Emeka Okafor

[spectre]

In December:

35 mpg...61% FG...11.5 boards...17.8 ppg

In the last 5 games:

36.4 mpg...62%...10 boards...15.2 ppg

He has been playing very good of late. With Diaw's extra passing (and Mek's expecting the passes now) he's not become quite so fumble prone...and best of all he's finishing with authority and confidence!

Last night he came in looking like he knew he could take anyone Memphis could throw at him...and he was pretty much right. I even caught him guarding Warrick (I think) out on the perimeter near the base line; Warrick faked right, left, back...could never shake him...and Mek was dead in the guy's grill the whole way.

Absolutely stellar D in the first half, and well above average overall (along with the whole starting group). If he can keep up this level of play that contract will seem pretty good.

[amour217]

Nice to see that he can carry this team when he needs to:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/amour217/Yokeafor.jpg

[amour217]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/amour217/Cloakafor.jpg

[Muttley]

...and best of all he's finishing with authority and confidence!

For me, this is the biggest change I've noticed with Emeka.

Do you remember that Dwayne Wade commercial with the 2 DWade heads over each of his shoulders giving him advice on how to play? One wanted him to play softer and the other was more hardcore. They would exchange advice such as,
"Kiss it off the glass."
"Nah, go on in and DUNK on 'em."
and
"Still time for a nice jumpshot!"

Well, this is what I felt Emeka had been going through for a while, erring on the side of "kiss it off the glass" and trying to finesse the ball into the hoop. He got those shots blocked a lot.

Lately, though, it seems like he's trying to put dents in the floor the way he slams the ball through the hoop. Those shots are very difficult if not impossible to block. His game lately has been awesome.

[TattoodCats4life]

There was a good play last night where he got blocked by Gasol, caught the block and then dunked on him...I thought he was going to get the and-one as well because there was lots of contact, but then I looked at it was B. Salvatore behind the baseline, so there was never a chance at us getting a call.

[amour217]

Yeah I've definitely noticed a more aggressive and mobile Okafor, which is excellent for this team. Hopefully he keeps it up from here on out

[Slam]

He dunks a LOT better on the move than he does from a standing start. He's rolling off the picks a lot stronger now and exploding towards the hoop because as Spectre said, he knows there's a chance the ball might come back to him.

His best move of the night was his first one IMO. He didn't score on it, but he had Gasol deep on the base line with his back to the basket and he used a really quick spin and then an up and under to get around Gasol with ease.

It looked really natural and quick.

He just really needs to get that ft% up from the mid 50's to the low 70's.

[spectre]

He's rolling off the picks a lot stronger now and exploding towards the hoop because as Spectre said, he knows there's a chance the ball might come back to him.

He caught like 2 bullet passes from the perimeter (I think from Crash & Boris) underneath the basket...and I wouldn't have faulted him a bit if he'd have missed them because he was expecting the jump shot. Heh, I was! He was ready tho, caught them and finished strong.

[BIGCatBobcat]

Yeah, last night down the stretch he was THE guy, just because he could be. 8 straight points with 2 and less to go. He was guarding Gasol out on the 3 point line and I actually said to the guys around me "Does Marc have that kind of range? I mean, should Mek be out there?" and I guess it was good. He was guarding Gasol close the whole game, definitely bothering him because the biggest BS call of the night was when Marc threw and elbow and Mek went down but the foul was called on Mek. Whatever.

Love how he's playing lately.

[JamieMcNeill]

I agree that Diaw has made a big impact on Mek but as i posted on the game thread ive been watching Emekas rankings as a center rise up and at this point you have to put him in the top 6 as far as centers go.
these stats are going up as well since diaw came over.
is emeka the most underappreciated center in the league?
14 ppg 6th among centers
11 reb 6th among centers
1.8 blks 5th among centers
.585 fg 3rd among centers
also 5th in minutes

[TattoodCatswife]

I have been very impressed by Okafor this season and Diaw is just making his game better and better. I have not regretted that trade with Phoenix one bit.

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

good observation on Mek..

this is exactly why LB is a good coach. sure people give him crap for always wanting to change the roster around. but he knows how to build a team, how players can complement each other. this is a great example of his influence. suddenly Mek is a big time player again, as a result of bringing in the right players.

