Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trailblazers: Who Has The Edge?
By Mike Dill
May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12, far left) dunks the ball against Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) as Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates during the third quarter of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 92-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Center
Warriors: Andrew Bogut, Jermaine O’Neal, Festus Ezeli
Trailblazers: Robin Lopez, Meyers Leonard
This matchup is tough because it is hard to determine how Andrew Bogut will impact the team in the future. Bogut has been a great rebounder and defender for his entire career and has shown above average offensive ability at times.
However, injuries seem to have limited him on offense. He showed last year that he can still clog the paint better than almost any center. His rebounding and defense in the playoffs was nothing short of amazing. However, his shooting isn’t what it used to be.
He spent most of last season recovering from a broken ankle, so it will be interesting to see how he impacts the offense next season. The Warriors have said they will treat him like he is 100 percent healthy.
On the other side of this battle is Robin Lopez. He is less well known than his brother, Brook Lopez, but he is still a solid center in the league. Robin is known for his defensive ability, but his offense has started to come around, too.
He is a much better free throw shooter than Bogut and he pulls down more offensive rebounds, which is impressive. However, he hasn’t done enough yet to be considered a better player than Andrew Bogut.
Bogut may not have been a great offensive player last season, but his 10.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game during last year’s playoffs show how great of a player he is.