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July 29, 2008
Okafor in good company
I’ve heard a lot of knocks on Emeka Okafor today. Nothing wrong with a fan questioning whether he’s worth the $72 million he’ll make over the next six seasons.
However, the trashing of this guy is ridiculous.
Statistics can lie, but here’s one I’ve always believed is telling: There are only four players in the NBA who averaged a double-double in each of the last four NBA seasons.
Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Okafor.
Obviously Okafor is fourth among those four, as far as accomplishment in the NBA. But when you’re in a circle like that, it conveys a player who is doing something right night after night.
The Bobcats acknowledged that consistency with this new agreement.
Posted by Observer Sports on July 29, 2008 at 06:42 PM | Permalink
Comments
Amen! When someone is not flashly on offense we have a tendency to overlook the amount of dirty work they do; ie. rebounding, blocking shots, and being a defensive presence in the post. Okafor is underrated. Defense is 50% of the game.
Posted by: Raborn | Jul 29, 2008 8:00:44 PM
That is impressive company to be in... and when you see the money being thrown around at mediocre big men this summer you have to think that the Bobcats paid market value for Okafor. Here's hoping they can start to put it together under Larry Brown.
Posted by: Matt Privett | Jul 29, 2008 8:25:37 PM
I agree. Some people don't see it but Okafor is a important player on our team. He is the heart of our defense and I don't know if $72 million is to much money but I am happy that he will be in Charlotte for the next 6 years. He is a key in getting us to the playoffs.
Posted by: Tyler | Jul 29, 2008 8:31:38 PM
I completely agree with the post and blog entries above! Look at those numbers and the teams he has been on - surrounding talent or coaching. Things are coming together for a good season(s) to come.
In my opinion, the Bobcats will be in the playoffs this year barring a significant injury to Okafor or Richardson. If May can be healthy, we have a chance at making noise in the east, a like the Hawks last year.
Go Cats!!
Posted by: Will Parker | Jul 29, 2008 9:18:54 PM
Bonnell, you are dead on.
In addition, Okafor is a good role model and class act too. I'm glad he will be around.
Unfortuately it seems as if many of the people who post on your blog are misinformed (don't know what they are talking about) or simply are too negative about this team. By now, you have to expect that they will bash you and the team for no good reason.
Posted by: Yeah? | Jul 29, 2008 9:53:34 PM
Okafor is a team player and, although, not flashy, gives the effort. He also has a suspect back reminescent of Larry Johnson. I don't think he is especially durable and it will be interesting to see how many games a year he can play, espcially as he is a little out of position at C rather than PF. Granted, the Bobcats have not been one of the better shooting teams...lots of bricks makes it easier to pad rebound stats, especially if you are the team's main rebounder. Oke is not a superstar, but he needs the Bobcats and the Bobcats needs him. He could use a few more moves.
Posted by: Misinformed and Negative | Jul 29, 2008 10:17:31 PM
Certainly Emeka has had injuries here, but it's strange you'd bring up his back. He had back surgery in college, but it's been a non-issue here. As to durability, he missed a bunch of games previously to an ankle sprain, but the guy did play all 82 last season. He and Richardson were the only Bobcats to do that.
Posted by: Rick Bonnell | Jul 29, 2008 11:33:36 PM
Okafor is a class act on and off the court. I am of the opinion that with the new coaching staff he can even be better than in prior years. When a player brings rare class, talent and work ethic that says a whole lot!
Posted by: Gene Edwards | Jul 29, 2008 11:44:55 PM
The first 10 games (or so) of last season Okafor was a monster. I thought - this guy really looks like the second over-all pick. Playing for Sam V was difficult for most of the players and pretty hard to watch as a fan. Okafor's minutes were hurt by Sam's inventive line-ups...there was stress between team members (anyone else see Wallace and Okafor on the jumbotron going at it before coming on the court?) Did Okafor have a couple of games where he disappeared - absolutely (and so did every other guy wearing a Bobcat uniform). Is Okafor worth $12 million over 6 years? With Larry at the helm this year Okafor will have his best opportunity to improve his individual game since leaving college. If he improves a little in the points category; he has All Star type numbers. If he does not improve and stays the same; he still has a double-double average - which 3 years from now $12 million dollars will be a good price in a league of inflated contracts.
Posted by: Bobcats_Fan | Jul 30, 2008 12:09:39 AM
Fellow fans,
Stop bashing Okafor. 12 million is fair market value. We didn't overpay. Defense and rebounding win - I think the Celtics showed all of us that. Think of the alternative. If we let him go, we have a gaping hole. We then overpay some stiff, which has happened a lot in NBA history, especially big men.
