Where is Jahlil Okafor?

[76ciology]

Jah has sub-par athleticism and we all know that. So in defending PnR he would sag too low into the paint because if he would go outside and slightly challenge the ball handler, he doesn't have the athleticism to recover and challenge the roll man. Normally, he'd give up open jumpers to the opponent, while our perimeter defender who's a step late in recovery due to the screen, would try to bother the ballhandler/perimeter shooter.

The difference with the Cavs and the Jazz game is when the Cavs run the PnR, Jah can just sag low into the paint because LBJ and Cavs bigs just roll into the paint where Jah would be there to contest the shot. With the Jazz game, Hood, Hayward and company would shoot open jumpers. And quite frankly, most of these shots were semi-challenged by a recovering sixers perimeter defender but they were still able to shoot it efficiently. Guys like Embiid, Whiteside and Gobert can just be in the middle between the roll man & ball handler and still cover enough space to deflect the pass to the roll man or challenge the shot of the ball handler. I don't see Jah being able to play that kind of defense unless he gain a lot of athleticism.

The way I see it Jah has two options in defending the PnR. Sag low into the paint and give up open jumpers (semi-challenge a step late defender due to screen) from the opponent. Or Jah going outside to hedge or challenge the ball handler but he will need to have a wing or a PF who will rotate into the paint whenever the opponent drives/rolls to the basket, and that is something I think he will be more effective with.

[CoreyGallagher]

For those who want to know why the coach is hesitant to play Okafor at PF. Exhibit A:

He did a respectable job at protecting the rim, but Hood managed to score nonetheless...


In my opinion this one is on Covington...

Covington is literally behind his man on the entire possession, the pick worked, he has to switch or that's a line drive to the rim with maybe Saric bothering him, but then that would leave his man open for corner 3. The closest Covington gets is to his side, which is to the side that his defender isn't even dribbling, and look at his feet in the third image, he still wouldn't have been able to contest a drive. The final image is literally the pass out, that's generously closer than Covington actually gets to being in position since the ball is literally already traveling in the air.

1)

2)

3)

4)

(Last image I couldn't get a screen shot of without pausing frame, apologize about the play button)

Second loop is a slow reaction to defend the drive by Okafor, that's on him.

[LloydFree]

He did a respectable job at protecting the rim, but Hood managed to score nonetheless...


In my opinion this one is on Covington...

Covington is literally behind his man on the entire possession, the closest he gets into properly defense is on the side of his man while he's still has possession with his off dribble hand and then is passing out of it. If Okafor isn't there that's a straight line drive to the rim.

Last one I couldn't get a screen shot of without pausing frame. Covington was never in a position to guard against the drive.

Second loop is a slow reaction to defend the drive by Okafor, that's on him.

What in the world are you talking about? I expect this kind of ridiculous reply from some of the other Okafor sycophants, but I know you are better than this.

The "slow reaction" that you are speaking about is clearly a pick-n-roll where Covington stays with his man, while Okafor cluelessly stands like a statue and HIS man (Trey Lyles) bounces off the pick to get 15 feet of separation between him and Okafor (His man). That's way more than the "slow reaction" you describe. Okafor totally unaware that a pick-n-roll just occurred and is caught 5 yards away from his man before he realizes Lyles is wide open. Cut it out with these justifications. It's old.

[CoreyGallagher]

What in the world are you talking about? I expect this kind of ridiculous reply from some of the other Okafor sycophants, but I know you are better than this.

The "slow reaction" that you are speaking about is clearly a pick-n-roll where Covington stays with his man, she Okafor cluelessly stands like a statue and HIS man (Trey Lyles) bounces off the pick to get 15 feet of separation between him and Okafor (His man). That's way more than the "slow reaction" you describe. Okafor totally unaware that a pick-n-roll just occurred and is caught 5 yards away from his man before he realizes Lyles is wide open. Cut it out with these justifications. It's old.

I was referring to Okafor's slow reaction contesting Hood's lay up.

However, in the other clip Covington should have switched, the pick worked and Okafor is defending against the drive which Covington wasn't in position to defend against at all. Look at Covington's feet in the third screen capture image, still behind him and also consider his man is retaining his dribble left handed so he could have literally driven at anytime if Okafor isn't deterring it.

Covington shouldn't have stuck with his man, he should have switched when Lyles successfully picked him off, that's the point. Lyles then popped while Covington is still in no man's land.

(I feel the same way)

[CoreyGallagher]

Say we move Okafor slightly nearer to Lyles (photoshopped below) so that he's arguably close enough to contest a shot if it were designed as a quick dish off.



The sea parts and nobody is defending the lane on a drive there, if Saric does than his man is wide open in the corner.

We really see how out of the play Covington is if we're acting like he should have stuck with his man while Okafor slid.

[Unbreakable99]

For those who want to know why the coach is hesitant to play Okafor at PF. Exhibit A:

In second vine can someone tell me what Okafor was supposed to do? If he went to the 3 point shooter too soon then he evacuates the basket and it leads to an easy layup. He stayed in front of the defender and he had to kick it out for a 3. What was Okafor supposed to do differently in that instance?

