<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 24 2007, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He won't be able to play it as effectively has he did in the college though. I feel in the NBA he will be even more of a jump shooter than he was in college. He will get downlow some, but not as much. Most of his dunks and layups will be on fastbreaks. And, if he does play PF in the NBA, he will have to use a lot of finnese, because he won't be able to body up defenders that well.</div> Your right, he won't be sd effective, because in college he was often the the tallent/most athletic player on the court, he got away with it. But in the NBA he's best suited at SF, especially in Seattle whre Collison and Wilcox will be the main PF duo. I think Durant will put on 20 pounds in the next few years, and could end up being around 6'10" 235 to 240 pounds as he matures. As his career goes on, he could venture into the paint more often, who knows.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Zach Randolph may end up on the Blazers still, you dont know what will happen. Sure there are plenty of rumors but rumors are rumors. Even with Randolph gone, Pryzbilla is an above average starting center and Aldridge is a great PF and that duo alone would be better then half the frontcourts in the NBA.Of all those teams listed their starting Centers highest average was 18 ppg(shaq) and the rest averaged under 10. If we're including PF then Durant is a SF-PF anyway so by your logic he has just as much a chance to win a title based on his position, plus the fact that he is an all-around better basketball player.</div> You obviously have not watched Joel Przybilla since his magical contract season. Last season when he played he was terrible, all he did was block shots and was completely ineffective on offense and not that much better on defense. A duo of Joel Przybilla and Aldridge would only be average at best because Przybilla is so unreliable and one dimentional.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Blazers already have strong big men downlow though. At lot stronger frontcourt than Most NBA teams who have won titles. And you asked which team won without a center leading the way and I have previously mentioned the07 Spurs06 Heat05 Spurs04 PistonsAll teams that have won titles have had great teams. Not just strong frontcourts. Of course you need a strong frontcourt to win a title also, but you need 5 good players not only a PF-C. Im getting tired of repeating myself. Big men doesn't always gurantee titles, there are plenty of great big men who never win titles and plenty of great wingmen who do win titles.When did I say he would be a PF/C in the NBA? </div>07 Spurs - Tim Duncan dominated the post area.06 Heat - O'Neal was a big factor in the Heat winning a championship whether people believe it or not.05 Spurs - Duncan yet again.04 Pistons - Ben Wallace dominated downlow defensively, while Rasheed Wallace gave them scoring and more defense. The Pistons can't make the Finals without Ben Wallace.All the Lakers teams had Shaq, and he was the most dominant big man in his era.The trend in these NBA days is big men win championships.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jun 24 2007, 04:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You obviously have not watched Joel Przybilla since his magical contract season. Last season when he played he was terrible, all he did was block shots and was completely ineffective on offense and not that much better on defense. A duo of Joel Przybilla and Aldridge would only be average at best because Przybilla is so unreliable.</div>Even in that scenario you havepg-Jarret JackSg-Brandon RoySf- Kevin Durantpf-Aldridge/Durantc-przbilla/AldridgeStill a strong rotation with few weaknesses compared to having darius miles start again. and maybe pryzbilla will have a bounce-back season?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 24 2007, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>07 Spurs - Tim Duncan dominated the post area.06 Heat - O'Neal was a big factor in the Heat winning a championship whether people believe it or not.05 Spurs - Duncan yet again.04 Pistons - Ben Wallace dominated downlow defensively, while Rasheed Wallace gave them scoring and more defense. The Pistons can't make the Finals without Ben Wallace.All the Lakers teams had Shaq, and he was the most dominant big man in his era.The trend in these NBA days is big men win championships.</div>Kevin Durant is a big man also though. If we are including PFs then yes a combo F counts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 04:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Even in that scenario you havepg-Jarret JackSg-Brandon RoySf- Kevin Durantpf-Aldridge/Durantc-przbilla/AldridgeStill a strong rotation with few weaknesses compared to having darius miles start again. and maybe pryzbilla will have a bounce-back season?</div>Who says Miles has to start?C-Oden/AldridgePF- Randolph/AldridgeSF- Outlaw/Webster/UdokaSG- RoyPG- JackThat team would dominate the low post, giving them a better shot to win a title.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 04:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kevin Durant is a big man also though. If we are including PFs then yes a combo F counts.</div>Durant doesn't have the body size to be included with the big men I mentioned though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 03:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Even in that scenario you havepg-Jarret JackSg-Brandon RoySf- Kevin Durantpf-Aldridge/Durantc-przbilla/AldridgeStill a strong rotation with few weaknesses compared to having darius miles start again. and maybe pryzbilla will have a bounce-back season?