The Detroit Pistons have the perfect modern big in Isaiah Stewart.
A lot of people have called Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons “old school” because of his physical style of play, but he’s actually tailor-made for the modern game.
Fans have become obsessed with the “stretch-five” the mythical center who shoots 3-pointers and spreads the floor for the modern space-and-pace offense.
The problem is that outside of a few players, these guys don’t exist.
If you watched the playoffs last year, it was true that hardly any of the best teams (except the Lakers) employed anyone that could be called a “traditional” center, but that doesn’t mean they were all chucking 3-point shots.
The Miami Heat made the finals using mostly 6-foot-9 Bam Adebayo at center, a guy who can shoot but is certainly not going to stretch the floor from behind the arc.
In many ways, Adebayo is the model of a modern center, which is exactly what the Detroit Pistons may have with Isaiah Stewart.
Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart is the perfect center for the modern game
Defends Multiple Positions
Bam Adebayo led the Miami Heat defensively because he can defend multiple spots. If your center is only effective against “back-to-the-basket” big guys, then you have a problem.
Isaiah “Beef Stew” Stewart can do just that, as he has the strength to body just about anyone in the NBA and the quickness to stay in front of wings if that is what he is asked to do.
Centers who just stand in the lane waiting to block shots don’t have a place in today’s NBA, they need to fly all over the floor, as Adebayo did during Miami’s run to the Finals.