It's just a Rookie/Sophomore game and all, but I've watched a lot of Rookie Games and come away with well formed, strong opinions about a lot of players. And when I look back I feel those opinions hold up. How many people said Kobe was the best player on the court when Iverson won Rookie Game MVP and set the record for most points? I felt that way... So my conclusion from this game? Kevin Durant is better and will have more impact in his career than Roy and Aldridge combined. He is that exceptional and unique a player. I look at him and see almost nothing holding him back from being a Champion. That is not to say that Portland made a mistake in drafting Oden. Because that almost nothing that could hold Durant from Championship status happens to stand seven foot tall and was sitting on the bench, watching a player he knows full well he'll always be connected to, outperform every player to ever play in this game. I feel fucking ill because of how humiliating and how much tremendous the pressure must be on Oden after going through that. Sit and watch... and watch.... and watch.... I came away with a strong opinion on Durant that I would argue endlessly about, but I rarely leave with strong opinions of just one player. My other conclusion? Greg Oden was the best player on the court tonight. After watching the 1996 Rookie Game I felt Kobe was the best player on the court and would be a star, but it wasn't until the final game against Utah in the Playoffs that I knew Kobe would become one of the greatest ever. What was so special? What did he do to assert himself as a rookieand grab my attention? He was called on and took four clutch shots that would win the game and extend the series to a sixth game back on the Lakers home court. Del Harris had the confidence in this rookie that started the season on the bench, to put the game in his hands, against the Stockton-Malone powerhouse that essentially was the Western Conference at the time. And what happened? What did Kobe do with those clutch shots? With 11.3 seconds in the 4th and the game tied at 89 the ball is inbounded to rookie Kobe Bryant, who takes the point, and everyone watching knows no one else will touch the ball. He flawlessly walks the ball up the court 6 seconds... 5... 4... drives from outside, 3... 2... and instead of driving to the hoop like every other offensively talented rookie would, he stutters and takes a hybrid Jordan-Miller 17 footer and... 1... AIRBALL. ( bust ) Overtime. 1:28 left, Lakers down 4, newly acquired free agent Shaq fouled out on the bench joking with other bench players, Lakers down 4, Van Excel with the ball, pining for Cancun, Kobe off a screen WIDE OPEN, pass, bad miss, ( Bust ) bottom of the rim. The ball hits the rim and goes straight down, have you ever seen that? No problem, down 3, 52 seconds left, Eddie Jones inbounds to Van Excel, plenty of time, 50 seconds, 45... 40... pass to Kobe, wide open 3. AIRBALL.... ( BUST ) Utah ball. Again, no problem... Utah miss and rebound by Bryant with 16 seconds left, up the court, 13... 10... pass to Kobe... 7... Kobe for the tie... AIRBALL. (BUST, BUST, BUST). Utah, 4.0 seconds left, inbounds, game, series. Lakers go home. What did Kobe do? What was so special? He had the chance under pressure and he choked. More than anything, he choked, and when it came down to it, he choked again, and when it came down to it again, he choked... ...and every last time he choked... but every last time he took the shot with full confidence that he would make it. Greg Oden, I see no difference in you. Greg Oden, the real NBA season starts after the All-Star Break. What have you got? I'm pretty sure I know...
Durant is a very unique player. He's pushing 6'11" and plays like a SG. Scary potential. But like KP says - Let the cake fucking bake, right?
Hmm interesting so he will have a bigger impact then the 2 combined but I think one could argue that if you took Roy Aldridge and Durant out of the picture that the Thunder and Blazers aren't that drastically apart talent wise. Yet we have 32 wins and they have 13.
Not so much. If you want to compare Durant to Oden, compare Durant to Oden. Durant vs. Aldridge and Roy is no more relevant than Oden vs. Westbrook and Jeff Green. barfo
Durant is the Thunders #1 right? Who is the Blazers #1? Who is their #2? I guess comparing Jordan and Drexler would have been a bad idea as well?
u are full of crap. im pretty sure greg oden does not frequent this particular forum... and no you don't know...
Brandon is our #1. We really don't have a #2 or #3. LaMarcus isn't assertive enough to become that second option. He's so much like Rasheed, offensively, it's scary.
SO take out Gregs 6 fga per game, and then in order to get Durant to his current 19fga per game you'd have to take 7 away from Lamarcus and 6 away from Roy. Essentially lowering Roys ppg to about 14 and Lamarcus to about 11. But Hey we'd have Durant scoring 25!
There are plenty of great scoring wings in the NBA. Durant is one of them. There are only a few true dominating big men in the NBA. I think Oden will eventually be one of them. I'm not sweating at all. Dominating the paint is still what wins you championships.
What does that second line have to do with the first? KP isn't passing on Durant to "let the cake bake" (assuming he even does just let the cake bake).
I think he is right. Name me a championship NBA team in the last 25 years that hasn't had a legit big man down low either on the offensive or defensive end! MJ's team do not count because he is the greatest player ever in my opinion.
Yeah, we are fucking done. No championships for us, they will all be going to Durant and his team. God why did we draft such busts and stiffs in Roy, Aldridge, and of course, Oden?
Well lets hope Oden becomes that legit big man and can stay healthy as well. His offensive game is still very raw, and defensively is probably where he's been the biggest letdown IMO.
I knew this was coming. Hear that sound, its the Durant train, feel free to jump off the Blazer bandwagon and hang on Durants nuts if you want. We made the right pick. Durant is a scorer (and a damn good one) but that is not what we needed. We need a big guy in the paint and a presence and once Oden fully develops look out. I swear people who sing Durants praises and bash Oden are getting tiring (and lately)to numerous to read. I thought we all believed in KP and his track record in trades ect. Well if you believe in him, remember what he said both going to be great players, One will lead the league in scoring, the other will win rings. Its not a sprint folks their careers have just begun (and Durant has a full year of playing in this league ahead of Oden so he will be farther along). Some patience is needed if not I am more then sure the Thunder would like some more fans and appreciate the purchase of a few of their Durant jerseys.
Take into consideration that he is coming off MF surgery, and that is certainly effecting his lateral quickness on defense, and his athleticism overall. Go back to the NBA combine and his numbers were off the charts. Oden is going to be a beast. He almost already is right now if foul trouble didn't stop him and effect his overall numbers.
