I don't remember anyone criticizing Oden for getting injured. What was questioned was whether management handled these things right: 1) playing him and others when it was known they already had the beginnings of the problem that got worse, 2) a lackadaisically slow therapy program, causing delays to the subsequent lethargic workout program, 3) such delays causing Oden to join his teammates late each season, and thus cause him to play every single damned season with great stress in his face with his mouth wide open gasping for breath and needing frequent rest on the bench, looking as out of shape as you or I would, 4) joining the team late each season also makes him confused about the plays for awhile and confuses McMillan about which plays to use (McMillan may need a preseason with an in-shape Oden even more than Oden does). None of this was criticism of Oden for getting injured, as this thread alleges. It was criticism of management or coaching. For all I know, the directives may be coming from Paul Allen himself. In contrast, Bynum made the decision himself to delay surgery till the season is almost started. It's the fault of Bynum himself.
I still think the reasoning of picking Durant for scoring titles and Oden for championships is sound, depending of course on Oden staying healthy, but Durant has turned out to be a more rounded player than I thought he'd be. Have to give him credit.
It's obvious that we shouldn't dwell on the oden/durant debate because it is in the past. But you must admit it's kind of frustrating watching Durant reach superstar status not only on his own team, but leading the USA basketball team. All the while, Oden hasn't contributed anything besides dick pictures. Thank god for roy.
I hope Bynum and Oden can both get healthy, they are the top two centers in the west depending on Yao's health. Kind of spookie when you think about all three of those guys having very major injury issues. Sometimes big 7 footers just have a hard time staying on the court in the NBA.
We can wish this all we want to, but the reality is that those two players are going to be forever linked. Instead of pretending it doesn't exist, I embrace the link between Oden and Durant.