[Slam]

I took your stats Jamie (hope you don't mind?) and put them to Hollinger. Here was the response:


Joel (Ottawa, Ontario):Emeka Okafor: The most underappreciated center in the league? 14 ppg 6th among centers 11 reb 6th among centers 1.8 blks 5th among centers .585 fg 3rd among centers also 5th in minutes are his season averages - which, looking over the past month when the Bobcats are play .500 ball, have improved again. Is he a chance for the All Star game as a reserve?

John Hollinger:(3:47 PM ET ) Okafor has a great chance at the All-Star team because the East doesn't have a true candidate at backup center. It's possible the coaches will take Bosh at that spot, but even if that happens Okafor stacks up pretty well against the other forward candidates. The biggest battle for Okafor is perception -- he's on a losing team and he's not what most people think of as a "star."

[TheBeagle]

I took your stats Jamie (hope you don't mind?) and put them to Hollinger. Here was the response:


Joel (Ottawa, Ontario):Emeka Okafor: The most underappreciated center in the league? 14 ppg 6th among centers 11 reb 6th among centers 1.8 blks 5th among centers .585 fg 3rd among centers also 5th in minutes are his season averages - which, looking over the past month when the Bobcats are play .500 ball, have improved again. Is he a chance for the All Star game as a reserve?

John Hollinger:(3:47 PM ET ) Okafor has a great chance at the All-Star team because the East doesn't have a true candidate at backup center. It's possible the coaches will take Bosh at that spot, but even if that happens Okafor stacks up pretty well against the other forward candidates. The biggest battle for Okafor is perception -- he's on a losing team and he's not what most people think of as a "star." Good job, Big Slam! The paradigm shift is definitely in progress when Hollinger gives some respect to something associated with the Bobcats. He's absolutely right about the battles he faces.

[SWedd523]

IJoel (Ottawa, Ontario)
Completely irrelevant, but I was under the impression that you were Australian?

[Mustachio]

NICE! slam gettin some ESPN love. good job.

[Ghost Kat]

Okafor has been playing great but IMO thats due to Diaw and others looking to pass now. Before we were more of a jump shoting team. Even LB said we didn't look to get the ball to Okafor. With this new pass first style LB has put in more people are looking to get him the ball at point blank range.

[JamieMcNeill]

I took your stats Jamie (hope you don't mind?) and put them to Hollinger. Here was the response:


Joel (Ottawa, Ontario):Emeka Okafor: The most underappreciated center in the league? 14 ppg 6th among centers 11 reb 6th among centers 1.8 blks 5th among centers .585 fg 3rd among centers also 5th in minutes are his season averages - which, looking over the past month when the Bobcats are play .500 ball, have improved again. Is he a chance for the All Star game as a reserve?

John Hollinger:(3:47 PM ET ) Okafor has a great chance at the All-Star team because the East doesn't have a true candidate at backup center. It's possible the coaches will take Bosh at that spot, but even if that happens Okafor stacks up pretty well against the other forward candidates. The biggest battle for Okafor is perception -- he's on a losing team and he's not what most people think of as a "star."

Hey i dont mind as long as you put them to good use

[Slam]

Completely irrelevant, but I was under the impression that you were Australian?
I am, but I've been living in Ottawa for the past 4 years.

[TattoodCats4life]

Its nice to see that someone "up there" in dealing with the stats and pros and garbage like that sees someone on our team as value... Something tells me Meka isn't going to finish his contract as a Cat...he's getting back the 2nd pick status he deserves.

[SWedd523]

I am, but I've been living in Ottawa for the past 4 years.
Wow thats a culture shock... Australia to Canada?

[teej]

Actually if mek can get over the hump and become an All Star, I think his contract would be more of a steal, at least sompared to some of the other deals being handed out. The last year of his contract is about 14.5 mil roughly the avergae is 12 mil, and thats less than Shawn Marion, Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Kenyon Martin, Zach Randolph, Lamar Odom, Rasheed Wallace, Al Jefferson, Tyson Chandler (about equal), Dwight Howard, Elton Brand, Shaq, A'mare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh, and is barely over Antawn Jamison, Carlos Boozer, and Brad Miller

I would consider that a steal, ladies and gentlemen

[110oldeast]

I think Emeka has done a better job of making himself available and preparing to receive the ball. Between that and finishing with authority again, he has gotten better. Finally, having a PF for the first time in franchise history as helped him in terms of not having to go up over double teams. And as Boris can step out, it gives him more space down low.

