So thoughts on Noel and Okafor

[Celtics4ever]

Okafor was the perfect big guy Sully to guard last night.   He was over powering some of the other guys but Sully was able to lean on him and they did not call fouls.   I think Sully can play in games that are more half court like this one was.  He can also guard a guy like Okafor who at this point is a big load but I wager he will get much stronger than he is now with pro trainers.

After watching the game, Noel can fill a stat sheet but I am not sure he is a CBS type of big who can spread the floor.

[Fafnir]

Noel is exciting to watch now. Okafor looks like Big Al to me.

I think they can "coexist" but that playing two bigs who can't shoot isn't ideal anymore, especially if Noel doesn't develop more individual offense.

[Moranis]

Noel is exciting to watch now. Okafor looks like Big Al to me.

I think they can "coexist" but that playing two bigs who can't shoot isn't ideal anymore, especially if Noel doesn't develop more individual offense.

maybe it just isn't ideal anymore because most teams don't have two good quality bigs.  Howard and Smith seemed just fine in Houston last year (though Smith does shoot a lot, just not all that well, ha).  Even when Jones started it isn't like he is a great shooter. 

There just aren't many big man in the mold of Shaq and Howard any more, that is why that trend has gone away, but when you get one, you keep them and play all sorts of people next to them. 

[sofutomygaha]

Are we sure that Okafor can't shoot? He looked fine shooting jumpers around the foul line and along the baseline.

[snively]

Noel is exciting to watch now. Okafor looks like Big Al to me.

I think they can "coexist" but that playing two bigs who can't shoot isn't ideal anymore, especially if Noel doesn't develop more individual offense.

maybe it just isn't ideal anymore because most teams don't have two good quality bigs.  Howard and Smith seemed just fine in Houston last year (though Smith does shoot a lot, just not all that well, ha).  Even when Jones started it isn't like he is a great shooter. 

There just aren't many big man in the mold of Shaq and Howard any more, that is why that trend has gone away, but when you get one, you keep them and play all sorts of people next to them. 

Those too work well defensively though and, while Smith has a broke jumper, he definitely has a perimeter skill-set. Can't say the same for Noel or Okafor.

[PhoSita]

Noel is exciting to watch now. Okafor looks like Big Al to me.

I think they can "coexist" but that playing two bigs who can't shoot isn't ideal anymore, especially if Noel doesn't develop more individual offense.

They've both shown some potential to become decent shooting from mid-range.  Okafor had some nice step back moves to create space for his jumper last night, he just needs to refine it.

With Okafor, I can see the comparison to Big Al, but in terms of his body and the way he moves and scores he reminds me of Greg Monroe and Pau Gasol.  I think that's more or less the spectrum of how effective he can be.  At the very least he'll be a productive scorer and rebounder who struggles to defend and is limited to the 5 by his lack of range.  At best he could be a Hall of Fame big man with a wide variety of skills.

[Eddie20]

Not sure why there is so much discussion about teams (Sixers and Lakers) that are so far beneath us. It's akin to Warriors fans talking about the Celtics and Bucks non-stop.

[Moranis]

Not sure why there is so much discussion about teams (Sixers and Lakers) that are so far beneath us. It's akin to Warriors fans talking about the Celtics and Bucks non-stop.

Because the Sixers are in our division, have two talents better than anyone on Boston, and have just as much if not more draft pick assets in trade. 

The Lakers, because they are right behind us in championship total and because a lot of people on here would have rather drafted Randle than Smart. 

[Donoghus]

Not sure why there is so much discussion about teams (Sixers and Lakers) that are so far beneath us. It's akin to Warriors fans talking about the Celtics and Bucks non-stop.

Because the Sixers are in our division, have two talents better than anyone on Boston, and have just as much if not more draft pick assets in trade. 

The Lakers, because they are right behind us in championship total and because a lot of people on here would have rather drafted Randle than Smart.

I don't know about a lot.  There are a couple of vocal posters who scream about not taking Randle but they are clearly the minority on here.   For the most part, it's the same posters who beat that dead horse every time too.

[Eddie20]

Not sure why there is so much discussion about teams (Sixers and Lakers) that are so far beneath us. It's akin to Warriors fans talking about the Celtics and Bucks non-stop.

Because the Sixers are in our division, have two talents better than anyone on Boston, and have just as much if not more draft pick assets in trade. 

The Lakers, because they are right behind us in championship total and because a lot of people on here would have rather drafted Randle than Smart.

Let me know when the Sixers win 30 games.

Not a lot of people want Randle instead of Smart. It just seems that way because those select few repeat those thoughts endlessly.

[slamtheking]

Not sure why there is so much discussion about teams (Sixers and Lakers) that are so far beneath us. It's akin to Warriors fans talking about the Celtics and Bucks non-stop.

Because the Sixers are in our division, have two talents better than anyone on Boston, and have just as much if not more draft pick assets in trade. 

The Lakers, because they are right behind us in championship total and because a lot of people on here would have rather drafted Randle than Smart.

Let me know when the Sixers win 30 games.

Not a lot of people want Randle instead of Smart. It just seems that way because those select few repeat those thoughts endlessly.

TP for the Randle clarification.

[Hemingway]

They both looked really good to me. It kind of made me wonder why they didn't try to get a decent 1 2 and 3 and try to win some games now.

[MBunge]

Not sure why there is so much discussion about teams (Sixers and Lakers) that are so far beneath us. It's akin to Warriors fans talking about the Celtics and Bucks non-stop.

Because the Sixers are in our division, have two talents better than anyone on Boston, and have just as much if not more draft pick assets in trade. 

It's too early to say anything about Okafor but Noel, while looking pretty good, seems a whole lot better because NO ONE in Philly gives a bleep when he looks terrible.  How great would Smart, KO and Sully look if you eliminated every negative post ever made about them around here?

And Philly has far less in assets overall than Boston.

Mike

[RAAAAAAAANDY]

Not sure why there is so much discussion about teams (Sixers and Lakers) that are so far beneath us. It's akin to Warriors fans talking about the Celtics and Bucks non-stop.

Because the Sixers are in our division, have two talents better than anyone on Boston, and have just as much if not more draft pick assets in trade. 

 but Noel, while looking pretty good, seems a whole lot better because NO ONE in Philly gives a bleep when he looks terrible.

And Philly has far less in assets overall than Boston.

Mike

They've got at least three, possibly 4 better than Boston's best asset... I'm not sure where you're getting this.

And Noel looks like the next KG on defense, and is elite at finishing at the rim. If he wasn't being told to shoot jump shots as part of his development he'd "look" a lot better.

[Rosco917]

IMO If I we're Philly I would think real hard before I broke those two up.

Okafor is going to be a real offensive weapon, and his D and rebounding, will be just fine.
Noel reminds me of a 6-11 cat, he is going to be a defensive, shot blocking, terror. Man I wish we could get our hands on him.

It's still very, very early in both of their careers.

(Embiid is a hand-grenade)