I have to admit that I don't watch a lot of the NBA, but I really thought most of the focus is on offense first... then defense. I really think he needs to develop offense away from the basket so defenses aren't collapsing in on him all the time. He is going to be playing with guys the same size as him for the most part, as some have mentioned, and that could really impede his progress.
Kofi Cockburn enters NBA Draft
- Status
Well he would be expected to grow his offensive game but that's not his biggest hindrance to playing in the league. IF Kofi could defend decently there is a place n the league for him to run the floor, rebound, play physical and dunk everything. Kofi still has a size and strength advantage at the next level, there's a handful of guys max as big and strong as him. His defense is his biggest obstacle because they all will likely be quicker than him.
This right here. NBA is a mismatch based league. Find the mismatch and pick on it until they stop you. Defensively, NBA is a help only when necessary league because they don’t like to leave open 3 point shooters. I can’t see kofi guarding PRs well enough at that level to not require a 3rd player to step over to help. Once that happens, it’s over.
blackdog
- Champaign
Yea can you imagine Kofi having to switch out on Steph or Luca? Because that's exactly what would happen on a regular basis.
Nobody is stopping those guys. It's more about being stout enough to wear them down over time.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Why would Kofi ever switch onto Steph and Luca on a regular basis? He might show for a second or be stuck with them in transition, but that's on the coach if he's continually switching onto these guys.
blackdog
- Champaign
That's what happens in the NBA. A lot of teams automatically switch on the picks because the ballhandlers are too good at exploiting help and recover plus the longer 3 point means more space for the offense to work with and for the defense to recover on help. Or the offense would just have Kofi's man keep setting screens until he was forced into switching and then iso him to death.
Exactly. Just like when the suns hunted Luka in game 2
IlliniwekKDR
- Colorado Springs, CO
Hopefully this is reason enough for somebody to give him a fat contract
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Remember when Groce was coach and alot of the stories about our players off the court were not good to say the least. Love the direction this program has taken since Brad and Josh took over.
Can you imagine any big man having to do that? Because it happens on a regular basis. Kofi has more talent than most of the bigs in the NBA had when they were in college. I'm not worried about Kofi! He will be just fine. Shaq was able to guard. Kofi will eat on the offensive end.
Low-post offense isn't really a thing anymore. It's just not an efficient way to get points in the NBA where everybody shoots threes at a high clip. Most Centers are rim runners unless they are the kind of guys that are capable of playing away from the basket (Jokic, Embiid, Towns types). If Kofi can't switch on Defense (he will need to be able to do this at a passable level), he needs to be a god tier offensive rebounder to have a spot in the League (that's why I always come back to Steven Adams as a best case scenario). I think someone *should* take a flier on him because of his size. I think his odds of staying in the League are pretty low. Garza is looking unlikely to stick and he is a great shooter, not that they are the same (Kofi is a lot bigger) but it does just show how little being a dominant college center translates to the NBA. My other issue is even as just a pure rim protector, Kofi does not have good shot blocking instincts. He's big enough to be at least solid at the collegiate level, but he does not time blocks particularly well and will take himself out of position fairly frequently. Kofi's big advantage has always been that he's just overpowering and if the opposing team's Center is too short or skinny, there isn't much they can do to get in his way. Unfortunately for him, that's a lot less common once you get into the NBA where 7 footers go from a rare breed to fairly common.
In today's NBA you see 2 types of centers.
1) Rudy Gobert long/athletic types who throw shots to the stands and catch alleys.
2) Super skilled Jokic types who can facilitate offense at the top of the key.
Right now, Kofi is neither of those. He has the size/athleticism of type 2 without the skill. He (kinda) has the game of type 1 without the athleticism. I really don't see how he fits unless somebody hires Phil Jackson and he runs the triangle.
1) Rudy Gobert long/athletic types who throw shots to the stands and catch alleys.
2) Super skilled Jokic types who can facilitate offense at the top of the key.
Right now, Kofi is neither of those. He has the size/athleticism of type 2 without the skill. He (kinda) has the game of type 1 without the athleticism. I really don't see how he fits unless somebody hires Phil Jackson and he runs the triangle.
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You make some great points. I would add that there aren't many centers with Kofi size and strength in the league. I again compare that trait to how Shaq bullied centers. Javale McGee is bullying in the league. You got DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard, Kevon Looney, Clint Capela, DeAndre Ayton, and with Karl Anthony Towns and Brooke Lopez being the exception, not much more outside the traditional bigs. Kofi biggest asset to me will be punishing other teams bigs and getting teams in foul trouble. Plus he can make free throws. We have to remember he had a late start with basketball unlike his peers. So he's still learning and growing in the game. His upside imo is tremendous. Brad prepared him well and I say let's see. I believe he will make us proud!
I-L-LJoel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Can’t hurt
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Kofi looks thin!
Just hope he can get a 2-way deal if nothing else, that's half a million bucks. That's still life changing money for him and his family.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Ayton got stuck on Luka several times during the Mavs-Suns series. Not only could he not guard Luka (in his defense..nobody can) but Luka was able to step back and shoot over him. NBA offenses are designed to find those mismatches and exploit them. Coaches need to have the personnel to offset or minimize them.
Kofi can find a home as a role player for certain matchups. If he can become an elite rebounder, and not a defensive hole.....he could find a place.
He's such a good person that I hope his intangibles push him over the hump with a team.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Many people look thin standing next to Katz.
sacraig
- The desert
I just hope Kofi gets paid close to what he would have had he stayed or more. He certainly bet huge in himself
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