Okafor's Style

[dukiejay]

There's been a lot of dialogue on Okafor's style of play.....with some even calling him a bully. I have my own thoughts and decided to share them here.

He plays a physical brand of basketball. In addition to that, opponents beat up on him, as well. Could he be called for some more offensive fouls? Probably. But if the refs are going to be consistent I can handle that.

Here's what I mean. It's more advantageous for Duke if the refs allow that style of play. One-on-one, Jahlil is unstoppable and one of the best scoring big men we've seen in college for a long time. When opposing fans try and insinuate that it's solely Jah initiating the contact that's where I have the issue. He's getting beat up too.

Lastly, if the officials are going to call it tight, then Jah is going to get a foul called on the defense moreso than picking up one himself. The advantage of them not calling it tight is that it means Jah doesn't have to go the FT line as much.

 

[BuckinElkin!!]

I haven't heard the "bully" call on Okafor, but if anyone has I'd have to guess they're not old enough to remember when the NCAA and NBA had true centers.

Its been stated many times over now about his footwork, big men don't have footwork anymore, that's why some don't appreciate his footwork, because they don't recognize such things.

Jah will step right in at New York, Philly, Minnesota, LAL, or Orlando and average 18 ppg minimum right away because of his footwork alone.

Last night, the commentator said, "on that second bump it should have been a foul on Jah", I disagreed, it should have been a foul on the D before the first bump!

 

[mo.st.dukie]

Don't know how anybody could complain about him not getting called when backing a guy down. .That's what all post player do just most of them are not as big and strong as Okafor. Opponents play incredibly physical against him especially before he receives an entry pass and is trying to establish position.

The only thing I can understand people complaining about is him getting away with hooking the defender when doing some of his spin moves. He got away with one of those last night. However, I do think that opposing fans believe he does this more often than what he actually does.

I like his style and it's hilarious that anybody who rooted for Hansbrough for 4 years would complaiain about a post player being too physical. That was Hansbrough's entire game.

 

[aah555]

As someone else pointed out, this is basically akin to complaining about how a player gets an unfair advantage from being too athletic or too fast. Va Tech's starting center is listed at 7'0 255. The fact that he can't hold his ground against Jah only underscores how big and naturally strong he is as an 18 year old kid. Every center tries to do what Jah does. The reality is that 99% of them can't b/c basically nobody his size has the ball handling and footwork to do what he does.

I'd add that the only reason Jah needs to back his guys down is b/c the defenders fouling him and the guy setting the screen to open up his post-up so that he can't get the ball close to the rim. I'd be more sympathetic to these complaints if they were calling defenders who use a forearm shove to knock him off his spot.

Frankly, at the NBA level, people would laugh at the suggestion that Jah's moves are offensive fouls.

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

I think you pretty well nailed it, DJ. His detractors don't seem to notice that Jah isn't the only one dishing out the contact.

OFC

 

[GAAP]

Originally posted by dukiejay:
When opposing fans try and insinuate that it's solely Jah initiating the contact that's where I have the issue.

Good point. Since when is initiating contact an offensive foul?

How many times do you see a smaller player drive to the hoop and completely initiate contact by jumping into the body of a defender who is either retreating or maintaining verticality? That's rarely called a charge.

 

[QC Dukie]

Probably the ones complaining about okafor fouling are the same ones that didn't think hansbrough traveled.....

OFC

 

[jnastasi]

I remember Shaq initiating a lot of contact too. We called that dominant though.

 

[tison31]

Whether it's a foul on Jah or not is immaterial to me. It is legal as long as the refs are allowing him to do it, so he should continue as long as they do. When or if they start calling fouls on that move then he should beck off as I'm sure he will. Right now it works for him and not called a foul routinely---then continue on with business as usual Jah.

OFC

 

[BuckinElkin!!]

That's right tison.

If anyone wants to complain it should be for all the traveling he did early in the season, and still sometimes gets away with one now and then.

Early in the year, he traveled a lot on the spin move, and somewhere around maybe the 10th game, the refs caught on.

 

[yoshukai]

His game reminds me a lot of a bigger Eldon Brand .

