In KP we Trust?

[Stevenson]

"One is going to win scoring titles and one is going to win championships."

Well, clearly, the first part of that prediction is going to come true. But the second part?

I hope so, we all do. But Greg's year certainly has been underwhelming. I know all the reasons and arguments; I'm just saying. And his grumpy personality was very unexpected. Tonight's Rookie - Sophomore game just brings the choice to light quite clearly.

We won't know if KP was right for two years, but I would wager that we all, the Blazers included, reasonably expected more this year.

 

[Ed O]

"Grumpy personality"?

Huh?

Grumpy according to whom?

And why is grumpiness even relevant?

Ed O.

 

[rocketeer]

"One is going to win scoring titles and one is going to win championships."

Well, clearly, the first part of that prediction is going to come true. But the second part?

I hope so, we all do. But Greg's year certainly has been underwhelming. I know all the reasons and arguments; I'm just saying. And his grumpy personality was very unexpected. Tonight's Rookie - Sophomore game just brings the choice to light quite clearly.

We won't know if KP was right for two years, but I would wager that we all, the Blazers included, reasonably expected more this year.

there's nothing clear about the first part coming true. it's no sure thing that he passes guys like kobe, lebron, and wade in scoring.

 

[Stevenson]

Comeon Ed, he most certainly is not the same sweet, goofy kid we all met 18 months ago. You don't think he is distant, grumpy, whatever? I certainly am not the first to notice it.

All I am saying is that the choice between the two players does not seem like the slam dunk it was, if even it was.

 

[BalancedMan]

there's nothing clear about the first part coming true. it's no sure thing that he passes guys like kobe, lebron, and wade in scoring.

With his good shooting from inside and outside, there's no doubt that he'll be in contention every year.

 

[anonymous gambler]

It frustrates me to hear people disappointed in Oden. It's the first year back from microfracture surgery and his first year as a professional. His stats are actually pretty good, adjusted per minute- especially for rebounding. He doesn't have his old speed and mobility this year. Give him time. In glimpses, he's shown that he will become a dominant player- other first pick busts never showed what he's shown so far. I think he's close to the top rookie in PER and in the top ten league-wide in rebounding rate per minute.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I got to go with Ed on this one. What are you talking about? Grumpy? What did I miss? Did he not kiss some media guy's ass tonight?

 

[rocketeer]

With his good shooting from inside and outside, there's no doubt that he'll be in contention every year.

there is doubt. i mean, is he seriously in contention this year? i'd say no. i'd say there are 3 serious contenders. and if the thunder get some more talented guys around him so that durant doesn't have to take as many shots, who knows if he ever improves on his scoring averages this season. i'm just saying don't immediately assume he's going to win scoring titles in the future.

 

[Tortimer]

I watched the interview with Oden and he wasn't grumpy. I thought he was pretty upbeat considering he was injured again and not playing in the game.

 

[Stevenson]

Maybe its me then. Greg sure seems different to me. Withdrawn, unenthusiastic, etc. I think it actually has been fairly well documented and commented upon long before this thread.

I am not talking about one interview. I am talking about his entire demeanor this year.

 

[Ed O]

Maybe its me then. Greg sure seems different to me. Withdrawn, unenthusiastic, etc. I think it actually has been fairly well documented and commented upon long before this thread.

I am not talking about one interview. I am talking about his entire demeanor this year.

I'm not trying to pick a fight... I guess I just don't pay attention to that kind of thing. I know (to whatever level of certainty I can have) that he's a smart guy who's going to work hard on improving his game. THAT is what matters to me in terms of when I look at a player's personality.

I also know that I, personally, am not goofy or outgoing for most people. Inside? Very goofy. And angry. But mostly goofy.

Ed O.

 

[Tortimer]

Maybe its me then. Greg sure seems different to me. Withdrawn, unenthusiastic, etc. I think it actually has been fairly well documented and commented upon long before this thread.

I agree he has been earlier a lot different then he was before the MF injury. I think lately he has been more enthusiastic and a lot like he was before and not playing. I'm saying I didn't notice Oden being grumpy with this interview.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Durant is certainly making KP look like a fool.

We just have to wait a few years, maybe longer, to see how Greg turns out.

 

[Minstrel]

All I am saying is that the choice between the two players does not seem like the slam dunk it was, if even it was.

It wasn't a slam dunk, but it certainly seemed like the correct choice, to me. Then and now. I always expected Durant to be a fantastic wing, so Durant flourishing this year isn't a surprise to me at all.

