Towns or Okafor or Mudiay or Russel?

[knickstape21]

Karl Towns can end up a major bust.

That's always a possibility, but outside of injury or him losing interest in basketball in a Bargnani type of fashion, I am not sure how that could happen. Aside from his physical tools/skills, he seems to have a high I.Q. for a young player, said to be hardworking according to the Kentucky coaching staff, and he seems to have heart/mental toughness. Against Texas, I saw him take a hard fall after getting fouled while attempting a dunk, he fell so hard it look like he could have had a serious career ending injury, but he got up to not only make both free throws but the first possession he got the ball back he went right back to work in the post to score off a hook shot. That to me shows toughness and heart. When you combine that with his offensive skills, defensive skills, rebounding, versatility, size, and athleticism I would be extremely surprised to see him be a bust. The only things i really see missing are strength and experience really. If Phil could develop Bynum, I can't wait to see what he can do with this kid.

Thank you. I know what play your talking about. He nailed both free throws and then from the out of bounds play he hit a jumper from the baseline. Really impressive game. He was battling with Ridley (senior) the entire game.

Wish we could find a way to get another pick in the top 20 to take a PG.. D'Angelo Russell from Ohio St. who is also a freshman is really impressive as well.

[nykfan42]

This article supports everything I've been saying regarding the analysis of the Okafor vs. Towns debate

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/22 ... hony-towns

Based on that article it looks like Towns is the guy. They have two different styles so it depends on what you value more. Looks like Towns is the better defender at this point. Gotta watch whenever they're on TV again next.

[ibraheim718]

This article supports everything I've been saying regarding the analysis of the Okafor vs. Towns debate

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/22 ... hony-towns

Based on that article it looks like Towns is the guy. They have two different styles so it depends on what you value more. Looks like Towns is the better defender at this point. Gotta watch whenever they're on TV again next.

There is so much BullSchit in that article.

[nykfan42]

This article supports everything I've been saying regarding the analysis of the Okafor vs. Towns debate

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/22 ... hony-towns

Based on that article it looks like Towns is the guy. They have two different styles so it depends on what you value more. Looks like Towns is the better defender at this point. Gotta watch whenever they're on TV again next.

There is so much BullSchit in that article.

Not saying it's true haha. I need to really watch them play before making any real judgment. From what I've seen from Okafor is that he's a very good player in the post. I haven't really seen much of Towns.

[ibraheim718]

that P&R defense is awful! he needs to fix that asap.

I love the kids offensive ability but work on that D man!

My man do you know who is one of the best big man PnR Defenders in the NBA? Tyson Chandler. How'd that work out?

You want to protect the rim protect it from the perimeter. And I already pointed out the fact that in High School it's all motion offenses that are run. In those clips that the bleacher report guy cherry picked he just didn't know what to do but in some of those games he actually didn't look that bad when he ended up on the ball handler.

[ibraheim718]

Based on that article it looks like Towns is the guy. They have two different styles so it depends on what you value more. Looks like Towns is the better defender at this point. Gotta watch whenever they're on TV again next.

There is so much BullSchit in that article.

Not saying it's true haha. I need to really watch them play before making any real judgment. From what I've seen from Okafor is that he's a very good player in the post. I haven't really seen much of Towns.

That bum cherry picked the 3 worst moments he's had this season and in that Wisconsin game there were times where he actually stopped penetration of the ball handler and got back to his man the guy who wrote the article just didn't post them.

And look his size alone when he's around the basket deters and bothers offenses.

But this idea that we draft or sign ONE big guy and all the defensive woes are gone forever is just crazy. Sure up the perimeter defense and you won't need to rely on one guy. Who was Miami's shot blocker? Joel Anderson? Chris Anderson? They're god damn minimum players you can find anywhere. But I know one thing for damn sure.. you ain't finding nayone with that kids post game right now outside of 4 or 5 guys in the NBA.

[Manhattan Project]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoHfZOdh2pk[/youtube]

Kind of hysterical what Towns does at the end...

[Manhattan Project]

I'll admit, I'm shocked that many people are ride or die for one side. As a fan Id be estatic if we could land either one of them, both could contribute immediately.

