Remember that based on average height, tall players accounted for 14% of the variation in defensive play (0.38 correlation coefficient). But just looking at effective height, it accounted for 24% of the variation in blocked shots, 23% of the variation in 2-pt%, 20% of the variation in eFG%, and 18% of the variation in defensive efficiency. So if your team is coached by someone who covets athletic 7-footers who don't know what to do with the ball (I'm looking at you Leonard Hamilton), that's alright - just stick them in the middle and surround them by guys who can score.