Ss&r: Why Karl-anthony Towns Is The Best Fit For The Lakers

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by unpossibl1, Jun 15, 2015.

Page 4 of 5
  1. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    28,523
    Likes Received:
    76,748
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I think you're selling okafor short. his back to the basket game is obviously the standout, but he's got a good face-up game that he showed often in college. a catch at the elbow for him can be trouble for the opposition.
     
    abeer3, Jun 15, 2015
    #61
  2. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Yes and Yes. Randle and Okafor could play together. I think we could win championships with that duo and the right pieces. I like what you said earlier, though. The result of that success is going to depend on scheme. I wholeheartedly agree with that.

    Okafor/Randle can be used can be used in such a where nobody in the league can guard those two. All I'm advocating is using different sets/motions/schemes to maximize these two greatly talented young men.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 15, 2015
    #62
  3. LakerFanIam

    LakerFanIam - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2014
    Messages:
    1,779
    Likes Received:
    5,182
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    We're forgetting Okafor's passing ability too.. A lot of Duke's schemes were based on Jahlil passing from the post.
     
    LakerFanIam, Jun 15, 2015
    #63
    Barnstable likes this.
  4. Ryanwestlombardi

    Ryanwestlombardi - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2014
    Messages:
    467
    Likes Received:
    506
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Oregon
    Offline
    June 25th can't come any sooner, lets get ready to rumble, that means draft one of these two, not what I've been hearing , that Russell is going to be the pick.
     
    Ryanwestlombardi, Jun 15, 2015
    #64
  5. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,467
    Likes Received:
    8,535
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    To answer both of your posts, attacking from the high post is Randle's bread-and-butter. His blueprint is Lebron. He's got that explosive first step and showed a respectable jumpshot during the summer league/preseason. Both are abilities that Okafor does not currently possess. He is definitely capable, but why not start him closer to the basket (low post) for a higher percentage shot? That is the point I am arguing with RandleROFY.

    Sure, but a catch in the low block will be a bigger concern for the opposition. He should keep attacking from the low post until the defense takes it away from him. That's where he'll yield the highest FG%, so why not? That's what we're arguing about. Didn't mean to sell him short.
     
    tada, Jun 15, 2015
    #65
  6. Barnstable

    Barnstable Supreme Fuzzler of Lakersball.com Staff Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2014
    Messages:
    7,289
    Likes Received:
    18,676
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Offline
    It's so close that I understand the tossup. But from what I've seen, Okafor has an elite post up game, and Towns isn't elite at any one thing although he has more skills all the way around.

    I'll take the big with an elite low post game all day over the jack of all trades.
     
    Barnstable, Jun 15, 2015
    #66
    tada and therealdeal like this.
  7. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Gotcha. Don't worry. Scott wants to make things simpler within our offense. I'm sure he will run things in the low post so Okafor can be efficient. :)
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 15, 2015
    #67
    tada likes this.
  8. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I'm really not even sure what the argument is anymore. :D

    Are we arguing the specifics of what sets we'll run? Because obviously there's more than just a post game. Even if we dump it in the post, he can choose to face up if he wants to. Of course we'll run a multitude of sets, but the bread and butter will the post game...
     
    therealdeal, Jun 15, 2015
    #68
  9. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I'm with ya. Towns might end up better with time, but he also might never find his niche and that niche might never be in the post. I just want Okafor...
     
    therealdeal, Jun 15, 2015
    #69
    Barnstable likes this.
  10. Punk-101

    Punk-101 - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    2,870
    Likes Received:
    7,853
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I want Tyson Chandler with Bynum's primitive but effective post game and a 40% 3pt shot. Towns all day please.
     
    Punk-101, Jun 15, 2015
    #70
  11. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    36,718
    Likes Received:
    61,049
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    Wow, LOL, a blast from the past. Julius in action against NBA players. The guy is like a bowling ball at times scattering pins. Green who is a good defender with some heft of his own gets overpowered and knocked out of the way, same as a number of other guys in that clip. When Julius decides he's going to the rack. Funny too is his little scissor kick at the height of his jump on the close to rim shots. It's like he's trying propel himself just a little higher. [​IMG]

    Can not wait to see this guy in action again in summer league. Sucked sooo hard for him to get injured and done for the season in the first game of his career.
     
    LTLakerFan, Jun 15, 2015
    #71
    tada, Barnstable and lakerjones like this.
  12. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,467
    Likes Received:
    8,535
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Yeah the appeal of Towns is obviously his versatility, but I'm not quite sure how to utilize him on offense because he is so unique. He's like a merge of Dirk and Chandler. He could play both roles of being a perimeter player and be a banger inside. And he could play both PF and C.

