Isaac 3 & D Okoro - A Two Way Playing Basketball Savant

[Willard513]

Good stuff, Willard. Could you check and see how they rank Okoro's defense this year compared to last?

Damn, I tried but it’s a subscription to access previous data. My guess is his difficulty rank was high but his success rate was much lower.

 

[Cavatt]

Isaac is super conservative on offense, and probably to a fault. I'd like to see them run more pick and roll action every now and then with him, let him fail or succeed in game action. I think he can develop everything you see in that video though. Doubt he ever hits as a 20 ppg scorer, though. Just not in his DNA.

If he can be a release on offense at time or just bully to the basket.

In some ways I see his aggression problems similar to Garland. He is a team first guy, who wants to make the best play and believes in his teammates.

Next thing I want to see him is him just going to the hoop on guys who are smaller than him like Stevens does, he will be most of the way there.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I'm very skeptical. I think he's the third best on the Cavs. Ask NBA players whether they would rather be guarded by Okoro, Mobley, or Allen. Whether they be bigs, wings, or point guards I think most would say Okoro.

I don't see it that way except in certain circumstances. If a guard is driving, then sure. But I'd they're out on the perimeter, I think Okoro is the toughest defender.

I think he's just flat-out better than Allen on the perimeter, and it's not particularly close. And while I think Mobley is fantastic for a big man, he doesn't have Okoro's ability to stay with guys moving laterally, especially around screens. He's very good at it for a big man, but Okoro is that incredibly annoying piece of gun you've stepped in that just will not come off your shoe.

He's the perfect complementary piece for the big guys defensively because even if a guy beats him, he's generally limited the angle so much that the big guys are right there.

Obviously, having someone like Murray would be better, but I really love Okoro as a perimeter defender.

 

[mhi]

I've been sold on this guy since the flashes he showed last year. Reminds of the some of the things we were seeing in Garland's first year. This kid's potential IMO is incredibly high. If you can get him a top notch shooting coaching (especially this early), he could grow into one of the most valuable players in the league. I wouldn't entertain trading this guy unless it was for an All-NBA (future or current) talent.

Here's a clip talking about his defense.

 

[Heat Check]

Oh, by the way... now that everyone seems to love Okoro again, what do you think goes through his mind when he goes on Twitter and sees every Cavs "expert" stating as a fact that the team is looking to "upgrade the wing position"? Because that... means... him.

I guess. Even though he's not a wing. And doesn't play the position.

Go figure.

 

[Douglar]

Oh, by the way... now that everyone seems to love Okoro again, what do you think goes through his mind when he goes on Twitter and sees every Cavs "expert" stating as a fact that the team is looking to "upgrade the wing position"? Because that... means... him.

I guess. Even though he's not a wing. And doesn't play the position.

Here's the core rotation:

Darius Garland	PG	6-1
Rajon Rondo	PG	6-1 (can guard 1- 3)
Isaac Okoro	SG	6-5 (can guard 1- 4)
Lauri Markkanen	SF	7-0 (plays smaller)
Cedi Osman	SF	6-7
Evan Mobley	PF	7-0 (can guard 1- 4)
Kevin Love	PF	6-8
Jarrett Allen	C	6-11

Forwards Stevens, Wade & Windler have been getting plenty of minutes, but it seems like much of that is "next man up" filling in for the injury or illness of the week. They are all valuable backups, but teams usually shorten their rotation for the playoffs. If the Cavs go to the core 8 players, 2 out of the 3 guards in the rotation are unreliable shooters. Seems like something could be improved there. Doesn't mean you get rid of Okoro though.

 

[Cassity14]

Oh, by the way... now that everyone seems to love Okoro again, what do you think goes through his mind when he goes on Twitter and sees every Cavs "expert" stating as a fact that the team is looking to "upgrade the wing position"? Because that... means... him.

I guess. Even though he's not a wing. And doesn't play the position.

Go figure.

Does it, though?

I feel like the term “wing” is very ambiguous right now. For some, it means the 2 and 3 on the court. For others, it’s specifically forwards, and for many, it’s somewhere in between.

I think Okoro was moved off of being a wing. The Cavs seem to see him only as a guard, and a one position player at that.

I think those reports mean that the Cavs specifically are looking to upgrade in the area of adding a bigger perimeter player.

 

[adam81king]

Does it, though?

I feel like the term “wing” is very ambiguous right now. For some, it means the 2 and 3 on the court. For others, it’s specifically forwards, and for many, it’s somewhere in between.

I think Okoro was moved off of being a wing. The Cavs seem to see him only as a guard, and a one position player at that.

I think those reports mean that the Cavs specifically are looking to upgrade in the area of adding a bigger perimeter player.

Historically, "wing" is the guys that start there in offensive sets. This has almost always been SG and SF (one on each wing), with the PG at top and the PF and C on opposite blocks. *I* refer to a wing as a SG/SF.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Historically, "wing" is the guys that start there in offensive sets. This has almost always been SG and SF (one on each wing), with the PG at top and the PF and C on opposite blocks. *I* refer to a wing as a SG/SF.

Agreed. It's time we start recognizing a strong-side wing and weak-side wing. Those are the actual positions these days. I like Okoro strong-side because he can attack a little, but weak-side he is a liability until he hits threes at 35% or higher.

 

[foucault87]

Agreed. It's time we start recognizing a strong-side wing and weak-side wing. Those are the actual positions these days. I like Okoro strong-side because he can attack a little, but weak-side he is a liability until he hits threes at 35% or higher.

Not to turn this into a positions thread, but I never thought it made sense to assign position based on what you do in the offense. You see players mismatching this all the time nowadays. Joker initiates, so is he a PG or a C? KAT runs off screens and DHOs, is he an SG or a C? Westbrook before he went totally of the rails, would just camp down in the dunker spot, is he a PG or a C? Even for lesser players like Bruce Brown, he pretty much only does screen and rolls - PF stuff...but he is like 6'5". I think it makes way more sense to assign position based on who you defend ... which for Okoro would make him a 2/3

 

[letgocavs]

That three was huge. Plus hit the game winning clutch free throws. Excellent game

 

[Lee]

That three was huge. Plus hit the game winning clutch free throws. Excellent game

Not to mention his D.

Spoiler

And his defense was good

 

[PIP]

That three was huge. Plus hit the game winning clutch free throws. Excellent game

Argh

 

[brownsbuck6]

Not to mention his D.

Spoiler

And his defense was good

I legit can’t tell if this is humor.

 

[Cavatt]

Looked pretty good. I still want him to drive on smaller guys.

Very important shooting at the end there. Crucial offensive foul drawn too