You say Oden's rookie season is a disappointment as though that is universally-held opinion, but it's not. I don't think his season has been disappointing at all, and I don't think I'm the only one who feels that way, from having read a lot of the opinions on this forum. It would have been great to see him have a Shaq-like rookie season, but for his age and experience, I think he's having a very good rookie season. His main problems is fouls holding down his minutes. If not for that, his raw stats would look more like the numbers Dwight Howard, Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire put up as rookies.

 

[B-Roy]

Durant is certainly making KP look like a fool.

We just have to wait a few years, maybe longer, to see how Greg turns out.

Flavor of the day.

 

[Stevenson]

Minstrel, I actually agree with what you are saying. Maybe expectations of Greg were too high. I see that mine were for sure. He's having a fine year, but certainly nothing special, and nothing like what one would expect from a "once in a generation center."

And again, we all know the reasons, but that does not mean it is not disappointing.

And it is also true that Durant is quite amazing.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Durant is certainly making KP look like a fool.

We just have to wait a few years, maybe longer, to see how Greg turns out.

Look like a fool? Really? How long have you been watching the NBA?
Because I can think of a lot of high scorers that didn't win shit. What is the Thunder's record? You are right on one thing.....we just have to wait a few years.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Durant would improve our team. He would be a legit second option after Roy. What would OKC's record be with Greg?

 

[RR7]

Durant didn't win a scoring title his rookie year, and Oden isn't going to win a title in his rookie year, possibly. Doesn't look like Durant will win a scoring title in his second year. Jury's still out for what Greg does next year.

 

[Minstrel]

Minstrel, I actually agree with what you are saying. Maybe expectations of Greg were too high. I see that mine were for sure. He's having a fine year, but certainly nothing special, and nothing like what one would expect from a "once in a generation center."

For a rookie with only one year of high-level basketball prior, I think it's consistent with a great talent. If this is how he's playing in a couple of years, then yes...I'd say it's nothing special. But for a rookie center, his per-minute efficiency is very good.

The moment he learns to play without fouling a lot, I think his numbers and defense will shoot up.

Durant wasn't remarkable in his rookie year, he's only flourished in his soph year. And I think that it's a shorter learning curve for a wing than a center. I think centers and point guards have the most to learn from the start.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Durant would improve our team. He would be a legit second option after Roy. What would OKC's record be with Greg?

He would improve our team THIS year. But that is like saying Chris Paul would have improved our team his rookie year. Both true statements. But eventually you have to put together a championship team. Things change. You need all the pieces. You draft CP you don''t necessarily end up with what we have. Eventually you need a center. Eventually we will need a scoring SF. Eventually OKC will need a inside presence. We will see if KP is the fool you say he is in a few years.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Will some of you people cut the kid a fucking break with this personality BULL SHIT?!
He has the weight of Portland on him as the #1 pick and goes out for the year..already feeling down....
Sees the team do fairly well and exceeds expectations without him..a little more down...
Goes down on national tv in the opener.....pretty gloom and doom..
He is finally playing and we see him happy when he is in there playing..the foul trouble is a minor bump in the road..but as basketball goes, he hasn't had much to be happy about.
Or maybe he is just a quiet guy who is level headed. Not everyone is KG out there. Do people question Duncan because he is so stoic?
This is his ROOKIE year, finally healthy after 2 injury plagued years..the fact he took OSU to the finals and KD got bounced in the 2nd round, shows just how big of an impact he can have and he did that with 1 hand.
Fuck thsi board pisses me off sometimes..give the kid time, then evaluate..as of right now he is a work in progress.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Will some of you people cut the kid a fucking break with this personality BULL SHIT?!
He has the weight of Portland on him as the #1 pick and goes out for the year..already feeling down....
Sees the team do fairly well and exceeds expectations without him..a little more down...
Goes down on national tv in the opener.....pretty gloom and doom..
He is finally playing and we see him happy when he is in there playing..the foul trouble is a minor bump in the road..but as basketball goes, he hasn't had much to be happy about.
Or maybe he is just a quiet guy who is level headed. Not everyone is KG out there. Do people question Duncan because he is so stoic?
This is his ROOKIE year, finally healthy after 2 injury plagued years..the fact he took OSU to the finals and KD got bounced in the 2nd round, shows just how big of an impact he can have and he did that with 1 hand.
Fuck thsi board pisses me off sometimes..give the kid time, then evaluate..as of right now he is a work in progress.

Can I hear an Amen.

 

[EGame]

Time out, TIME OUT. You're joking, correct? First off, I am amazed that we are judging Oden so soon and especially after a meaningless rookie-sophmore game where Durant was clearly the best player on the court. Did you expect him to suck? Sure he has an amazing game and how much he scored was impressive, but if he had more of a team, his numbers would not have been quite that scoring wise (like LeBron sharing the load with Wade, Bosh, Melo, etc).

