Emeka Okafor: The #4 center in the East ??????

[ziggy]

As ranked by the Miami Sun Sentinal http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_basketball_heat/2007/09/winderman-the-c.html

1. Dwight Howard
2. Shaq
---
I can live with those 2

3. Ben Wallace (his best days are waaay behind him.)
4. Emeka


Thoughts?

[dav7z]

I SAY OK50 is number 2 . I think hes by passed Oneal and big Ben Last year . But at the same time im glad to see him get some love.

[davcbow]

I SAY OK50 is number 2 . I think hes by passed Oneal and big Ben Last year . But at the same time im glad to see him get some love.


I can agree with that. :g:

[spectre]

I SAY OK50 is number 2 . I think hes by passed Oneal and big Ben Last year . But at the same time im glad to see him get some love.


If Mek can give us 75+ games this year I think he's definitely 3rd and probably 2nd.

[dvdbumpus]

When healthy Shaq is still #1. But basing it on that, I can live with 1 and 2, and have Oak @ 3, possibly sliding up to 2 if he develops.

[Edrow]

Agreed about Shaq being #1 when healthy. I'm actually surprised they didn't already have him at # 1 with the South Florida bias.

Oak is much more of a threat than Mr. Wallace is these days. As a matter of fact, is it just me, or did Ben Wallace just looked confused last year? Change of teams maybe? He just didn't have that same ferociousness that he had while in Detroit.

So, assuming all are healthy:

1) Shaq
2) Dwight Howard
3) Oak
4) Ben Wallace

[Slam]

So, assuming all are healthy:

1) Shaq
2) Dwight Howard
3) Oak
4) Ben Wallace




I would tend to agree with this list. A healthy Shaq is unmatched in the NBA by any other player.

I think there is some just cause to rank EO50 above Dwight though. There stats are VERY similar but:

EO50 protects the ball better (Dwight has a piss load of turn overs)

EO50 is a better shot blocker and more efficient (less fouls per block)

EO50 has more of an offensive.

[chabber]

Agrees with Slam.

[dav7z]

So, assuming all are healthy:

1) Shaq
2) Dwight Howard
3) Oak
4) Ben Wallace
With your reasoning Slam i could even put oak 1st over Shaq for thease reasons. It was clear he had lost at least two steps last year . All so hes a year older now and will only lose more ability .Next i have not seen him cone into camp in the last two years in shape. And i think hes geting to old to get in shape during the season. With that being factored in. If oak has a coming out year like i think . He should be the best center in the east . Hes been working hard on his game this off season with akeam. Im thinking this is oaks all star year.....



I would tend to agree with this list. A healthy Shaq is unmatched in the NBA by any other player.

I think there is some just cause to rank EO50 above Dwight though. There stats are VERY similar but:

EO50 protects the ball better (Dwight has a piss load of turn overs)

EO50 is a better shot blocker and more efficient (less fouls per block)

EO50 has more of an offensive.




So, assuming all are healthy:

1) Shaq
2) Dwight Howard
3) Oak
4) Ben Wallace




I would tend to agree with this list. A healthy Shaq is unmatched in the NBA by any other player.

I think there is some just cause to rank EO50 above Dwight though. There stats are VERY similar but:

EO50 protects the ball better (Dwight has a piss load of turn overs)

EO50 is a better shot blocker and more efficient (less fouls per block)

EO50 has more of an offensive.

[x2pacalypse]

howard is a better PF and eo50 is a better center imo

btw we should sign kevin burleson and trade him along with a bundle of love for dwight howard

[dnbman]

I think the only thing holding Okafor back is consistency. I don't think he's at the point where other teams plan for him like they do Howard, Shaq, and others.

Okafor's great. But until he consistently shows he's the man, I don't think he'll be the best C in the East.

[spectre]

I think the only thing holding Okafor back is consistency. I don't think he's at the point where other teams plan for him like they do Howard, Shaq, and others.

Okafor's great. But until he consistently shows he's the man, I don't think he'll be the best C in the East.




and lack of agression. The boy needs to get pissed off more.

[qchoops]

Emeka is almost certainly the top defensive center in the east, but I don't know that he will develop the offensive game to claim the title of best offensive center. This past season, as the scoring load lessened on him, he improved his field goal % significantly - I'm not saying he's not a solid offensive player, but he is not scoring machine, in part due to his poor foul shooting. I just think it is somewhat telling of his abilities that he thrive with less of the offensive spotlight on him (15.1 points per game his rookie year, on 45% shooting; 14.4 on 53% this year).
The main thing from that list that caught my eye? A lot of suckitude on that list - Jeff Foster? Zaza Pachulia? And does Andrea Bargnani really play center for the Raptors?

[davcbow]

He needs "additude". :g:

[dvdbumpus]

Emeka is almost certainly the top defensive center in the east, but I don't know that he will develop the offensive game to claim the title of best offensive center. This past season, as the scoring load lessened on him, he improved his field goal % significantly - I'm not saying he's not a solid offensive player, but he is not scoring machine, in part due to his poor foul shooting. I just think it is somewhat telling of his abilities that he thrive with less of the offensive spotlight on him (15.1 points per game his rookie year, on 45% shooting; 14.4 on 53% this year).
The main thing from that list that caught my eye? A lot of suckitude on that list - Jeff Foster? Zaza Pachulia? And does Andrea Bargnani really play center for the Raptors?



But at the same time, who else did they really have to handle the scoring load in '04?

[qchoops]

That was my point: He was being asked to handle a role that he was not suited for, attempting to be the main scoring option for the team. The player with the next highest scoring average from that team? Primoz at 13 per game.

[dav7z]

All so last year i saw big differance in his foot work and that little bank shot off the glass he had. I think working with akeam is helping his offencive game a lot.
I just think Felts need to look for him more on the drive. If he does i see no reason he cant be a 20 -10 average easy.

[tamburello]

Emeka is the top defensive center in the East, but in this list he deserves no higher than 3rd spot as of now. He should be in front of Ben Wallace. His good days are too behind too remember.

[davcbow]

I wonder what the hold up is on extending Oka4's contract or are they waiting till next season to do it? :g:

[123together]

okafor is very solid but i'd put howard, j. oneal, s. oneal and KG in front making him #5 on my list. KG is not a natural center obviously but i'm guessing he may play there for boston

[Keetch]

or to put the list another way; if you had the option to pick up any of those top four, in what order would you choose? I'd take:

Dwight Howard
Emeka Okafor
Shaquille O'Neal
Ben Wallace

5 years ago or more its Shaq Daddy without a thought, but now he's nearly done and must rely of sitting most of the season to have anything at all for the playoffs. That's no fun. Howard is a beast, a young beast who's still figuring it out, but still a beast.

Agreed...Okafor needs an attitude; but that doesn't seem to be who he is...so I'd settle for a nice clinical improvement to his offensive presence instead.