OKC Thunder: Chris Paul moxy tops 5 takeaways from 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Bigs matter!

How big men figure in the new NBA era is an ongoing evershifting conversation. Houston’s decision to utilize a starting five featuring 6’2″ to 6’7″ players is under the microscope. Positionless basketball all but made trading Andre Drummond for much more than a bag of peanuts an impossibility at the trade deadline.

Yet this game proved beneficial for the big man, especially down the stretch. With three prior MVP’s on the court for team LeBron alongside CP3 and a top-five talent in Anthony Davis, it was versatile big man Joel Embiid who proved to be the one player Team LeBron had the most difficulty containing.

Likewise, the play of Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis, Pascal Siakam and Bam Adebayo all delivered solid games.

Certainly, the new era of bigs will need to hone their skillset akin to the players noted above. But one thing is clear; when the playoffs arrive having a big man who can rebound, defend, rim protect and most importantly present a difficult offensive cover is essential.

For those who enjoy watching the intricacies of the game beyond run and gun peppered with perimeter shots, this is great news.