From the HSS Training Center Official news & notes Thread

[DeRoma]

The more I think about the things I read on the (great) articles that are posted in here the more I realize why they are not playing Okafor. I think the main focus on Jah is to mold his game into the motion offense we currently have. I think the adjustments Kenny wants to see from Jah is for him to read the defense a lot more efficiently than he ever did. With Jah he has a great feel for when he can score the basket through his own way which is why the offense staggers when he plays in a big role. I think Kenny wants him to understand where and when to quickly attack the basket in order for his offense to mold into a faster phase offense he is not use to. It just makes sense if he limits his role into a simpler ones and focus on other facets of the game in order for him to gain better impact in the game.

[MrDollarBills]

I think they need to steer Jah towards passing off of the dribble first.

Initially i was going to say maybe he needs to see how RHJ gets his within the offense, but that would be a mistake. Okafor is actually more naturally skilled off of the dribble than Hollis Jefferson. which is crazy considering how big he is.

i don't think trying to change his game into some pick and roll finisher big is the right idea either.

i think the coaching staff needs to focus on the fact that he can handle the ball at his size, and go from there. i think developing the 3 pointer is definitely in the cards, as well as pushing him to compete on defense. but i think his strengths should not be ignored.

[LKIRNets]

I think they need to steer Jah towards passing off of the dribble first.

Initially i was going to say maybe he needs to see how RHJ gets his within the offense, but that would be a mistake. Okafor is actually more naturally skilled off of the dribble than Hollis Jefferson. which is crazy considering how big he is.

i don't think trying to change his game into some pick and roll finisher big is the right idea either.

i think the coaching staff needs to focus on the fact that he can handle the ball at his size, and go from there. i think developing the 3 pointer is definitely in the cards, as well as pushing him to compete on defense. but i think his strengths should not be ignored.

I keep getting the feeling they are trying to improve his outside shooting first.

his shot from 10-16 FT out is a career (36.8%), 16 FT + (27.0%)

This is what Kenny Atkinson wants to improve. Otherwise the defense just sags off him on offense and he's forced to iso drive and gets caught running back exuding energy he doesn't need to exude.

On top of that, our offense's main component is running off screens. And if he's setting them the D has to respect him.

[LKIRNets]

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[LKIRNets]

In adding to his improved scoring, LeVert is averaging 4.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds and a steal during December. He’s getting to the rack and creating offense for others when handling the rock in the pick-and-roll.

The big improvement he’s made is beyond the arc. Shooting 45 percent from 3-point range in 45 attempts may be a small sample size but this comes after he shot 27.8 percent from 3-point in October and November (72 attempts).

And for Stauskas and LeVert, it’s two players with chemistry who are buying into the culture.

“This is definitely an organization you’d want to be a part of [long-term],” LeVert told NetsDaily. “Everybody here is great people, first-class people. Not just on the court. Outside of basketball they’re great people and that’s just something that you want to be a part of.”

“First class organization,” said Stauskas. “I love it here. I think the thing that I enjoy most is how seriously they take skill development. They’re huge on getting better every day, especially taking care of your body. Over my career I’ve done a pretty good job of taking care of my body, but I think they go above and beyond here before and after practice, making sure you do the little things to keep yourself healthy and mobile.”

Staukas is averaging 10.1 points shooting 48.9 overall and 57.6 (not a typo) from three. If he makes his next two 3-pointers, he’ll be at 60 percent from deep in a Brooklyn uniform!

Stauskas arrived with Jahlil Okafor from Philly. He was excited right from the start, despite being the forgotten man in the trade with all the Okafor talk and the surprise inclusion of a 2019 pick. He fit the script as a young player with upside, particularly as a 3-point specialist in Kenny Atkinson’s offense.

Obviously those numbers should return to the mean, but he’s proving his stripes in a guard and wing heavy team. Still, the offense is made for him.

“Here, there’s a lot more movement in our offense, and there’s a lot more freedom,” he said recently. “If you notice, a lot of the threes I’ve been shooting are off the dribble in pick-and-roll situations, but I never got to do that in Philly. That’s a strength of mine. When I came here and met with coach [Kenny] Atkinson the first day, my eyes lit up because I started realizing how they played and how well I’d fit in here.”

(source)

[MrDollarBills]

Stauskas looks like a keeper.

Speaking of his buddy, LeVert has a hip injury it appears. He might miss tonight's game.

[Prokorov]

I think they need to steer Jah towards passing off of the dribble first.

Initially i was going to say maybe he needs to see how RHJ gets his within the offense, but that would be a mistake. Okafor is actually more naturally skilled off of the dribble than Hollis Jefferson. which is crazy considering how big he is.

i don't think trying to change his game into some pick and roll finisher big is the right idea either.

i think the coaching staff needs to focus on the fact that he can handle the ball at his size, and go from there. i think developing the 3 pointer is definitely in the cards, as well as pushing him to compete on defense. but i think his strengths should not be ignored.

If he cant play in the pick and roll then he shouldnt be on the team. he doesnt need to be great it, but he has to be at least average. it is a huge part of the motion offense

[MrDollarBills]

I don't think that he shouldn't have to run the play, but the Nets need to also take advantage of the things that he's really skilled at.

[LKIRNets]

Will Nets play Jarrett Allen and Jahlil Okafor as Twin Towers?

