The center is expected to be the tone-setter on defense, filling up space in the lane and dissuading foes from having a free pass to the hoop. On offense, he is expected to open things up for the team's smaller players and use his size to generate high-percentage shots.
Give props to Tokyo Apache big man Robert Swift for putting in extra effort at both ends of the floor on Wednesday night against the Rizing Fukuoka, one of the Western Conference's most dangerous teams.
Swift had 11 first-half rebounds (16 total), four blocked shots and enough quick, catch-the-ball-and-read-the-defense passes to please any coach with an appreciation for fundamental smarts, but Tokyo made fewer big plays down the stretch than the pesky, talented visitors.