My question is, you claim he can AT THE VERY LEAST defend the center position VERY WELL (on phone, don't know how to highlight for emphasis sorry.) Yet he in only one year has shown an utter lack of ability to do even that. Given his immense size and quickness you would think he would show an ability to atleast hold his own but he hasnt. This isn't even taking the modern necessities of defensive centers into account. The only thing he has shown an ability to do his be decent at blocking shots, yet most advanced stats show he is awful at defending.
I guess whenever Okafor is brought up I should have a copied message lol.
If you watched any of Myles Turner during college at UT you may see some of the same variables come into play. MT was very underrated coming out of college...
Anyways, against Philly teams could do 2 things very easily:
1) pack it in on defense- besides Okafor Philly had no legit scorers or even decent shooters to stretch the floor.
2)get past the wing defenders- lead to a chaotic defense in Philly, and a grueling experience. IMO Okafor as a 19 year old rookie and being that he is naturally huge, got used up/did not have the conditioning for an entire season of Philly and being 19 he was asked to do way to much especially as a center and given the way he plays and given the parts of his game which need work.....all this interfered with his game, which is a good thing because the player he can be and the value he has been labeled with are not the same at all.
Guys his size usually have problems in the same areas on defense, especially during their rookie years, and given his experience and minutes played he had to string together. IMO that was the worst situation he could be in given his age, size, and strengths/weaknesses
Look at KO or Zeller from a year ago. They did pretty well statistically on defense, Okafor can guard the 5 spot and bring more length and size than both of them. Okafor is a legit basketball player, NATURAL scorer, and has the IQ and ability to improve. Many do not think he can improve and that is where the value is.
Just the lone year of experience will be huge for him, it's the same for any rookie that is 1 and done, and especially for him.
TP- The reason I ask is because I am coming around on trying to get Okafor. Especially since it looks like his value is in the dirt around the league. If we could snag him without giving up a brooklyn pick, my god danny would get a steal.
I just don't like how some posters here make wild statements that don't really have basis in reality. You provided some valid points about why Okafor could be good on defense if given the right system. I would only caution to maybe change the description of interior defense from great to "good or serviceable." Using olynyk and zeller as point anchors doesn't inspire confidence, yet I completely understand your point.
One criticism I hold of your argument is that this perception of a okafor being a terrible defender wasn't caused by his sole year in philly. It had been years of him being viewed as a transcendant talent, and his lack of progression on that end of the court. He was decent in college on that end, but his real test to be able to stick with NBA level of centers was supposed to come in the NBA. So in effect his terrible defensive showing in philly was more evidence to the narrative surrounding him since he was 16 or so.
Also where do you fall on the whole season ending injury thing? Miniscus tears arent anything to sneeze at.
TP
I agree. I end up writing the same post over and over, it would be way more efficient and better if I copy one good post with the right wording lol. After awhile it gets so much easier to say "he WILL BE" than " here are the reasons why I believe he has the rare potential and underestimated ability to be"
I have not heard much about the Miniscus tear recently. It was not brought up much at all before the draft and figure since it was not brought up that things were going well. He did it the right way though, not the way D-Wade went about it. Given his age/size, the minutes he had to string together and the grueling Philly system....I can see how he got hurt.
I use KO and Zeller because in my mind they were so much older when rookies/drafted and they are much shorter in length.
Okafor: 7'6'' wingspan, 9'3'' standing reach
KO: 6'10'' wingspan, 9' standing reach
Zeller: 7' wingspan, 8'8 standing reach
The 2015 draft had Myles Turner as the #1 overall pick in mock drafts for a long time, also had Cliff Alexander and even Kelly Oubre at a point and Okafor. Okafor did get the hype but even when this was happening I was trying to point out Towns and Turner( hurts too much to bring up).
I think everything has worked out well. Okafor has to know why he has fallen out of acclaim (either from sponsor or agent at minimum for $$$ reasons) and because of the current style/market in the NBA he is even more undervalued.
I think reality has smacked him in the face and he can only get better at his weaknesses and work on them.
Smart
4
Okafor
Would be unbelievable. Also Philly owns LAL(top3 protected) 2017 1st rounders.
EDIT: The site I was on may be wrong in regards to Philly owning the 2017 MIA pick.
Topic: An Okafor Trade in the Age of Horford (Read 4067 times)