But a few practices back, Atkinson gave the Post’s Fred Kerber a tip on how he expects to use Okafor and the fast improving Jarrett Allen ... together.

Kerber asked Atkinson if Okafor's presence would mean less time for Allen.

"No. (We could play) Jarrett and Okafor together. Put Okafor at the 5,” said Atkinson, noting that Allen has played some 4. “Jarrett has already guarded (Kristaps) Porzingis and then offensively, we’ll figure it out."

So they can be on a front line together? Kerber asked.

“Yes,” Atkinson replied

Kerber then asked Allen if he would be okay with a twin tower arrangement..

“I’m definitely comfortable,” he told Kerber. “The 4 and 5 here are interchangeable.”

(source)

[LKIRNets]

Some videos captured our performance team in pregame workouts wit first round pick Jarrett Allen

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here he's working on finishing wit contact and FT line drills on loading before extending.

you can hear what sounds like Kenny Atkinson in the background yelling "beat him up"
Sean Marks watching from the sides.

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here he is working on his high SnR and catching balls clean for straight to basket finishes.

[MrDollarBills]

Some videos captured our performance team in pregame workouts wit first round pick Jarrett Allen

Watch on YouTube

here he's working on finishing wit contact and FT line drills on loading before extending.

you can hear what sounds like Kenny Atkinson in the background yelling "beat him up"
Sean Marks watching from the sides.

Watch on YouTube

here he is working on his high SnR and catching balls clean for straight to basket finishes.

i love this stuff. lots of hard work and prep are going into each player individually to maximize their potential.

This is why I say be patient with Okafor. If this is how Jarrett is being prepped you can only imagine the hell the staff has put him through to get him ready to contribute.

[LKIRNets]

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[MrDollarBills]

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Here we go.

[LKIRNets]

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that Brooklyn crowd is going to treat him like Shaq.

[LKIRNets]

Prior to the Nets’ New Year’s Day clash against the Magic, Atkinson revealed that he intends to play the center against the Timberwolves on Jan. 3. Okafor’s culmination of patience and hard work finally paid off weeks after his arrival by trade on Dec. 7

“I was happy,” Okafor said when asked about his reaction to the news. “When he texted me last night, I had a feeling what it would be about as I’ve been working extremely hard.”

He added, “Now that I’m playing on Wednesday, I’m very excited.”

“He’s been doing a phenomenal job of getting ready physically with our assistant coaches,” Atkinson said. “Collectively, we feel like he’s ready to get some minutes.”

Okafor admits he’s had some adjusting to fit into Brooklyn’s system. The center said there were similarities to his previous team, the Sixers, on defense, but offensively, there were significant differences. He also mentioned that observers shouldn’t expect him to start launching threes, despite the fact that most of the team’s bigs have had attempts from behind the arc this season.

“It’s only been two weeks so I don’t want to sit there and say I’ve developed an amazing three-point shot,” he said. “That’s something we’ve been working on but in the end of the day, I know what I do. I know what I’m able to help this team and that’s not going to be me shooting threes.”

“Like everyone [else], you got to earn it so let’s see it in small doses and hopefully build him up to bigger minutes,” the head coach stated.

http://www.nba.com/nets/news/2018/01/01/brooklyn-nets-kenny-atkinson-jahlil-okafor-will-play

[LKIRNets]

The Nets are unleashing Jahlil Okafor, whose game is changing

Jahlil Okafor is expected to restart his Nets career Wednesday against Minnesota. And after getting caught up in — and thrown out by — the process in Philadelphia, the young center is confident Brooklyn is the right place to bring out his best.

And D’Angelo Russell helped convince him.

“I’m pretty confident, just talking with the guys in the locker room, and it’s all been positive feedback with the coaches,” Okafor said Tuesday.

“D’Angelo is somebody I talk with often and he loves it here. He had nothing but positive things to say to me even before I stepped foot into the facility, and everything he said is true. They really care about us, the player development has been amazing and just even off the floor it’s been a good time.”

“He didn’t tell me I was limited. He just told me he was going to work me up, build me into playing big minutes,” said Okafor, eager to finally get back to doing what he does. “From a basketball standpoint, it was difficult, but in the grand scheme of living life, it’s not that bad. I’m in the NBA and I was able to work on my craft every day and get better, so I’m looking forward to playing.”

The Nets are looking forward to it, too.

(source)

[LKIRNets]

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[LKIRNets]

“I’m happy with the way I performed,” Okafor said. “I’ve tried to work on making the team better and some of the stuff I talked about with coach [Kenny Atkinson], I was able to achieve such as screen sighting and communicating and being active, having energy, and I was able to do that.

“It’s key to be patient. You don’t want to rush anything. … We still have a lot of games left. We have a long season and hopefully I have a long career.”

https://nypost.com/2018/01/04/jahlil-okafor-happy-with-his-nets-debut/

[MrDollarBills]

“I’m happy with the way I performed,” Okafor said. “I’ve tried to work on making the team better and some of the stuff I talked about with coach [Kenny Atkinson], I was able to achieve such as screen sighting and communicating and being active, having energy, and I was able to do that.

“It’s key to be patient. You don’t want to rush anything. … We still have a lot of games left. We have a long season and hopefully I have a long career.”

https://nypost.com/2018/01/04/jahlil-okafor-happy-with-his-nets-debut/

It's funny reading this in light of how impatient people were to get him onto the floor

He's bought in. That's a step in the right direction.

[LKIRNets]

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