At Least Doc Rivers Is Staying Honest..

[ABM]

And, as far as that's concerned, who could blame him for wanting Oden's size, right?

http://www.heraldnews.com/sports/professional_sports/x1838117172/Back-to-normal-for-oft-injured-Cs

It wasn’t that long ago when the Celtics looked like they might have a chance to draft either Greg Oden or Durant after stumbling through the 2006-07 season. But after having no success in the lottery, that went by the boards and they wound up trading for Garnett and Ray Allen.

Rivers said he would have taken Oden, who has struggled with injuries since going to the Portland Trail Blazers.

“I just wanted his size and all that,’’ said Rivers. “Anybody who tells you otherwise, they have amnesia. That’s all I’ll say. Everyone now says, ‘I was Durant, Durant.’

“I loved Durant, but I saw Oden’s size and I thought, ‘Go with Oden. Clearly, I would have made a mistake, but that’s where I was.’’

 

[THE HCP]

EVERYBODY wanted Greg. Plain and simple.

 

[ehizzy3]

Ive never wanted gregs size....gross

 

[ABM]

Everyone now says, ‘I was Durant, Durant'...

Loved that part.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Yeah, that's simple. Revisionist history might take this story another direction, but the truth is the truth. There wasn't a GM in the league that would have done anything different than KP. Any problem anyone has with KP shouldn't even dip in to the realm of G.O. vs Durant. It's completely irrelevant.

 

[Darkwebs]

So does he admit he and the Celtics tanked?

 

[barfo]

Loved that part.

Didn't love this part so much:

Clearly, I would have made a mistake, but that’s where I was.

barfo

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think Orlando would have taken KD, probably Houston, and I'm not sure who else ... and 28 or 29 GMs would still have been wrong.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

With Durant exploding into a flat out superstar, leading his team to (potentially) 50 wins this season, the pressure on Oden is crazy. He's now playing in the shadow of Durant.

Now, I hope he can stay healthy and be that center that can take this team into the elite.

KP's comments on Oden being 'a' piece to a contending team are annoying. The #1 pick with all that hype he really should be 'the' piece. Hindsight 20/20 is a bitch.

 

[ABM]

Didn't love this part so much:



barfo

I'd like to ask him again in three years.

 

[Minstrel]

and 28 or 29 GMs would still have been wrong.

Perhaps. Remains to be seen.

 

[MIXUM]

whats worse... i think all 29 gms would want horford over oden too.

man... we had the nba in the palm of our hand and dropped it

 

[jlprk]

Nate doesn't like turnovers. Always palm it.

 

[WillG]

Anyone who says they would've taken Durant is either lying or on good quality drugs.

Oden was an athletic FREAK coming out of the draft. Absolutely phenomenal.
The Oden pick n' Roll in summer league was the taste of what was meant to come. . .

[video=youtube;2HGZxKFFpYY]

Makes me depressed remembering the guy dunking in that play and what could have been.

 

[HailBlazers]

WOW^

Greg may look 52 years of age but he aint dead yet. Gotta keep that hope alive Will

 

[MrJayremmie]

I agree with Doc. Most wanted Oden, and Oden was the right pick at the time.

Looking back, it was a mistake. Durant is arguably a top 5-10 player. But you had to make that pick.

 

[HailBlazers]

Durant is arguably a top 5-10 player. But you had to make that pick.

It's crazy. I knew Durant would be this good, but just like everyone else I knew you had to take GO

 

[Minstrel]

It's crazy. I knew Durant would be this good, but just like everyone else I knew you had to take GO

Yeah, Durant isn't surprising me. I expected him to be a top-flight wing. I still felt Oden was the right pick, because he has an amazing blend of size, athleticism and instincts. And he continues to prove it whenever he can play. If he can get past the injuries, I'd still prefer him to Durant. If he can't, then it'll be bad luck and of course Durant will have the far greater career.

 

[44Thrilla]

So does he admit he and the Celtics tanked?

Ainge did, in so many words. I remember when they resigned Doc, he mentioned how Doc was willing to do things with young players (like actually play them) that most coaches wouldn't be willing to. I forget how he worded it, exactly, but he basically said most coaches are too scared of getting fired when asked to tank, but Doc was a team player.

 

[WillG]

Looking back, it was a mistake. Durant is arguably a top 5-10 player. But you had to make that pick.

I don't think it was a mistake considering we couldn't have known about the injuries that were to occur.

