Can Okafor Play Center In The NBA?

Discussion in 'Charlotte Hornets' started by Streetball2k5, Jun 26, 2004.

  1. Streetball2k5

    Streetball2k5 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2003
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Okafor is capable of playing center in the East. He has the size and strength to do so I think. But, against the Western conference centers, I don't think so. I think that many of them are stronger and bigger then him.</div>
    I agree 100% with that statement Moo2k4, I think Okafor can play well against East Centre's but the West will dominate him like the others. His heart will give him the edge over a lot of Center's but I just don't see him being able to keep his stamina up and his body in shape playing the Centre position, I think he should play PF.
     
  2. Triple Dubble

    Triple Dubble JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2004
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Besides Shaq, what centers in the West will "dominate" Okafor? I believe Okafor can guard anybody in the league, with the exception of Shaq. That player hasn't been made yet. Anyway, it's likely Okafor will start at PF if the Bobcats keep White. But he will be playing center depending on how the rotation goes.
     
  3. N4S

    N4S BBW Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2004
    Messages:
    2,732
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    I think he can be a eastern center but agianst western teams he will have problems. He can definitely hold his on against Jermaine O'neal and Ben Wallace, but I could see him having issues against Shaq, Divac, Nesterovic, Ming. Just because the the height difference, but if you really think about it Emeka has major length and really good hops so you never know what his outcome will be.
     
  4. Streetball2k5

    Streetball2k5 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2003
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting pgrudo00:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he can be a eastern center but agianst western teams he will have problems. He can definitely hold his on against Jermaine O'neal and Ben Wallace, but I could see him having issues against Shaq, Divac, Nesterovic, Ming. Just because the the height difference, but if you really think about it Emeka has major length and really good hops so you never know what his outcome will be.</div>
    He has amazing length and great hops, just like Ben Wallace, which is why i've been comparing the 2 together the whole time i've been dicussing this issue. I think people like Yao, and Shaq who just dominate everyone will continue to do so with Okafor, but players like Wallace, Brian Grant, and other Eastern Center's Emeka would put up a good fight. I don't think he could hold his own against Jermaine O'Neal, he is too quick for Emeka IMO.
     
  5. Triple Dubble

    Triple Dubble JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2004
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Give me a break. Hold his own against JO but have issues defending against Rasho and Vlade? People, Okafor is as big as most centers in the league. Height isn't really an issue if a guy has a 7'4" wingspan and a 9'4" standing reach. He's also a very aggressive rebounder and a big time shot blocker (college basketball's all-time shot blocker).

    Offensively, Okafor is still raw. But anybody who has watched him play has seen his shot improve over the years. He has developed a nice 10-foot jumper. His free-throw shooting is pretty bad and his perimeter game still needs work. Comparisons to a young Alonzo Mourning don't seem that far off.
     
  6. Streetball2k5

    Streetball2k5 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2003
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">Give me a break. Hold his own against JO but have issues defending against Rasho and Vlade? People, Okafor is as big as most centers in the league. Height isn't really an issue if a guy has a 7'4" wingspan and a 9'4" standing reach. He's also a very aggressive rebounder and a big time shot blocker (college basketball's all-time shot blocker).

    Offensively, Okafor is still raw. But anybody who has watched him play has seen his shot improve over the years. He has developed a nice 10-foot jumper. His free-throw shooting is pretty bad and his perimeter game still needs work. Comparisons to a young Alonzo Mourning don't seem that far off.</div>
    Please don't address the statement to everyone by saying "people" when you are issueing the reply to one person's point of view.

    He was a great rebounder and shot blocker in COLLEGE, now he's in the NBA, and that's a whole different story, he won't be getting anymore 10 block games. Every team in the NBA can win on any given night, there's no more teams like Army to play against. It will be tougher for Okafor to rebound in NBA because like him EVERYONE is an aggresive rebounder.

    Offensively, Okafor needs to really improve. His shot may be improving but it is still no where close to where it needs to be to get the respect for people to guard him tight when he goes 14 feet away from the net. He may have a nice 10 footer but that's the minimum he needs to be an inside presence on the offensive end. We don't want another Shaq type free throw shooter, so he better improve there too. He doesn't have very many post moves compared to other Centre's either.

    There's always room for improvment, and IMO he is not going to have an Alonzo Mourning rookie season, because Alonzo was scoring like 20 ppg.
     
  7. Triple Dubble

    Triple Dubble JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2004
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Please don't address the statement to everyone by saying "people" when you are issueing the reply to one person's point of view.</div>
    My reply was addressed to everyone who doubts Okafor's ability to play center.

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He was a great rebounder and shot blocker in COLLEGE, now he's in the NBA, and that's a whole different story, he won't be getting anymore 10 block games. Every team in the NBA can win on any given night, there's no more teams like Army to play against. It will be tougher for Okafor to rebound in NBA because like him EVERYONE is an aggresive rebounder.</div>
    So you are saying accomplishing a feat such as that in college, will not roll over to the NBA? Really, we are talking about in the history of college basketball, one of the all-time leading shot blockers. And how do you know Okafor won't be getting any 10 block games? Dalembert, in his 2nd season, had a 9 block game this season for the Sixers. Dalembert was more like a rookie this season, because during the '03 season he only appeared in 34 games averaging just about 5 minutes per game. I think he was also held back by an injury. Anyway, if you compare his ability to Okafor's... It can happen.

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There's always room for improvment, and IMO he is not going to have an Alonzo Mourning rookie season, because Alonzo was scoring like 20 ppg.</div>
    Of course he's not going to have an Alonzo Mourning rookie season. I was saying he can develop into a type of player Mourning was.
     