[ibraheim718]

I'll admit, I'm shocked that many people are ride or die for one side. As a fan Id be estatic if we could land either one of them, both could contribute immediately.

It ain't me.. because I said I'd take either. And my criticism of Towns has been minimal because I haven't see enough of him. But the other guy is the guy all these cats are bashing.

I just look at fit.. readiness and the ease of which Okafor gets his buckets that make it a no brainer for me. We desperately need someone who you can dump it down to and get you those easy buckets. I don't think we have time to figure out what kind of player Towns is going to be.

For christs sake you had someone call Jah Amar'e stoudemire when all Stat could do coming out of High School was finish and Stat never had the opportunity to play for a coach like Coach K.

[ibraheim718]

When a guy has that kind of size and that kind of a post up game at that age you draft him hands down and worry about the other stuff later, period. I'll go and get me lock down wings and a tenacious defender at the point and I'll challenge teams to get through my first line of defense.

[Manhattan Project]

It ain't me.. because I said I'd take either. And my criticism of Towns has been minimal because I haven't see enough of him. But the other guy is the guy all these cats are bashing.

I just look at fit.. readiness and the ease of which Okafor gets his buckets that make it a no brainer for me. We desperately need someone who you can dump it down to and get you those easy buckets. I don't think we have time to figure out what kind of player Towns is going to be.

For christs sake you had someone call Jah Amar'e stoudemire when all Stat could do coming out of High School was finish and Stat never had the opportunity to play for a coach like Coach K.

Well that's just bull because he played like a Ben Wallace type, because defense wins championships... according to Amar'e.

Yeah it wasn't directed at you, it's the typical Knick syndrome. One has to be better than the other, it's Gallo vs Chandler, Spree vs Houston and so on and so on. Now I won't lie that I find this amusing because this will provide me with entertainment all year long that sadly the Knicks cannot.

I mean it's only December and we've debated Towns vs Okafor a whole lot really and the season has barely started. From now and March Madness the traits aren't going to change, it's all going to be the same thing as it is now. Okafor will have better games than Towns, advanced stats/per will favor Towns due to the minute difference. Towns will provide more highlights because he's a flashier player, Okafor will post more gaudy stats as there's only a handful of teams in college that can even challenge him.

[nykfan42]

There is so much BullSchit in that article.

Not saying it's true haha. I need to really watch them play before making any real judgment. From what I've seen from Okafor is that he's a very good player in the post. I haven't really seen much of Towns.

That bum cherry picked the 3 worst moments he's had this season and in that Wisconsin game there were times where he actually stopped penetration of the ball handler and got back to his man the guy who wrote the article just didn't post them.

And look his size alone when he's around the basket deters and bothers offenses.

But this idea that we draft or sign ONE big guy and all the defensive woes are gone forever is just crazy. Sure up the perimeter defense and you won't need to rely on one guy. Who was Miami's shot blocker? Joel Anderson? Chris Anderson? They're god damn minimum players you can find anywhere. But I know one thing for damn sure.. you ain't finding nayone with that kids post game right now outside of 4 or 5 guys in the NBA.

Yeah Okafor is a big dude. I think Towns would meander on the perimeter. I'm for Okafor right now until Towns proves me different. I agree, Okafor's post game is very good and pretty smooth too. The first line of defense is the perimeter so you're right there as well. Our perimeter D is non-existent. I'm a Duke fan too so I gotta be with my dude. Gonna be watching a lot more college ball this year.

[aq_ua]

I think it would take a lot to knock Okafor off the number one spot. Dude is just massive and has such a nice feel for the game. He's still 18, so he could very well end up a 7 foot + monster post player.

[TheBigBoss]

I'll admit, I'm shocked that many people are ride or die for one side. As a fan Id be estatic if we could land either one of them, both could contribute immediately.

Don't get it twisted I would be ecstatic and pumped up to land either one. At this point, it's not like we got much else to talk about since the team sucks so it's a fun topic to debate, but with that said i am kind of pumped up for this offseason, we will likely have a top 3 draft pick and I think over 30 million in cap space and then more again next year. Too bad we have like 50+ games left.

