So if it was Greg Oden on the Memphis Grizzlies vs Kevin Durant of the Boston Celtics, who do you guys seeing making a bigger impact? Which one do you see being the better overall player?I would like to think that Greg Oden and Pau Gasol would make one of the best front courts of the NBA, especially defensively.In Boston the roster would look like thisG- Rajon RondoSG- Paul PierceSF- Kevin DurantPF- Al JeffersonCC- Kendrick PerkinsThat is a pretty good lineup because Rondo is capable of being a great point guard and dishing the ball out. Pierce and Durant can provide the scoring and create defenses to spread out so that they can move the ball. Al Jefferson can definitely rebound and provide enough scoring that he needs to contribute. Kendrick Perkins is probably the weakest of the lineup but he can use his size to his advantage. However, I still have to give the edge to Greg Oden because he is going to a lineup of damon stoudamire, mike miller, rudy gay (who will definitely get better), and Pau Gasol. I think Oden will give Memphis that extra boost they need to become a borderline playoff team.
The transition from college to the NBA has mainly to do with physical parametres, these guys both have proved that they have the fundamentals but can they run the NBA paced game, can they defend the LeBrons the Yao's the Amare's? Can they post up someone 3 inches bigger tahn them. Greg Oden seems to be the more physically fit player for this situation. Has the bulk, the size, the strength and great defense. Kevin Durant will have to work on his transition to the NBA. Although he has all the athletecism in the world, he needs to bulk up. In the NBA, 220 lbs. is going to get pounded. Now I'm not saying Kevin Durant won't by widely succesful but I'm saying that his weight/strenght will slow him down. Although Durant is hte more accomplished college player I'll go with Oden in the NBA.
The Boston lineup actually would probably end up looking like this: C: Al Jefferson PF: Kevin Durant SF: Paul Pierce SG: Tony Allen PG: Rajon Rondo Durant will but up the better *numbers* right away, but Oden will make the bigger impact due to his size and defensive abilities.
Either way next season the Celtics will be the better team. Oden will have an obviously bigger impact but the Celtics will have the better team regardless of who gets picked where.
Oden has a more NBA-ready body, and that is the only thing that worries me about Durant. He's basically a stick out there... if he works hard before the draft lifting and such, I think he'll be fine.In the NBA, I think Durant will be the player who puts up better stats, but Oden will probably have the bigger impact on a franchise out of the two... but you can't go wrong with picking either of them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigMo763 @ Mar 30 2007, 11:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oden has a more NBA-ready body, and that is the only thing that worries me about Durant. He's basically a stick out there... if he works hard before the draft lifting and such, I think he'll be fine. In the NBA, I think Durant will be the player who puts up better stats, but Oden will probably have the bigger impact on a franchise out of the two... but you can't go wrong with picking either of them.</div> Oden and Durant's stats will not be similar. Kevin Durant will focus on his versatile ability to score and will take part in the rebounding department. However, we have seen what a center with a large amount of post prescence can do. It can open up tons of shots for anybody on that roster. If you do not believe me look at the Rockets. If you saw the Heat during their win streak they ran their offense through Shaq. Big men like Oden will have a complete teams offense run through them. One can argue that T-mac is the main scoring machine on the Rockets and has proved that he can make his own offense however not everyone can make their own offense and with a post prescence the role players can hit open jump shots and that gives your team a huge boost. With a post prescence like Oden on the defensive end he can alter/block shots which would force the offense to induce the mid-range and long-range game rather than just driving the the hole. It forces teams to have to alter their offense and causes a scary situation in the paint. A big man like Oden opens up your entire game. Oden will put up 20/10 for many years before his career is over if he makes the transition to the NBA smoothly while Durant will end up being a scorer like T-mac which is very valuable and nice to have on your team. However I would much rather start a franchise with Oden.
Yeah a lot of todays game is big men oriented. You see players like Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh leading their team because the game has revolved from guards to bigger players. I'm not sure if I buy into Kevin Durant becoming a huge scoring threat, especially his rookie year. His body just doesn't seem NBA-ready and he seems alittle soft in my opinion. I hope I get proven wrong because I like Durant alot- but I think that he can average about 20 points at most while I agree while Oden will score just as much but also get 10 rpg and adding defensive presence.
