The first time these two have battled since draft day. Durant is lighting it up these days and at age 20, and looks to be as good as advertised during the draft. We all know about Oden and his slow progression to this point, but progression none-the-less. It was almost unanimous during draft day that Oden was the better pick. Even now, after everything that happened, I would think more people would pick Oden over Durant . . . but that number is closing and we should know the official answer in a few years. But until then, it should be fun to watch the impact each one has on their team tonight as they they finally will be on the court together for the first time.
I think there are a few differences that need to be mentioned. Durant is in his second year, and Greg is a rookie Durant is the man in OKC, and Greg can't get a pass from Brandon Roy to save his life Even when they decide to involve Greg, Portland has several other players who score the ball.
Its really tough to decide between the two right now for our team. Overall, Durant is simply the better player. But for our team, IDK how a player like Durant would fit in with our team. At the same time, there are SOOO many factors that go into this, like Durant getting soo many touches, shots, the offense run through him, the #1 option, etc... Greg gets like 5 shots a game, and sometimes gets no more than 2-3. Durant is in the middle of his 2nd full season, while Greg is in the middle of his first. It takes a lot longer for a big man to develop, and Greg has a lot to overcome... not just pressure, but a year off, rust, being out of shape, set back in his development and athleticism, etc... To add to that, the way we have been using Greg has not been good at all. Should be interesting to watch this rivalry develop over the years with Westbrook vs Bayless as 2 future great PGs in the league, Roy vs Durant, Oden vs Durant, maybe Aldridge vs Green, etc. Can't wait for tonights game.
I actually think there's a good chance we lose tonight ... not to be all MIXUM-ish or anything, I just think the Thunder are actually rounding into a decent team, able to give anybody a run for their money (hell they've beaten the Jazz, and it took a last second shot from Melo to beat them the other night) The Durant vs Oden debate isn't going to be decided tonight, but if Greg can stay out of foul trouble (tough against Westbrook, Green and Durant slashing) I think he has a great chance to really dominate Kristic and Wilcox at both ends of the floor. Should be an interesting game.
Leave for what, and how? He'll be an RFA at the end of his rookie contract, and he has in print said he has to work on things in his game before he should be a primary option.
Ever since Oden got hurt, some Portland fans have been bending over backward to diss KD. It's time to just admit that Durant is becoming a special player in his own right. Could the Blazers lose this game? You betcha. The RobberBarons are slowly and quietly getting better. The Blazers aren't good enough to treat *any* road game as a "gimme."
If you're so sure why don't we make a little bet? Blazers win and you don't post here for a week. They lose and I'm gone for a week.
I got to agree with this. Just in this post, I didn't say tonight would answer the question of who was the better draft pick, but more tonight is the first time they are on the court together in the NBA and it should be fun to watch. The responses seem to take a bit of stab at Durant and excuses for Oden. I was just pointing out this should be fun to watch given all the hype about who should be the #1 pick . . . maybe not that fun to watch for some I guess . . . but I find this game intriguing.
I always thought that KD would be a special player - but still thought that GO was the right selection for this team. I still think so. The "problem" with the quick rise of this team from the ashes to be a respectable team in the western conference has clouded too many people's minds - we see it all the time when we hear how Nate is an awful coach - how Bayless will never be a proper PG in the league with 10 games in his resume and how Oden, coming back from a bad injury and as a rookie is not dominating night in night out. But - the reality is that this is a very young team who is doing well above what it should by "common" NBA wisdom. It has become so funny that just because Oden's production per minute is "only" as good as D-12 was during his rookie year - despite the facts that he is coming back from injury, inactivity and is lower in the pecking order in his team than D-12 was - some people are upset. Greg is on pace to become a dominant big man in this league - I just hope that the servers will not crash and we will have all the recorded evidence that people had stupid ideas about how good he is going to be and how important it is to have a specimen like him on a dominant NBA team.
