Okafor or Towns? Which center is the better pick?

[DickGrayson]

Towns seems to be incredibly overrated defensively. Towns isn't even the best defensive big on his team yet somehow he is a defensive anchor. When you play with a big like Stein it allows you to be a lot more aggressive defensively and that isn't even bringing up the fact that the cats have 3 other solid bigs as well. When you have that type of depth up front it doesn't matter if Towns gets into foul trouble every game but that isn't the case with Okafor. He is basically the only big that they have and he can't afford to get into foul trouble.

Kentucky wasn't even great defensively last year and Stein was their defensive anchor. Towns is their best defensive big.

That's a weak reason why Okafor can be as good as a defender as Towns. Towns is a rim protector. Okafor blocks shots, but it's not his tendency. Very Al Jefferson-esque on defense.

[Amish Mafioso]

Embiid, Towns and Noel would make a sick front court

Not sure...If sarcastic..

All of them are Centers, ask Utah how well it worked with Favors, Gobert and Kanter.

That is a gross oversimplification. First off, neither Kanter nor Favors are really true centers. Depending on the situation, they both have the potential to be better at PF, so that wasn't the problem. The biggest problem was Kanter's ego as to his playing time and touches. Even though he was still starting, it was clear as day to everyone with eyeballs that Kanter's days as a starter were coming to an end in Utah. Utah could have done a better job of convincing Kanter that there was enough minutes to go around for 3 bigs, but I doubt it would have mattered. He wants to start and he wants a significant role. OKC may very well give him the starting spot, but once KD returns, he's going to have the same issue with his role as he had in Utah.

[sipclip]

Towns seems to be incredibly overrated defensively. Towns isn't even the best defensive big on his team yet somehow he is a defensive anchor. When you play with a big like Stein it allows you to be a lot more aggressive defensively and that isn't even bringing up the fact that the cats have 3 other solid bigs as well. When you have that type of depth up front it doesn't matter if Towns gets into foul trouble every game but that isn't the case with Okafor. He is basically the only big that they have and he can't afford to get into foul trouble.

Kentucky wasn't even great defensively last year and Stein was their defensive anchor. Towns is their best defensive big.

That's a weak reason why Okafor can be as good as a defender as Towns. Towns is a rim protector. Okafor blocks shots, but it's not his tendency. Very Al Jefferson-esque on defense.

You clearly haven't been paying attention. Stein has improved a ton this year and he is clearly their best defensive player by a wide margin.

[Ruzious]

Stein and Towns are both real good defensively - and together they're great. What's surprised me about Towns is his ability to cover ground and block shots from the weakside. He's not the smoothest looking athlete in the world, but he anticipates real well and has a high BBIQ in pretty much all facets of the game. I don't know that Stein is significantly better defensively than last season - considering his blocks have decreased 50%.

[EMG518]

Stein and Towns are both real good defensively - and together they're great. What's surprised me about Towns is his ability to cover ground and block shots from the weakside. He's not the smoothest looking athlete in the world, but he anticipates real well and has a high BBIQ in pretty much all facets of the game. I don't know that Stein is significantly better defensively than last season - considering his blocks have decreased 50%.

His blocks have decreased because he is no longer longer holding down the paint. He is trapping guys in the back court and all over the perimeter. He clearly has been a beast defensively and improved his game all around.

[Ruzious]

Stein and Towns are both real good defensively - and together they're great. What's surprised me about Towns is his ability to cover ground and block shots from the weakside. He's not the smoothest looking athlete in the world, but he anticipates real well and has a high BBIQ in pretty much all facets of the game. I don't know that Stein is significantly better defensively than last season - considering his blocks have decreased 50%.

His blocks have decreased because he is no longer longer holding down the paint. He is trapping guys in the back court and all over the perimeter. He clearly has been a beast defensively and improved his game all around.

But the changes you mentioned happened because he gets to play with a versatile and capable defender like Towns. Both deserve credit for KY's defense - not one or the other.

