<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 25 2007, 08:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Michael Jordan was an amazing player. So was Hakeem Olajuwon, but I gurantee if Drexler had come to Houston in his prime Hakeem would have won more rings also. Jordan had a great supporting cast throughout the whole 90s along with the greatest coach of alltime. I believe Jordan is better then Olajuwon but my point was that Jordan isnt better because he won more rings.</div>So why was he better exactly?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jun 25 2007, 09:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So why was he better exactly?</div>This is a tough question to answer, but alot of it has to do with intangibles. Jordan every night played like it was his last game, He did more on the court than Hakeem since he was a perimeter player and was impossible to shut down. He was also slightly better offensively, although defensively they were just as good as eachother.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 25 2007, 08:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is a tough question to answer, but alot of it has to do with intangibles. Jordan every night played like it was his last game, He did more on the court than Hakeem since he was a perimeter player and was impossible to shut down. He was also slightly better offensively, although defensively they were just as good as eachother.</div>I think Jordan was better offensively, and Hakeem was better defensively. To compare them based on who won the titles is wrong, though. It's a team game. No one can say which team would have won more had those guys swapped places. It would be fun to watch and see, though.The point on draft day 1984 though, is that Akeem was the lock #1, and it wasn't close. I brought up that draft because that is the only one I can think of where you had a dominant center coming out the same year you had other really top tier players, similar to this year. When Ewing, Robinson, Duncan, and Shaq came out, there were no serious contenders. It was closer, but still a no brainer to take Olajuwon, just as it is in Oden's case.Oh, and go Blazers, good choice taking Oden.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jordanisoverrated @ Jun 25 2007, 11:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The point on draft day 1984 though, is that Akeem was the lock #1, and it wasn't close. I brought up that draft because that is the only one I can think of where you had a dominant center coming out the same year you had other really top tier players, similar to this year. When Ewing, Robinson, Duncan, and Shaq came out, there were no serious contenders. It was closer, but still a no brainer to take Olajuwon, just as it is in Oden's case.Oh, and go Blazers, good choice taking Oden.</div>I wouldn't say Jordan was ever a serious contender. Compared to Olajuwon, who led NCAA in rebounds and blocked shots (14RPG/6BPG) in his senior year, MJ was a modest 20/5/3 kind of guy who never really showed dominance at the college level. Durant/Oden is much different as Durant totally dominated the college level and is more proven than Oden, who will be drafted moreso on potential.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 26 2007, 12:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't say Jordan was ever a serious contender. Compared to Olajuwon, who led NCAA in rebounds and blocked shots (14RPG/6BPG) in his senior year, MJ was a modest 20/5/3 kind of guy who never really showed dominance at the college level. Durant/Oden is much different as Durant totally dominated the college level and is more proven than Oden, who will be drafted moreso on potential.</div>It's definitely different, with guys playing only one year, or not at all, in college. The majority of top lottery picks are being evaluated on potential. The competition in college is weaker, with guys leaving much earlier, or not going.
I like how people call college stats modest because they take it in comparison with NBA stats. NCAA stats are 40 mpg in comparison to NBA's 48 mpg. 20 ppg in the NCAA at a Division 1 juggernaut, with a division 1 juggernaut schedule, is pretty beastly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mobruler @ Jun 26 2007, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like how people call college stats modest because they take it in comparison with NBA stats. NCAA stats are 40 mpg in comparison to NBA's 48 mpg. 20 ppg in the NCAA at a Division 1 juggernaut, with a division 1 juggernaut schedule, is pretty beastly.</div>20PPG is good for college level, but certainly nothing amazing or something that could be used to predict that a player will end up being the GOAT in the NBA. Jordan was a great player in college, but never dominated like Olajuwon did.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 25 2007, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I mean I cant understand why you Pick Oden because he's two inches taller when he isnt half the player Durant is and they are both the same age. Sure Durant is small but he will excel very well as a combo F. In Many ways his offensive skillset and rebounding skills remind me of a young Charles Barkley. Putting on Mass and Muscle will come with time as most NBA rookies usually arent huge. Durant has just as good a chance to lead a team to a championship as Oden does.</div> First you compare Durant to Bosh, now Charles Barkley? Why do you keep making these goofy comparisons when you've obviously never even watched Durant play....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jun 26 2007, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First you compare Durant to Bosh, now Charles Barkley? Why do you keep making these goofy comparisons when you've obviously never even watched Durant play....</div>Yeah, what the hell...Charles Barkley? He is NOTHING like Barkley whatsoever.And Durant also isn't twice the player Oden is. Prime Time keeps failing to realize that defense is half the game, and that Oden does have a post game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 26 2007, 01:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, what the hell...Charles Barkley? He is NOTHING like Barkley whatsoever.And Durant also isn't twice the player Oden is. Prime Time keeps failing to realize that defense is half the game, and that Oden does have a post game.</div> I completely agree. But Primetime's only making these goofy comparisons because he's just looking at statistics. So many people are limiting Oden's potential because he was not a dominant force on offense his freshman season, it's completely ridiculous. So many people don't even believe he's a 20ppg scorer in the NBA...ugh...(These are people that never watched him play and only look at boxscores).Primetime's trying to make Durant out to be a guy that will put on a ton of muscle and end up playing a lot of PF...thus....Durant isn't less of a value because he's playing in the post...