  8. Streetball2k5

    Streetball2k5 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2003
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">My reply was addressed to everyone who doubts Okafor's ability to play center.</div>Alright, Sorry about that, I didn't think so, my bad.

    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">So you are saying accomplishing a feat such as that in college, will not roll over to the NBA? Really, we are talking about in the history of college basketball, the all-time leading shot blocker. And how do you know Okafor won't be getting any 10 block games? Dalembert, in his 2nd season, had a 9 block game this season for the Sixers. Dalembert was more like a rookie this season, because during the '03 season he only appeared in 34 games averaging just about 5 minutes per game. I think he was also held back by an injury. Anyway, if you compare his ability to Okafor's... It can happen.</div>
    I'm not saying his blocking won't roll over to the NBA, I'm saying he won't be the amazing blocking machine that everyone thought he was and was for that matter in college. Players won't shy off from Okafor when they see him there, they will attack him, and that's something that didn't happen in college, the person attacking the rim would shy away when they saw Okafor.

    Dalembert had a great game, but the thing is nobody knew who this guy was, so they went along with they're business attacking the rim without athourity and he made them pay. The players will know Okafor is a shot blocker and they will attack with athourity so they won't get blocked. I know Okafor is a great shot blocker, I just don't see him putting up 4.7 BPG like in college.

    Dalembert is a different player than Okafor, you cannot compare them.


    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course he's not going to have an Alonzo Mourning rookie season. I was saying he can develop into a type of player Mourning was.</div>
    You said that they were comparing him to a young Alonzo Mourning, meaning his rookie season and sophmore season in the NBA, in which he was scoring 20ppg.

    I agree he could end up being a player like Mourning was when he was getting 14/10 games easily.
     
  9. og15

    og15 JBB *********

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2004
    Messages:
    6,594
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    I think he can play center, but with a questionable back you would play him at center depending on matchups, but not every game.
     
  10. Buckets

    Buckets JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    2,415
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Hey guys I just remembered something theres no need to play Okafor at center because we got Predrag Drobnjak and Jamal Sampson which are for sure on our roster same with Jahidi White because we got 3 Million dollars for keeping White and Drobnjak but Sampson is just an up and coming star it would be a shame if we let him walk away from us.
     
  11. Streetball2k5

    Streetball2k5 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2003
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he can play center, but with a questionable back you would play him at center depending on matchups, but not every game.</div>
    My theory is why play him at Centre when you can play him at a position where he will be more effective for you? I think we have enough big men that he won't be needed at the Centre position. And of course we will always be worried about his back, like Og says.
     
  12. Triple Dubble

    Triple Dubble JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2004
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I'm not completely sold on how effective Drobnjak or White will be starting. Sampson will most likely come off the bench for the Bobcats. Anyway, I think for Charlotte to have a more effective frontcourt, they need to target another big man in free agency. I suggested Stromile Swift, which would put Okafor in favor of playing the center position. Swift would make them more athletic, more talented, and would be very effective in a high octane offense because of his ability to run the floor. Because right now, the Bobcats do not look like a legit half court team.

    However, if that doesn't happen (which now it seems it likely won't), then I'd prefer Okafor to be the starting PF. Here's what Bickerstaff had to say about Okafor's position:

    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Is he a four (power forward) or five (center)?

    I think before this thing is all over, some of the combinations that we will eventually have, he can play both. Because if you look at the Eastern Conference -- and everybody if you look at it all -- you talk about there?s Shaq and then there?s the remainder of us mortal beings. I think he can defend anyone on the post. I don?t think he can defend Shaq, but they haven?t made that guy yet.</div>
    Exactly what I've been saying.
     
  13. Streetball2k5

    Streetball2k5 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2003
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Triple Dubble:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not completely sold on how effective Drobnjak or White will be starting. Sampson will most likely come off the bench for the Bobcats. Anyway, I think for Charlotte to have a more effective frontcourt, they need to target another big man in free agency. I suggested Stromile Swift, which would put Okafor in favor of playing the center position. Swift would make them more athletic, more talented, and would be very effective in a high octane offense because of his ability to run the floor. Because right now, the Bobcats do not look like a legit half court team.

    However, if that doesn't happen (which now it seems it likely won't), then I'd prefer Okafor to be the starting PF. Here's what Bickerstaff had to say about Okafor's position:


    Exactly what I've been saying.</div>
    I don't think that Drobnjak or White will be starting either, I see us going after someone like Adonal Foyle to start and have Sampson coming off the bench affectively. I would love to see Swift here, but I don't see that happening because I heard he wants to be on a contender.

    I agree we are a terrible half court team right now, but I guess we will be addressing this issue during the offseason. I think we might end up being a team like New Jersey that loves running the fast break.

    I also basically agree with what Bickerstaff says, except one thing. Yao can guard Shaq IMO [​IMG].
     
  14. Triple Dubble

    Triple Dubble JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2004
    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Swift is still young and he wants to play for a contender? Swift should go to a team where he has a chance to start every game so he is able to live up to his potential in the NBA. That's not going to happen in Memphis as deep as their roster is. Really, just averaging 19 mpg for Memphis isn't going to cut it.

    Are there any contenders that could use Swift? Otherwise, I think Charlotte is a great fit for him.
     
  15. Streetball2k5

    Streetball2k5 JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2003
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Don't get me wrong man, I think Charlotte is a great place for him to be aswell, but i'm just saying what I heard, It could be wrong though, i'm just saying.

    I wish we would be able to attract good free agents that we want. I hate it when the players a team persue's says no I don't like your team or something. That just plain sucks! :thumbsdow

    Anyways, Triple Dubble, It looks like it's just me and you who will be the people debating in this forum lol.
     

Share This Page