Why Brendan Haywood is the Answer at Center
Every one take a deep breath and close your eyes for a moment of silence. That was for Josh Howard’s ACL. The man who swore he was going to “stick it” to the Mavs is out for the 
remainder of the season. It reminds us all that karma is a you-know-what. Donnie Nelson has to be charged with some kind of insider trading, am I not correct? Is there a deeper conspiracy? Did Donnie talk to a burning bush? No, Nelson is sheer genius.
After Monday’s game the real news to me is Brendan Haywood. Twenty rebounds? Is that possible for anyone not named Russell or Chamberlin? Unbelievable. Haywood is a freak. His 263 pound frame and his seven-foot-tall stature make him one of the best defensive presences in the game. Randy Galloway is quick to acknowledge Haywood as the “greatest center in Mavericks history.” But is this lofty claim legitimate? You would be surprised to find out. Let’s take a look at the top three centers in Mavs history.
No. 1 James Donaldson
Our new generation of Mavs fans probably couldn’t even put a face to this name. How can such a young franchise have had such a dinosaur? For God’s sake he’s older than my dad. But this English import is my pick for the Mavs’ all-time greatest center. Numbers don’t lie. The only center in Mavericks history to represent the team in the all-star game left the NBA with career totals of 8,203 points, 7,492 rebounds and 1,267 blocks. Not to mention the man stood at seven-foot two-inches tall. This is, as Donaldson would say, “a bloody good legacy.”
No. 2 Sam Perkins
Sam Perkins, aka “Big Smooth,” aka “the-guy-who-was-drafted-right-after-Jordan,” was a national champion at UNC and the Mavericks first answer at center. Although his rookie year was his only season to start at center, the Mavs lack of anything at the position still lands him in my top three. Perkins was an incredible talent. People tend to forget the 
mid-to-late 80s for the Mavs. They weren’t a bad team. Perkins scored a career high 45 points in a Mavericks uniform and still is the only Maverick to have a 30 point, 20 rebound game. Tip of the cap to you Big Smooth, one year playing the five lands you on this MFFL’s all-time greats list.
No. 3 Erick Dampier
At this point you either think I am a moron or the Mavericks have really, REALLY always sucked at center. Well ladies and gentlemen agree with the latter. One thing that Dampy has going for him is consistency. Big No. 25 has been a Maverick for six years now and was acquired at a costly price. His seldom surges of intensity and broad shoulders have made him intimidating to his counterparts, but a lack of inspiration and a consistent cowardice has limited him from being a dominant big man. However he did proclaim early in his Maverick career that he was the second best center in the league behind Shaq. Shaq was quick to refute Dampier’s claim.
Haywood has an edge about him. Maybe it’s his New York roots or his dunk-first mentality. Whatever it is he could be crucial in a Maverick run for a title. Can he shut down the other Western Conference bigs such as Andrew Bynum or Nene? Well he has earned the respect of the East’s finest. “Most people don’t realize that he is among the top four in the league in blocked shots this season,” Dwight Howard said in a recent ESPN.com article. “So he definitely should be up there.” Howard, who was a guest writer for a January ESPN awards watch article, had Haywood ranked third on his list of defensive players of the year. All I can say is: win a title with Dallas and take over this blemished list.
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