</div> Having an average group of SF's is not that big of a deal. Ime Udoka had a solid season and really helped the team, they don't need a stud SF, having a solid defender/role player there is perfectly fine. Bottom line, the team looks just as good to me with Oden at center, in my opinion, Przybilla is just as big of a starting liability as the SF 'liability' that you bring up, bottom line, you like Durant more, I like Oden more.Also, taking Randolph out because of a trade, the Blazers would likely get a good SF for him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 24 2007, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Who says Miles has to start?C-Oden/AldridgePF- Randolph/AldridgeSF- Outlaw/WebsterSG- RoyPG- JackThat team would dominate the low post, giving them a better shot to win a title.</div>But what production do you get from the wing other than Brandon Roy? its an unbalanced attack which is why the Blazers were so bad last year in the first place. Yeah they have a strong defender at center but they already had a strong defender at C last year in Pryzbilla and Aldridge so they continue to be a weak team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 24 2007, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Who says Miles has to start?C-Oden/AldridgePF- Randolph/AldridgeSF- Outlaw/Webster/UdokaSG- RoyPG- JackThat team would dominate the low post, giving them a better shot to win a title.Durant doesn't have the body size to be included with the big men I mentioned though.</div>Travis Outlaw is no better than Darius Miles. Durant might not have the body size YET but give him time to add mass. Bosh was also a smaller PF mass-wise for a while and played purely on finesse and shooting ability much like Durant.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 03:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But what production do you get from the wing other than Brandon Roy? its an unbalanced attack which is why the Blazers were so bad last year in the first place. Yeah they have a strong defender at center but they already had a strong defender at C last year in Pryzbilla and Aldridge so they continue to be a weak team.</div> Joel Przybilla was not a strong defender at center last season, he hardly even played. The Blazers didn't suck because of them not having a good SF to balence a wing attack, they were just a young, inexperienced team who didn't defend....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 04:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But what production do you get from the wing other than Brandon Roy? its an unbalanced attack which is why the Blazers were so bad last year in the first place. Yeah they have a strong defender at center but they already had a strong defender at C last year in Pryzbilla and Aldridge so they continue to be a weak team.</div>Yes, but Webster and Outlaw are still young with room to develop. The Blazers are actually deeper at SF than they are at C with Outlaw, Webster, Udoka, and Miles. Why bring in another one? Like BCB keeps mentioning, they don't need a star SF. They just need a contributer. Star SFs don't win titles, star big men do, and they have the chance to snag one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 03:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Travis Outlaw is no better than Darius Miles. Durant might not have the body size YET but give him time to add mass. Bosh was also a smaller PF mass-wise for a while and played purely on finesse and shooting ability much like Durant.</div> Kevin Durant and Chris Bosh are completely different players. Chris Bosh was skinny, but he is a natural PF/post player. It doesn't matter how much weight Durant add's, he's a SF/wing at heart, Primetime, did you watch Durant at Texas at all? I'm just wondering because some of the stuff your saying makes me wonder if you have. Ime Udoka is a FA.
What's there to argue, really. It's easier to build around a big man than a perimeter player. Sure, Durant has superstar potential, but he doesn't have the guaranteed impact of a Greg Oden. Durant will not put up the numbers he did in college in the NBA. Look at Morrison. Averaged 28+ points a game in college. But was terrible in his rookie season in the NBA. It's not like he wasn't given a chance because he was. He played major minutes early in the season and was even a starter. But the competition is so much stiffer in the NBA. Especially on the wings. Oden is simply the safer choice.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jun 24 2007, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It doesn't matter how much weight Durant add's, he's a SF/wing at heart,</div>I disagree with this. With a good bulk of Durant's offensive arsenal relying on posting up, he could definately use an additional 20-30lbs.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What's there to argue, really. It's easier to build around a big man than a perimeter player. Sure, Durant has superstar potential, but he doesn't have the guaranteed impact of a Greg Oden. Durant will not put up the numbers he did in college in the NBA. Look at Morrison. Averaged 28+ points a game in college. But was terrible in his rookie season in the NBA. It's not like he wasn't given a chance because he was. He played major minutes early in the season and was even a starter. But the competition is so much stiffer in the NBA. Especially on the wings. Oden is simply the safer choice.</div>I agree Oden is a safer pick, but I think the Morrison analogy is stupid. Durant has the size/talent/athletic ability/NBA-ready skills and polish that Morrison never had. This kid is the most NBA ready player offensively that we have seen in a long time, including guys like Carmelo and LeBron.
