Is Oden really that good??

To say that Oden might be peaking is ridiculous. He's had one year in college- missed the first 7 games of the season because of the wrist surgery- played the rest of the season without using his right hand (he's right handed), and played on a team that didn't need him to score every night. Watch him in the title game with Florida. He was all over the court, challenging every shot. He's going to grow even more once he gets a couple of years of NBA coaching. He's huge, strong, has excellent timing, and can move.

 

he is going to be better then hakeem and shaq combined.

at his peak your looking at 57ppg, 23rbd, and 7 or so blocks.

rookie year though 37ppg, 2rbd, .3 blocks

good but not good enough for ROY over Durant. but look out

 

he's a lot better than most centers using his left hand

 

I think Oden has better shot blocking instincts, but Dwight has the edge with the freakish athleticism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6itzS8R4HVQ

 

Oden was not that remarkable of a shot blocker. Zo hit 5 his fresh year. Okafor hit 4. Camby, Duncan, and Shaq--despite less billing-- all had more their fresh year. Oden didn't have noticable steals either--say compared with Hakeem, DR and Shaq.

Everybody says well he is a freshman. But he also is a fully developed man. He has been his size since when? Enough that he would have been the 1st pick the year before and for all eyes on him for his high school years. The same cannot be said for Hakeem/Shaq/DR/Duncan. You could say Ralph Sampson was like this (everyone knew he was the best player before he stepped foot in college), or go back to Jabbar--but then Oden wasn't close to as impressive as those two in his 1st appearence on the college hardwood either.

Look, Oden is a great prospect. But he is far from the best offensive or defensive center prospect to come along in the last 20 years. I don't think anyone would draft him based on where he is at and what they have seen over Shaq, Robinson, Hakeem or Duncan. You just can't assume he will develop like they did.

As for the hand thing, that should have most strongly affected his shooting. If it was going to effect all his game (rebounds, blocks, steals) or be of any particular risk given super high stock he would not have been on the court.

 

I don't really see anybody making that particular argument.

You can't assume anybody will develop. Who knows maybe Durant turns into Danny Manning. I do know that Oden's gifts are as apparent as anybody and he could probably have averaged a double-double in the NBA this year at age 19.

 

That's one of his best characteristics. He IS a hard worker on and off the court (coaches compliment him for the improvements that he underwent through a lot of effort and teachers rave about his study habits.) There are no real questions about his character (maybe assertiveness, but he made strides in his only college season.)

 

Right you can't assume anyone will develop. But Shaq/DR/Hakeem/Duncan/Sampson you knew would be an immediate upper tier player in the NBA. They were more developed than Oden is entering the draft (though Hakeem a little less than the others, but he had terrific blocks, steals and rebounds--his lateral quickness in a guy that big and strong had not been seen on a basketball court).

Looking at the draft either Oden or Durant would be the first pick in any draft since 2003 (Lebron). I think they both are about every 3 year type prospects. I am not knocking Oden so much as valuing Durant--who is younger, looks to have more room for physical growth/development, and had a more impressive season (one of the most impressive fresh seasons in decades). Now I recognize the premium for Cs and that Oden is a relatively rare talent too, if he was Shaq/DR/Duncan proven I would say don't bother with even considering Durant, but I can't say that.