http://www.nba.com/playerfile/emeka_okafor...game_stats.html 16 straight double doubles, third in the league in rebounding and leading a Bobcats team to be a lot more competitive than people would have predicted. Is Emeka Okafor All-Star worthy in a guard heavy Eastern conference? His stats are quite good for a power player: 15.2 points (and rising), 11.7 rebounds and 1.35 blocks (less than I would have predicted). Here are a few things to consider: - Player positions. Is Okafor centre eligible? If so, he is having a better season statistically than Ilgauskas and Wallace, but his team isn't doing as well, although still would be a good chance to get the back-up role to Shaq. - There are seven reserves, by my reckoning that would be a centre, three forwards and three guards. Jefferson and Jamison have spots at the moment, now is someone like Paul Pierce a forward or a guard? Would coaches go for a centre and a forward who is a power player, or a centre and GF (along with Jamsion and Jefferson). - Carter and Grant Hill will likely be the two starting forwards. Even if he plays very well between now and selection, will coaches vote for Jermaine O'Neal? - What are the chances Okafor hits the notorious rookie wall and his stats drop? Post your opinions on the topic in here.
Well, as I recall rookies arent allowed in the allstar game, but if his ppg goes up next year he could possibly be an allstar.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bahir:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, as I recall rookies arent allowed in the allstar game, but if his ppg goes up next year he could possibly be an allstar.</div> Where have you heard that? There have been instances of rookies being voted into the All-Star game (Grant Hill, Yao Ming), and last year there was quite a debate about whether LeBron James should have gotten a coach's voted reserve spot.
I think that Emeka Okafor should make the all-star team. As you said he has very goood stats and he is leading his team to a record better than last in the league. (Hawks and Hornets). Here is what the All-star team probably should be(East of course) C-Shaq PF-JO SF-Grant Hill SG-LeBron James PG- Allen Iverson Reserves G-Dwyane Wade G-Steve Francis F- Richard Jefferson F-Emeka Okafor C-Ben Wallace G-Paul Pierce G-Rip Hamilton Emeka only has a chance because of the lack of big men in the East. Excluding Swingman the only deserving forwards in the EAst seem to be Emeka and JO. And we will need some big man against people like KG and Tim Duncan. Over in over I think that Emeka seserves to make it, but he probably won't and we'll end up with an extremely undersized team even with Shaq.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bahir:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, as I recall rookies arent allowed in the allstar game, but if his ppg goes up next year he could possibly be an allstar.</div> Rookies are allowed. And why does his PPG has to go up? He's having a great season scoring with his 15ppg. That's more than I expected of him. He's a great rebounder and a defensive wall. If Okafor was listed as a center(which he isn't, Brezec...) he should be in the all-star game. As a forward he also has a small chance, but going against Walker, Jamison, Jefferson won't be easy( I also think Rasheed deserves consideration) I don't expect coaches to vote O'Neal in it, though he deserves it, because of the 15 games he missed. That's just too much for being in the all-star game. True, Shaq was placed in it by the coaches the last 2 years,though missing 15 games, but Jermaine isn't Shaq. Plus, in the West, the only true competition Shaq had to be a reserve in the all-star game was Brad Miller.
AS far as if Okafor is deserving of a roster spot I believe his numbers and impact on his team are credentials enough to get him on the team. I do have to disagree with your lineup in one area, as good as Okafor has been, Jamison is still more deserving(probably than ever before in his career) and I think he'll get the spot. Let's remember that this is an All-Star game and the coaches are not going to pick a less deserving player, i.e. Okafor, over Jamison just because he matches up better with the West's lineup...Ace2k2
When you make the PRA sum of both players you get Jamison : 32.1 and Okafor : 28. Not such a difference and when you know Okafor has a better shooting percentage and is better in the B/S compartiment, I think they are both deserving. Yes, the Wiz's have a better record than the 'Cats, but the Bobcats have a better record now than anybody would expect to have all season. I remember the debates about worst team ever etc. You don't hear people talk about that anymore, and a big part of that credit you have to give to Okafor. I think that achievement is as big as Jamison's Wizards record.