If Oden hadn't been compromised by injury, I still think he'd be the better pick over Durant, even as good as Durant has become.

Having that kind of athleticism and defensive speed, displayed in the Youtube video above, present at the C position gives you a big advantage over most teams in the league.
And more importantly, especially during the playoffs.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

I don't think it was a mistake considering we couldn't have known about the injuries that were to occur.

If Oden hadn't been compromised by injury, I still think he'd be the better pick over Durant, even as good as Durant has become.

Having that kind of athleticism and defensive speed, displayed in the Youtube video above, present at the C position gives you a big advantage over most teams in the league.
And more importantly, especially during the playoffs.

In before mention of "Pre-Draft Physical" and "Red-flags."

 

[KingSpeed]

Great. He says that "clearly" Greg is a bust.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Great. He says that "clearly" Greg is a bust.

Well at the least I'd say he's missed 2/3s of his potential games as a pro in three years ... so far, that's pretty much the textbook definition of a bust.

There's certainly time for him to turn it around with a Grant Hill kind of career resurrection, but if somebody gave me even odds for him having either a long productive career, or one that is going to be further riddled with injury and unfulfilled promise then I think I know where I'd put my money.

 

[KingSpeed]

There's certainly time for him to turn it around with a Grant Hill kind of career resurrection, but if somebody gave me even odds for him having either a long productive career, or one that is going to be further riddled with injury and unfulfilled promise then I think I know where I'd put my money.

that's sad

 

[Minstrel]

There's certainly time for him to turn it around with a Grant Hill kind of career resurrection, but if somebody gave me even odds for him having either a long productive career, or one that is going to be further riddled with injury and unfulfilled promise then I think I know where I'd put my money.

that's sad

Oden is done at 22. Perspective...we haz it.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Oden is done at 22. Perspective...we haz it.

I didn't say done ... I just think it's somewhat likely that his injuries are going to be a pattern. He's always going to show flashes of brilliance and brief flashes of dominance, but I just don't believe he's all of a sudden going to be a 70+ games a year player -- hell maybe not even a 60+ games a year player.

I'm still of the mind that they should keep him and see what they can get out of him (hopefully without having to overpay), but I fully agree with John Hollinger that he shouldn't be counted on as a pillar of the franchise going forward; everything he gives should be seen as gravy.

 

[Minstrel]

I didn't say done ... I just think it's somewhat likely that his injuries are going to be a pattern.

Outside of the natural inclination toward pessimism to avoid greater disappointment, why? He's had two injuries and they're both of the "bad luck but neither chronic nor career-altering" variety. Do you subscribe to the brittle bones theory, despite no medical diagnosis of such?

but I fully agree with John Hollinger that he shouldn't be counted on as a pillar of the franchise going forward; everything he gives should be seen as gravy.

I respect Hollinger as a stats guy and a pretty logical sort, but I don't really see him as any kind of authority on predicting these sorts of things. If Oden had suffered injuries that were seen as recurring issues or that changed his athleticism, then I'd be pessimistic about his chances also. Considering he's just 22, hasn't suffered either of those kinds of injuries and has been the real deal when healthy...I think it's a bit early to write him off (either explicitly or in effect).

If he suffers another major injury, I'll start subscribing to the "freak injury magnet" theory and probably view him as a guy who's nice to have healthy but isn't ever likely to be healthy for long stretches of time. But two injuries of that sort I'm still defaulting to bad luck rather than predictive problem.

 

[Denny Crane]

While I think Oden is still young and could play a lot of healthy years to come, missing so much of his early career has to cost his overall development.

What he will be might be something less than what he could have been. If you catch my drift.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I don't think it was a mistake considering we couldn't have known about the injuries that were to occur.

If Oden hadn't been compromised by injury, I still think he'd be the better pick over Durant, even as good as Durant has become.

Having that kind of athleticism and defensive speed, displayed in the Youtube video above, present at the C position gives you a big advantage over most teams in the league.
And more importantly, especially during the playoffs.

What I was saying is hindsight is 20/20, and if we were to go back to that draft we would take Durant. But at the time, you had to take Oden.

 

[Minstrel]

missing so much of his early career has to cost his overall development.

What he will be might be something less than what he could have been. If you catch my drift.

I don't agree with that. It has to slow his overall development, but players don't develop forever...there's a limit to their progression. Missing a couple of early seasons means it should take him longer to reach that limit than otherwise...but I don't see why it should permanently cost him any development.