That’s true in general. But when you’re big men are arguably the two most skilled big men (at their positions) in the game, that makes up for their lack of ‘small size’ or quickness.

Just like how Lebron James and Bosh are talented enough to be effective big men in the post even if they are too small by conventional standards, Gasol and Howard are talented enough to be effective even when having to play against smaller players.

We’re not talking about Kendrick Perkins here, or some other lumbering oaf. Howard had the ability to make Orlando, a team full of bad perimeter defenders, into a consistently top-5 defense in the league.

I do wonder how the Lakers are going to guard Lebron and Bosh. But there are strategies, for instance, forcing them to catch the ball way out on the perimeter, and encouraging them to take jump shots. Even zone defense could be highly effective (it has had some success against the Heat in the past and the Lakers are built to utilize that defense with Howard in the middle.