What changed with Okafor?

nyhuskyfan · Post #1 » by **nyhuskyfan** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:58 pm

He had a pretty good month of January - 11 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes a game (shooting 54 percent), which translates to almost 15+15 over 36 minutes. If you count the last two weeks of December, his rebounding average goes up to about 12 over the last six weeks without full-time minutes. Smaller sample size, but the last three games, he's averaged about 18+16.

He got off to such a bad start this year that I feared he was done at age 30. Has he gotten healthier and does he look more mobile now, or has he figured out his role a little better? Or has Wall's return opened things up a little for him? Either way, it's nice to see him producing solid numbers again.

Post #2 » by **montestewart** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 6:00 pm

nyhuskyfan wrote:He had a pretty good month of January - 11 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes a game (shooting 54 percent), which translates to almost 15+15 over 36 minutes. If you count the last two weeks of December, his rebounding average goes up to about 12 over the last six weeks without full-time minutes. Smaller sample size, but the last three games, he's averaged about 18+16.

He got off to such a bad start this year that I feared he was done at age 30. Has he gotten healthier and does he look more mobile now, or has he figured out his role a little better? Or has Wall's return opened things up a little for him? Either way, it's nice to see him producing solid numbers again.

Okafor looked like a stiff in training camp and early on in the season, and he looked unhappy, but he started playing much better before Wall's return. His FG% was up in December, but in January he's started to look like a near all-star. It's probably a combination of health, getting to know the team, and Wall's return. Even his assists are up.

jblaze2004 · Post #3 » by **jblaze2004** » Fri Feb 1, 2013 7:31 pm

okafor>nene this year

jivelikenice · Post #4 » by **jivelikenice** » Fri Feb 1, 2013 7:36 pm

jblaze2004 wrote:okafor>nene this year

Absolutely. Out of the 3 bigs, I expected the least out of him before the season. Now I cring whenever Nene and Seraphin touch the ball

MikeTheKid · Post #5 » by **MikeTheKid** » Fri Feb 1, 2013 8:15 pm

Hes trying to up his trade value, of course he knows he has to play a lot better.

GhostsOfGil · Post #6 » by **GhostsOfGil** » Fri Feb 1, 2013 9:31 pm

Putting Nene in the starting lineup has been huge for Okafor. As someone mentioned last season, Nene does a good job of boxing out, even if he doesn't get the rebound. His teams always rebounds better when he's on the court and Okafor has been the biggest beneficiary of this.