Trail Blazers: Is Bigger Always Better?

Size is an important topic in pro sports, especially the NBA, and one that can lead to quite heated discussions. There is a general consensus that bigger is better and in many ways that’s true, but not always. There have been instances when tenacity and determination have beaten out shear size. It’s easy to root for the little guy; after all, no one wanted Goliath to win. I’ll examine a few instances that worked out and a few that didn’t and see what it all means for our Blazers.

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Jerry West and Gail Goodrich. Los Angeles Lakers.

This backcourt was one of the best ever and neither player was over 6’2″. In 1971-1972 West and Goodrich combined for 51.7 ppg, the most by any backcourt ever. This tandem accomplished this before the introduction of the 3 point line. Who knows what they could have averaged given those extra points. Oh yeah they also went on to win the NBA championship that year.
John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek. Utah Jazz.

This duo was ultimately over shadowed by Jordan and his Bulls but who wasn’t in the 90’s? The thing that made Stockton and Hornacek so good was their efficiency and staunch defense. Although they were in their 30’s when they paired up and past their physical primes, they still led Utah to two straight Finals appearances.

Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas. Detroit Pistons.

Although West and Goodrich have better stats, Dumars and Thomas have the advantage of being in the Jordan era. Yeah you read that right: the advantage of playing against Jordan. Dumars and Thomas made three straight Finals appearances, winning two. Not only did the pair win back to back championships, but they beat out Jordan and the Bulls both times in the Eastern Conference Finals to get there. These two had the bad boys surrounding them but still you can’t take away from their greatness. This might be the best backcourt ever, regardless of size.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. New York Knicks.

This pair is more know for their individual eccentricities than their winning on the court. Separately, each player had enjoyed success and were each considered top 5 at their positions, yet together they fell flat. It’s not that they weren’t talented they just couldn’t seem to accept their roles and ultimately led to the down fall of the Knicks. This is a great example of egos getting in the way.
Mark Price and Terrell Brandon. Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although these two didn’t start together, they were the foundation of their Cleveland team. Once again, it wasn’t a question of talent or ability, it was their unwillingness to give in to the other guy. Brandon and Price were very similar players and while Price started, Brandon felt slighted. This is another case of ego getting in the way. They didn’t have the Marbury and Francis problem yet they were never able to live up to their potential because they couldn’t see eye to eye.

The way the current Blazers are constructed, small ball will be one of their biggest strengths. Their two best players measure in at around 6’3″. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, through nine games, are averaging 47.8 ppg, making them the third highest scoring duo in the NBA so far this season. There won’t be any shortages of shots to go around for those two and given some time, this pair may even exceed their current production. These two don’t seem to be competing for the spot light, but instead complementing each other very well.

We already knew that Damian Lillard had ice water in his veins, now we get to see that potential in C.J. McCollum. His defense is better than I thought and his creativity and handle are only exceeded by Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving. The Blazers have the real deal in McCollum and his chemistry with Lillard already looks killer.

A shift is happening in the NBA, smaller line ups are being used more and more. The Trail Blazers are just one of many using this tactic, luckily for us it seems to be working out okay. With the return of a hungry Gerald Henderson, this team is close. With the NBA style shift, the Blazers should be able to compete just fine with McCollum and Lillard as our backcourt of the present and future.