Big 3 Sports

Oden v Durant

Starting to get this feeling that Greg Oden is not going to be as much of a superstar in the NBA as everyone expects. I remember watching Patrick Ewing at Georgetown (Oden's most common comparison) when I was really young and he simply demanded that he dominated the game. In a 1 vs 2 game there's no way Ewing doesn't command the post... Oden didn't really do that. He struggled a bit last night and I have watched Durant from Texas play some and he seems to be able to dominate and step up his game in a way that Oden can't. Now, mind you, Oden's team is #1 in the nation in large part due to his play, but he disappeared at times against Wisconsin.

Regardless, it's going to be a tough call for whoever gets the first pick. Dynasties are generally built on big players... unless you get Michael Jordan, Larry Bird or the Bad Boy Pistons (80s and 2000s versions). Kareem was the core for the Lakers (and the Bucks before that), Walton the man for the Blazers in the late 70s, Ewing's Knicks were legit contenders for 7-8 years during the Jordan era and would likely have won one or two if they could have gotten by the Bulls, Hakeem won when Jordan played baseball, the Spurs were elite with Robinson and have been dominant for 10 years with Duncan and of course Shaq has been the man for the Lakers and Heat.

Sure there are other factors there... Magic was Kareem's equal in LA, Shaq had Kobe and Wade, but if you look at a list of great players that never won a title, you run accross a ton of PFs: Barkley (lost to Jordan once), Malone (lost to Jordan twice), Elgin Baylor, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Chris Webber... Baylor, Garnett and a few other not to win a title - George Gervin, Dominique Wilkins - could be compared to Durant in terms of skill set.

If I'm drafting I want to be sure that Oden has the potential to be Hakeem or Ewing and won't end up being Samuel Dalembert (another extremely athletic center). The fact that Oden is shooting over 65% from the line using his off hand is something that really impresses me too.

If we look at the teams currently in the lottery (with a pick), there are differing needs. If we consider that if a team gets the first, they could bargain like heck to trade down a spot so that a team was guaranteed Oden, if Durant fits a team, there could be some action between the 1 and 2 picks.

Memphis would love to pair Pau with either Oden or Durant... thanks to Oden's athleticism and Pau's rebounding, both these guys make sense for the Grizzlies.

Philadelphia already has Dalembert, but I am going out on a limb to think that they won't be deterred from Oden because of that. In terms of fit, I would have to say that they need Durant more than they need Oden.

Boston could really use either player, but I think Durant fits better given all the young bigs they already have. Drafting Oden gives them all sorts of trade bait though.

Phoenix is loaded and if they get the #1 I think Atlanta will have a collective heart attack and Joe Johnson will be shot. But if they do, Greg Oden would give them a front line of Oden, Amare and Marion... they'd dominate. The alternative of Amare, Durant, Marion looks nice too, but I think Amare would rather be a 4 than a 5.

Charlotte has Okafor and expects to lose Wallace, they probably opt for Durant.

Seattle has drafted centers every year and are still looking for a center. Losing Rashard Lewis makes them desperate for a replacement and they take Durant.

Sacramento is desperate for either player, but given Miller's age, Oden's the easy pick.

Portland is also a fairly easy Oden pick... Joel Pryzbilla, c'mon.

New Orleans has Chandler and David West in the middle and probably would be better off with Durant than Oden, especially if Peja out long term.

Milwaukee has Bogut which makes them pretty flexible. I think they would take Oden and go with the triple towers (Villanueva's also a pretty big dude!).

Chicago (from New York)... Isaiah's dead if Chicago gets the number one. They really wanted Gasol, to me that means they value Oden's post scoring more than Durant's wing play.

Miami... how unfair would it be if DeWayne Wade has Shaq and Oden on the same team and gets to share his career with those guys? They need Durant more than Oden, but the chance to let Oden learn from the Jedi Master would be tough to pass up.

Golden State, they could finally get it right at center if they drafted Oden, Harrington is too much like Durant.

Clippers, one year after getting praised for opening the wallet for Chris Kaman, he sucks. So, I think they would try to build a powerful front line with Oden and Brand, though Durant would be a serious improvement over Tim Thomas, though in his prime they are similar players.

posted by Big 3 Freak @ 9:50 PM