It's sort-of-funny/sort-of-sad that Bynum's getting season-ending surgery and is a UFA at the end of the season. Whenever Lakers fans used to mock Oden for being injury-prone we used to respond that Bynum wasn't much better. At this point, suppose you've got cap space and need a center (and those are the only two FA centers). Whom do you sign? Of course Bynum's had less significant surgeries and has managed far more career games. But for that reason I think his agent is going to demand much more. (I just saw a title somewhere that said "Is Bynum still a max player?") I think both are huge risks, but Greg at least seems to realize he can't demand much money. Shame that we never really saw them compete healthy. Still, we'll always have this: [video=youtube;hsCiTq4RnY0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsCiTq4RnY0[/video]
Oden, like Bowie, would have been very good without the injuries. Watching that clip, makes me wonder why Leonard sucks so much at defense. He's about the same size as Oden, and is very close athletially. Leonard has so much potential, but needs a lot of training this offseason.
There could be several aspects. Part of it is instinct, part court awareness, part is probably reaction timing, and part may be confidence. Some of that can be developed, but other parts are simply innate--things that made Oden special.
Blazer announcers were discussing Bynum last night and if some GM will overpay, guy is a HUGE risk and if someone gives him a big contract they are incredibly stupid - look at the nighmate Amare's NY contract has become, that was an EZ call
If I signed one then I would have to sign both. Then maybe only play each one 18 minutes a game to keep them (hopefully fresh). Or even go crazy and play 1 on the first night of a back to back and the other on the 2nd night of a back to back. (Not that any of this would ever happen of course)
That would be remarkable. I don't know if I mean that in a Shawn Kemp in Portland way, or a Jermaine O'Neal in Indiana way, but definitely remarkable.
He also sucks at staying vertical when he goes for the shot block. Everything seems like he's swiping downward. He needs to watch some tape of Tim Duncan and realize you don't have to hack. Just be tall and long and make the shooter work around you. Also, he needs to be a little more aggressive shooting. He has to start thinking like a legit scoring threat, because he really is. In sum: Feet suck. Hands suck. Head sucks. Torso, ok.
I actually think Leonard is great at moving his feet. He's very agile, but he's got happy feet. Once he learns to slow down a bit and anticipate where to position himself, I think he'll be among the most mobile centers in the game. His hands seem pretty good, too. He's made some tough catches in traffic. But, he's like LMA in that he often doesn't regain body control when going up for a difficult shot off the catch, making for an awkward release. Hopefully, that's also just a matter of learning to calm down.
