I couldn't find the link for a minute. I know the Lakers history with big men; I know Flip's an old-school guy. It makes sense that both prefer Okafor. I could believe that.
@RandleROFY I'm just messing with you. I would understand them having Okafor ahead of Towns. Heck so do I! I just hope it's not true...
Not sure if this was mentioned, but Coach Calipari was on ESPN 710 the other day and said that he didn't let Towns shoot 3s. He said that Towns is extremely good at it (even set his high school record), but he didn't want Towns to shoot any 3s until he can get his butt in the post and show that he can score there.
Very impressive young man, both with his skills and game and with his maturity and articulateness. Flip side of the consolation prize article on Okafor not being any kind of disappointment, you could say the same thing about Towns. Barring injuries to either one that derails a career, these are two special players. Karl is "huskier" while being in great shape than KD even now and KD has had a real nice career. Maybe this guy has the "clutch" gene too. With shooting skills like that at 6'11" ....
Indeed. I still have Towns a bit above Okafor, but Okafor's push to be with the Lakers accounts for a lot.
Either way, we're in business with either big man. I love Towns, but Okafor wants to be here. If there is anything I learned about the whole Dwight fiasco, it's that I want players that WANT, DESIRE, to be in a Lakers uniform. I have no doubt if we were to draft Okafor he'd give 110%
In 2012-13, he shot 37.3% from 10 to 16 feet. That's not great, but it's not terrible. He bumped up to 43.1% the next year and then 45.1% the year after that (aka this year). To put that into perspective, Marc Gasol shot 36.2% from 10-16 feet his rookie year. He's been 40% or higher every single year since then. Outside of 1 year when he was moved to PF, Pau Gasol has shot 42% or higher during his entire stint with the Lakers. In that 09 championship run, he shot 49.2% from 10-16 feet! That's on Dirk's level, although Pau obviously had more shots created for him than Dirk.
OMG, if he could handle them on defense. Who's going to guard him. And put the shorter Randle at PF, who can run the break as well. Not happening but yeah it would be hilarious.
Watching and evaluating these clips of Okafor, I think if he comes here Randle would eventually emerge as the alpha of this team. I just sense Okafor and Clarkson aren't those type of characters. Towns is so well-spoken that it's harder to get a grasp of what he's really thinking.
depends. Going back to the Timmy comparison. TD is the leader of that team, but he's not the vocal leader. I envision that's the type of leader Okafor will be -- by setting the bar and leading by example. He'll be able to get guys to follow him. But he's not going to be the vocal leader, won't be grabbing guys to talk to during FTs, or leading timeouts. But if he does speak or get after you, your should listen. That's when you know when someone really f***ed up on the Spurs is when TD breaks from his stoic, zen like self and snaps at someone.
Very true, and I agree that Okafor even resembles Duncan in the way he carries himself. I feel the Spurs are a special case though, because no one dares to question Pop's lead. They're all just a disciplined group of professional athletes.
This is where I was going before with the perfectionist and the fearless guy. Ginobili is a fearless dude. He tosses up some terrible shots and makes some bad passes, but the next play down he forgets about it. Tim Duncan makes almost no mistakes because his game is so filtered and precise. Not that Randle is anything like Ginobili on the floor, but that's the kind of dynamic I'd love between Randle and Okafor. That way you get the guy who can hit a homerun like Randle who won't be afraid of that moment in the slightest AND you get the reliable guy who has practiced the move so many times it's automatic in games. Then you've got Clarkson who is somewhere in between those two... Man I just got pumped up again. Those three will lead this franchise back to the Promised Land.
If Jahlil wants not be a T-Wolf, but rather a Laker that much, he and his agent should go full Eli Manning and family route with the pressure on Flip to not pick him. Ignore that it will be criticized and not a "good" look ..... and refuse to work out for him. Maybe just meet with him to politely but firmly bring the point home, at the most.
