Pressure or Motivation?

[Natebishop3]

This is all a moot point until Greg proves he can stay healthy.

 

[Minstrel]

Define better talent? As in better at the game of basketball -- the sum of his positive contributions minus his negatives is greater than the sum of Greg Oden's positives minus his negatives. Last year and in Durant's rookie season you could have made an argument that he was a no defense chucker that made his team worse, but that is no longer the case.

In your opinion, certainly. I don't think that's anything like a clear fact. In terms of basketball ability, the numbers suggest Oden is at least as good.

Durant's been more productive, because he's been healthier. No question there. But you went the route of rating "talent." When he's on the floor, looking at PER and defensive rating (and observation of defense), there's plenty of a case to be made for Oden being at least as good as Durant.

 

[Ed O]

Durant has been better... primarily because he's stayed healthy.

I have no regrets that we took Oden and I would not be surprised if he ends up with a career at least as impressive as Durant's in spite of the slow start.

Ed O.

 

[LittleAlex]

I wonder what would have happened to Durant's confidence if he came off the bench for 18 minutes a game his rookie season? That's what would have happened had he been coached by Nate.

He is improving rapidly in large part because he is getting a ton of minutes with a ton of touches. Minutes and touches he simply would not have gotten in Portland.

And for those of you who believe Nate couldn't possibly have kept Durant on the bench for a whole season I submit to you the strange case of Steve Blake versus Bayless and Rudy.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Really it is amazing the level Durant has taken his team to. Maybe a big man helps win championships . . . but so do talents like Durant. A center alone doesn't take you to the championship. I would rather have the SF/SG superstar with servicable role players (including a servicable big man) than a superstar center with a servicable role players.

I't OK to admit that Durant would have been the better pick. Praising Durant is not an indictment on KP or Oden. .. it is acknowledging the obvious.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I wonder what would have happened to Durant's confidence if he came off the bench for 18 minutes a game his rookie season? That's what would have happened had he been coached by Nate.

He is improving rapidly in large part because he is getting a ton of minutes with a ton of touches. Minutes and touches he simply would not have gotten in Portland.

And for those of you who believe Nate couldn't possibly have kept Durant on the bench for a whole season I submit to you the strange case of Steve Blake versus Bayless and Rudy.

Also see Roy, Aldridge, Batum.

If Blazers picked Durant with the #1 pick, he would have got his minutes.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

OKC has been healthy all season. We hear that their GM is a genius. We hear that their coach is in the running for coach of the year. We hear that they have an amazing core of players, and that Durant should be in the running for League MVP.

Meanwhile Portland has had a RIDICULOUS level of injuries, our coach is continually maligned by the fans (on this board, at least) and we've been giving huge minutes to people like Juwan Howard.

Why is it that we're ahead of them in the standings?

 

[Buzz Killington]

Are we younger than OKC?

 

[BrianFromWA]

http://rpiratings.com/NBA.htm

Avg. Avg.
Team Exp. Age
Memphis Grizzlies 3.13 25.25
Oklahoma City Thund 3.47 25.35
Sacramento Kings 3.43 25.40
Portland Trail Blaz 4.00 25.48l

 

[BlazerBeav]

Are we younger than OKC?

I bet we would be if not for #6 - but thank God we have him!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I't OK to admit that Durant would have been the better pick. Praising Durant is not an indictment on KP or Oden. .. it is acknowledging the obvious.

It's not okay, because it's not true. It's okay to admit you're blinded by flashy scoring and don't have a good grasp of how rare and important an outstanding defensive center is.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

It's not okay, because it's not true. It's okay to admit you're blinded by flashy scoring and don't have a good grasp of how rare and important an outstanding defensive center is.

Jesus . . . fuck you too.

You not agreeing with me is one thing. But to call me blinded by flashing scoring and not having a grasp of the importance of an outstanding defensive center because I think Durant would have been the better pick . . . when the whole fucking league, expect for myopic Blazer fans like you, now think Durant is the better pick. Your post is idiotic.

 

[Nikolokolus]

It's not okay, because it's not true. It's okay to admit you're blinded by flashy scoring and don't have a good grasp of how rare and important an outstanding defensive center is.

If Oden hadn't missed 2/3 of his career games I'd agree with you partly. But A) Durant is turning into a helluva two way player and B) Oden's gotta be able to play more than an average of 27 games a season to be considered an impact defensive center -- to date that has not happened.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Jesus . . . fuck you too.

