Simmons' Ranking of "Stomach Punch"-eligible Teams

[KingSpeed]

while Oden was considered the pre-eminent talent .

Was he? Durant was College Player of the Year.

 

[KingSpeed]

The truth of the matter is this:

If we had drafted Durant, we would be a 55-60 win team this season and the Thunder wouldn't win 20 games in any of the last three seasons.

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't care. I really don't. I know everybody is supposed to bow down before the greatness that is Durant (particularly as he's actually massively improved his adjusted +/-, so that he's not actually a huge net loss when he's on the court), but he leaves me cold. Maybe that's my fault. But Glen Rice left me cold too. Give me a Jason Kidd type over those guys every time. Or even Dikembe Mutombo. Because I just don't get a huge kick out of a guy hitting lots of jump shots and not doing all that much else.
.

Durant grabs more than 7 rebounds a game. He also averages 3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 blk. Shoots 48% from the field and 87% from the free throw line.

It is obvious to me that we would be a better team with Durant. You can't have too much talent. If Boston can make Pierce/Allen/KG work, we could've made Durant/Roy work. It's not about whether or not they still would've gotten gaudy stats. It's about the talent they bring to the floor and their ability to make each other better.

Nothing wrong with having more than one good player.

 

[Minstrel]

Was he? Durant was College Player of the Year.

Yup. Scouts were pretty unanimous that Oden was a once-a-generation center, and they had felt that way since Oden was a junior in high school. Prospects like that are historically rare...there's a College Player of the Year ever year (though I'd say Durant was one of the better ones among that group).

 

[julius]

Was he? Durant was College Player of the Year.

So was JJ Redick.

I knew we should've taken him over Brandon! Hell, JJ took his team to the finals! Where has Brandon taken his team! NO WHERE!!

I'll even go one better! Adam Morrison was the Co-Oscar Robertson College player of the year winner, and HE'S WON A TITLE!!!!!


Learn the game, then post!

 

[julius]

I should really be able to give myself a reputation vote here. Maybe I should make a fake name and do it.

 

[Buzz Killington]

look at all the titles Jordan and Kobe have!

Jordan was the G.O.A.T. and Kobe is top 5 (plus had the Most Dominant Ever aka MDE in Shaq) for 3 rings.

 

[Buzz Killington]

The truth of the matter is this:

If we had drafted Durant, we would be a 55-60 win team this season and the Thunder wouldn't win 20 games in any of the last three seasons.

If Oden was drafted by the Sonics, I believe the Thunder wouldn't exist right now.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Was he? Durant was College Player of the Year.

and Oden took his team to the NCAA championship game.

 

[julius]

If Oden was drafted by the Sonics, I believe the Thunder wouldn't exist right now.

Yah, they'd be called the Oklahoma City GregOdensPenisIsHUge's.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Yah, they'd be called the Oklahoma City GregOdensPenisIsHUge's.

They would still be the Seattle Sonics.

 

[julius]

They would still be the Seattle Sonics.

Do you think them drafting Oden would've saved that franchise? I don't see how it would've helped, their owner (Bennett) clearly was 90% out the door the week after he bought the team. Getting the #1 pick would've have helped much, imho. It would've just driven him to more excitement over leaving for OKC

 

[Buzz Killington]

i think the city would have put 100% more effort knowing that they got a "once in a generation center". i mean, look what happened with Portland..similar things in Seattle would have happened.