<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Why would you put Emeka at Center over him? Emeka had difficulties at Connecticut at Center; what makes you think the NBA would be easier for him. Emeka's the same height Stromile is, but he lacks the experience as a Center as well as the height and leaping ability.</div> I'm sick and tired of people saying Okafor cannot play center in the NBA. You're saying Okafor had difficulties playing center in college? The guy won college basketball's Defensive Player of the Year and yet he had difficulties? With stats like 17.6 ppg, 11.5 rbg, 4.1 bpg and 60% field goal percentage...he had difficulties? That tells me not to listen to this guy... The only difficulties Okafor may have had was when he was going through his back problems. The guy is good enough to guard any center in the NBA other than Shaq, even in this stage of his career. I'm through debating about it. Just wait and see. About Swift... You say he is content playing for Memphis. Well maybe he is, although it's hard to see why he would be when he has never been a sure starter for the team, coming off the bench averaging just under 20 minutes per game. The most minutes he has ever averaged in a season is 26. And with Memphis pursuing a big man in free agency, like Dampier for example, it's likely Swift will be relegated to the bench yet again. And I must ask you this question, if Swift is such a proven center in the NBA, why does Memphis want a big man so badly? Do you know why the Spurs swept Memphis? Their frontcourt was weak. They had no size. That's why Emeka would be more favored to play center. Swift is 6'9" 230 lbs while Okafor is 6'10" 257 lbs. That's almost a 30 lb difference. Both have incredible leaping ability, so no way would that factor in for Swift playing center instead of Okafor. It would just factor into a pretty fearsome frontcourt duo in the East.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm sick and tired of people saying Okafor cannot play center in the NBA.</div> Did I ever say he could not play it, or did I just say that Swift would be a better option? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You're saying Okafor had difficulties playing center in college? The guy won college basketball's Defensive Player of the Year and yet he had difficulties? With stats like 17.6 ppg, 11.5 rbg, 4.1 bpg and 60% field goal percentage...he had difficulties? That tells me not to listen to this guy... The only difficulties Okafor may have had was when he was going through his back problems.</div> I apologize; I know college basketball; I just didn't type what I meant clearly enough. It's not that Okafor had difficulties at the Center, but it's than compared to playing Power Forward he had difficulties. When Boone was playing Center and Okafor was playing Power Forward, the Huskies did a lot better than if the two were the other way around. I'm not saying Okafor can not play Center. He could be a stellar Center in the NBA playing for the Bobcats these next few years, but he'd be more effective against smaller competition at Power Forward. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">About Swift... You say he is content playing for Memphis. Well maybe he is, although it's hard to see why he would be when he has never been a sure starter for the team, coming off the bench averaging just under 20 minutes per game. The most minutes he has ever averaged in a season is 26.</div> You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. If Stromile Swift deserved the minutes, he would recieve the minutes. If anything, he has been a bust. Coming into Memphis he was labled as a "project" and had a lot of problems with his work ethic. He never really grew out of that status. He still has no work ethic nor consistancy to this day. He's a guy who will get you 20/10 one night and 0/0 the next. Also, Memphis runs a ten man rotation. The best player on the team does not even get much more than 30 minutes per game. Benching on Memphis is not benching on Charlotte. When you bench on Memphis, you stay. Also, Stromile Swift's option is only for one year. It's not like he's signing a long term deal with the Grizzlies. He can improve his stock this season and test the waters next year when there's a better selection of teams for him. Either way, it's not up to him; Memphis has the option to match any of the offers. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And with Memphis pursuing a big man in free agency, like Dampier for example, it's likely Swift will be relegated to the bench yet again.</div> Again, benching in Memphis is not like benching in Charlotte. Also, if the Grizzlies want Dampier, all they can offer him is 5.5 million dollars for 6 years. However, Dampier reportidely wants more than that, so Memphis is exploring the option of a sign-and-trade which would send Stromile Swift and Earl Watson to Golden State in exhange for Dampier. There's a thread about it in the Grizzlies Forum. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And I must ask you this question, if Swift is such a proven center in the NBA, why does Memphis want a big man so badly? Do you know why the Spurs swept Memphis? Their frontcourt was weak. They had no size. </div> Memphis and Charlotte are on two different levels. Next year Memphis will be one of the ten best teams while Charlotte will be at the bottom of the barrell. Their needs are different. Memphis is a better team and needs a better Center, but Stromile is pure gold at Center as far as what's available for Charlotte goes. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">That's why Emeka would be more favored to play center. Swift is 6'9" 230 lbs while Okafor is 6'10" 257 lbs. That's almost a 30 lb difference. Both have incredible leaping ability, so no way would that factor in for Swift playing center instead of Okafor. It would just factor into a pretty fearsome frontcourt duo in the East.</div> Height and weight don't play as big of a part in this are you are making it out to be. If you've ever seen Swift play upclose then you'd know what I mean. His wingspan alone makes him just as big as most 7-0 Centers, and while Okafor's leaping ability is good it's not as good as Swift's. Swift is probably one of the three best dunking Center's in the league. Remember when he was in the dunk contest? The guy can really fly. It would make more sense to start him at Center. Afterall, he is proven and Emeka is just a rookie.
