Bleacher ReportEvery NBA Team's Top Breakout Candidate
Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu
The eye test and the stat sheet both agree: Okongwu is ready for a leap year.
His biggest obstacle to this point has been a lack of opportunity. Significant floor time may not elude him much longer, though, given the offseason departure of Danilo Gallinari and the trade winds that perpetually swirl around Clint Capela and John Collins.
Okongwu is already up to the task on defense, and on offense, his finishing is ready, too. His per-36-minutes marks of 14.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.9 assists paint him as a potential juggernaut. Clearing him for takeoff could be the final tweak needed for the Hawks to soar into the elite tier.
Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
Re: O Okongwo ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: O Okongwo ready for a Breakout Season
The Emory WheelThe Hawks lost several key players this summer. Those losses no doubt require some of the younger prospects to fill larger roles, specifically third-year center Onyeka Okongwu.
Okongwu has been very productive when on the floor, but his playing time has been limited as he has missed over 60 games in just two seasons. Okongwu is an incredibly able scorer around the basket and even developed a jump shot this summer. Some have said that, at 6 feet 8 inches tall, Okongwu is too small for his position, but his height actually allows him to be a quick and versatile defender. When switching on pick-and-rolls, Okongwu can keep up with smaller guards and effectively defend his opponent.
Even when matched up against much larger players, like Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Okongwu stands his ground and blocks their shots. The key to Okongwu’s success this season – and thus the Hawks’ success – is health. If Okongwu can stay healthy, he will definitely be playing significant minutes for the team.
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
I hope so, because Jalen Smith right now is making Kong look like the wrong pick.
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
Jamaaliver wrote:
Bogi will certainly help as they played very well together last season, but they need to improve the bench.
Yes, he was 5-5, but they were totally dominated each time he was on the floor. He finished with the worst +/- of the team, and by far (-19)
I never have any faith in the Holiday's defense before, I don't have more since they joined ATL
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
Onyeka got himself a poster!!!
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
Jamaaliver wrote:Onyeka got himself a poster!!!
Might wanna make that a T-shirt!
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
OO's time to shine with Clint out injured for a couple of weeks.
His last game where Capela was injured:
His last game where Capela was injured:
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
The main goal was to win Vs CHA, but unfortunately, we didn't see a monster game from him.
Okongwu: 7pts/7rbds/4blk and +4 Plus/Minus in 22min
Kaminsky: 12pts/7rbd/5ast/1stl and +17 Plus/Minus in 22min too
Okongwu: 7pts/7rbds/4blk and +4 Plus/Minus in 22min
Kaminsky: 12pts/7rbd/5ast/1stl and +17 Plus/Minus in 22min too
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
I'm looking forward to him showing that he can handle consistent minutes. We need him to be productive so I hope he does breakout with some big games.
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
Amazing things can happen when you don't foul out of the game in 20 minutes, Onyeka...
Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
OO is really really good when he isn't giving up size. His problem is the same as it was pre-draft - he's really small for a 5 and can get easily bullied out by legit 5s
His jumpshot looks a lot better, he needs to take the Al Horford evolution and continue working on that aspect of his game
His jumpshot looks a lot better, he needs to take the Al Horford evolution and continue working on that aspect of his game
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Re: Okongwu ready for a Breakout Season
azuresou1 wrote:OO is really really good when he isn't giving up size. His problem is the same as it was pre-draft - he's really small for a 5 and can get easily bullied out by legit 5s
His jumpshot looks a lot better, he needs to take the Al Horford evolution and continue working on that aspect of his game
Right regarding Horford, but OO was also good at defending against Embiid. It's big traditional centers that are a problem for him, when he have to spend all the time near the basket fighting with them
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