Oden

[Steve Ouellette]

---- "Berry wrote: 
> I watch every OSU game and have been to a few. I'm convinced Greg Oden
> will be a dominant franchise center in the NBA for a decade. A few
> points:
> 

This makes you the list expert on Oden ... but also a bit biased :-) Honestly, I'd be ecstatic with either guy.

> 
> --- Rebounding. He's averaging 10 a game. Why not more? A few reasons
> ... He doesn't play as many minutes as Durant (although his minutes are
> creeping up). He can't grab the ball with his right hand -- he loses two
> or three rebounds a game because of this. But most importantly, Ohio
> State lacks any other even average rebounder.

Durant is also averaging more rebounds per minute. And I don't think it's fair to call him a swingman simply because he has the skills to play the three. He's thin, but he rebounds and blocks shots too. He can definitely play the 4.


> --- Oden vs. Durant. I still say it's a no-brainer. Even if Oden is just
> Patrick Ewing -- and I believe he'll be much better than Ewing -- how do
> you not take that player No. 1? Doesn't Durant have to be Michael Jordan
> to justify not taking Oden? 

No, if Oden is Bill Russell, Durant would have to be Michael Jordan. If Oden is Patrick Ewing (or Robert Parish or Emeka Okafor or Dikembe Mutombo), then Durant could be Larry Bird or Kevin Garnett or Dirk Nowitzki or a healthy Tracy McGrady and justify going number one.

I agree that Oden will be better with a healthy right hand and the NBA game MIGHT open things up for him -- but he'll also be going up against guys who are as big or bigger, guys who are as strong or stronger, for the first time. He won't be able to bully his way past Shaq or Dwight Howard. 

Durant's game is ready-made for the NBA style, and if Oden has nowhere to go but up, I see no reason why Durant should stagnate.

Then again, maybe we can snag Josh McRoberts instead ...

Steve O