Welcome Okafor: Thread 2

[76ciology]

Should be interesting in what position will Jah played for most of the season.

Coaching staff is trying to mold Saric and Jerami into SFs. Ben seems to be playing mostly PF in TC.

When asked about the next development of Jah's game being evolving into a PF, better defense and rebounding. He didn't deny any of these. And said how the different it was to play against PFs with all the switching and rotating on D and how the coaching staff is doing a good job in helping him.

Could the rotation be..

SF: Saric/Jerami
PF: Simmons/Jahlil
C: Embiid/Noel

Every rotation with Jerami Grant as SF is a bad rotation. He's a useful backup as a defensive 4, but the spacing with Jerami at SF is disastrous (especially with Jahlil and Noel on the court. )

Personally I think Saric and Simmons are both better of as PF. I do think they can play together, but Simmons is probably better suited for guarding the 3 than Saric.

The hope is with Jerami becoming a much better shooter. When you have a young team you need to consider heavy player development in their projections. It's not the conventional Sixers team when you are projecting guys like Greg Buckner or Andre Miller who are more of finished products.

Jerami Grant at SF in 2016-2017 might suck. But Jerami Grant at SF might be one of the best 3&D wing in 2020 with his rim protection and possible 3pt shooting.

[Kolkmania]

Should be interesting in what position will Jah played for most of the season.

Coaching staff is trying to mold Saric and Jerami into SFs. Ben seems to be playing mostly PF in TC.

When asked about the next development of Jah's game being evolving into a PF, better defense and rebounding. He didn't deny any of these. And said how the different it was to play against PFs with all the switching and rotating on D and how the coaching staff is doing a good job in helping him.

Could the rotation be..

SF: Saric/Jerami
PF: Simmons/Jahlil
C: Embiid/Noel

Every rotation with Jerami Grant as SF is a bad rotation. He's a useful backup as a defensive 4, but the spacing with Jerami at SF is disastrous (especially with Jahlil and Noel on the court. )

Personally I think Saric and Simmons are both better of as PF. I do think they can play together, but Simmons is probably better suited for guarding the 3 than Saric.

The hope is with Jerami becoming a much better shooter. When you have a young team you need to consider heavy player development in their projections. It's not the conventional Sixers team when you are projecting guys like Greg Buckner or Andre Miller who are more of finished products.

Jerami Grant at SF in 2016-2017 might suck. But Jerami Grant at SF might be one of the best 3&D wing in 2020 with his rim protection and possible 3pt shooting.

Jerami Grant could indeed become an extremely valuable 3&D guy, however I'm not seeing any indication that he'll develop a decent three pointer. He's entering his third year and still has an awful shooting form, shooting mainly from his wrist, some people just don't have the touch to shoot jumpers.

However, if the training staff thinks he could develop into a 3&D guy, who am I to disagree.

[76ciology]

Every rotation with Jerami Grant as SF is a bad rotation. He's a useful backup as a defensive 4, but the spacing with Jerami at SF is disastrous (especially with Jahlil and Noel on the court. )

Personally I think Saric and Simmons are both better of as PF. I do think they can play together, but Simmons is probably better suited for guarding the 3 than Saric.

The hope is with Jerami becoming a much better shooter. When you have a young team you need to consider heavy player development in their projections. It's not the conventional Sixers team when you are projecting guys like Greg Buckner or Andre Miller who are more of finished products.

Jerami Grant at SF in 2016-2017 might suck. But Jerami Grant at SF might be one of the best 3&D wing in 2020 with his rim protection and possible 3pt shooting.

Jerami Grant could indeed become an extremely valuable 3&D guy, however I'm not seeing any indication that he'll develop a decent three pointer. He's entering his third year and still has an awful shooting form, shooting mainly from his wrist, some people just don't have the touch to shoot jumpers.

However, if the training staff thinks he could develop into a 3&D guy, who am I to disagree.

Yup. I personally don't know if how much better of a shooter Simmons is compared to Jerami. Just hoping the best for both guys.

[76ciology]

The problem with Jah's defense is not his limitations physically or his individual defense, but his limitations of his defensive experience/instinct as a team defender IN THE NBA.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
Toronto Raptors
Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons

Love, Amir Johnson, Sullinger, Milsap (shot 3/11 10pts with Jah at PF), Taj Gison, Thaddeus Young, Porzingis and Tobias Harris. Those are the starting PFs of the top 8 teams in the east, as per vegas.

Entire League:
Draymond
Love
Dirk
Blake Griffin
LMA

I do think Jah has the physical gifts (length+athleticism) to guard most of these guys (probably only except for Blake and Draymond).

The real problem is his defensive instinct as a team defender, this can be improved with experience. Guys like DMC,LMA, Tristan, Trevor Booker, Bosh Dirk or Love&Al J were able to be plus team defenders with experience. He is far better than Greg Monroe, Bargnani and Kanter on rim protection.

Personally, my observation is that Jah focuses too much on his man on defense. It's almost as if he is already hugging him on D that limits his mobility to provide help defense. My assumption is when Jah said that he is learning how to play D by watching DeAndre Jordan in his USA team experience (notice the contrast of both's style on D), DeAndre plays very light on individual D and heavy on team D that Jah was able to score at will against him. Same can be said by observing Noel plays D. How opponents would just bulldoze their way against Noel at the post (see Magic game) but Noel can s,till provide good defensive impact by rotation and help defense.

The entire concept of basketball nowadays is being selfless. Gone are the iso offense and the individual Avery Bradley (negative team and individual defender BTW)/Tony Allen type defense. Because it's being selfless that you make impact. The player who is most exploiting this concept is Jokic. You can also check out Suns' rookie Bender.

Offensively, assists, scoring off assists and spacing out the floor is the impactful way on offense. And on D, it's not about limiting your man but it's about grabbing rebounds while making sure the opposing team's shot doesn't goes unchallenged (zaza pachulia/Gortat/tristan thompson). It's a concept that Jah will learn as he gains experience.

I HOPE WE CAN ALL LOOK FORWARD FOR A MORE IMPROVED JAHLIL OKAFOR THIS SEASON.

[LloydFree]

He's only 19 here. He'll improve his defense by 21...