[Zeitgeister]

It should be noted that Towns only plays 20 minutes per game.

[EMG518]

Stein and Towns are both real good defensively - and together they're great. What's surprised me about Towns is his ability to cover ground and block shots from the weakside. He's not the smoothest looking athlete in the world, but he anticipates real well and has a high BBIQ in pretty much all facets of the game. I don't know that Stein is significantly better defensively than last season - considering his blocks have decreased 50%.

His blocks have decreased because he is no longer longer holding down the paint. He is trapping guys in the back court and all over the perimeter. He clearly has been a beast defensively and improved his game all around.

But the changes you mentioned happened because he gets to play with a versatile and capable defender like Towns. Both deserve credit for KY's defense - not one or the other.

The changes happened because Cauley Stein can guard any position and Towns is best served in the paint. Last year Cauley Stein was best served in the paint as Randle offers no rim protection. Cauley Stein though is 100x the defender Randle is so just having a serviceable defender in the paint would increase their defense a great deal. Towns has done a good job but I dont think for a second he is they kind of defender Cauley Stein is.

[ThomasMRiddle]

I've seen every Duke game and it feels like Okafor just shreds teams when he gets an iso or goes man-to-man.
He can be stopped, but teams need to shift defenses around him.

I realize that amazing post moves don't translate directly to the NBA - but there are definitely teams that will need to adjust with him on the floor.

[DickGrayson]

Towns seems to be incredibly overrated defensively. Towns isn't even the best defensive big on his team yet somehow he is a defensive anchor. When you play with a big like Stein it allows you to be a lot more aggressive defensively and that isn't even bringing up the fact that the cats have 3 other solid bigs as well. When you have that type of depth up front it doesn't matter if Towns gets into foul trouble every game but that isn't the case with Okafor. He is basically the only big that they have and he can't afford to get into foul trouble.

Kentucky wasn't even great defensively last year and Stein was their defensive anchor. Towns is their best defensive big.

That's a weak reason why Okafor can be as good as a defender as Towns. Towns is a rim protector. Okafor blocks shots, but it's not his tendency. Very Al Jefferson-esque on defense.

You clearly haven't been paying attention. Stein has improved a ton this year and he is clearly their best defensive player by a wide margin.

Watched 11 Kentucky games. Towns made WCS a better player, last year WCS didn't get to play defense like his because Randle isn't defensive oriented. Towns has that kind of impact on the floor, in fact WCS plays best when Towns is on the court, WCS can guard outside the paint and use his length advantage on 6"6-6"9 PF's

Towns is the best defensive player in Kentucky and the whole nation, most of the time he's guarding the best big man and he will be the better defender in the NBA.

[JXL]

Simple. Towns has the versatility upside that is leaps and bounds better than Okafor's. Just put on a few pounds, have a dog-eat-dog mindset, and he's the best prospect to come out in this draft. I reserve my pick on both until March Madness.

[Zeitgeister]

Simple. Towns has the versatility upside that is leaps and bounds better than Okafor's. Just put on a few pounds, have a dog-eat-dog mindset, and he's the best prospect to come out in this draft. I reserve my pick on both until March Madness.

Versatility upside? That's a new one. If we just go by normal upside, I think Okafor has him beat.

[JXL]

Simple. Towns has the versatility upside that is leaps and bounds better than Okafor's. Just put on a few pounds, have a dog-eat-dog mindset, and he's the best prospect to come out in this draft. I reserve my pick on both until March Madness.

Versatility upside? That's a new one. If we just go by normal upside, I think Okafor has him beat.

Towns already has defensive impact locked down. Okafor's defense isn't that elite cause he can't guard outside of 15 feet. Too slow on P&R defense. Offensively, Okafor has the advantage, but Towns isn't far behind. If he gets comfortable offensively, he's a two-way monster. The last 3 games gave you a glimpse of that.

[CoreyGallagher]

Towns already has defensive impact locked down. Okafor's defense isn't that elite cause he can't guard outside of 15 feet. Too slow on P&R defense. Offensively, Okafor has the advantage, but Towns isn't far behind. If he gets comfortable offensively, he's a two-way monster. The last 3 games gave you a glimpse of that.

