Sima v. Obekpa

How does Sima compare to Obekpa as a freshman thus far?

Obekpa: 3.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 1.3 turnovers in 26 MPG while shooting 39% from the FT line and 45% from the field. 
Sima:      8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 1.2 assists, and .8 turnovers,  in 29 MPG while shooting 69% from the FT line and 43% from the field.

The difference that clearly stands out between the two is the poise and maturity Sima possesses over Obekpa in any year.  He never seems rushed while CO was always going 100 MPH and was a constant candidate to do something stupid when he had the ball. The FT shooting is probably the next biggest difference.  Sima is very solid there and draws a sh*t ton of fouls.  It's actually kind of funny how many he draws.  CO didn't draw contact and was historically bad at the line. It's a huge positive to have a center that you can rely on to make FTs so you don't have to do offense-defense subs late. Sima also has a little more to offer on offense than the nothing Obekpa provided his first two years.  Obekpa is clearly the better shot blocker of the two and Sima's #'s will likely fall as the season goes on, but Sima is more of a presence inside that CO ever was. CO was a block or nothing player his first two years.  Sima doesn't budge even when he goes for the block. 

Both guys showed good passing skills early, but the edge has to go to Sima there.  Sima has a big edge in rebounding and boxing out and I think this tournament was a good crash course in that. He seemed to battle every shot.  Even though he came back to Earth in Maui and was facing a future NBA big today, he out-rebounded  Bryant 7-3.  That was quiet and pretty impressive given that Bryant seemed to have himself a day with 19 points  Half of those points probably came against AA and Jones when Sima was out, though.

There is a lot of season left, but Sima looks like a better player to me right now.  It's a good measuring stick because CO was the #69 RSCI player in his class and I think we could all agree he played to that ranking on the court--especially as a freshman. 

CO's senior years stats in 27.3 mpg:

5.8 points
7.0 boards
3.1 blocks
0.5 assists
1.1 turnovers

All worse than Sima through five games as a frosh.

This team needs to rely on Sima for a lot more than Lavin's team had to rely on Obekpa. I think Sima is having a start that's as good anything we could have hoped for, but there is one difference between the two centers that is glaring IMO, and it won't show up in the box score.

In the last two games we saw guards, forwards and centers attack the basket at will. Again, Sima is off to a very good start overall, but no one is changing their game plan because he's starting at center for us. With Obekpa, yes, we know he had flaws, but he changed the opposing team's approach to their offense in just about every game as a freshman.

Agree with Poison in that Obekpa, for all of his drama, nonsense and flaws, had a huge impact in most games with his one skill set.  He was a great rim protector for the collegiate level.  Pretty clear to me though that Sima is going to have a much better college career and a much better chance of playing in the league than Obekpa.

I know this an unpopular opinion, but Sima is not close to being the presence on the court Obekpa was, even when Obepka was a freshman. His offense has shown flashes of being good, but he's also looked pretty bad on offense as well. I think he's got potential, but I'd take a freshman Obekpa every day of the week on this team right now.

In case we so quickly forget:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBxXrdlEm7U

CO's senior years stats in 27.3 mpg:

5.8 points
7.0 boards
3.1 blocks
0.5 assists
1.1 turnovers

All worse than Sima through five games as a frosh.

You meant Obekpa's junior numbers.  Sima has a tremendous upside, and probably will end up in the NBA after three seasons at St. John's.  But he's had some trouble finishing in the Maui.  He isn't near the rim protector Obekpa was at the same stage.  Obekpa made quite a few team's wary of his presence.   

I'd love to have Obekpa paired with Sima right about now.     

I know this an unpopular opinion, but Sima is not close to being the presence on the court Obekpa was, even when Obepka was a freshman. His offense has shown flashes of being good, but he's also looked pretty bad on offense as well. I think he's got potential, but I'd take a freshman Obekpa every day of the week on this team right now.

In case we so quickly forget:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBxXrdlEm7U

I could not disagree more. Yes, Obekpa had some really cool swats from day 1, but he had, and probably still has no idea when to go for the block and when not to. How many times did Obekpa clearly goaltend a shot that may not have went in, or try to block a shot he had no chance of getting a piece of, leading to an easy offensive rebound and putback for the opponent.

Forget Obekpa as a freshman, Sima is a better offensive player than Obekpa is right now. A large part of that is because Sima won't take dumb mid range jump shots with 25 seconds on the shot clock like Obekpa did. Defenses gave him that shot all day and rightfully so. It made me crazy when the coaches didn't yank him from the game when he did that. He might as well just thrown the ball directly out of bounds or to an opposing player when he took those shots.

Quote from: redstorm212 on November 25, 2015, 12:16:19 AM

I know this an unpopular opinion, but Sima is not close to being the presence on the court Obekpa was, even when Obepka was a freshman. His offense has shown flashes of being good, but he's also looked pretty bad on offense as well. I think he's got potential, but I'd take a freshman Obekpa every day of the week on this team right now.

In case we so quickly forget:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBxXrdlEm7U

I could not disagree more. Yes, Obekpa had some really cool swats from day 1, but he had, and probably still has no idea when to go for the block and when not to. How many times did Obekpa clearly goaltend a shot that may not have went in, or try to block a shot he had no chance of getting a piece of, leading to an easy offensive rebound and putback for the opponent.

Forget Obekpa as a freshman, Sima is a better offensive player than Obekpa is right now. A large part of that is because Sima won't take dumb mid range jump shots with 25 seconds on the shot clock like Obekpa did. Defenses gave him that shot all day and rightfully so. It made me crazy when the coaches didn't yank him from the game when he did that. He might as well just thrown the ball directly out of bounds or to an opposing player when he took those shots.

