The Case for Okafor

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

(the other thing with Towns is it could lead to all sorts of interesting inverted offensive sets, with the likes of Shabazz and Wiggins posting up smaller wings in the paint - which we know they can do - with Towns pulling the opposing Center out of the lane and giving these guys a lot more room to operate. Oh, how much easier would things be if the likes of Andrew Bogut, DeAndre Jordan, Tyson Chander, and Rudy Gobert aren't parked in the paint on defense! They are rendered virtually useless if having to follow KAT out to the 3 point arc).

I agree with Q here that Towns being so versatile and not having a weakness, yet also having the size and athleticism means we can be a matchup nightmare for teams (well once we get enough talent with him) since we can play inside out, outside in, stretch the floor, fullcourt offense, halfcourt offense, play towns at PF or C, with any of our bigs, etc. With Okafor, you've got a great post player but he can't play with Pek, he can't move to PF, he can't stretch the D, etc. And then you can't play him with a lot of scorers on the floor at the same time and have him be his most effective (he wouldn't be a good fit with Shabazz, for instance).

I don't like Towns playing the 4 in today's NBA. 10/20 years ago he would be an ideal 4, but with these smaller quicker guys I'm not sure he is suited defensively to play the 4.

While Towns' versatility is very nice I'm not sure he will be drawing double teams like a dominating post game will. Collapsing defenses will leave open shooters. Okafor is a great facilitator out of the post and the numbers at Duke back it up. He has midrange potential as well. Okafor's game opens things up for his teammates.

While I agree that Towns should most likely play Center, I wouldn't rule out the 4 either, in the same way I advocated Dieng play some 4.

While "stretch 4's" is all the rage, the reality is that a lot of teams still have good old fashioned big 4's that really don't have a 3-point shot or dribble drive game. Nene, Randolph, Pau Gasol, Aldridge, Jason Thompson, Tristian Thompson, Nerlens Noel, Splitter, etc.There is no reason that the likes of Dieng or Towns couldn't match up with these guys defensively. It would be handy to have the ability to play big in these situations. Remember how beat up inside we got with Dieng at the 5 and Young at the 4? My goodness, we were run roughshod all season long by bigger, stronger front lines.

[Coolbreeze44]

This question is for Cam: If you had to decide today whether to draft Towns or Okafor #1, which way would you be leaning?

"I want the best player for this team." :roll:

So Russell?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

This question is for Cam: If you had to decide today whether to draft Towns or Okafor #1, which way would you be leaning?

"I want the best player for this team." :roll:

So Russell?

Westbrook? Absolutely.

[bleedspeed]

http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/2015-nba-draft-your-cheat-sheet-to-the-towns-vs-okafor-debate.html/?a=viewall

[Coolbreeze44]

This question is for Cam: If you had to decide today whether to draft Towns or Okafor #1, which way would you be leaning?

"I want the best player for this team." :roll:

So Russell?

Westbrook? Absolutely.

I'm just hoping you can be more clear on who it is you want out of this draft. I can't tell if it's Okafor, Towns, Russell, Porzingis or Portis. To much ambiguity in your posting.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

This question is for Cam: If you had to decide today whether to draft Towns or Okafor #1, which way would you be leaning?

"I want the best player for this team." :roll:

So Russell?

Westbrook? Absolutely.

I'm just hoping you can be more clear on who it is you want out of this draft. I can't tell if it's Okafor, Towns, Russell, Porzingis or Portis. To much ambiguity in your posting.

It's pretty clear Porzingis is his guy. At one point in time he said he would hate it if Flip didn't pick him.

[bleedspeed]

I would trade the pick for Nik Stauskas.

(kidding, but I would trade Payne or AB for him. I think he will be develop.)

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I still lean Towns, but every time I see a video of these guys, I'm reminded of how much bigger Okafor is in his lower body. In addition to his freakishly large hands, he has the legs and ass of an ox. He's not Shaq big (Jesus, Shaq was a BEAST), but he's pretty big. I'm not sure if that makes me have more hope for his rebounding or wonder why he didn't grab more rebounds last year, but it's a marked difference from Towns, who looks like he has kinda skinny hips. Anybody else notice this?

[thedoper]

I still lean Towns, but every time I see a video of these guys, I'm reminded of how much bigger Okafor is in his lower body. In addition to his freakishly large hands, he has the legs and ass of an ox. He's not Shaq big (Jesus, Shaq was a BEAST), but he's pretty big. I'm not sure if that makes me have more hope for his rebounding or wonder why he didn't grab more rebounds last year, but it's a marked difference from Towns, who looks like he has kinda skinny hips. Anybody else notice this?

Yes. Both players will grow. Okafor has the ideal body for a 5, and should develop into a real beast, provided he maintains good fitness.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I still lean Towns, but every time I see a video of these guys, I'm reminded of how much bigger Okafor is in his lower body. In addition to his freakishly large hands, he has the legs and ass of an ox. He's not Shaq big (Jesus, Shaq was a BEAST), but he's pretty big. I'm not sure if that makes me have more hope for his rebounding or wonder why he didn't grab more rebounds last year, but it's a marked difference from Towns, who looks like he has kinda skinny hips. Anybody else notice this?

Yes, it's a legit concern with Towns. We saw how guys with weak bases/skinny lower bodies like Dieng, Hamilton, and Payne were just shoved aside in the paint last season. All anyone had to do was put a shoulder into them and they could easily clear out space for a shot at the rim.

The other thing to think about in favor of Okafor's girth is the team effect on rebounding. Pek has never been a great individual rebounder, but our team consistently outrebounds our opponents when he's on the floor. There is something to be said for the notion of "space eater" and the ability to seal guys out of the paint. It allows team mates to swoop in and grab rebounds.

That being said, I'm still 100% a Towns guy. But it's fair to point these sorts of things out. Okafor will not be easily backed down or pushed around in the paint, that's for sure.