Durant will no-doubt have better stats. But when it comes to making an impact, Oden will take the cake. The kid will block and change so many shots in the lane, it's not even funny. I watch Celtics games (huge c's fan) and I watch opposing team's players get easy layups baseline and such, and I say to my friend, "Oden would have pinned that against the backboard SOOO easily!!"..I cannot wait until he enters the league and my team has a chance at him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Mar 30 2007, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oden and Durant's stats will not be similar. Kevin Durant will focus on his versatile ability to score and will take part in the rebounding department. However, we have seen what a center with a large amount of post prescence can do. It can open up tons of shots for anybody on that roster. If you do not believe me look at the Rockets. If you saw the Heat during their win streak they ran their offense through Shaq. Big men like Oden will have a complete teams offense run through them. One can argue that T-mac is the main scoring machine on the Rockets and has proved that he can make his own offense however not everyone can make their own offense and with a post prescence the role players can hit open jump shots and that gives your team a huge boost. With a post prescence like Oden on the defensive end he can alter/block shots which would force the offense to induce the mid-range and long-range game rather than just driving the the hole. It forces teams to have to alter their offense and causes a scary situation in the paint. A big man like Oden opens up your entire game. Oden will put up 20/10 for many years before his career is over if he makes the transition to the NBA smoothly while Durant will end up being a scorer like T-mac which is very valuable and nice to have on your team. However I would much rather start a franchise with Oden.</div>I agree. I don't know if you were disagreeing with my post or not, but you basically said the exact thing I did, except in more detail.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KCX @ Mar 30 2007, 12:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah a lot of todays game is big men oriented. You see players like Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh leading their team because the game has revolved from guards to bigger players. I'm not sure if I buy into Kevin Durant becoming a huge scoring threat, especially his rookie year. His body just doesn't seem NBA-ready and he seems alittle soft in my opinion. I hope I get proven wrong because I like Durant alot- but I think that he can average about 20 points at most while I agree while Oden will score just as much but also get 10 rpg and adding defensive presence.</div> Kevin Durant will probably put on 10 more pounds before the draft. I wouldn't worry about his body being too thin. He'll be on the wing in the NBA, he was playing center/PF most of the time at Texas.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Kevin Durant will probably put on 10 more pounds before the draft. I wouldn't worry about his body being too thin. He'll be on the wing in the NBA, he was playing center/PF most of the time at Texas.</div>I agree. Durant won't have to be too big to play the wing. If he were to play pf then I would worry about him, but not at sf.
Problem with Durant is his game is more SF/PF oreinted when his size (not counting his height) is more of a swingmans. It could cuase some problems for the team that decides to build their franchise around.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Mar 30 2007, 12:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Boston lineup actually would probably end up looking like this:C: Al JeffersonPF: Kevin DurantSF: Paul PierceSG: Tony AllenPG: Rajon RondoDurant will but up the better *numbers* right away, but Oden will make the bigger impact due to his size and defensive abilities.</div>No way would Durant play PF. I see him as a SG/SF as his body and skillset remind me of T-Mac early in his Orlando career. He is way too skinny and weak to be guarding the likes of Amare, Duncan, KG, Dirk, etc.... As for this topic, I'm going to say Durant. Oden will make a big impact on the way Memphis plays, but Durant will give Pierce a great 2nd option and will put up big numbers quickly. I think he will make the celtics a playoff team right away, where Oden can't.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If you do not believe me look at the Rockets. If you saw the Heat during their win streak they ran their offense through Shaq. Big men like Oden will have a complete teams offense run through them. One can argue that T-mac is the main scoring machine on the Rockets and has proved that he can make his own offense however not everyone can make their own offense and with a post prescence the role players can hit open jump shots and that gives your team a huge boost.</div>Rockets were doing just as well without Yao as they did with Yao. They are playing their best basketball of the season right now with T-Mac as main scoring option, unlike beginning of year where Yao was. Oden will not be the focal point of the Grizzlies offense, and the offense will not be ran through him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 1 2007, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No way would Durant play PF. I see him as a SG/SF as his body and skillset remind me of T-Mac early in his Orlando career. He is way too skinny and weak to be guarding the likes of Amare, Duncan, KG, Dirk, etc.... As for this topic, I'm going to say Durant. Oden will make a big impact on the way Memphis plays, but Durant will give Pierce a great 2nd option and will put up big numbers quickly. I think he will make the celtics a playoff team right away, where Oden can't. Rockets were doing just as well without Yao as they did with Yao. They are playing their best basketball of the season right now with T-Mac as main scoring option, unlike beginning of year where Yao was. Oden will not be the focal point of the Grizzlies offense, and the offense will not be ran through him.