NBA Thread

[gilesfan]

I think Okafor is overrated hoNestly. A center who won't have a big defensive impact will severely diminish his value regardless of how good he is offensively. Sixes should take Russell l.

So, what do you say about Kanter and Brook Lopez now?

[BRule]

I think Okafor is overrated hoNestly. A center who won't have a big defensive impact will severely diminish his value regardless of how good he is offensively. Sixes should take Russell l.

He just turned 19.........

[thethe]

So, what do you say about Kanter and Brook Lopez now?

Have I ever said that they would be super studs?

I've always said that Lopez was one of the best OFFENSIVE centers in the league. Never talked about him as a top center overall. At least not that I remember.

BTW, I'm very happy with Kanter. They just need to coach him up on how to defend the PnR because he is awful at that. Its coach able.

[thethe]

He just turned 19.........

His block rate in college is not a good indicator of whta he is. I admit that I've only seen 2 Duke games all year because my good friend at work is a rabid Duke fan and I just don't think he has the athletic ability to be a dominant center. He will score his points because he is skilled offensively but he will hurt a team defensively and if you put another defensive minded big next to him it will hurt the spacing on offense.

Give me a center like Gobert over Okafor every day of the week.

[BRule]

His block rate in college is not a good indicator of whta he is. I admit that I've only seen 2 Duke games all year because my good friend at work is a rabid Duke fan and I just don't think he has the athletic ability to be a dominant center. He will score his points because he is skilled offensively but he will hurt a team defensively and if you put another defensive minded big next to him it will hurt the spacing on offense.

Give me a center like Gobert over Okafor every day of the week.

LOL

[thethe]

You think Okafor has top athletic ability?

[thethe]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/.../jahlil-okafor

Negatives:

Lacks elite lateral quickness or explosiveness
Not an elite rebounder
Can get lazy on the defensive end

[BRule]

You think Okafor has top athletic ability?

Did Tim Duncan? David Robinson? Ewing? Hakeem? This is stupid.....

You obviously don't watch enough of Okafor if you think he's a liability on D and he's not a good athlete.

[thethe]

Did Tim Duncan? David Robinson? Ewing? Hakeem? This is stupid.....

You obviously don't watch enough of Okafor if you think he's a liability on D and he's not a good athlete.

Yes, all those guys had elite athletic ability for their size at that age. Its not even close.

[thethe]

Block rates in college at the same age as Okafaor:

Duncan - 3.8
Ewing - 3.2
Robinson - 1.3 (Didn't play much and exploded next year at 4.0)
Hakeem - 2.5 (Same with Robinson then exploded to 5.0)

Okafor - 1.4

What is Okafor going to do against better athletes who are bigger?

[BRule]

Yes, all those guys had elite athletic ability for their size at that age. Its not even close.

You're right every dominant center, ever, has been a finished product at 18/19. Keep the hot takes coming

[thethe]

You're right every dominant center, ever, has been a finished product at 18/19. Keep the hot takes coming

Ok, you are now making completely different arguments. I've posted something from people that scout ofr a living saying that he doesn't have elite lateral movement or explosive (I.E not elite athletic ability for his size) and then you are throwing out something completely different. Okafor is going to be a good player but I just wouldn't want to build my team around him in the current NBA.

[BRule]

Yes, all those guys had elite athletic ability for their size at that age. Its not even close.

From an actual scout:

Weaknesses:
- Very Good, not incredible athlete. Must continue to work on becoming more explosive

OMG a 7 footer isn't an incredible athlete BUT he is a good one!

[Tapate50]

I really wish you guys would stop distracting Thethe from Patrick Willis retiring.

[BRule]

I really wish you guys would stop distracting Thethe from Patrick Willis retiring.

Agreed.

[gilesfan]

I cant keep up with you thethe. You have been hyping Lopez for years and more recently Kanter. Now all you care about is "rim protection".

[gilesfan]

And for the record Okafor is not a good defender at this point. Maybe he wont become a good one. But he is a very skilled offensive player that likely wont be lopez bad defensively or reboundinf wise.

[thethe]

I cant keep up with you thethe. You have been hyping Lopez for years and more recently Kanter. Now all you care about is "rim protection".

When have I called them the best centers in the league?

A center can still be effective if they aren't a rim protector but if I had the #1 overall pick and had a choice I wouldn't take a center who doesn't project to have elite defensive impact.

Also, as I get older and read more and watch more basketball my views are allowed to change you know. Watching Ibaka all these years (and then watching waht the Spurs did the Thunder last year when he was out/hurt) made me realize that rim protection is by far the most important attribute for a big man. Everything else is just gravy. This is a wing player league now.

[thethe]

And for the record Okafor is not a good defender at this point. Maybe he wont become a good one. But he is a very skilled offensive player that likely wont be lopez bad defensively or reboundinf wise.

Can't argue with this. Still not a sure thing he will be as good as Lopez offensively though even though it looks like he might be.

[BRule]

When have I called them the best centers in the league?

A center can still be effective if they aren't a rim protector but if I had the #1 overall pick and had a choice I wouldn't take a center who doesn't project to have elite defensive impact.

Also, as I get older and read more and watch more basketball my views are allowed to change you know. Watching Ibaka all these years (and then watching waht the Spurs did the Thunder last year when he was out/hurt) made me realize that rim protection is by far the most important attribute for a big man. Everything else is just gravy. This is a wing player league now.

Dude stop, you were all over Lopez 2 years ago, you called him one of the best centers and players in the league. You LOVED him