Okafor deserves the all star reserve spot, although he probably won't get it. Jamison has been in the league much longer (obviously) and has achieved more in his career than Okafor has achieved so far. Sure, Okafor has led the Bobcats to tons of unexpected wins, but Jamison has also done that as well. Plus, Okafor is on a team without much great players, so it allows him to shine and thrive with their system. Jamison on the other hand, has played most of his career as a sixth man, excluding this year of course. However, it all really comes down to what you would count the player's positions as. Like, Jamison as a GF or PF like Supersonic said.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">Okafor deserves the all star reserve spot, although he probably won't get it. Jamison has been in the league much longer (obviously) and has achieved more in his career than Okafor has achieved so far. Sure, Okafor has led the Bobcats to tons of unexpected wins, but Jamison has also done that as well. Plus, Okafor is on a team without much great players, so it allows him to shine and thrive with their system. Jamison on the other hand, has played most of his career as a sixth man, excluding this year of course. However, it all really comes down to what you would count the player's positions as. Like, Jamison as a GF or PF like Supersonic said.</div> The only time I reckon Jamison as the true 6th man of his team was last year. BTW, it's not what you achieve over your entire career, it's what you've achieved that year. e.g. Grant Hill who will be voted in, though he hasn't played 3 years. That's why JO should not be in the all-star game in the first place. There were a lot of doubters, granted, but it's not like you didn't know that the Wizards had a lot of talent. Arenas, Hughes, Jamison, Kwame, Thomas... With those names, I EXPECT you to make the play-offs in the East to say the least. There were people saying that the Bobcats would be worse than those 72-73 Sixers. Well, largely because of Okafor's play, people forgot about all that. He put his team on his back and is leading them to victories. Seeing that, I think he is as deserving as Antawn, to say the least.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Okafor deserves the all star reserve spot, although he probably won't get it. Jamison has been in the league much longer (obviously) and has achieved more in his career than Okafor has achieved so far.</div> Since when was this a lifetime achievement award? What Jamison has done before, has nothing to do with him being an All-Star this season.
I think he should have a fair shot at the All-Star game. In the East right now you have Shaq and Ben Wallace. Jermaine O'Neal might make it, but a suspension can hurt your voting. I think I would vote Emeka in, sixteen straight double-doubles is very impressive, that is the most by any rookie ever. He is probably the reason the Bobcats have won the few games they have. I guess it would depend if you are voting for him as a center or power forward, I am not sure what the official ballot position is. In the end, I don't think he will make it. If LeBron and Carmelo didn't make it last year, I seriously doubt that Okafor is going to this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he should have a fair shot at the All-Star game. In the East right now you have Shaq and Ben Wallace. Jermaine O'Neal might make it, but a suspension can hurt your voting. I think I would vote Emeka in, sixteen straight double-doubles is very impressive, that is the most by any rookie ever. He is probably the reason the Bobcats have won the few games they have. I guess it would depend if you are voting for him as a center or power forward, I am not sure what the official ballot position is. In the end, I don't think he will make it. If LeBron and Carmelo didn't make it last year, I seriously doubt that Okafor is going to this year.</div> Well, Carmelo was in the heavy-forward west, and LeBron, then listed as a guard(I just checked,he still is ), was in the heavy guard east. Okafor is in the east, and there, they have a lack of good, natural forwards.
I believe Okafor is very deserving of an All Star spot. First and foremost, he's got the stats to back it up. He's getting a double double every night, he's more productive on the offensive end than most thought he'd be, and his rebounding is phenomenal. So, I don't believe you can argue that he doesn't have the stats, cause quite frankly, he's got em. He's emerged as one of the top forwards in the East this year in my opinion. Aside from stats, he's leading the 'Cats to be more competetive than everyone thought they'd be. I think he's very deserving of an All Star spot....whether he gets it or not is the other thing though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Need4Sheed:</div><div class="quote_post">I would say so, yes. His numbers are definitely there, but popularity would kill him.</div> Iverson's and T-Mac's popularity even snagged Jordan from his spot. Well they didn't snag it, but it would've been beautiful, to REALLY start in his last all-star game and not just get it from Vince. So you can say that of Okafor too, I guess, though it's a bit less unappropriate.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, as I recall rookies arent allowed in the allstar game, but if his ppg goes up next year he could possibly be an allstar.</div> Yeah, you recall it from your fantasies. Okafor deserves it, but he's not going to make it as a rookie because he's simply not popular enough, and the GM's are going to look at other players who've been in the league longer such as Jamison.
OK everyone is in agreement that he is deserving that is no longer the issue...the issue is will he get in and I'd say the majority believe he will not. Cannot take anything away from Jamison or JO.
You can take away from it because of his bad behavior. (same could be said of Ben, sadly) No Artest, no O'Neal. Be honest Stern.
When a rookie like Okafor records 16 straight double doubles, that really says something. If Okafor makes the All-Star game (which IMO he should) it would be well deserved. He practically is the Bobcats and is a great leader for the expansion team.
I also think Okafor is deserving of an All-Star spot. He has worked hard so far in this season and has led an expansion team to 7 wins by December which most people thought would not happen. Jamison and JO do deserve a spot over him. It all depends on popularity and the coaches.