</div> Even so, Oden would open up creating a huge low post prescence the moment he enters the NBA. It will force double teams allowing great open shots for role players. Memphis has no great scorer like T-mac so they would in fact run their offense through Oden/Gasol. This dynamic front court will be very hard to defend for the teams that don't have a front court to match. Oden will not be the number one option but he will play a huge role in Memphis's succes for years to come and in time could end up over-taking Pau for that option. The Rockets are actually playing better ball with Yao back. Why? Yao forces double teams due to his prescence creating easy looks and lanes for T-mac and other players. That is exactly what Oden can bring to the NBA.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Apr 1 2007, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Even so, Oden would open up creating a huge low post prescence the moment he enters the NBA. It will force double teams allowing great open shots for role players. Memphis has no great scorer like T-mac so they would in fact run their offense through Oden/Gasol. This dynamic front court will be very hard to defend for the teams that don't have a front court to match. Oden will not be the number one option but he will play a huge role in Memphis's succes for years to come and in time could end up over-taking Pau for that option.</div>Oden is not an impressive offensive option yet. If he isn't dominant in college, he definately won't be in the NBA his rookie season. Offensively, it will take him a few years before he is enough of a presence in which teams need to double team him. He will not be a huge focal point in the grizzlies offense.Yes, eventually. But right away, his impact won't be on the offensive end, it will be defensively.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Rockets are actually playing better ball with Yao back. Why? Yao forces double teams due to his prescence creating easy looks and lanes for T-mac and other players. That is exactly what Oden can bring to the NBA.</div>Rockets score more points without Yao. T-Mac's PPG and FG % have dropped since Yao's return. Yao doesn't make plays for others. . But I do not know why you even brought up Yao, as Oden won't be at Yao's level offensively for many years, and in his rookie year won't be doubled and tripled like Yao is.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 1 2007, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oden is not an impressive offensive option yet. If he isn't dominant in college, he definately won't be in the NBA his rookie season. Offensively, it will take him a few years before he is enough of a presence in which teams need to double team him. He will not be a huge focal point in the grizzlies offense. Yes, eventually. But right away, his impact won't be on the offensive end, it will be defensively. Rockets score more points without Yao. T-Mac's PPG and FG % have dropped since Yao's return. Yao doesn't make plays for others. The 2 things Yao does that help the Rockets is score and be a presence defensively. But I do not know why you even brought up Yao, as Oden won't be at Yao's level offensively for many years.</div> I never said that he would open up as the number 1 option but he will force double teams. Not against all franchises but there are teams that will have to double him due to lack at the 5 spot. By his sophomore or third year in the NBA he'll be forcing double teams. He will be valuable his first year in the NBA, maybe not as much as some big man have been but still be a good addition to the Memphis squad (or other squads). Oden's defensive game is at another level than his offensive game I agree and he won't be at that level when he enter's the league but at one point he will play the role that Yao does. Of course T-mac's PPG have fallen due to them having another scoring option on the floor but there is no reason for his FG% to fall, that has ntohing to dow ith Yao. Yao opens up alot offensively, most teams can't just let Yao go one on one against their big man they will need to double him. All Durant will bring is more rebounding and scoring which the Celtics pretty much already have. I understand that it brings Pierce another scoring option but how will his minutes fit in with Wally Sczerbiack? There is alot to be seen on how Durant would fit in Boston, it's not nearly as simple as him just adding more scoring and rebounding, it will make a mess in the swingman area for the Celtics requiring them to move players while Oden fits in Memphis and won't require time to clean up a mess on the roster.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Apr 1 2007, 02:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I never said that he would open up as the number 1 option but he will force double teams. Not against all franchises but there are teams that will have to double him due to lack at the 5 spot. By his sophomore or third year in the NBA he'll be forcing double teams. He will be valuable his first year in the NBA, maybe not as much as some big man have been but still be a good addition to the Memphis squad (or other squads).