[amour217]

Actually if mek can get over the hump and become an All Star, I think his contract would be more of a steal, at least sompared to some of the other deals being handed out. The last year of his contract is about 14.5 mil roughly the avergae is 12 mil, and thats less than Shawn Marion, Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Kenyon Martin, Zach Randolph, Lamar Odom, Rasheed Wallace, Al Jefferson, Tyson Chandler (about equal), Dwight Howard, Elton Brand, Shaq, A'mare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh, and is barely over Antawn Jamison, Carlos Boozer, and Brad Miller

I would consider that a steal, ladies and gentlemen

you said hump

[TattoodCats4life]

you said hump

Just for you...

eM6y6huwPhs

[Slam]

Wow thats a culture shock... Australia to Canada?
Culture is the same - it's the weather that is different - that and the beer is weaker!!

My wife is Canadian - we lived in Oz for a while and now we live here (had our kids here)

[ALuhrs704]

Mek is playing the best ball he has ever played, with the help of diaw's passing and larry brown's teaching he atleast deserves all star consideration. I mean how did Ben Wallace make those all star teams, Defense and okafor has both.

[Slam]

Mek is playing the best ball he has ever played, with the help of diaw's passing and larry brown's teaching he atleast deserves all star consideration. I mean how did Ben Wallace make those all star teams, Defense and okafor has both.
Because the Pistons had a winning record.

Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with that at all, but that's how it is.

As far as I am concerned, winning records are for the playoffs - that's the reward.

The All Star game is about the individual player and how good they are, regardless of what lump of a team they happen to be on.

[ALuhrs704]

Ya ya ya i know, it just sucks for teams like ours who dont have that winning garuntee playoff record, or that huge fan base..... i was surprised to see al jefferson make it for the west last year just because he was on the wolves. i still have a dream, maybe he can make it

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

Culture is the same - it's the weather that is different - that and the beer is weaker!!

My wife is Canadian - we lived in Oz for a while and now we live here (had our kids here)

how the heck did you end up pulling for the bobcats?

[davcbow]

Culture is the same - it's the weather that is different - that and the beer is weaker!!

My wife is Canadian - we lived in Oz for a while and now we live here (had our kids here)


Crikey....hehe....:cool:

[Slam]

how the heck did you end up pulling for the bobcats?
sucker for punishment.

[teej]

you said hump

Inside joke? Or am I just missing it?

[SWedd523]

Inside joke? Or am I just missing it?
you're missing it...

[teej]

you're missing it...

well i kno the other use for hump, but it is totally normal how i used it?? lol if not someone explain, i feel like an idiot

[docend24]

I checked that nad this is what I found - http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hump

[Muttley]

I checked that nad this is what I found - http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hump

you said nad...

(props to Amour!)

[docend24]

Just y typo. Not that bad actually: "Producer of electronic multimedia equipment such as recievers, amplifiers, cd- and dvd-players. Both stereo and sorround sound. Known for combining fairly low prices with good quality."

[Muttley]

Just y typo. Not that bad actually: "Producer of electronic multimedia equipment such as recievers, amplifiers, cd- and dvd-players. Both stereo and sorround sound. Known for combining fairly low prices with good quality."
Yeah, I know, I just wanted to take the opportuntity to make a lewd joke... about electronics, of course!

[teej]

Ha hump also as in a mound or something to climb over...immaturity...go to the Mavericks owners seat guys

[TattoodCats4life]

Ha hump also as in a mound or something to climb over...immaturity...go to the Mavericks owners seat guys

Was just being funny...It's a bobcats thing, guess its over :(

[SWedd523]

guess its over :(
that's what she said...

[JamieMcNeill]

that's what she said...


+1

love it.
nothing better than a good thats what she said joke.

[Muttley]

that's what she said...

Aww, she told you about that?

I hear it happens to everyone.

[teej]

Was just being funny...It's a bobcats thing, guess its over :(

I was just disapppointed no one got past that, or if they did had nothing intelligent to say about it :(

[SWedd523]

Aww, she told you about that?

I hear it happens to everyone.
Hey nobody's perfect...