CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
I'd prefer not to have Towns play SF. I think that combined with his willingness already to be a perimeter player would be a poor combination and we'd get a less affective, less efficient version of him.
I also prefer Dieng as our first big off the bench. I honestly think he'd be the best bench big in the NBA and that's not a bad thing at all. We could definitely use an advantage like that. He'd also get more opportunities offensively, which might not be a bad thing either.
I struggle to like the fit of Okafor here, but he's skilled enough that I wouldn't absolutely hate it either. He just doesn't help our defensive issues at all and he's yet another young player who doesn't know how to win at the NBA level. Add in the possibility of him wanting to establish himself as a star in this league and we probably have too many chefs in the kitchen, if you know what I mean.
I hear you but we badly need his bulk to lean on opposing centers and clog up the lane. And it's interesting what you say about Towns. I feel he already plays like a 3 and maybe that is a problem. But it sure wouldn't be hard for him to adapt if asked to play there for stretches.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
KAT is not a 3. It's way different having him switch on to a guy for a possession versus asking KAT to just guard the KD's and Leonard's of the world the whole game. He's just not going to be able to do it. He's athletic for a 7 footer, but he doesn't have the athleticism needed to succeed on the wing.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
KAT is not a 3. It's way different having him switch on to a guy for a possession versus asking KAT to just guard the KD's and Leonard's of the world the whole game. He's just not going to be able to do it. He's athletic for a 7 footer, but he doesn't have the athleticism needed to succeed on the wing.
Disagree. No one can guard Durant or Leonard all that effectively, but KAT is equipped athletically enough to do a good job on most 3's. Don't forget those same 3's would also have to try and guard him.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
KAT is not a 3. It's way different having him switch on to a guy for a possession versus asking KAT to just guard the KD's and Leonard's of the world the whole game. He's just not going to be able to do it. He's athletic for a 7 footer, but he doesn't have the athleticism needed to succeed on the wing.
Disagree. No one can guard Durant or Leonard all that effectively, but KAT is equipped athletically enough to do a good job on most 3's. Don't forget those same 3's would also have to try and guard him.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:
khans2k5 wrote:
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
KAT is not a 3. It's way different having him switch on to a guy for a possession versus asking KAT to just guard the KD's and Leonard's of the world the whole game. He's just not going to be able to do it. He's athletic for a 7 footer, but he doesn't have the athleticism needed to succeed on the wing.
Disagree. No one can guard Durant or Leonard all that effectively, but KAT is equipped athletically enough to do a good job on most 3's. Don't forget those same 3's would also have to try and guard him.
I think he could play the 3 but he shouldn't. I remember a great interview with Cassell during the 2004 run. Everyone had gotten into a habit of calling Garnett our 3 or 4 in years previous to Sam's arrival to basically appease KG, and Cassell said in the interview "KG is our Center" he went on to say he didn't care what Garnett called himself or thought of himself, he was a center and that was it. I think it's the same thing with Towns. He can run around for a while and do whatever he wants, but he's a Center and could be one of the greatest ever if he just worries about being a center. He can be a center with great range and speed, but just become what you were made to be. He is playing like a 3 this year and his efficiency has taken a hit. I don't like it.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
KAT is not a 3. It's way different having him switch on to a guy for a possession versus asking KAT to just guard the KD's and Leonard's of the world the whole game. He's just not going to be able to do it. He's athletic for a 7 footer, but he doesn't have the athleticism needed to succeed on the wing.
Disagree. No one can guard Durant or Leonard all that effectively, but KAT is equipped athletically enough to do a good job on most 3's. Don't forget those same 3's would also have to try and guard him.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:
khans2k5 wrote:
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
KAT is not a 3. It's way different having him switch on to a guy for a possession versus asking KAT to just guard the KD's and Leonard's of the world the whole game. He's just not going to be able to do it. He's athletic for a 7 footer, but he doesn't have the athleticism needed to succeed on the wing.
Disagree. No one can guard Durant or Leonard all that effectively, but KAT is equipped athletically enough to do a good job on most 3's. Don't forget those same 3's would also have to try and guard him.
I think he could play the 3 but he shouldn't. I remember a great interview with Cassell during the 2004 run. Everyone had gotten into a habit of calling Garnett our 3 or 4 in years previous to Sam's arrival to basically appease KG, and Cassell said in the interview "KG is our Center" he went on to say he didn't care what Garnett called himself or thought of himself, he was a center and that was it. I think it's the same thing with Towns. He can run around for a while and do whatever he wants, but he's a Center and could be one of the greatest ever if he just worries about being a center. He can be a center with great range and speed, but just become what you were made to be. He is playing like a 3 this year and his efficiency has taken a hit. I don't like it.
He's not a center in this league yet. He just gets pushed around too much.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
KAT is not a 3. It's way different having him switch on to a guy for a possession versus asking KAT to just guard the KD's and Leonard's of the world the whole game. He's just not going to be able to do it. He's athletic for a 7 footer, but he doesn't have the athleticism needed to succeed on the wing.
Disagree. No one can guard Durant or Leonard all that effectively, but KAT is equipped athletically enough to do a good job on most 3's. Don't forget those same 3's would also have to try and guard him.
We'll just have to agree to disagree. Towns just isn't that athletic to chase people around screens all game.
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Does anybody else like a starting front line of Okafor, Dieng, KAT?
I'd prefer not to have Towns play SF. I think that combined with his willingness already to be a perimeter player would be a poor combination and we'd get a less affective, less efficient version of him.
I also prefer Dieng as our first big off the bench. I honestly think he'd be the best bench big in the NBA and that's not a bad thing at all. We could definitely use an advantage like that. He'd also get more opportunities offensively, which might not be a bad thing either.
I struggle to like the fit of Okafor here, but he's skilled enough that I wouldn't absolutely hate it either. He just doesn't help our defensive issues at all and he's yet another young player who doesn't know how to win at the NBA level. Add in the possibility of him wanting to establish himself as a star in this league and we probably have too many chefs in the kitchen, if you know what I mean.
I hear you but we badly need his bulk to lean on opposing centers and clog up the lane. And it's interesting what you say about Towns. I feel he already plays like a 3 and maybe that is a problem. But it sure wouldn't be hard for him to adapt if asked to play there for stretches.
I completely agree about needing some bulk in the paint. We need a big body that's not easily moved on either end of the floor. We're missing that Pekovic impact where opposing bigs just had to fight like hell for position before they could try to high-point the rebound. That's not happening that much with Towns and Dieng on the floor. Guys are just being physical and having their way with them. We still get our fair share of rebounds because we're long and athletic, but size matters. We need a bruiser. I think we're on the same page there with me wanting to go after Monroe and you with Okafor.
Yeah, I agree with Cam's take. KAT has shown me that he can nearly duplicate what Okafor does inside, but has so much more offensive versatility. While I love the length Cool's front line provides, I'm not keen on the idea of moving KAT away from the basket.
I don't trade Rubio for Okafor. Ricky's solid performance last night may be because he was going up against inexperienced backup PGs or it may have just been an aberration in the middle of a poor season...but maybe, just maybe, it's an indication that his elbow is finally healed enough for him to play like he did last year.
