Although it would be good in a way I was hoping that Oden would get the chance to have a good game against Lopez. That would send his confidence skyrocketing.
I think Oden is better, but one game against a hobbled or even healthy Lopez isn't exactly the final word, is it? Lopez plays on a garbage team. He's a decent C.
Lopez is playing tonight vs Denver according to pregame reports, the Nets are also finally getting Courtney Lee back. With Devin Harris coming back 1 game ago they're starting to get healthy and I think once they're all the way back they're a better team than their horrible record.
They can't be any worse, right? I understand what you're saying, though. Lopez and Harris are a decent foundation, at least in terms of winning some games versus going winless.
So if they added LeBron to that team... how good are they? I think LeBron, Harris, and Lopez is a better foundation than they have in Cleveland.
I think the best possible thing for us would be for NJ to steal one in Denver tonight, which could be possible with their full starting lineup back. They're still very thin up front--Martin & Andersen will absolutely destroy Najera, Boone & Williams--but if Lee can hit shots, they might have a chance.
I don't understand the need to compare the two. Oden is a terrific prospect who (as I understand it) is a beast under the basket. Lopez is an incredible prospect, also, and will be a great player. But they are in completely different situations and can't be compared to each other. Lopez has no other scorer on the floor with him. he is double teamed and hacked on pretty much every possession. The Nets have absolutely no depth, so he is forced to play 40+ minutes a night, and is exhausted by the end of the game. he also has to play soft on D so he doesn't get into foul trouble (again, because the Nets have no other centers on the roster). Recently he's been asked to take more mid-range jumpers . . . simply because the Nets have no one else who is healthy who can shoot. With all that said, look at his numbers. And consider he is just 21. And, better yet, the guy is just a geek. He is like you or me, just seven feet tall. Without question, he's my favorite Net right now.
The comparison comes from some writer declaring last year that Lopez was better than Oden . . . you know us Blazer fans, say something like that and we won't let it go for years. I like Lopez, whatever his comparison to Oden, Lopez was great draft pick.