PG- Smush Parker/Bernard Robinson/Tamar Slay SG-Gerald Wallace/Corey Benjamin/Tamar Slay/Theron Smith/Bernard Robinson SF-Jason Kapono/Tamar Slay/Theron Smith/Bernard Robinson PF-Emeka Okafor/Jahidi White/Jamal Sampson/Predrag Drobnjak C-Jamal Sampson/Predrag Drobnjak/Jahidi White/Emeka Okafor Thats an 11 man rotation, they need another point gaurd though. Smush is capable of starting but he cant play the whole 48 minutes and possible overtime minutes as well. Tamar Slay is more of a SG and SF and Bernard Robinson and Emeka share most of the defensive responsibilities so he wont stay at point gaurd for long periods of time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Did I ever say he could not play it, or did I just say that Swift would be a better option?</div> By saying Okafor had difficulties playing center while at UCONN, that infers that he wouldn't be able to in the NBA. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I apologize; I know college basketball; I just didn't type what I meant clearly enough. It's not that Okafor had difficulties at the Center, but it's than compared to playing Power Forward he had difficulties. When Boone was playing Center and Okafor was playing Power Forward, the Huskies did a lot better than if the two were the other way around. I'm not saying Okafor can not play Center. He could be a stellar Center in the NBA playing for the Bobcats these next few years, but he'd be more effective against smaller competition at Power Forward.</div> I agree that Okafor would be much better at power forward. But that's only if Charlotte had a legit big man to play next to him. I'm really not high on Jahidi White or Peja Drobnjak. Bickerstaff said given Okafor's versatility, he'll end up playing both positions this season. Bickerstaff also acknowledged that there is no player in the NBA Okafor cannot guard, with the exception of Shaq. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. If Stromile Swift deserved the minutes, he would recieve the minutes. If anything, he has been a bust. Coming into Memphis he was labled as a "project" and had a lot of problems with his work ethic. He never really grew out of that status. He still has no work ethic nor consistancy to this day. He's a guy who will get you 20/10 one night and 0/0 the next.</div> Oh I know exactly what I'm talking about. Swift is still young. On a young team in the NBA, he is definite starter material. Swift will be a bust as long as he is getting less than 20 minutes per game. Besides, he averaged nearly 10 ppg last season while getting less than 20 minutes. He does have potential. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Benching on Memphis is not benching on Charlotte.</div> If by the unlikely chance the Bobcats do get Swift, he won't be coming off the bench. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Memphis has the option to match any of the offers.</div> West said they will match any offer they can. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Again, benching in Memphis is not like benching in Charlotte.</div> Again, if by the unlikely chance the Bobcats get Stromile, he will not be coming off the bench. What makes you think a player of his potential would be playing behind the likes of Jahidi White or Peja Drobnjak? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Memphis and Charlotte are on two different levels. Next year Memphis will be one of the ten best teams while Charlotte will be at the bottom of the barrell. Their needs are different. Memphis is a better team and needs a better Center, but Stromile is pure gold at Center as far as what's available for Charlotte goes.</div> Like Okafor, Swift is better used at the power forward position. Really, size does matter in the NBA. If Swift is gold at center, Okafor is platinum. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Height and weight don't play as big of a part in this are you are making it out to be. If you've ever seen Swift play upclose then you'd know what I mean. His wingspan alone makes him just as big as most 7-0 Centers, and while Okafor's leaping ability is good it's not as good as Swift's.