weepinwillow
the nba: it's faaantastic
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I don't define motor as working hard to get picked up undrafted, or stay in the league, but relentlessness in play. When Okoro plays defense he is after the ball, but controlled, he will challenge, then get back into the play on the second shot or even third shot, then get out on the break, he's rarely caught in bad position. On offense I think he'd benefit from being more aggressive, but he's playing as the 5th option, and he seems to know that and maybe accepts it a little too much. I'd also like to see them put Okoro in pick and rolls on occasion with Allen. See how he reads w/the ball, in limited time with the ball he seems to make the right pass. I also don't agree that Isaac has no touch, in limited attempts I see a guy who puts up a pretty soft shot when he needs to and can finish with either hand.Disagree about Stevens' motor. He played four years of college ball and wasn't drafted. He's on a two-way contract which means his pro career could end any day. He knows he has to make an impression and in a short time since his minutes may disappear once Love and Nance are back. He's going 100% every minute of every practice, not to mention the few minutes of playing time he gets.
If you think Okoro's athletic ability and motor separate him from Stevens then I'm wondering why Okoro's numbers are either the same or worse than Stevens across the board except for three-point shooting.
In the limited time I've seen Stevens, he has a nice in-between game, knows how to use his body to make space for his shot at the rim. Smart player, has good length to contest shots, will take a contested shot, but this makes sense, it's who he was in college, looks like a tweener F/PF a'la Teauran Prince.
All I can tell you is what I am seeing.
When I see Okoro on the floor, I trust the play at his position, the same is true for Nance, Allen, McGee, Windler, Prince (to a lesser degree) and Dotson (to an even lesser degree). I.E. they are pro's or the play like pro's. Haven't seen enough of Stevens to say the same.
So, to your point, if all things were equal, who'd be the better prospect?
Okoro has the better athletic ability, the better motor (imo), a high level hoops IQ, is nearly 4 years younger, seems to have a better 3 point shot, has solid form on his jumper and good shot selection (maybe to a fault).
Stevens knows how to play with the ball in his hands as a #1 option coming out of college, has plus athletic ability and an NBA body, good defender. Jumper isn't there, but he's not really taking it, I question his shot selection at times and sometimes he seems to force an issue into the defense, but there isn't a large enough sample size to draw too much.
I'm still seeing Okoro as the better prospect here. And I'd rather have him on the floor than Stevens, though I think they'd make a good duo to pair with Windler, Allen and Garland for some minutes.