 

[gottagonow]

When an opponents (UNC) fans hate everything Duke due to jealously, its hard for them to find something not to complain about. We all know how biased the officials are favoring Duke.

ofc

 

[JCColsCane]

Guys, anyone who thinks Okafor is too physical, just doesn't understand that it is a "war" down there! All year long I have quietly been wanting Okafor to get more physical, and finally he is. He is getting hammered down there, and now he is understanding what is required of him and dishing out what he is getting! I am so proud of him for attacking the basket with more intensity.
If anyone remembers, earlier in the season I mentioned that the "switch" hasn't come on for Okafor yet, and when it does, he will be a terror! I think the "switch" is coming on, and now all he has to do is control his movements.
Lastly, I will say this, if he does not keep playing physical like he is right now, Duke will not win the ACCT or get out of the Sweet Sixteen!! You can mark it down.
Please keep in mind, even though he is a great post player, he is very young and still learning, not to account for the fact that he is a great kid. Personally, I just hope that "switch" comes all the way on, and it's closer than you think!!
Go Duke!!


JC-OFC

 

[BuckinElkin!!]

Lets hope that switch comes on at both ends of the floor.

 

[topps coach]

Hard to imagine what he will be like in about 5 to 7 years from now when he is physically mature.

 

[GHillFan]

First ever post but I've read the site for a while now. Just wanted to point out that Jah is fantastic at getting the defender to move so that when there's contact, it's not just him initiating. It's violent and aggressive but it's both players moving which makes it difficult for the refs to call an offensive foul. Anyway, just my 2 cents plus I love the board/posts.

 

[aah555]

Originally posted by topps coach:
Hard to imagine what he will be like in about 5 to 7 years from now when he is physically mature.

+ When he gets a consistent face up jumper from about 12. I felt the same away about Parker last year, but Okafor is a marvel to watch on the offensive end. While it seems like neither of these guys practiced any defense while in high school, it's amazing how mature their offensive games are at such early stages in their careers.

As great as Kyrie was / is, I am not sure even he was as impressive as these two offensively -- and Kyrie himself was great in the brief moments he played here.

 

[dukehokie]

The sad thing is, because of the media outcry about Oak being a "bully", that call will be a foul on him next time. I personally love that old school style of ball.

 

[yoshukai]

If Okafor is a bully what is Montez Harrell ?

 

[Neners]

I don't think us young kids are used to seeing a true center do work. That's what it all comes down to.

 

[timo0402]

thats the issue i have DH. Start saying stuff enough, the refs are human. Now it's more so from the opposing coaches on the sidelines in the refs ear than it is the media, but they're not immune to it. I'm with DJ though, if they're going to worry about Jah being a "bully" on the offensive end, then they sure as hell better call it when he's getting crushed like he was against Joel James all game off the ball.

 

[tlef316]

Okafor gets fouled 4 times every time down the court. Every single time he tries to post up, the guy guarding him either....

A) Grabs him with both hands to try and get around him

B) takes a 2 step running start and throws a shoulder barge into him to try and force him off the block.


So, basically, its exactly as I expected it to go from the moment I first saw him play. He's unguardable at the college level once he gets the ball. Quite frankly, I'm SHOCKED that teams aren't flopping against him. Its absolute insanity.

Essentially, the refs have reached a compromise. Teams are allowed to do whatever they want to keep him from getting the ball 90% of the time, and in exchange, he's allowed to hook with his off hand (which he does do on occasion) or "bully" his opponent with that big shoulder of his his unless its a totally and completely egregious offensive foul.

 

[denniden]

Watching and following the NBa for as long as I have, Okafor and his style is not an issue, when he does play physically. I think people lose sight that Okafor plays a lot of finesse style in the post as well. A guy his size and ability is going to be played physically by all teams and he happens to play physically right back when he has to. Frankly, that is what all great big men do. I have never seen anyone take as much uncalled physicality as Shaq. He gave it back though and not just in the NBA. He did that in college as well. Those complaining about him being a "bully" are just looking for something to talk about because Okafor is not the first and won't be the last big man that is engaged in physical play on the court.

 

[dadecodevil]

Dakari Johnson plays the same game as Okafor. He just isnt quite as good at it.

 

[DiehardDukeFan4Life]

Originally posted by mo.st.dukie:

The only thing I can understand people complaining about is him getting away with hooking the defender when doing some of his spin moves. He got away with one of those last night. However, I do think that opposing fans believe he does this more often than what he actually does.

I saw the hook move that they didn't call a foul on him for and I was like he got away with one there because they've called that on him several times this season.

 

[youngman42]

I utterly hate the way the game is played in which Jah backs people down. I think it completely ruins the game and it was the principle complaint by John Wooden about the modern game - that it had become too physical and had lost its finesse.

That said, I don't blame Jah. I think he is quick enough and talented enough to play a different game.