Posted by: HJ | Jul 30, 2008 12:13:19 AM
Funny observation about some reader comments from various other articles and blog entries:
Before re-signing Okafor, the Bobcats were frequently referred to as cheap. Now that the Bobcats have given Okafor $12 million per season, many readers say the team is overpaying him.
Apparently some people will just never be happy with the Bobcats. I just wonder why they keep reading and commenting on Bobcats articles.
Posted by: AJ | Jul 30, 2008 12:54:15 AM
I thought for sure that the Bobcats would screw this up. For the first time since the draft, I'm starting to get psyched for the upcoming season. We're still young and have some pressing needs (post scoring for example), but I like our core and it will be fun to see what Larry does with it.
Posted by: apauldds | Jul 30, 2008 7:54:54 AM
The knock on Okafor is that he's not Dwight Howard. When fans look at what we could have had in Howard and what we do have in Okafor they get upset. Okafor is a Solid Player but DH is on his way to NBA superstardom.
No knock on the Cats or Mek, Orlando chose Howard first and we got the next best player in that Draft. It is what it is...these two will forever be measured by one another in Charlotte and Okafor will always draw cricism because he's not the player DH is.
Posted by: ArtVandelay | Jul 30, 2008 9:04:22 AM
I am glad this whole ordeal is over. Most of the people who say bad things about Okafor aren't Bobcat fans. I am not in love with the dude, but I do realize he is a valuable piece of this team. This team could win 40 games if everyone stays healthy. I know thats a big "if", but I still believe in this team.
Posted by: Token | Jul 30, 2008 9:05:20 AM
So Rick, since that's the EXACT stat I most often mention, where is the line drawn that it becomes an overstated statistical analysis? And yes, as noted above, Okafor is precisely the type of player and citizen every NBA team should be glad to have. Articulate/well-spoken and educated, helps in the community, and never throws teammates or coaches under the bus. And did anybody notice Lolie Deng's contract? Almost the exact same terms, and I don't think it's tough to argue that Okafor is more of an impact player than Deng is.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 30, 2008 9:15:01 AM
Those off court qualities you mention Procton can also apply to your favorite player: Raymond Felton
Posted by: apauldds | Jul 30, 2008 9:26:20 AM
Glad we have okafor, now what are we going to do at PF?
Asked it again here and I'll ask it again:
is the staff confident about May?
Is there an FA signing on the way?
Is G Wall going to be moved to PF
Is Nazr going to start again?
Posted by: bonnell=procton | Jul 30, 2008 9:32:08 AM
Booooo that man.
Posted by: Bobcats Suck | Jul 30, 2008 10:01:47 AM
Booooo that man.
Posted by: Bobcats Suck | Jul 30, 2008 10:02:14 AM
Maybe now we can make a trade:
Crash+May for Rasheed Wallace?
Posted by: apauldds | Jul 30, 2008 10:23:21 AM
No...Felton isn't close to Okafor when it comes to being articulate and well-spoken. And you've still got to be a player. Okafor is. Felton isn't.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 30, 2008 11:08:46 AM
So, felton isn't a rhodes scholar like Okafor, big deal. I like how you shift the argument around all the time so no one can hold you to your idiotic points.
Instead of denegrating one of the bcats players, what do you suggest with the PF spot, mighty mighty Procton?
Posted by: bonnell=procton | Jul 30, 2008 11:38:34 AM
With our lineup as constructed currently, Wallace is the only reasonable option for starter's minutes at the position if we don't have a decent C to go next to Emeka there (and we don't.)
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 30, 2008 11:56:18 AM
Obviously Wallace is a SF but do you believe he can play an effective PF?
Posted by: Mason | Jul 30, 2008 12:02:35 PM
having seen the returns on a trade like ron artest for bobby jackson and a pick, can we not ship out some spare parts for something of value? bobby jackson was a good bench scorer a few years back but has been sent packing twice in the last year so his value equates to "spare part" status. therefore how about a package of may, davidson and a 2nd rd pick in 2012 to OKC for chris wilcox and donyell marshall? the guy was shopped around during the draft and before. may could develope into something for them so its not totally spare parts. then we would have a PF who can play out of the lane, allowing our "center" (as stated by the observer) to play inside
PG felton, augustine
SG richardson, morrison
SF wallace, carrol, dudley
PF wilcox,marshall
C okafor, mohammad
Posted by: brendan | Jul 30, 2008 12:05:46 PM
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