Where is Jahlil Okafor?

[spikeslovechild]

The only thing I'll say about having Okafor on the floor with Embiid is eventhough I don't think there is much of a fit from a tactical standpoint. I do think there is something that doesn't get mentioned at all but I've seen is a problem for both players.

Basically, they are being dbl and sometimes triple teamed. People talk about spacing but with our **** guards it's not like defenses are being honest anyways. Having Okafor and Embiid on the floor actually might give them more space to work with if that makes any sense. The problem is Okafor doesn't have much use or play well without the ball.

[Sixerscan]

how about he gets to play with the team mate who he has the most chemistry with, even if he happens to be another talented big. and then we rotate in our other talented big to hold down the fort. (woe to those who underestimate Hinkie, especially his admirers.)

On a sidenote, this is a big praise I have for Biid. He makes his team better similarly to how you see most star/superstar plays. He can play with the most toxic John Doe and still make the team better.

If you are a shooter, he can draw defense from the interior. If you are an interior scorer, he can space the floor. And on the other side, he'll always be there to anchor the D at an elite level. That is a trait the other promising bigs in the league can't provide.

The thing I see with Embiid is he affects winning more than any of the young bigs. For most of the reasons you said

That whole "being awesome at basketball" thing really pays off sometimes.

[Sportfan73]

On a sidenote, this is a big praise I have for Biid. He makes his team better similarly to how you see most star/superstar plays. He can play with the most toxic John Doe and still make the team better.

If you are a shooter, he can draw defense from the interior. If you are an interior scorer, he can space the floor. And on the other side, he'll always be there to anchor the D at an elite level. That is a trait the other promising bigs in the league can't provide.

The thing I see with Embiid is he affects winning more than any of the young bigs. For most of the reasons you said

That whole "being awesome at basketball" thing really pays off sometimes.

Well towns, kp, and AD are awesome at basketball as well, but I think embiid has way more of an affect on the game.

[the_process]

16 points, 13 rebounds... and a game low -19.

[76ciology]

Some highlights. Payton block should have been let go.

[Ericb5]

As much as I have argued that I didn't think that it had to be, or should be, this way, I think it can actually work with basically Embiid playing the 4 when he and Okafor share the floor.

We are only talking about 8-10 minutes a game most likely, and both of them would still play the majority of their minutes at the 5.

I was encouraged by what I saw tonight. Not because Okafor showed that he could play the 4, but that Embiid showed that he could in stretches both offensively and defensively.

For spot minutes here and there I think that this is fine.

Okafor could conceivably player 12-16 minutes without Embiid at the 5, and 8-10 minutes with Embiid.

I do still feel that he is more talented than yet, but for the next few years I think that this can be viable, assuming that Noel is traded, and Simmons plays a lot of the 1 and 3.


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[SelfishPlayer]

Jahlil Okafor haters are consistent with overlooking his productivity on defense. He actually makes defensive plays. He had 2 blocks tonight and averages over a block per game coming off of the bench. That is great productivity from an NBA PF.

[marcush]

If he's going to play the 4, he just has to do a much better job of closing out on the perimeter. Tonight he gave Vuc too much space on the pick n pop.

He has a huge wing span but he has to react quicker and urgently close space. No matter how many fancy high, lows we run...these NBA 4s will kill us from 3 if he doesn't adjust.

[phifans]

16 points, 13 rebounds... and a game low -19.

And TLC with a team best +7 lets start him over Covington next game !!

[Embiid P]

..he can't move
..his backpedal is uncoordinated

To be fair, this is him running forward in a straight line, which is not really something that is mentioned as tough for him to do.

The concern is whether he can move laterally fast enough in defensive sets, and whether he'll react quick enough to position himself well enough for good team defense.

