Okafor Getting More Hands-On

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Emeka Okafor was never going to become an NBA shot-blocker until he became an NBA risk-taker.
That happened recently and the results are impressive. The Charlotte Bobcats' power forward has blocked 27 shots in the past eight games, including six Wednesday in a 91-83 victory against the New Jersey Nets.

Okafor had 441 blocks in three seasons at Connecticut. The challenge was convincing him to leave his man at the pro level and trust teammates to rotate into position.
"I was never quite confident enough then that if I left my man, there'd be somebody there to pick him up," Okafor said Thursday.
"But we were getting hurt more by the guy with the ball than my guy."

Okafor blocked Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson -- two of the best finishers in the league -- on drives to the rim Wednesday. He picked off both shots without drawing fouls and he thinks this is the start of establishing himself as a shot-blocker with NBA officials.

"Once you start blocking shots, you get that reputation with the referees. That's the way it was in college," Okafor said. "Doing it (without fouling) let's me take more chances."

Wallace OK
Barring a setback at practice today, Gerald Wallace (sprained right index finger) should play Saturday against the Detroit Pistons after missing the past two games.Wallace said swelling in his knuckle kept him from playing against the Nets. He participated fully in practice Thursday.

Rookie minutes
Coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff feels for rookies Raymond Felton and Sean May, who are getting less playing time than several other lottery picks around the league. Each one averages about 18 minutes a game, which makes them eighth (Felton) and ninth (May) in playing time on this team.

The issue is who they back up: Okafor and point guard Brevin Knight are this team's best players. Knight had an exceptional game against the Nets (25 points, seven assists, five steals and five rebounds), which meant Felton was limited to eight minutes.
"It's tough," Bickerstaff said. "Brevin had it going, so we went with him.

"But it is important that those two get minutes. ... Ray didn't play badly (four points and three rebounds in 12 minutes), but Brevin was so good."
It's hard to tell of late whether Felton's minutes affect his shooting or his shooting affects his minutes. Over the past 10 games, he shot 13-of-52 from the field.</div>

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