The real problem is that the referees let defenders bully Jah and pound him to keep him out of the lane. Jah basically get fouled every time he has the ball - it used to be an automatic foul to hand check. Now, Jah gets a massive arm bar just standing beside the lane in the post. If they really called fouls he would be fouled every single play.

It's utterly ridiculous the way the game is officiated these days. If they called arm bars and hand checks, the game would be ten times better and we would not worry about whether Jah is 'bullying' people.

 

[tmybaby09]

What I would like to see is the NCAA get away from making so many charging calls or Atleast start counting the basket when most of the charges down low are flops and after the shooter is in shooting motion.
As for Jah, he does have elite footwork. He is in the mold of a little shorter Shaq. The fact that big guys are a load shouldn't go against them. The back down post up move is all about the offense creating contact. Jah knows how to create contact to get the defender off balance so he can make a move to score. Those type of guys get beat up due to the refs feeling like the contact isn't enough to alter their play.

Dwight Howard, Shaq, Jah all are similar in post aggressiveness and all got the same treatment from refs.

 

[dbav]

I have been reading this thread and kind of smiling to myself. When people call Jah a bully, all I can think is "well, isn't that what a center is supposed to be". I will concede that I don't know nearly as much about basketball as the rest of you, but it was always my impression that the center is the biggest and toughest guy on the court and is supposed to be able to dish out plenty of punishment in physical games.

I think it's a weird thing that we have a traditional center on the team, who also happens to be one of the best players in the country, and people want to comment on how his play is unfair. Although I never liked Shaq, I think that comparison is accurate in many ways in the ability to absorb and dish out punishment.

Maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about, but I think it's sort of funny that he would be getting heat for doing exactly what a traditional center would do. What makes it funny to me is that, as stated above, people now criticize that style of play when Duke is utilizing it effectively rather than being a finesse team. Just my opinion though.

 

[dukiejay]

I wanted to see how long it would take for someone to say what I was kind of looking for....and denniden pretty much nailed it. On this board he may be the only guy who watches the NBA more than I do. So kudos, Denn.

The game today is much softer than it was 10, 20 and 30 years ago. Because Okafor's style is more of a throwback mold people just aren't used to seeing players play like that. Today, college big guys want to be stretch 4's and face the basket. Back in the day play was physical.

I don't want Jahlil to change the way he's playing at all. Continue to be aggressive. But he also has to make sure he's talking to officials and letting them know when he does get called for an offensive foul that they need to be watching the entire possession. Because if it's called tight, Okafor could foul out three big men pretty easy.

 

[2 skerz 3]

Originally posted by Neners:
I don't think us young kids are used to seeing a true center do work. That's what it all comes down to.

^^WINNER^^ Most people have forgotten what a true center is imo!

 

[Mpm277]

All it comes down to is fan bias. If "our guy" does it, he's a banger; if Jah does it, he's a bully.

 

[youngman42]

Originally posted by dukiejay:
I wanted to see how long it would take for someone to say what I was kind of looking for....and denniden pretty much nailed it. On this board he may be the only guy who watches the NBA more than I do. So kudos, Denn.

The game today is much softer than it was 10, 20 and 30 years ago. Because Okafor's style is more of a throwback mold people just aren't used to seeing players play like that. Today, college big guys want to be stretch 4's and face the basket. Back in the day play was physical.

I don't want Jahlil to change the way he's playing at all. Continue to be aggressive. But he also has to make sure he's talking to officials and letting them know when he does get called for an offensive foul that they need to be watching the entire possession. Because if it's called tight, Okafor could foul out three big men pretty easy.

Disagree that it is softer. There's not as many flagrant fouls to be sure but that's the only difference. In terms of physical contact inside it is much more consistent and expected. Much more of a wrestling match and much more bodying-up of players today than in the 70's-80's. Kareem would be pushed out to the 3 point line if it were like today. But, he had space to operate. Hand checks and certainly arm-bars were severely disallowed in the 70's and 80's. And many players just did not use them as much.

But, watch the early 80's and there's not near as many arm bars or holding or hammering with the bodies - especially with respect to the lane contact - that's why there were more rough fights and blow-ups when it did happen. I have watched the NBA religiously since 1969. There is much more contact today than in the 80's. Certainly than the purer game of CBB in the 70's or the 80's. Just not as many flagrant fouls.

The "wrestling match" game is simply not as great or entertaining. Nah has to play the way he does because players lean on him and bang him. If it were 30-40 years ago, that would not be allowed (except in some instances for some teams).