</div> Just ask Raptors' fans what they think of Chris Bosh playing center. Yet height and weight doesn't matter? And fyi, Okafor's wingspan is just as good if not better. The guy has a 7'4" wingspan and a 9'4" standing reach. Emeka is also a more proven shotblocker than Stromile. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It would make more sense to start him at Center. Afterall, he is proven and Emeka is just a rookie.</div> Emeka was the most ready player in the draft. He won a national championship and many awards in college. He has incredible work ethic. We just won't know until we see Okafor play. But really, Swift doesn't have that much experience over Okafor. Especially when he averaged less than 20 minutes per game playing both PF and C for the Grizzlies during his career.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">By saying Okafor had difficulties playing center while at UCONN, that infers that he wouldn't be able to in the NBA.</div> Still, I never said that. You could infer a lot of stuff from what I say, but that doesn't mean I said it. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If by the unlikely chance the Bobcats do get Swift, he won't be coming off the bench. Again, if by the unlikely chance the Bobcats get Stromile, he will not be coming off the bench. What makes you think a player of his potential would be playing behind the likes of Jahidi White or Peja Drobnjak?</div> You missunderstood me. I was not saying that he would be coming off the bench. I was stating that a bench spot on Memphis is unlike a bench spot on any other team in the league in that the bench players get just as much playing time as the starters. Starting doesn't matter with Stromile because he plays just as much as Wright does. Next year I'd expect him to get even more playing time. Bonzi Wells, Shane Battier, and Earl Watson all deserve more playing time as well. They all understand the system though so they don't complain. I think we can just agree to dissagree on this. Like you said earlier, all we can do is wait and see. It's becoming redundant because you are pretty set in your belief that Okafor would be a better Center than Swift, and I'm pretty set in my belief that Swift would be a better Center than Swift.
c-okafor pf- fizer (if he sign)-eddie griiffin (will be a good adittion) sf-jason kapono sg-gerard wallace pg-free agent
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bay_Area_Fan:</div><div class="quote_post">pg-eddie house sg-jason kapono sf-gerald wallace pf-melvin ely c-emeka okafor</div> Kapano isnt a ball handler hes at the SF spot. Its young but it looks good.
Kapano isnt a ball handler hes at the SF spot. Its young but it looks good. Yeah, I think it would be better if Wallace played 2guard and Kapono played SF.
My new revised roster. PG Jason Hart; Eddie House SG Gerald Wallace; Corey Benjamin SF Jason Kapono; Tamar Slay; Theron Smith; Bernard Robinson PF Melvin Ely; Jamal Sampson; Brandon Hunter C Emeka Okafor; Loren Woods; Primoz Brezec I suspect Jahidi White to be waived and Drobnjak to be traded for a second round draft pick (Charlotte traded two to the Clippers). I chose Hart to start over House because I believe House is more useful off the bench. House will give the Bobcats instant offense from the bench. Hart is more suited to play point guard because of his basketball IQ and how he gets teammatess involved. Bickerstaff also loves the way Hart plays defense. However, I look at this team and I'm thinking...has there ever been a team this young in the NBA? I'm hoping a few of these guys have breakout seasons next year (like Wallace, Ely, and Woods), because with this roster as of now...the Bobcats will be lucky to win 20 games. But hey, that's not a bad thing. It gives them a better chance to get Chris Paul in next year's NBA draft.
I think that the bobcats are going to go with some expericance with Tamar Slay at SG. Here is my prediction: PG: House; Hart SG: Slay SF: Wallace PF: Ely C: Okafor