Watch on YouTube

Take a look at the highlights with Embiid and Okafor on the floor. The same concerns we mentioned exists. Embiid is the one spacing the floor and taking threes, and they put Biyombo on him and Vucevic on Okafor. Embiid here is essentially playing the 4 in order to give Okafor space. Look how he scores, threes and jumpers from outside the paint.

It works because Embiid is a good shooter, not because it's his optimum position. And because the Magic are one of the few teams in the NBA that plays with two centers. But as the team's best player, Embiid should get to play his best position.

Biid is only shooting 60FG% at the paint, elite shooter from 16ft out and is only scoring .77 PPP with 25% TO rate on post plays. OK, don't get me wrong as to think I'm saying he needs to be a bargnani. I'm just saying he needs to have a right balanced offense.

Look at the modern bigs who are big plus on offense. DMC, KP and KAT. All these guys are becoming more and more perimeter oriented.

I'll go even further to say that Biid as a heavy jump shooter in today's game was a big plus on offense (109ORtg on court vs 72 ORtg off court) relative to his games when he forced the ball down low.

I don't really care if people agree with me because I know the coaching staff also see the same thing and this includes Jah attacking the basket and posting less on offense.

To simplify things. It's hard to see the court when you are back against the basket. When you are fronting the basket, you can read the defense and rotate the ball to the open man which how the game (and the NBA) rewards you on offense.

As great as Embiid has been thus far, one pet peeve of mine is that he doesn't dunk the ball enough when close to the rim especially on put backs given how much bigger he is than most of his defenders.

[Foshan]

Take a look at the highlights with Embiid and Okafor on the floor. The same concerns we mentioned exists. Embiid is the one spacing the floor and taking threes, and they put Biyombo on him and Vucevic on Okafor. Embiid here is essentially playing the 4 in order to give Okafor space. Look how he scores, threes and jumpers from outside the paint.

It works because Embiid is a good shooter, not because it's his optimum position. And because the Magic are one of the few teams in the NBA that plays with two centers. But as the team's best player, Embiid should get to play his best position.

I have not watched this game yet... scratch that probably wont... but it seemed just from this highlight clip, that the shots joel was taking with Jah on the court, were very similar tot he shots he was taking without him on the court. Joel likes to shoot, its a huge part of his game right now. so when Okafor is there it just means we have a guy fighting in the paint. If we do this against another team that doesn't play 2 C's (like most the league) either Joel will be shooting a 3 over a short dude, OR Okafor will be posting a stretch 4 (win). And if they switch, we just saw that Jah and Joel can pass the ball to eachother, heh, in fact i might trust the two of them passing to eachother than our guards! <okay slight sarcasm>

I definately hope they get another go in more time, maybe even a start. Especially when Noel is back and can come in and anchor the second unit (up until we make a trade).

We've got these guys, might as well see the different possiblities and not just say it shouldn't work on paper.

[SelfishPlayer]

We've got these guys, might as well see the different possiblities and not just say it shouldn't work on paper.

Those possibilities should include Ersan at SF, Covington at SG, and Nik at PG. Tonight we got to see Okafor at PF and Nik at PG late in the game.

[Foshan]

We've got these guys, might as well see the different possiblities and not just say it shouldn't work on paper.

Those possibilities should include Ersan at SF, Covington at SG, and Nik at PG. Tonight we got to see Okafor at PF and Nik at PG late in the game.

I'm all for letting Nik take a run at PG, i think he'd actually make a great secondary handler when simmons is running the PG spot. Well 'saint nik' not bad nik.

Ersan i think played SF when he first entered the league a little... could be wrong. Offensively i think it would be fine, not sure how it works defensively. but again, I'm all for trying a variety of things before we leap to trade guys at a low market value.

[76ciology]

To be fair, this is him running forward in a straight line, which is not really something that is mentioned as tough for him to do.

The concern is whether he can move laterally fast enough in defensive sets, and whether he'll react quick enough to position himself well enough for good team defense.