You not agreeing with me is one thing. But to call me blinded by flashing scoring and not having a grasp of the importance of an outstanding defensive center because I think Durant would have been the better pick . . . when the whole fucking league, expect for myopic Blazer fans like you, now think Durant is the better pick. Your post is idiotic.

Wow - a bit thin-skinned aren't we? I'm tired of hearing people say that "we have to admit" that Durant is the better player or better pick. He's a completely different player. Why do we KEEP HAVING this conversation? People who are so torn up that we didn't take Durant can just fuck off and support the "Thunder". Go on - you'll be happier, and we'll be happier. And thank you for your accurate polling of "the whole fucking league". I wish I had such inside contacts.

 

[oldmangrouch]

If Oden hadn't missed 2/3 of his career games I'd agree with you partly. But A) Durant is turning into a helluva two way player and B) Oden's gotta be able to play more than an average of 27 games a season to be considered an impact defensive center -- to date that has not happened.

Bingo.

At the time, picking Oden made sense. The "we should have picked Durant (or even Horford)" argument is 20/20 hindsight - but that doesn't make it untrue.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Wow - a bit thin-skinned aren't we? I'm tired of hearing people say that "we have to admit" that Durant is the better player or better pick. He's a completely different player. Why do we KEEP HAVING this conversation? People who are so torn up that we didn't take Durant can just fuck off and support the "Thunder". Go on - you'll be happier, and we'll be happier. And thank you for your accurate polling of "the whole fucking league". I wish I had such inside contacts.

You missed the whole point of my post. I said that it was OK to admit Durant is the better pick (if one believes that) because that is not a dis on KP or Oden. Saying that doesn't doesn't mean one hates Oden, or hates KP or think they have done something wrong. Personally, it doesn't mean I want to be a Durant fan or a Thunder fan . . . I am simply saying that I think Durant would have been the better pick while specifically saying this has nothing to do with KP or Oden. (Which,yes, the majority of the league agrees with me according to my inside souce . . . watching and reading basketball noting what analysts are saying)


Then you go off about me being blind, not understanding the importance of a big man and that it would be better for me to be a Thunder fan because I would be happier? And please show me where anyone, much less myself, says "you have to admit" . . . you are reading what you want read, not what is written.

I think what we have going here is a failure to communicate.

 

[KingSpeed]

C'mon people. It's OK to admit that Durant was the better talent and that KP missed on him. This isn't to say that Greg won't one day be a good/great center ... if he can stay healthy, but KD is well on his way to not only securing scoring titles, but MVPs as well. He plays defense, he rebounds well, he's a walking mismatch and he's as young as Nic Batum -- there's a lot of room left for improvement.

Now does this mean I'm upset that we have Greg? Not at all, I still think there's a chance he can put it all together and possibly stay healthy enough to help lead this team where it wants to go, but right now if you say Greg is the better talent than Durant, you're being disingenuous; you can only judge these guys on what they've done and right now Durant (and Horford for that matter) are a lot less potential and a lot more production.

FWIW, though I still don't think the Thunder are going anywhere (as in all the way) until they can find a legitimate 7 footer to plug in to the gaping hole they have at the 5 spot ... and I'm not even sure they have enough at the 4 spot with Jeff Green and Serge Ibaka.

This.

 

[KingSpeed]

Oden took his team to the championship. .

Not the championship. The championship GAME where he lost to Horford's team.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

That was the pre-injury Oden. That version, IMO, is dead and gone.

 

[KingSpeed]

Dude. Oden draws double teams and he ACTUALLY PASSES!! I love Durant and I think he's a helluva talent and phenomenal scorer, but his solution to the double team is to shoot over the top of it. That does nothing to make his teammates better.

As for whether or not he'll win rings, I think he's going to have to learn to pass before that will happen and he's going to need a legit post player to make that team a title contender.

And if he gets that legit post player, he'll win titles. ANd if he doesn't, it won't be his fault that they lose.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

[video=youtube;G7HzkEcKITo]

Seriously.

 

[KingSpeed]

Greg Oden is a better fit for this team as constructed.

If Greg stays healthy from this point forward, I agree with that. I just have problems with people saying Durant can't win a championship because he's not a center. It's ridiculous.

 

[Buzz Killington]

If Greg stays healthy from this point forward, I agree with that. I just have problems with people saying Durant can't win a championship because he's not a center. It's ridiculous.

high scoring wings are a dime a dozen.

 

[KingSpeed]

Seriously.

Man. I wish he played like that for us.