[ET Da Gawd]

Everyone blames okafor & embiid on defense....its redic at this point...anyone with a pulse and a fully funtional brain can see our perimeter players routinely make our bigmen have to switch, come out and guard PGs/SGs, defend wide open 3s andddddd still rebound and block shots....WHEN WILL PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR PERIMETER PLAYERS ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUE ON DEFENSE?????

[Mik317]

Jah plays a role in the poor defense but getting him some guard who could stay in front of their man would help a bit. Embiid can recover (sometimes) when they get beat...but that isn't ideal either. Defense is a team effort too (not to say Jah doesn't need to do his part either...his awareness is assjuice)

[LloydFree]

For those who want to know why the coach is hesitant to play Okafor at PF. Exhibit A:

In second vine can someone tell me what Okafor was supposed to do? If he went to the 3 point shooter too soon then he evacuates the basket and it leads to an easy layup. He stayed in front of the defender and he had to kick it out for a 3. What was Okafor supposed to do differently in that instance?

The 2nd vine is cut a little short, so it's probably not clear what happened. The play is a pick-n-roll, where Trey Lyles is Okafor's man. Covington fights the pick to cover his man, while Okafor falls back and freezes for a few seconds. He doesn't have any clue that a pick-n-roll has been run and he has no idea where his man is until Johnson passes the ball out to the 3 point line. Then he finally wakes up and "runs" toward Lyles.

[phifans]

The 2nd vine is cut a little short, so it's probably not clear what happened. The play is a pick-n-roll, where Trey Lyles is Okafor's man. Covington fights the pick to cover his man, while Okafor falls back and freezes for a few seconds. He doesn't have any clue that a pick-n-roll has been run and he has no idea where his man is until Johnson passes the ball out to the 3 point line. Then he finally wakes up and "runs" toward Lyles.

So Okafor should give away the driving line for Joe Johnson and let him drive to the rim with ease just to cover a potential open man out of the three point line while Covington was totally behind his man trying to "stick with him" ?
Comeon you know you would still blame Okafor if he tries to cover his man outside which end up with Joe driving to the hoop for an easy layup.

[rzzzzz]

Brett finally give Jah a chance at a game winner. 4 seconds left and 18 feet out, i'd rather see it go to Hollis, who was blazing tonight, until he got benched down the stretch and in overtime. oh well. it could have worked.

[Kolkmania]

Covington is literally behind his man on the entire possession, the closest he gets into properly defense is on the side of his man while he's still has possession with his off dribble hand and then is passing out of it. If Okafor isn't there that's a straight line drive to the rim.

Last one I couldn't get a screen shot of without pausing frame. Covington was never in a position to guard against the drive.

Second loop is a slow reaction to defend the drive by Okafor, that's on him.

What in the world are you talking about? I expect this kind of ridiculous reply from some of the other Okafor sycophants, but I know you are better than this.
[/quote

I assume you're referring to me. Good job at labeling me as an Okafor sycophant, while I've been consistently rating Noel higher than Okafor.

In second vine can someone tell me what Okafor was supposed to do? If he went to the 3 point shooter too soon then he evacuates the basket and it leads to an easy layup. He stayed in front of the defender and he had to kick it out for a 3. What was Okafor supposed to do differently in that instance?

The 2nd vine is cut a little short, so it's probably not clear what happened. The play is a pick-n-roll, where Trey Lyles is Okafor's man. Covington fights the pick to cover his man, while Okafor falls back and freezes for a few seconds. He doesn't have any clue that a pick-n-roll has been run and he has no idea where his man is until Johnson passes the ball out to the 3 point line. Then he finally wakes up and "runs" toward Lyles.

Basketball is a team sport, players are not simply defending one man and that man alone. Defending a P&R is also a team responsibility. With Covington behind the ball handler, Okafor should not stick with Lyles since you can't give up an open lane to the rim. What I (and many others here) am trying to say is that Okafor couldn't do much else than covering the space between Johnson and the basket and Covington should have switched to Lyles.

There are numerous examples of Okafor's disastrous defensive mistakes, but this wasn't the best one.

[76ciology]

Covington is literally behind his man on the entire possession, the closest he gets into properly defense is on the side of his man while he's still has possession with his off dribble hand and then is passing out of it. If Okafor isn't there that's a straight line drive to the rim.

Last one I couldn't get a screen shot of without pausing frame. Covington was never in a position to guard against the drive.

Second loop is a slow reaction to defend the drive by Okafor, that's on him.

What in the world are you talking about? I expect this kind of ridiculous reply from some of the other Okafor sycophants, but I know you are better than this.
[/quote

I assume you're referring to me. Good job at labeling me as an Okafor sycophant, while I've been consistently rating Noel higher than Okafor.

The 2nd vine is cut a little short, so it's probably not clear what happened. The play is a pick-n-roll, where Trey Lyles is Okafor's man. Covington fights the pick to cover his man, while Okafor falls back and freezes for a few seconds. He doesn't have any clue that a pick-n-roll has been run and he has no idea where his man is until Johnson passes the ball out to the 3 point line. Then he finally wakes up and "runs" toward Lyles.