</div>He will not force double teams. He isn't even that dominant in the collegiate level, he surely won't in the NBA.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Oden's defensive game is at another level than his offensive game I agree and he won't be at that level when he enter's the league but at one point he will play the role that Yao does. Of course T-mac's PPG have fallen due to them having another scoring option on the floor but there is no reason for his FG% to fall, that has ntohing to dow ith Yao. Yao opens up alot offensively, most teams can't just let Yao go one on one against their big man they will need to double him.</div>Yao doesn't open up a lot offensively. He turns it over around 4x per game, is not a great passer out of the post, and the offense dies once it goes to him. But again, it doesn't matter, as oden will not demand the attention Yao does.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>All Durant will bring is more rebounding and scoring which the Celtics pretty much already have. I understand that it brings Pierce another scoring option but how will his minutes fit in with Wally Sczerbiack? There is alot to be seen on how Durant would fit in Boston, it's not nearly as simple as him just adding more scoring and rebounding, it will make a mess in the swingman area for the Celtics requiring them to move players while Oden fits in Memphis and won't require time to clean up a mess on the roster.</div>Since when has scoring and rebounding become a negative? If nothing else, he will take a lot of pressure off Pierce, further open things up for Al Jefferson, and be part of the great duo that will be him and Jefferson after Pierce leaves.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 1 2007, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He will not force double teams. He isn't even that dominant in the collegiate level, he surely won't in the NBA. Yao doesn't open up a lot offensively. He turns it over around 4x per game, is not a great passer out of the post, and the offense dies once it goes to him. But again, it doesn't matter, as oden will not demand the attention Yao does. Since when has scoring and rebounding become a negative? If nothing else, he will take a lot of pressure off Pierce, further open things up for Al Jefferson, and be part of the great duo that will be him and Jefferson after Pierce leaves.</div> I never said that Yao was the greatest offensive force in the NBA, I just said he has more pro's than cons. I also said that Oden can force double teams on certain teams with smaller backcourts not that he'd force double teams on every team. I also never said that what Durant brings to the table in Boston won't be useful, I just said that Boston is pretty much getting another copy of pual pierce with a bit more size. Why do you think that Pierce will leave the team, he has his complaints but once he learns that this team could very soon be a dynsaty then he'll stay, and even if Pierce leaves Durant won't bring anymore rebounding and scoring than Pierce left behind him leaving Durant not making a huge impact on the NBA at first. Durant, if he goes to Boston, which many people believe he will, will make Boston to shop certain players to build around Durant. While Oden would not cuase any immediate moves on the part of Memphis.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Apr 1 2007, 08:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I never said that Yao was the greatest offensive force in the NBA, I just said he has more pro's than cons. I also said that Oden can force double teams on certain teams with smaller backcourts not that he'd force double teams on every team.</div>No one will be doubling Oden.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I also never said that what Durant brings to the table in Boston won't be useful, I just said that Boston is pretty much getting another copy of pual pierce with a bit more size. Why do you think that Pierce will leave the team, he has his complaints but once he learns that this team could very soon be a dynsaty then he'll stay, and even if Pierce leaves Durant won't bring anymore rebounding and scoring than Pierce left behind him leaving Durant not making a huge impact on the NBA at first.</div>In a few years, Pierce will be on the decline, whereas Durant will be just about entering his prime. When this happens, Pierce will either be traded or leave on his own merrit, and it will be Durant/Jefferson's team. If Celtics get Durant, he will be their major prospect and player to build around for years to come. He averaged 29/11 on well over 50% shooting in college as a freshman...he has the oppertunity to be a 30PPG+ scorer in the NBA.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Durant, if he goes to Boston, which many people believe he will, will make Boston to shop certain players to build around Durant. While Oden would not cuase any immediate moves on the part of Memphis.</div>Durant will not cause major moves by Boston. Assuming Pierce stays around, the team will still revolve around Pierce and he will be the main option.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 1 2007, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No way would Durant play PF. I see him as a SG/SF as his body and skillset remind me of T-Mac early in his Orlando career. He is way too skinny and weak to be guarding the likes of Amare, Duncan, KG, Dirk, etc....</div> In a running system, I think Durant COULD play the 4. I definitely agree that he'd be best suited at the 3, I'm not arguing that, but if the Celtics got him, he would play some 4.
