The Warriors are showing us the new NBA, and the Celtics better be taking notes

[Celtics18]

Which  rookie big men are we talking about when we say guys like Jahlil haven't turned out well in the past?

Because if you look at young rookie 6'11''+ bigs that have put up at least 16 points and 7 rebounds on 50% shooting... Well, I'm wondering which of those guys you're saying has turned out poorly.

Is it Pau Gasol? As a 21 year old rookie he barely rebounded more than Jahlil. He's had his defensive struggles during his career but you know I think I'd be just fine having a player like that on the Celts.

A key difference between Pau Gasol (to steal your example) and Jah Okafor is that Pau has always been a good passer and a solid mid-range shooter.  I understand your point is that Oak could develop both those skills as he is still young, but it's far from a given that his jump shot ever becomes adequate or that he ever develops even average court vision.

If he doesn't develop those skills, he'll become a black hole who bogs down the offense by chewing up possessions for himself and hurting the team--that's what he is now.  He may become better at being that player; he probably will.  But I would 't expect him to become a different player.

[Celtics18]

He doesn't need to do a 180 and become a great defender. He just needs to develop into a competent team defender.

As I've said elsewhere, if you are of the school of thought that the center has to do the lion's share of the work defensively and cover up other players mistakes, then yeah, he's probably a lost cause. If you have a more flexible outlook on how a successful team could be put together, I think there's reason to believe Jahlil could become quite valuable in the right situation.

And what exactly is the "right situation" with the roster the Celtics have now? 

"Right situation" is awfully vague.

Good coaching. Veteran leadership. Defensive role players around him. An offensive system that emphasizes and rewards spacing and ball movement.

I don't see how an offense that "emphasizes and rewards spacing and ball movement" would be good for a player like Okafor who is neither a good ball mover, nor a good floor spacer.

[ssspence]

He doesn't need to do a 180 and become a great defender. He just needs to develop into a competent team defender.

As I've said elsewhere, if you are of the school of thought that the center has to do the lion's share of the work defensively and cover up other players mistakes, then yeah, he's probably a lost cause. If you have a more flexible outlook on how a successful team could be put together, I think there's reason to believe Jahlil could become quite valuable in the right situation.

And what exactly is the "right situation" with the roster the Celtics have now? 

"Right situation" is awfully vague.

Good coaching. Veteran leadership. Defensive role players around him. An offensive system that emphasizes and rewards spacing and ball movement.

Another thread hijacked by this guy.

#beatingadeadhorse

[PhoSita]

It's as you said C18, I feel pretty confident in Jahlil's passing ability and the likelihood that he can improve his midrange jumper.

And yeah, Jahlil is an old topic around here but it's all old topics right now. Or should we spend another ten pages of wasted breath on a European prospect we've all spent about ten minutes watching?

[Celtics18]

It's as you said C18, I feel pretty confident in Jahlil's passing ability and the likelihood that he can improve his midrange jumper.

And yeah, Jahlil is an old topic around here but it's all old topics right now. Or should we spend another ten pages of wasted breath on a European prospect we've all spent about ten minutes watching?

I'm not sure where that confidence in Okafor's improvement in those areas comes from?

So far he's shown little indication that he will be anything other than a player who needs lots of touches, chews up lots of possessions, and won't be much of a sharer or floor spacer.

I have no doubts he'll be a good scorer though.