Second of all, how are you blaming KP on this at all? You want to point fingers at someone point it at Nate. He has NO idea how to use this prospect and it does not help that our guards are so incompetent that they cannot give him the ball when he rolls to the hoop or gives it to him down low to do work. Another thing that stops from Greg being so awesome is foul trouble. This is an obvious issue and will remain that way until he cuts the horrendous looking fouls which in turn, should cut some of the phantom ones as well. What happens usually when Greg is on the court not in foul trouble? He usually does well and seems to be a double-double machine when he plays a ogod portion of minutes. This foul issue could haunt him his whole career and that would be bad for us, but if he cuts it down and Nate learns how to use him (or we fire Nate and get someone who knows how to use him), he will look like the beast he was projected, I would bet my life savings on it.

Give the man a freaking chance. I would be lying if I said Durant would not look good on our current team and could make the game easier for Roy and vice versa, but Oden is the key to the promise land. Use him right, and I think he along with our star Roy and a versatile Aldridge will help us get there. The second guessing of who to draft right now is complete garbage. Maybe next year or two years if Oden doesn't show much than second guess, but his first season coming back from a major surgery is so unfair and Durant has had the advantage of 1 NBA season under his belt. Give him time, good God.

 

[cdub503]

Can I hear an Amen.

Amen!!

 

[Stevenson]

Time out, TIME OUT. You're joking, correct? First off, I am amazed that we are judging Oden so soon and especially after a meaningless rookie-sophmore game where Durant was clearly the best player on the court. Did you expect him to suck? Sure he has an amazing game and how much he scored was impressive, but if he had more of a team, his numbers would not have been quite that scoring wise (like LeBron sharing the load with Wade, Bosh, Melo, etc).

Second of all, how are you blaming KP on this at all? You want to point fingers at someone point it at Nate. He has NO idea how to use this prospect and it does not help that our guards are so incompetent that they cannot give him the ball when he rolls to the hoop or gives it to him down low to do work. Another thing that stops from Greg being so awesome is foul trouble. This is an obvious issue and will remain that way until he cuts the horrendous looking fouls which in turn, should cut some of the phantom ones as well. What happens usually when Greg is on the court not in foul trouble? He usually does well and seems to be a double-double machine when he plays a ogod portion of minutes. This foul issue could haunt him his whole career and that would be bad for us, but if he cuts it down and Nate learns how to use him (or we fire Nate and get someone who knows how to use him), he will look like the beast he was projected, I would bet my life savings on it.

Give the man a freaking chance. I would be lying if I said Durant would not look good on our current team and could make the game easier for Roy and vice versa, but Oden is the key to the promise land. Use him right, and I think he along with our star Roy and a versatile Aldridge will help us get there. The second guessing of who to draft right now is complete garbage. Maybe next year or two years if Oden doesn't show much than second guess, but his first season coming back from a major surgery is so unfair and Durant has had the advantage of 1 NBA season under his belt. Give him time, good God.

Nice, enthusiastic, first post!

Everyone gets its going to take time to see what will happen, but watching Greg hurt again, watching again, just made me want to say "I sure hope KP was right!"

That is what we all hope. All I'm saying is that it is a little less clear right now.

And btw, I don't buy the whole "Greg has the weight of the world on his shoulders" thing. he's drafted to fan friendly, quiet Portland, he's not expected to be the savior, the team is winning, he fits in.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Friendly, quiet Portland doesn't block out the rest of the world and the media calling him a bust and injury prone.

 

[Pinwheel1]

And btw, I don't buy the whole "Greg has the weight of the world on his shoulders" thing. he's drafted to fan friendly, quiet Portland, he's not expected to be the savior, the team is winning, he fits in.

Fan friendly as long as you don't log on to the internet.

 

[EGame]

Nice, enthusiastic, first post!

Everyone gets its going to take time to see what will happen, but watching Greg hurt again, watching again, just made me want to say "I sure hope KP was right!"

That is what we all hope. All I'm saying is that it is a little less clear right now.

And btw, I don't buy the whole "Greg has the weight of the world on his shoulders" thing. he's drafted to fan friendly, quiet Portland, he's not expected to be the savior, the team is winning, he fits in.

Yes Oden is hurt again and it is disheartining, but it was another one of those fluke incidents. If Maggette actually played a mans game and not a soft "wussy" kids game his flop wouldn't have hit Oden (okay he didn't really flop into Oden's knee I don't think, but he may as well have, he flopped everytime we were on offense I am sure). I wish Maggette would be banned from the league, but instead, the league just rewards garbage players like himself for flopping. Pathetic.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Durant has been impressive, but I'm gonna give Oden another year before I jump on the "should have drafted Durant" bandwagon.