Minnesota Sports Forum

CoolBreeze44 wrote:I'm between C & D. I think it would be a mistake, but I would try to find a silver lining and hope it works out.

Yeah. I went with D. But will likely switch over to C if we select Okafor. But I am so confident Flip will take Towns that it won't be an issue!

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Here's a few scouts' takes on Towns, Okafor and Russell...

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ryen-russillos-nba-draft-confidential-real-scouts-on-towns-russell-and-okafor/

I think the love of the game stuff is enough to completely unhitch from the Okafor bandwagon, if anyone is still on it.

Yeah, there were definitely some statements in there that has to give one serious pause over Okafor - like should he even be top 2 kind of pause....

One thing I will give Flip credit for is he's very well networked across the b-ball community. Hopefully he will be able to sniff out any work ethic/fitness concerns with Okafor.

(also, we have to keep in mind that "poor work ethic" at the NBA level these days means the person isn't borderline fanatical about their bodies and their game. The dedication these athletes exhibit today is at a whole other level than back in the day).

Jubilation. I may stand alone here but it wouldn't be the first time. Voted A.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Here's a few scouts' takes on Towns, Okafor and Russell...

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ryen-russillos-nba-draft-confidential-real-scouts-on-towns-russell-and-okafor/

I think the love of the game stuff is enough to completely unhitch from the Okafor bandwagon, if anyone is still on it.

"Now I've heard, if you were to ask the Duke people, and they were to be honest with you, there's not a great love for the game."

Obviously, if a player doesn't really love the game, that's a serious red flag. But let's consider the source before we start taking this as a fact.

An anonymous scout says that he has heard from someone he doesn't name who speculates that if you were to ask some unidentified "Duke people," that they would say that in their view he doesn't have passion or love of the game.

It's enough to remind me to be sure to ask about the kid's passion and heart when I talked to him and the actual Duke coaches (which presumably Flip would actually do, instead of anonymously speculating about what somebody else thinks the Duke people might say if you asked). But that quote in itself is, frankly, so many steps removed from the actual person involved that it's really not very meaningful at all.

Q12543 wrote:

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Here's a few scouts' takes on Towns, Okafor and Russell...

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ryen-russillos-nba-draft-confidential-real-scouts-on-towns-russell-and-okafor/

I think the love of the game stuff is enough to completely unhitch from the Okafor bandwagon, if anyone is still on it.

Yeah, there were definitely some statements in there that has to give one serious pause over Okafor - like should he even be top 2 kind of pause....

One thing I will give Flip credit for is he's very well networked across the b-ball community. Hopefully he will be able to sniff out any work ethic/fitness concerns with Okafor.

(also, we have to keep in mind that "poor work ethic" at the NBA level these days means the person isn't borderline fanatical about their bodies and their game. The dedication these athletes exhibit today is at a whole other level than back in the day).

I don't want to pile on too much here but I do think quote from coach K on Cowherd a while ago is worth mentioning.

"I think he's (Okafor) so much a developing player and he's still really young and obviously he's got talent you can't teach. And those are hands, feet, and really (he's) an unbelievable kid. He will have to continue to develop an even greater work ethic because he's gonna be playing against men and a little bit more of being precise.
I hope he goes into an environment that will teach and not just expect him to be proven already. A good environment is like what Monty Williams has done with Anthony Davis...but Jah's gonna be special."


http://fanbuzz.com/story/jahlil-okafor-isnt-exactly-the-next-tim-duncan-according-to-coach-k/

monsterpile wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Here's a few scouts' takes on Towns, Okafor and Russell...

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ryen-russillos-nba-draft-confidential-real-scouts-on-towns-russell-and-okafor/

I think the love of the game stuff is enough to completely unhitch from the Okafor bandwagon, if anyone is still on it.

Yeah, there were definitely some statements in there that has to give one serious pause over Okafor - like should he even be top 2 kind of pause....

One thing I will give Flip credit for is he's very well networked across the b-ball community. Hopefully he will be able to sniff out any work ethic/fitness concerns with Okafor.

(also, we have to keep in mind that "poor work ethic" at the NBA level these days means the person isn't borderline fanatical about their bodies and their game. The dedication these athletes exhibit today is at a whole other level than back in the day).

I don't want to pile on too much here but I do think quote from coach K on Cowherd a while ago is worth mentioning.

"I think he's (Okafor) so much a developing player and he's still really young and obviously he's got talent you can't teach. And those are hands, feet, and really (he's) an unbelievable kid. He will have to continue to develop an even greater work ethic because he's gonna be playing against men and a little bit more of being precise.
I hope he goes into an environment that will teach and not just expect him to be proven already. A good environment is like what Monty Williams has done with Anthony Davis...but Jah's gonna be special."


http://fanbuzz.com/story/jahlil-okafor-isnt-exactly-the-next-tim-duncan-according-to-coach-k/

Not exactly a ringing endorsement, which is what you usually get from a college coach. Definitely makes you pause, but I also see Drew's point on the lack of commitment on the source ( how ever many times removed :) ).

There could be some truth to that, but maybe it's not so much about not loving basketball as it is about not loving to work hard on things like fitness because it sucks and he's never really had to in order to succeed. It doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't work hard at things he loves to do (e.g. skill building, post moves, shooting, etc.).

Sometimes a guy that is or looks out of shape tends to carry the stigma that they are lazy and don't love what they do. Sometimes it's just they love to eat too much, don't take diet or fitness too seriously, and aren't mature enough yet to see it's importance or make those choices.

I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, because clearly he has tremendous skill and work ethic to develop it in certain areas. He's not devoid of ambition or motivation, but perhaps it isn't applicable to every aspect just yet. Some players never get there though, so that's of course cause for concern.

GymRat wrote:There could be some truth to that, but maybe it's not so much about not loving basketball as it is about not loving to work hard on things like fitness because it sucks and he's never really had to in order to succeed. It doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't work hard at things he loves to do (e.g. skill building, post moves, shooting, etc.).

Sometimes a guy that is or looks out of shape tends to carry the stigma that they are lazy and don't love what they do. Sometimes it's just they love to eat too much, don't take diet or fitness too seriously, and aren't mature enough yet to see it's importance or make those choices.

I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, because clearly he has tremendous skill and work ethic to develop it in certain areas. He's not devoid of ambition or motivation, but perhaps it isn't applicable to every aspect just yet. Some players never get there though, so that's of course cause for concern.

Kevin Love?

There are many things Kevin Love can be ripped for, but passion and work ethic are not among them. That guy has worked his butt off every summer to improve his body and game.

Maybe Derrick Williams? Wes Johnson? Or many other Wolves' picks. But not Kevin Love.

60WinTim wrote:There are many things Kevin Love can be ripped for, but passion and work ethic are not among them. That guy has worked his butt off every summer to improve his body and game.

Maybe Derrick Williams? Wes Johnson? Or many other Wolves' picks. But not Kevin Love.

He had a bad diet, and wasn't in very good shape when he came to the wolves.