Watching these NBA Finals, it’s become painfully aware that the final series of any NBA season is where offense goes to die. Like, scoring basically becomes an ill-fated character from the “Game of Thrones” in one of those scenes that garner Youtube clips of fan reaction. Both teams could desperately use a player who could promise at least a good look at the basket.
-== How The Top 5 NBA Prospects Fit With The Lakers ==-
Here’s where having a skilled big man (preferably seven-feet tall) comes in handy. Fortunately for the Los Angeles Lakers, there, atop the upcoming draft reside two such prospects. So, the question begs asking: how would Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns fit in the NBA Finals currently entertaining fans at a record rate?
In short, just fine.
Towns obviously would fare slightly better, given a higher level of athleticism and more versatile skillset. Picture Towns as Steph Curry’s pick-and-roll mate instead of the immensely struggling Draymond Green or incomparably stiff Andrew Bogut. Towns would have the size to finish at the rim over Timofy Mosgov and the ability to score in more ways than Bogut, who, unless right under the rim, is pretty useless.
The very thought of Towns playing alongside LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers is nothing short of really freakin’ scary. Again, the pick-and-roll options are infinite and replacing Mosgov (who’s arrival likely saved the Cavs’ season) with Towns’ offensive skillset just wouldn’t seem fair. Not to mention how his shooting ability would space the floor for LeBron to attack the basket with more space. The downside to this is, given Cleveland’s luck this postseason, Towns wouldn’t make it through game four.
Okafor’s transition to the playing style currently on display would be a study in past vs. present.
Towns possesses everything the modern game calls for. He’s tall, athletic, skilled and can step out to make the three. In essence, he’s the epitome of modern big man. Not only could he play in these finals, he’d probably thrive – which is why he’s considered by many the top prospect in this draft class and one of the most promising young talents we’ve seen in quite some time.
Okafor’s transition to the playing style currently on display would be a study in past vs. present.
Remember how I mentioned how critical easy baskets can be as the playing style slows down? This is where Okafor’s polished low post game becomes ridiculously beneficial.
Think back to the three-peat era Lakers. Whenever the game started slipping away, they had simply to throw the ball into Shaq, and let him go to work. Either he’d score outright or at least earn a trip to the free throw line, slowing down the game and allowing the Lakers’ defense to set against whatever counter the opposition had coming.
Think the Warriors would like that, given Curry’s struggles from the field? In short, yes – a million times yes. Golden State has struggled to find other ways to score aside from perimeter motion revolving around some kind of off-ball movement or pick-and-roll. Having someone like Okafor to score one-one-one in the post or force a double team and find a shooter as he was able to in his one year at Duke would exponentially increase the Warriors’ offensive versatility.
His fit with Cleveland is a little more complicated. Yes, all teams need someone who can offer easy baskets almost at will, but they have James guy for that. Okafor’s presence on the floor might actually hurt James’ ability to do just that, as his range is fairly limited and the spacing James would need to attack the basket either for himself or to free up teammates might be compromised.
Chris Steppig/NCAA Photos-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Okafor’s issues on the defensive end would also be exacerbated, though I do believe the extent of his shortcomings on that side of the ball slightly exaggerated. That being said, watching him try to stay with either Curry or LeBron on pick-and-rolls would be troublesome, but that’s the case with any big man.
To continue the Shaq comparison, he struggled mightily against teams featuring quick point guards who would take advantage of his inability to hedge properly on screens. Even despite that, though, I’m sure Lakers fans would happily trade whatever deficiency those guards could take advantage of for Shaq’s dominating presence everywhere else. In this sense, so long as Okafor provides those easy baskets, his team would take the good with the bad.
So, if and when the Lakers wind up with each talented big man, fans should rest easy with the understanding either could probably could compete at the highest level. Yes, Towns would fit slightly more easily, given everything he has to offer on both sides of the ball, but they’d both be welcome additions to this series and would probably play a vital role in whichever team they happen to join.
Think of it this way: Imagine two Italian restaurants. Towns is that grand opening that’s all the rage because of its immensely updated menu. The line to get in stretches around the building and, again, you’re in for quite the treat. So, if you don’t feel like waiting in line (or don’t have the first overall selection), you head over to the mom and pop hole in the wall featuring only a handful of recipes, but you know, no matter what you order, you’re getting a phenomenal classic. This represents Okafor.
Sure, you’d rather be one of the lucky few who get a seat opening night, but, at the end of the day, you’re eating Italian food. Life is good!
Yeah, I’m hungry.