Obekpa was called for goaltending often. That we all know, but you're not considering how his presence changed the game despite that. Like I said before, if an opposing player is even hesitant to drive in Obekpa's direction, he's changed the game without having a stat to provide him with tangible credit.

Now, Sima is really raw on defense. He doesn't do anything particularly well yet, and after watching these last two games we should all chill out with Sima-Mania. He's a promising freshman center. We're lucky to have signed him so late in the process, but watching him get dunked on, fall for up and unders and get pushed around like a rag doll doesn't make me think we have a better player than Obekpa. We don't. Maybe he doesn't get called for goaltending, but you're not playing a more poised game if you're getting owned inside.

We might have a more well-rounded player than Obekpa, but at this point, there is no plus talent that Sima can bring to the table against the big boys.

I think sima is the better all around player. I don't see him as pro as some of you have said. I see a young Lamont Hamilton who plays better defense. I think he will be fine his freshman year. Some guys will get the better of him. But he will  be ok. He won't block as many shots, but he will get more defensive rebounds and play better post defense then Obekpa .

I think sima is the better all around player. I don't see him as pro as some of you have said. I see a young Lamont Hamilton who plays better defense. I think he will be fine his freshman year. Some guys will get the better of him. But he will  be ok. He won't block as many shots, but he will get more defensive rebounds and play better post defense then Obekpa .

I agree with most of what you said, but the post has gone completely undefended these last two games. He needs to learn how to defend guys who can play at this level. He probably didn't see talent or polish like this in Europe. If we're playing man to man, he's gotta deny the ball. He lets his man get really comfortable.

I also agree with you poison. Except, I think Indiana and Vanderbilt have better post players then most and I thought so much less of Obekpa then most.

Obepka blocked a few shots, does that make him a great defender?

It would have been nice if we had both.  I'm not saying we would have beaten STAC or Vandy with him, but Obekpa's douchbaggery puts him at the bottom of any list.

Douchbaggery has to be put in the equation.

I know this an unpopular opinion, but Sima is not close to being the presence on the court Obekpa was, even when Obepka was a freshman. His offense has shown flashes of being good, but he's also looked pretty bad on offense as well. I think he's got potential, but I'd take a freshman Obekpa every day of the week on this team right now.

In case we so quickly forget:

No question, that was a pretty impressive showing by Obekpa against BB powerhouse Detroit. It's almost enough to make you forget that he regularly got punked by bigger stronger players and when he did either threw an elbow at the back of someone's head or grinned like an idiot on his way to the bench when he fouled out after 20 minutes.

CO, would have gotten a clean slate with this new coaching staff despite all issue he had on and off court. That seems pretty generous considering he screwed his teammates, and embarrassed the school by pissing hot a right before the tournament. This was his teammates last shot to do something in the tournament and his actions showed how much he cared...

His actions before this season speaks volumes about him as a player. He would rather sit out a year then work his tail off under Mullin. Maybe he knew he would get kicked off the team eventually and decided not to prolong the inevitable.

He was a diva player without the talent to back it up. Would he have done more harm then good if he would have stayed?

Fwiw, a guy who evaluates NBA potential & worked with Nets previously I believe, has Sima #3 most promising BE player for NBA behind Dunn &  Ellenson. I respect that opinion over board posters like myself. This evaluator saw Sima play a number of times in Europe, not just pulling "stuff" out of the sky.

Quote from: redstorm212 on November 25, 2015, 12:16:19 AM

I know this an unpopular opinion, but Sima is not close to being the presence on the court Obekpa was, even when Obepka was a freshman. His offense has shown flashes of being good, but he's also looked pretty bad on offense as well. I think he's got potential, but I'd take a freshman Obekpa every day of the week on this team right now.

In case we so quickly forget:

No question, that was a pretty impressive showing by Obekpa against BB powerhouse Detroit. It's almost enough to make you forget that he regularly got punked by bigger stronger players and when he did either threw an elbow at the back of someone's head or grinned like an idiot on his way to the bench when he fouled out after 20 minutes.

As others have noted, Obekpa changed the way opposing teams played against us. That's not going to show up in the box score. I'm not saying he was perfect or didn't have flaws, but yes, he was better than Sima is now. So far I have yet to see teams hesitant to drive on him. I think he has potential though.

Obepka blocked a few shots, does that make him a great defender?

Yes, leading the NCAA in blocked shots makes you a great defender.

In fairness to Sima, he is smart player it appears & realizes he has to stay out of foul trouble with no one behind him. Thus, In my opinion, he tends to avoid contact in the post. It is fair, however, to note he has a learning curve in terms of getting good position, fronting the post, etc. All in all this kid, unlike Obekpa, has no baggage, is skilled, maintains a positive attitude & responds to coaching. Give me him anytime.

In fairness to Sima, he is smart player it appears & realizes he has to stay out of foul trouble with no one behind him. Thus, In my opinion, he tends to avoid contact in the post. It is fair, however, to note he has a learning curve in terms of getting good position, fronting the post, etc. All in all this kid, unlike Obekpa, has no baggage, is skilled, maintains a positive attitude & responds to coaching. Give me him anytime.

I'm looking at this comparison attitude and baggage aside. I was wowed by Obekpa from day one. Sima has been solid and I agree with you he will probably be the better overall player in the long run. He needs to go up stronger with the basketball when he gets good position in the post.