    Here's my question though. Is it necessarily a good thing that he is versatile? I mean it would definitely ease the process of building a team, because Towns can fill the opposite role of his frontcourt teammate, but I can't see him being elite at both roles. Could he develop into an unstoppable force at both the perimeter game and post game? It's possible because there are complete players like Kobe, but it takes a whole lot of talent and dedication. Most of the time, players succeed when they stick to what they're best at, adding a supplemental skill down the line. A good example is Lebron, with his strength being his ability to attack the basket. His jumpshot is still unreliable, but he added an effective postgame, as seen in this year's playoffs.

    I have to agree with others that prefer a player with a defined and elite skillset over the jack of all trades. It's kind of like comparing a decathlon athlete to a 100m sprinter. Assuming they both have the same amount of talent, the sprinter will always dominate his field because he will spend more time working on a specific craft.

    No matter how versatile Towns is, he can not be 2 players simulaneously. If he is drafted into a situation where teams keep switching his role, he would be elite at nothing, and above average at everything. Quite frankly, I prefer 5 specialists with straight-forward roles on my team.
     
    tada, Jun 16, 2015
    #72
  13. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Well the thing with Towns is that you could mold him into whatever you want. For us, that's undoubtedly a post player with the potential to also be an effective player in the pick and roll. In fact he'll probably start his career picking and popping mostly because of his weaker lower half. Eventually though we'd want him to be Bynum down low. If I'm Minny, his post game development would be slowed by Pekovic taking up half the paint. That might mean the Wolves turn him into more of a perimeter player and to me that's a waste.

    With Okafor you have a much more defined sense of direction. Most of his game will come by giving him the ball around the basket and telling him to read the defense. I like that. I think he's got a low floor and while his ceiling isn't maybe as high as Towns' is, it's more defined already. That's good for us when we want to be competitive asap.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 16, 2015
    #73
    LTLakerFan likes this.
  14. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    In regard to your last sentence, how many times would you do that during a game? Just in terms of percentage?
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 16, 2015
    #74
  15. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I haven't the slightest idea. I don't know how many times Okafor wants the ball down low. I don't know how many times he can handle doing it (conditioning). I don't know how effective he'll be yet and where he'll be most effective. You've got a 1st Team All-Rookie PG who has shown an incredible ability to get into the paint and to run an efficient pick and roll so he needs the ball too. You've got Kobe Bryant who will need the ball. You've got Julius Randle who needs the ball to be effective as well. Without seeing Randle on the floor and without seeing Okafor yet against NBA big men, I can't give you a percentage.

    I'd guess it wouldn't be that high though. He might be the most talented guy we have, but he's also the youngest and the least proven. I'd expect him to try to assimilate first by cleaning up the glass for Kobe. Setting screens for Kobe, basically trying to do a Pau impression. Cleaning up after Randle on drives. I'd have him run baseline or weak-side for Clarkson while Randle sets the screen.

    If you forced me to guess I'd say 30-35% should go to Kobe, 20% should go to Clarkson, 15-20% to Randle, 15-20% to Nick Young/other, and then I guess the last 10-15% to Okafor in post-up/isolation situations. The specific play break downs would be different, but that's my estimation for now.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 16, 2015
    #75
  16. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,467
    Likes Received:
    8,535
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Good points, and I agree with your first paragraph, but I'm curious as to what your definition of 'ceiling' is? Is it Towns' overall impact including his defense? Because I think he will never be as effective as Okafor as a scorer. Skill trumps athletism when it comes to scoring. Unless you're Wilt or Shaq, of course.
     
    tada, Jun 16, 2015
    #76
  17. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I can live with the 10-15%.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 16, 2015
    #77
  18. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I'm thinking if you turned Towns into Bynum offensively, giving him a rudimentary post game, then he could potentially be better than Okafor. It'd take a few years and at least a few pounds of muscle in his thighs and hind quarters, but it could happen. Towns is a pretty natural defender, certainly more so than Okafor. That's not to say Okafor will always be a bad defender, but Towns is just better at it. Timing on blocked shots, knowing how and where to rotate, etc. are all things Towns does just naturally. If you add that to an effective post game, then he becomes better than Okafor.

    Or maybe you want him to be Dirk and turn him into a three point shooter at almost seven feet tall. If you turn him into Dirk and he has all that defensive potential realized, then maybe he ends up being more effective than Okafor.

    The problem is, it'll take a few years before I think Towns is ready to be that guy. I think he needs to put on a lot of muscle to be a Center. He was foul prone in college, let alone what he'll do in the pros. The learning curve will be longer for Towns than Okafor and he may never get to those heights.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 16, 2015
    #78
    LTLakerFan and tada like this.
  19. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Well good I suppose lol

    The specific types of plays we run (the Horns you want for example) will have to wait until after Summer League when we can see these guys against more NBA-ish level talent and get a feel for what their strengths will be.
     
    therealdeal, Jun 16, 2015
    #79
  20. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    We're not going to see that type of action with Byron. That's not a shot at Byron. When I read his rhetoric from an earlier article, I think the offense is going to get more simplified.
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 16, 2015
    #80
Page 4 of 5

Share This Page