Okafor's defense has me opting for Towns. Not only can Okafor not defend outside of 15 feet, he doesn't alter shots as often as you would prefer and he certainly is not a rim protector.

[JXL]

Towns already has defensive impact locked down. Okafor's defense isn't that elite cause he can't guard outside of 15 feet. Too slow on P&R defense. Offensively, Okafor has the advantage, but Towns isn't far behind. If he gets comfortable offensively, he's a two-way monster. The last 3 games gave you a glimpse of that.

Okafor's defense has me opting for Towns. Not only can Okafor not defend outside of 15 feet, he doesn't alter shots as often as you would prefer and he certainly is not a rim protector.

He's an average rim protector, but everything else is true. It's not like Okafor can't clean up his defense and be more focused, its that he looks like he's not that intimidating defensively. Like I said, I reserve judgment when March Madness starts to see where these 2 really stack up.

[Chazzle94]

Hey guys, coming from Aus I don't really get to see many college games. I watch games when I can and stream the occasional one. So really I haven't really had the opportunity to see Jah or Towns play. I was just wondering who in the NBA is a good comparison for the two of them? I have read a lot of Big Al comps for Jah, but none really for Towns.. So if someone could shed a bit of light on the matter, that would be great. Cheers in advance!

[No-Man]

Hey guys, coming from Aus I don't really get to see many college games. I watch games when I can and stream the occasional one. So really I haven't really had the opportunity to see Jah or Towns play. I was just wondering who in the NBA is a good comparison for the two of them? I have read a lot of Big Al comps for Jah, but none really for Towns.. So if someone could shed a bit of light on the matter, that would be great. Cheers in advance!

Is not a perfect comp but I would say Pau Gasol for Towns.
Okafor is more like a Center version of Chris Webber than Jefferson, maybe not that athletic vertically, but similar hands, moves, pass, Webber develop nicely as a shooter, like Jahlil will.

[HeartBreakKid]

Hey guys, coming from Aus I don't really get to see many college games. I watch games when I can and stream the occasional one. So really I haven't really had the opportunity to see Jah or Towns play. I was just wondering who in the NBA is a good comparison for the two of them? I have read a lot of Big Al comps for Jah, but none really for Towns.. So if someone could shed a bit of light on the matter, that would be great. Cheers in advance!

Is not a perfect comp but I would say Pau Gasol for Towns.
Okafor is more like a Center version of Chris Webber than Jefferson, maybe not that athletic vertically, but similar hands, moves, pass, Webber develop nicely as a shooter, like Jahlil will.

I was thinking more Marc Gasol for Towns.

[No-Man]

Hey guys, coming from Aus I don't really get to see many college games. I watch games when I can and stream the occasional one. So really I haven't really had the opportunity to see Jah or Towns play. I was just wondering who in the NBA is a good comparison for the two of them? I have read a lot of Big Al comps for Jah, but none really for Towns.. So if someone could shed a bit of light on the matter, that would be great. Cheers in advance!

Is not a perfect comp but I would say Pau Gasol for Towns.
Okafor is more like a Center version of Chris Webber than Jefferson, maybe not that athletic vertically, but similar hands, moves, pass, Webber develop nicely as a shooter, like Jahlil will.

I was thinking more Marc Gasol for Towns.

Ey... exactly how?

[E-Balla]

Hey guys, coming from Aus I don't really get to see many college games. I watch games when I can and stream the occasional one. So really I haven't really had the opportunity to see Jah or Towns play. I was just wondering who in the NBA is a good comparison for the two of them? I have read a lot of Big Al comps for Jah, but none really for Towns.. So if someone could shed a bit of light on the matter, that would be great. Cheers in advance!

Towns = Al Horford but bigger and weaker
Jahlil = Moses Malone without the jumper

Best comparison for both but honestly both are like no one I've ever seen.