Now that both Greg Oden and Kevin Durant have officially declared for the draft, we can talk about them without getting fined by Papa Stern.
While I think that Greg Oden is going to be a dominant defensive player, I just don't see a well-developed offensive game. He's got the offensive repotoire of Shaq, but without the size.
I can't imagine Durant being anything other than a dominant scorer in the Association. He scored 25 points against Kansas IN ONE HALF. And that was with a coach who doesn't even know how to run an offensive set. He was a great rebounder this year, 11.1 per game, and he averaged almost two blocks and steals per game. I don't see a downside.
So, simple question. Who will be the better pro and why?
3 comments:
Greg Oden will undoubtedly be the better player, because at the next level everyone is as talented as Kevin Durant.
Dunking over 6-8 Centers won't be possible at the next level because they simply don't exist. Big 12 basketball is decent, but it's no Eastern or Western Conference.
Kevin Durant's game resembles that of another Kevin that I'm sure we're all familiar with, the only difference is the commitment to the glass and defensive end isn't anywhere close to as tenacious as with that other Kevin.
Wherever Durant ends up, he's going to be plagued by the system he's playing in. However, because Oden's game is defensively charged he's going to be capable of impacting a team right away, and aside from perhaps Mike D'antoni, every coach in the league rewards tenacious defenders, especially at the center position.
It's also important to acknowledge where they'll be lining up on the tip-off. Durant will face perhaps some of the greatest power forwards in the game while Oden will more than likely see the centers of a team, and we're all familiar with the talent pool at that spot.
Oden dominated the Florida front court in the championship game amassing 25 points with 12 rebounds, and although his squad didn't walk away with the championship to confirm his dominance, they did march all the way to the Big Dance, something that very few Seniors are capable of accomplishing, let alone Freshman that were sidelined with a broken wrist for the first half of the season.
There's much that can be said concerning the athletic ability of Durant, however there's even more that can be said concerning Oden's fundamental game and defensive prowess. He shot above 70 percent from the charity stripe while shooting his attempts left-handed. He had a field goal percentage of 61 percent. He consistently handed out Legos to any that challenged him at the cup, and he played within the system.
I don't think there needs to be much more typed to point to the fact that Oden is destined to be the better player at the next level, and he's my pick for the ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!
You're way off on Durant. First, he won't be playing power foward, at 6-9 225 he'll be a small forward. And while I used to buy the Garnett argument, I don't think that's the best comparison.
Durant reminds me much more of Carmelo Anthony, who was 6-8 220 when he was drafted. He also had pretty similar stats-22 ppg, 10 rbg, 2 apg for Carmelo, while Durant was 25, 11 and 1.3.
Furthermore, they have followed the same career path so far, the only difference being that Durant's team wasn't quite as successful in the postseason.
Carmelo's shooting percentages have translated remarkably well from college to the pros. At Syracuse he shot 45%, 34%, 71% (fg, 3's, ft) and in his four-year NBA career he has shot 45%, 28%, 80%. Obviously the college three point line is the reason for that discrepancy and free throw shooting is something players often improve over their career, as long as their name isn't Shaq.
Durant didn't spend most of the season dunking over 6-8 centers, he's a jump shooter, and a REALLY good one. He shot 47%, 40%, 81%, so he's already a good shooter, even by NBA standards. As for being a good scorer, he averaged 0.72 points per minute in college. Carmelo average 0.61 at Syracuse.
Yes, Oden may shoot 70% from the free throw line, but he still needs to develop a go-to offensive move, and that's something you can't guarentee he'll do. Yes he was great against Florida and he should have locked up the top draft spot that night. But he was being guarded by Horford (6-10) and Richard (6-9) all game long. NBA centers may not be all that talented, but they are bigger and stronger.
Durant's going to be the better player next year, and as much potential as Oden has, Durant has just as much.
That's the reality of the matter. Both may in fact have equal talent, but as far as skill sets and tools, Oden has to be given the advantage with his frame, length and physique.
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