball center players, you can often see the phenomenon of standing in the high post to catch the ball. For the center, if he has high position ability, he can attract the defensive big players to the free throw line, which will help his teammates run into the penalty area without the ball without being blocked. The center's high-post ability is the necessary skill to directly shoot the ball if the opponent does not guard the perimeter after receiving the ball from the high post. Only solid shooting skills can ensure the containment effect of the high post;

4. Long-distance passing skills: Because the center is often the player closest to the basket in defensive tactics, he has more opportunities to get rebounds than ordinary players. Most center players are the tallest and tallest on the court, which gives him a relative advantage in vision. After the center player grabs the rebound, he immediately pays attention to whether his teammates have launched a fast break without the ball to the opponent's half. If there is already a teammate in the opponent's half with a favorable offensive position, the center player needs to directly transfer the player's distance to the frontcourt. Teammates, without having to hand over to the point guard to delay the moment of opportunity. Therefore, long pass penetration is also one of the essential skills for center players.

On the basketball court, ever-changing, center is no longer a noun for a specific player, but a synonym for skills and tactics. However, the basics remain the same. To prepare to use the ability of a center to fulfill the role of a center, the above-mentioned basic skills are essential.