[2010]

People talking about acquiring a bunch of perimeter defenders as the first line of defense to "hide" Okafor as if great perimeter defenders grow on trees. LOL

I guess we're forgetting today's NBA and the rules barely allow you to defend the perimeter. No handchecking, quick whistles, not calling the illegal screens, star treatment, etc. It's always easier to protect the rim with a defensive big as your last line of defense as opposed to perimeter defenders as your first line of defense.

This is the NBA, not high school or college. You're not going to consistently have guards and wings stay in front of their man. Not with all these good PG's and the elite SF's of the league. Then you also got good coaches getting the defense into tough pick and rolls or forcing switches. It's just not gonna work (building a defense around perimeter defense over rim protection bigs) and it exposes posters low IQ for subscribing to that defensive philosophy.

Isiah Thomas once said defensive bigs and shotblocking is overrated! Well we see how that one worked out. LOL

Bottom line is if you prefer the one-way big over the two-way big you are once again setting yourself up for the years of Eddy Curry, Channing Frye, David Lee, Amar'e Stoudemire, and all the other slew of C/PF types we've had masquerading in the paint as a faux defender in the post-Ewing era. It's no wonder we've stunk ever since. You're not winning nothing with a big who only plays once side of the floor and is an average rebounder to boot.

If I'm Phil, I'm only taking Okafor over Towns (assuming both bigs are there) if I'm confident I can also aquire a rim protecting C or PF to play next to him (a C like Gasol or Hibbert and shift Okafor to PF, or if you can aquire a string bean high energy shotblocking/rebounding PF if you're gonna keep Okafor at C).

There's no conspiracy to schit on Okafor. Scouts, writers, and bloggers are not out to get him. There are no vendettas. He seems like a good kid. This isn't the WWF. Old head talking like there are good guys and bad guys, with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan trying to badmouth Okafor with biased commentary and video clips. I guess Ibraheim is Gorilla Monsoon, providing balanced commentary for the "good guy", while anyone who likes Towns 2-way ability is supporting the heel. LOL

At the end of the day, all these prospects have flaws of some sort. By telling the truth about Okafor doesn't make anyone against him, or riding or dying for Towns or anyone else. We all see what we see and like what we like. I'm not gonna not mention someone's weaknesses just because it doesn't paint an all rosy picture for someone elses preferred prospect.

The good teams almost always have bigs who protect the rim and rebound the basketball. Unless you have Michael Jordan or Lebron James on your team, you aren't winning a championship with perimeter defense, no shotblocker, and weak rebounding bigs!

[mpharris36]

Who said I wouldn't want Okafor. I would want him. I just like Towns a little better right now. Okafor is my clear number 2 though.

I just think he needs to work on his defense and dominating the glass. I see no reason to be critical of a guy who could be the #1 pick. He should be dominating the glass at the college level vs this little guys.

[j4remi]

1. Okafor, 2. Towns, 3 Mudiay...I'm happy with any of 'em but happiest with Okafor. I think a goal of having at least one shutdown defender on the perimeter and a shot blocker next to Okafor isn't a long shot considering our capspace. If we got Okafor though, I'd make Wes Matthews one of my main targets and give Rondo a long look. Having Rondo, Matthews, Melo and Okafor would be incredible.

[nyczlegacy]

Okafor looks like he could put some weight on... Eddy Curry anyone?

[TheBigBoss]

1. Okafor, 2. Towns, 3 Mudiay...I'm happy with any of 'em but happiest with Okafor. I think a goal of having at least one shutdown defender on the perimeter and a shot blocker next to Okafor isn't a long shot considering our capspace. If we got Okafor though, I'd make Wes Matthews one of my main targets and give Rondo a long look. Having Rondo, Matthews, Melo and Okafor would be incredible.

I think Mathews and Amir Johnson could be perfect fits around Okafor and Melo.

[K_ick_God]

I watched me some Towns. Nice player. Smooth feel and instincts and good size/mobility. Could be very, very good but it won't happen right away. He needs time. So if we get him, it makes keeping Melo more problematic.