Basketball is a team sport, players are not simply defending one man and that man alone. Defending a P&R is also a team responsibility. With Covington behind the ball handler, Okafor should not stick with Lyles since you can't give up an open lane to the rim. What I (and many others here) am trying to say is that Okafor couldn't do much else than covering the space between Johnson and the basket and Covington should have switched to Lyles.

There are numerous examples of Okafor's disastrous defensive mistakes, but this wasn't the best one.

Should switch. I'm confident Mack can't finish over Jah in the paint while Roco has the size to defend Lyles at the post or challenge that 3.

[76ciology]

Jah has sub-par athleticism and we all know that. So in defending PnR he would sag too low into the paint because if he would go outside and slightly challenge the ball handler, he doesn't have the athleticism to recover and challenge the roll man. Normally, he'd give up open jumpers to the opponent, while our perimeter defender who's a step late in recovery due to the screen, would try to bother the ballhandler/perimeter shooter.

The difference with the Cavs and the Jazz game is when the Cavs run the PnR, Jah can just sag low into the paint because LBJ and Cavs bigs just roll into the paint where Jah would be there to contest the shot. With the Jazz game, Hood, Hayward and company would shoot open jumpers. And quite frankly, most of these shots were semi-challenged by a recovering sixers perimeter defender but they were still able to shoot it efficiently. Guys like Embiid, Whiteside and Gobert can just be in the middle between the roll man & ball handler and still cover enough space to deflect the pass to the roll man or challenge the shot of the ball handler. I don't see Jah being able to play that kind of defense unless he gain a lot of athleticism.

The way I see it Jah has two options in defending the PnR. Sag low into the paint and give up open jumpers (semi-challenge a step late defender due to screen) from the opponent. Or Jah going outside to hedge or challenge the ball handler but he will need to have a wing or a PF who will rotate into the paint whenever the opponent drives/rolls to the basket, and that is something I think he will be more effective with.

Sixers PnR defense with trailing perimeter defender bothering PnR ball handler, while big protecting paint.

[HartfordWhalers]

For those who want to know why the coach is hesitant to play Okafor at PF. Exhibit A:

In second vine can someone tell me what Okafor was supposed to do? If he went to the 3 point shooter too soon then he evacuates the basket and it leads to an easy layup. He stayed in front of the defender and he had to kick it out for a 3. What was Okafor supposed to do differently in that instance?

Sergio needed to rotate more. In theory Okafor could be yelling at him to do so.

[76ciology]

I'm currently watching the replay and recording clips against the Pacers. I notice Jah did a good job challenging shots this game. He only allowed 4 shots made out of 11 shots challenged against he pacers.

[76ciology]

Say we move Okafor slightly nearer to Lyles (photoshopped below) so that he's arguably close enough to contest a shot if it were designed as a quick dish off.



The sea parts and nobody is defending the lane on a drive there, if Saric does than his man is wide open in the corner.

We really see how out of the play Covington is if we're acting like he should have stuck with his man while Okafor slid.

Same scenario with holmes on this clip?

[bedjawII]

Jah has sub-par athleticism and we all know that. So in defending PnR he would sag too low into the paint because if he would go outside and slightly challenge the ball handler, he doesn't have the athleticism to recover and challenge the roll man. Normally, he'd give up open jumpers to the opponent, while our perimeter defender who's a step late in recovery due to the screen, would try to bother the ballhandler/perimeter shooter.

The difference with the Cavs and the Jazz game is when the Cavs run the PnR, Jah can just sag low into the paint because LBJ and Cavs bigs just roll into the paint where Jah would be there to contest the shot. With the Jazz game, Hood, Hayward and company would shoot open jumpers. And quite frankly, most of these shots were semi-challenged by a recovering sixers perimeter defender but they were still able to shoot it efficiently. Guys like Embiid, Whiteside and Gobert can just be in the middle between the roll man & ball handler and still cover enough space to deflect the pass to the roll man or challenge the shot of the ball handler. I don't see Jah being able to play that kind of defense unless he gain a lot of athleticism.

The way I see it Jah has two options in defending the PnR. Sag low into the paint and give up open jumpers (semi-challenge a step late defender due to screen) from the opponent. Or Jah going outside to hedge or challenge the ball handler but he will need to have a wing or a PF who will rotate into the paint whenever the opponent drives/rolls to the basket, and that is something I think he will be more effective with.

Jah doesn't have sup-par athleticism. He doesn't have elite athleticism. Big difference.

[CoreyGallagher]

Same scenario with holmes on this clip?

I'm not sure why Saric is on Teague there, but he's in much better position to stop the drive than Covington was. He's actually in front of his man and does a good job staying in front of him. I think Holmes just wanted a sneaky block.

[76ciology]

Say we move Okafor slightly nearer to Lyles (photoshopped below) so that he's arguably close enough to contest a shot if it were designed as a quick dish off.



The sea parts and nobody is defending the lane on a drive there, if Saric does than his man is wide open in the corner.

We really see how out of the play Covington is if we're acting like he should have stuck with his man while Okafor slid.

Related


Same scenario with holmes on this clip?