^ Which makes Kaminsky look pretty darn valuable as a stretch 4. He has all the tools to succeed. He has a great stroke, excellent back to the basket game, can take players off the dribble, and superb vision for his size.
I don't understand why a number of us here are of the opinion what you see is what you get and not a whole lot more from Frank the Tank in the future. Huh? This guy is a big (tall, not a twig) and young, coming in with wonderful assorted skills and is a Winner. If we weren't at the top and he was in our short list for whatever the pick, you gotta take skilled Big over skilled small. He helped beat freaking 38-0 (?) Kentucky.
plus something has to be said about players who stayed all 4 years in college..some of them come into the league more ready...take Lillard and Draymond Green for example
Found it. Nike Hoop Summit. Okafor guarding Mudiay for a possession; moves his feet well, use his length well, and looked while he was heavier doing it. Look, this doesn't mean that I think we could 'switch' every screen with the point guards in today's league, but I tell you, we could implement in our defensive scheme and do it at certain points with Okafor. He's damn nimble and more athletic than given credit for...
Towns vs. Okafor, by the numbers... Offensive Win Shares Jahlil Okafor...4.5 Karl Towns.....3.5 Defensive Win Shares Karl Towns.....2.9 (10th in NCAA) Jahlil Okafor...2.2 Total Win Shares Jahlil Okafor...6.7 Karl Towns.....6.4 Win Shares per 40 minutes Karl Towns... .311 (1st in NCAA) Jahlil Okafor... .235 Offensive Box Plus/Minus (Points added per 100 possessions, normalized for teammates & competition. 0.0 is an average player) Jahlil Okafor...+6.8 Karl Towns.....+6.5 Defensive Box Plus/Minus Karl Towns.....+10.8 Jahlil Okafor.....+4.1 Overall Box Plus/Minus Karl Towns.....+17.3 Jahlil Okafor...+10.9 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) Karl Towns.....31.4 (5th in NCAA) Jahlil Okafor...30.7 (8th in NCAA) Offensive Rating Karl Towns.....126.8 Jahlil Okafor...119.9 Defensive Rating Karl Towns.....78.1 (1st in NCAA) Jahlil Okafor...95.4 True Shooting Percentage Jahlil Okafor...64.1% Karl Towns.....62.7% Offensive Rebounding Percentage Jahlil Okafor...14.8% Karl Towns.....14.2% Defensive Rebounding Percentage Karl Towns.....22.3% Jahlil Okafor...18.2% Total Rebounding Percentage Karl Towns.....18.5% Jahlil Okafor...16.6% Assist Rate Karl Towns.....11.6% Jahlil Okafor.....9.4% Block Rate Karl Towns.....11.5% Jahlil Okafor.....4.5% Turnover Rate Karl Towns.....14.2% Jahlil Okafor...15.6% Free Throw Rate Karl Towns..... .523 Jahlil Okafor... .462 _________________
Nice find. I agree his athleticism is becoming quickly underrated, but to be fair that was only one possession against a guy who isn't playing in the NBA yet. Can he do that against the Walls, the Westbrooks, or even the Teagues or Conleys? I'm not so sure. Still though it's reassuring he might be able to do it a few times on occasion.
At the end of the day, what separates them to me is this: Okafor won a title with less talent around him than Towns (coaching aside -- I don't think much of Calipari).
Okafor has the opposing defense focused on him with double and triple teams. This is why I believe Minny would be a fool to let him slip to us. Flip however might surprise us and draft Mudiay.
He did a pretty good job against Towns and Okafor going head to head. Neither really dominated when they faced him. Besides, not all players are going to be able to be two way players, his strength will be his offense. He is, by the way, a 7 footer. If Pau can get away with it, so can he.
Yeah, I'm not advocating it every possession. That's what I said. I think Mudiay's athleticism has always been overrated. Either way, take into this account; he look considerably heavier when he's guarding Mudiay on that 1 possession. A well conditioned Okafor I think can switch; like I said in the Randle thread, it's dependent on 'matchup,' but it is something he has the ability to do; even if it's only on a few occasions...