Examining the 2007 draft

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by ebott, Feb 25, 2009.

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Where would Oden have been picked if we knew in 2007 what we know now

  1. First

    23 vote(s)
    39.0%
  2. Second

    27 vote(s)
    45.8%
  3. Third

    4 vote(s)
    6.8%
  4. Forth

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%
  5. Fifth

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  6. Sixth

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  7. Seventh

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  8. Eighth

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  9. Ninth

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  10. Tenth

    4 vote(s)
    6.8%
  1. ebott

    ebott Active Member

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    With all the negative talk about Oden I figured now would be a good time to discuss how the 2007 draft would have gone differently if we knew then what we know now.

    How far do you think Oden would have fallen?
     
  2. Ed O

    Ed O Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    He would not have fallen. He still would have gone #1.

    Ed O.
     
  3. AmirIcon

    AmirIcon Well-Known Member

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    #1, still.
     
  4. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    If I knew Oden would have MF surgery and Durant would be 4th in scoring before he even turns 21, I don't think that decision is so easy. Not at all.
     
  5. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Still #1. Fans are down on Oden, but I think his underlying numbers are strong and GMs would still see his performance as consistent with a top center talent.
     
  6. ebott

    ebott Active Member

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    I'm saying #2 simply because of how impressive Kevin Durant has been. I'll take the potential of a hurt Greg over a healthy Horford and nobody else even comes close.
     
  7. AgentDrazenPetrovic

    AgentDrazenPetrovic Anyone But the Lakers

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    Second. Durant would have been #1 if it were known greg would have microfracture surgery.
     
  8. AgentDrazenPetrovic

    AgentDrazenPetrovic Anyone But the Lakers

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    HOWEVER, I believe that if Oden went to Seattle, they would still be the supersonics.

    just the incredible hype would have gotten the city on its feet to save the sonics.
     
  9. alex42083

    alex42083 Thanks Brandon

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    G.O. was the consensus No. 1. You'd be pretty stupid to have turned him down at the time then, and now.
     
  10. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    That was then. Now, not so much.

    Oden may still warrant the #1 pick if the draft was today and we know what we know(maybe), but it's very, very, close. Durant is that good.
     
  11. AgentDrazenPetrovic

    AgentDrazenPetrovic Anyone But the Lakers

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    both were essentially can't lose prospects. the thing is that the prevailing thought is big men = rings while swingmen = scoring championships.

    probably and likely going to hold true.
     
  12. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Kevin Durant has improved massively since last season, when he was looking like a one-dimensional gunner. But he's still a high volume shooting small forward. How many of them lead their teams to championships?

    Comparing Durant with Oden (viewed pessimistically) is like comparing Glenn Rice with Alonzo Mourning. Or Bernard King with Wes Unseld. Or Alex English with Dikembe Mutombo. Sure, the former player in each pair gets a lot more attention and probably will sell more shoes, but the latter is way more important to their team's success. If Durant can learn to play defense then it might be more of a contest.

    As it is, if I had a time machine and could go back and be Pritchard on draft night knowing what I know now, I think my choices ranked in order would be:

    1. Draft Oden
    2. Trade the pick.

    I just don't see Durant pushing this team over the hump. I'd be more tempted by Horford than Durant.
     
  13. Kaydow

    Kaydow Well-Known Member

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    Well, there was a pretty good swingman out of Chicago a few years back that won a few titles. You may remember him . . . He never had a Center and won 6 rings. Look at the best teams in the NBA right now: Lakers (Kobe) Cleveland (Labron) Boston (Pierce/Allen) All of them have elite SG/SF's.

    I would take Durrant over Oden today, no question. While I agree that a dominant big man is a rarity, I don't think Oden is one. I think (even if he does stay relatively healthy in his career) he is a good/not great big man. On the other hand, I think Durrant and Labron will be THE premier SF's in the league for the next 10 years.
     
  14. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Kevin Durant all day!
     
  15. Big Frame

    Big Frame Well-Known Member

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    Durant 1st
    Stucky 2nd
    Oden third?
     
  16. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Oden undrafted free agent.
     
  17. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    I remember talking to gambitnut on AIM before the draft and telling him that Durant is going to be like Kobe and is a can't miss. I suggested the Blazers draft him, keep ZBo, and play LMA at C.

    With 20-20 hindsight, you'd have to take Durant #1 and consider that Oden would be #2 or maybe even lower.

    Oden had all that hype and he's still so young... We haven't seen his real upside
     
  18. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Sure we have. He has a PER close to 18 as a rookie, despite having had a year off from basketball. In addition, he's been a difference-maker on defense. The team's lame perimeter defense allows slashers galore and Oden has been a presence in closing the lane. Of course, those slashers galore have also racked up his fouls, leading to fewer minutes.

    I also thought Durant was can't-miss and he's proving me right. I thought Oden was can't-miss, too. Unless he continues to get injured, I think he's proving me right, too, based on his play on the court.
     
  19. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Durant is closer to being the best player in the league than Oden is to being the best C on the team.

    That's saying a lot about Przybilla, who I think is underrated.
     
  20. Mr. J

    Mr. J Triple Up

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    Wow, who said tenth?
     

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