Watch on YouTube

Take a look at the highlights with Embiid and Okafor on the floor. The same concerns we mentioned exists. Embiid is the one spacing the floor and taking threes, and they put Biyombo on him and Vucevic on Okafor. Embiid here is essentially playing the 4 in order to give Okafor space. Look how he scores, threes and jumpers from outside the paint.

It works because Embiid is a good shooter, not because it's his optimum position. And because the Magic are one of the few teams in the NBA that plays with two centers. But as the team's best player, Embiid should get to play his best position.

Biid is only shooting 60FG% at the paint, elite shooter from 16ft out and is only scoring .77 PPP with 25% TO rate on post plays. OK, don't get me wrong as to think I'm saying he needs to be a bargnani. I'm just saying he needs to have a right balanced offense.

Look at the modern bigs who are big plus on offense. DMC, KP and KAT. All these guys are becoming more and more perimeter oriented.

I'll go even further to say that Biid as a heavy jump shooter in today's game was a big plus on offense (109ORtg on court vs 72 ORtg off court) relative to his games when he forced the ball down low.

I don't really care if people agree with me because I know the coaching staff also see the same thing and this includes Jah attacking the basket and posting less on offense.

To simplify things. It's hard to see the court when you are back against the basket. When you are fronting the basket, you can read the defense and rotate the ball to the open man which how the game (and the NBA) rewards you on offense.

As great as Embiid has been thus far, one pet peeve of mine is that he doesn't dunk the ball enough when close to the rim especially on put backs given how much bigger he is than most of his defenders.

Lift issue. But not much of an issue for me.

[cksdayoff]

yea, id rather he lay it up for now, i dont want him to land wrong

[Kolkmania]

Some highlights. Payton block should have been let go.

TJ pushed Payton in the back, that's why the refs called the foul.

I think the tandem worked quite well, the ball movement positively surprised me. Something that's been crucial for our entire season is dribble penetration and that's what made this lineup work as well. Post from Embiid/Okafor, kick out to a shooter who drove past the closeout and dished it to the other big man.

I'm just not sure if I want Embiid playing as a stretch forward on offense, it could give him a break though and helps him to distribute his energy better.

[TTP]

But as the team's best player, Embiid should get to play his best position.

how about he gets to play with the team mate who he has the most chemistry with, even if he happens to be another talented big. and then we rotate in our other talented big to hold down the fort. (woe to those who underestimate Hinkie, especially his admirers.)

How do you know who this is?

[Negrodamus]

Some highlights. Payton block should have been let go.

TJ pushed Payton in the back, that's why the refs called the foul.

I think the tandem worked quite well, the ball movement positively surprised me. Something that's been crucial for our entire season is dribble penetration and that's what made this lineup work as well. Post from Embiid/Okafor, kick out to a shooter who drove past the closeout and dished it to the other big man.

I'm just not sure if I want Embiid playing as a stretch forward on offense, it could give him a break though and helps him to distribute his energy better.

Could you imagine if we drafted Porzingis instead? They'd be able to take turns in the post while the other would stretch the floor on the perimeter... sigh.

[the_process]

16 points, 13 rebounds... and a game low -19.

And TLC with a team best +7 lets start him over Covington next game !!

You say that mockingly, but maybe TLC instead of Hendo would be a good thing.

[Ericb5]

Some highlights. Payton block should have been let go.

TJ pushed Payton in the back, that's why the refs called the foul.

I think the tandem worked quite well, the ball movement positively surprised me. Something that's been crucial for our entire season is dribble penetration and that's what made this lineup work as well. Post from Embiid/Okafor, kick out to a shooter who drove past the closeout and dished it to the other big man.

I'm just not sure if I want Embiid playing as a stretch forward on offense, it could give him a break though and helps him to distribute his energy better.

Imagine if we had a penetrating guard on the floor at the time like Dennis Smith.

Smith and Simmons on the floor with them, and someone like Stauskus, or Covington.


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