Kevin Durant can be considered a big man. He is a combo F which basically navigate between both positions and he is much more nba ready than oden. That is why I would take him, at this stage of his career he is a complete package already and I believe he is also a ''once in a decade''-like player moreso than Oden is. I dont think Oden will have any better season next year than andrew bynum will honestly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 08:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I dont think Oden will have any better season next year than andrew bynum will honestly.</div>whoa THERE!!! I agree with the other part of your post, but this is just silly. Oden can go scoreless all of next season and he'll still have a better season than Bynum. The way Durant is NBA-ready offensively, Oden is NBA-ready defensively. He will change games immediately with his shot blocking ability and presence. And while I don't expect him to be a big time scorer, he will chip in 10-14PPG to go along with 8-10RPG and around 2BPG.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 24 2007, 09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>whoa THERE!!! I agree with the other part of your post, but this is just silly. Oden can go scoreless all of next season and he'll still have a better season than Bynum. The way Durant is NBA-ready offensively, Oden is NBA-ready defensively. He will change games immediately with his shot blocking ability and presence. And while I don't expect him to be a big time scorer, he will chip in 10-14PPG to go along with 8-10RPG and around 2BPG.</div> I think your overrating his stats. He likely wont get more than 25-30 minutes per game and He will not average 10 rpg as a rookie in the NBA. He didnt even average 10 rpg as the tallest player in the country in college. I could see possibly 10 ppg and I figure his stats will be around 10/7. Which is what I expect from Andrew Bynum also. Andrew Bynum is not a bad player, to say Oden will have a similar rookie season to Bynum as a 3rd year player isnt an insult, its just what it will be.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 24 2007, 09:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think your overrating his stats. He likely wont get more than 25-30 minutes per game and He will not average 10 rpg as a rookie in the NBA. He didnt even average 10 rpg as the tallest player in the country in college. I could see possibly 10 ppg and I figure his stats will be around 10/7. Which is what I expect from Andrew Bynum also. Andrew Bynum is not a bad player, to say Oden will have a similar rookie season to Bynum as a 3rd year player isnt an insult, its just what it will be.</div>With his athleticism and strength, I expect him to grab between 8-10RPG this coming year. And again, you're just talking about stats. Bynum will not be near a facotr defensively as Oden will. As I said, Oden is NBA-ready when it comes to defense, and he will be an instant presence defensively. He will block shots, change shots, and anchor that defense.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 24 2007, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>With his athleticism and strength, I expect him to grab between 8-10RPG this coming year. And again, you're just talking about stats. Bynum will not be near a facotr defensively as Oden will. As I said, Oden is NBA-ready when it comes to defense, and he will be an instant presence defensively. He will block shots, change shots, and anchor that defense.</div>I agree Oden will be a great defensive player from the get go but I dont see how you have him getting 10 rpg already. He is a good rebounder but if he cant get 10 boards per game in college what makes you think he can get 10 rpg as a rookie in the NBA? My comparison to Bynum was mainly meant to be based on their coming 07-08 stats. I think Bynum has a fair chance to be just as good a player as Oden does though.Bynum averages 7/6 right now in just over 20 minutes per game. That isnt bad for an 18 year old.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 24 2007, 07:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I agree Oden is a safer pick, but I think the Morrison analogy is stupid. Durant has the size/talent/athletic ability/NBA-ready skills and polish that Morrison never had. This kid is the most NBA ready player offensively that we have seen in a long time, including guys like Carmelo and LeBron.</div>Maybe you're stupid for not understanding my point. My point was just because a player succeeds in college doesn't mean that they'll succeed in the NBA. I wasn't making a direct comparison of the two. There have been a lot of tremendous scorers in college. But a good portion of them either couldn't make the NBA or just straight up sucked in the NBA. With Oden, you know he's tall, he's athletic, strong, and can play on the post. And with a league almost devoid of true big men, it's just the smarter decision to take Oden.
