Gasol is the best big man in the game...more skills than Howard.
Toughness complements talent well, but can't replace it.
Think the Magic would be better with Gasol than Howard? I don't.
I think when teams are built around one player, who that player is makes a difference in the other guys that are brought in, so you're probably correct that a swap-out of centerpieces changes the table.
But I think that Gasol's passing and high post game would ultimately do wonders for just about any team, including the Magic, though other players would have to step up and get some boards. I'd say Gasol can make his teammates better in more ways than Howard.
As I think about it, yeah, I'm standing by it:
Gasol > Howard
Was that a roundabout "no"? And you don't think that Howard's defense and rebounding would do wonders for every team in the league? And in what way does Gasol make his teammates better? This isn't Bird or Magic we're discussing.
Howard does give great defense and rebounding, but doesn't do that much else at a genuinely elite level. His offense is starting to improve, become more varied, etc., getting him past put-backs and dunks with that little running "Walton" hook, for example, but offensively, he's still rough...nearly 4 TO's/gm.
Gasol is a solid rebounder and defender as well, averaging 10 boards and 1.7 blocks this season, but adds a much, much more polished offensive game. I think that difference gives him the edge over Howard.
Note you're discounting what Howard does because it isn't "genuinely elite", but you're praising Gasol for being solid at things. I think that says a lot about your argument.
True. I should try a little more...but I'm lazy (hence being on CB instead of writing the paper I need to do...).
Looked at the Yahoo fantasy thing for quickie rankings. Among Center-eligibles, which includes PF's of course due to the way Yahoo does their thing, Gasol is still top 10 in points and rebounds, and #13 in blocks (but behind Howard on all 3). (looking at season averages)
My argument is that the margin by which Howard is better than Gasol in the areas he is known for is actually pretty small, and the margin by which Gasol is the better player (in those areas) is a bit larger, giving the nod to Gasol in my book. Obviously, it's pretty close.
Dwight leads the league in turnovers per game at the C position, for example (Amare is second). And for someone that draws so much attention from opposing defenses, and with a team of shooters around him, presumably to hit open shots when he is doubled, he only averages 1.3 assists/game. With all due respect to Glen Davis, Howard might be the real black hole of basketball.
Gasol is #3 in assists for Center-eligibles.
And with the rebounding numbers, Pau plays mostly PF, or a lot of PF, since Bynum came back, which has him away from the paint a bit more than Dwight on both ends of the floor. Gasol has a couple of 20-rebound games, not as much as Howard of course, but the case is that he's still an elite rebounder (better than solid).