People also make it seem like Oden has no offensive game. 15 points a game as a freshmen with one hand half the season is no easy task, especially when it's your off-hand.
A young Barkley was even fatter than the NBA player. He was nearly 300 for some of the time at Auburn.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 26 2007, 02:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>People also make it seem like Oden has no offensive game. 15 points a game as a Freshmen with one hand half the season is no easy task, especially when it's your off-hand.</div> And, not to mention he played with a deep/perimeter oriented team with Conley, Butler, Cook, Lewis and Lighty who all loved the ball in they're hands.
If anything, Durant is like a young Kevin Garnett with a more of a perimeter game. Especially with that freaky wingspan.To me, I'd definitely take Oden over Durant. You just don't see many big men these days like this guy. Look at the way he plays- his agility for a 7-foot, 260-pound guy. If you look back at when Shaq was in college and was about to be drafted teams raved about how agile and athletic he was for his size. Oden has so much potential because of this. His post moves may not be as varied as others would like it to be, but that can definitely all be worked on. Now, the way I see Durant is being like another perimeter superstar such as McGrady and Kobe and the likes. He'll be an amazing offensive player like these guys; his jumpshot will be deadly because of his ability to rise above his defender. People will love this guy, but his defense needs work and he is definitely not a post player like people say because of that. With that said, I'd much rather have a guy that can hit the easiest shot in the game that I can be sure of (especially with his size and athleticism) than someone who is more skilled on the outside. Now, that changes with team need of course but with Oden you can't miss with his athleticism- even if he does just become a great defensive player, he will be some kind of amazing post presence.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (noballer07 @ Jun 26 2007, 02:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>definitely not a post player like people say because of that.</div>Offensively a good portion of his scoring will be in the post, a lot like a Carmelo Anthony or Rashard Lewis. Defensively, unless he packs on about 50-60 pounds, he will never be able to be a legit PF.
Durant probably won't be a great man to man defender, but his atheticism, wingspan, and determination will allow him to be a great help defender, like he was in college. He will get a lot of blocks, and cut off a lot of passes, like LeBron does.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 26 2007, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Durant probably won't be a great man to man defender, but his atheticism, wingspan, and determination will allow him to be a great help defender, like he was in college. He will get a lot of blocks, and cut off a lot of passes, like LeBron does.</div> Kevin Durant was a pretty bad defender last year at Texas, but they played a lot of zone and Durant would often be standing around in the paint....I think he can be a good man defender in the NBA because he fundamentals were poor in college and he can be taught them in the NBA...but defense is all about effort...and thats something thats rarely 'developed'...so who knows...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>. Greg Oden: He's a nimble defender who will be a better offensive player than advertised, according to Pacers president Larry Bird. Said one general manager before the lottery: "A lot of these guys may be talking about taking the other kid [Durant] first. But I guarantee you, if any of them were to get the No. 1 pick, they'd all be taking Oden. Durant may be the best player over his first two years, but after that Oden is going to be the best player.''</div>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...uide/index.html Larry Bird doesn't agree with you Primetime.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jun 27 2007, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...uide/index.html Larry Bird doesn't agree with you Primetime.</div>Larry Bird has also taken the Indiana pacers to hell in a shitwagon.I dont believe Oden will be better in two years than durant, Durant is also just one year out of hs, he has all the potential in the world and is a much better basketball player today while only being two inches shorter. Two inches and 100lb doesn't make a guy a number one pick in my eyes if he is a significantly worse basketball player. I think Oden will be good but I also think anyone who misses out on Durant will regret it to a degree. I see it as a weaker comparison of the 1984 draft.(Hakeem was great, but Jordan was greater) although neither are Jordan or Hakeem but in their own respectives.
