Sixers' new big man Jahlil Okafor impressed in his first preseason game with the Philadelphia 76ers last night. He hit his first five shots of the game and looked much fitter than he did over the summer -- an encouraging sign.
He also battled with perhaps the biggest player he's ever had to play against in Washington Wizards' center Marcin Gortat.
Jah apparently made a solid first impression and received some praise from Gortat, but also a curious warning of sorts.
The Wizards' correspondent for CSN Mid Atlantic, Ben Standig, described some of Gortat's comments as being in "WWE mode."
"I think he's a talented kid," Gortat said. "I see a smaller version of [Hornets center]Al Jefferson. I see a little version of Al Jefferson. Slow, but strong methodical big man with a ready, pretty nice game in the post. He hit a couple of tough shots."
The standard analysis then suddenly shifted into WWE mode, though without the exaggerated emotion and volume.
"One thing is [for] sure," Gortat stated. "He's on my list right now. The next four games I'm coming, I'm coming. I hope he's going to read that. I'm coming. I'm coming for him."
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Is that another little Philly vs. DC rivalry brewing?
There's certainly no love lost between the Eagles and Redskins or Nationals and Phillies. A little trash talk on the hardwood could breath new distain into the Northeast Corridor.
As Standig points out, we're going to have to wait all the way until February for Okafor and Gortat to face off again. Sixers fans will surely hope Okafor's game has progressed tremendously at that point.