I agree stats are misleading, but after watching both players several times this year Durant has a better chance to be a special player in the NBA. If Oden ever develops a strong offensive game, then we will see. But the skillset, athleticism and domination mentality that Durant showed was out of this world for a college freshman. He's got the whole package already, yet it's very easy to see how he can get better. When his body fills out there is no telling what this guy will do. You want to talk about facing inferior athletic competition, much of Oden's success was predicated on the other team's lack anyone within 50 lbs of him. How many times did he play pattycake on the rim because no one else could jump with him or box him out? That won't happen in the NBA, at least for a long while. Oden is no Shaq, and he must learn more skills to be a top level NBA center. IF IF IF he learns these skills, he could be a great one. But Oden has a lot further to go than Durant.
I have said it before but let me reiterate: any team that passes on Oden will regret it for the rest of their existence. Durant is great, but not only does Oden have far more upside, but he has the type of potential that can one day put him in the same class as Olajuwon and Russell in terms of all-around greatness. He will be a defensive monster, a game-changer in that aspect of the game, and his offense will almost inevitably come around to become at the least very good. Keep in mind this kid learned on the fly how to use his 'wrong' hand and is still effective. Durant is a scorer...I don't think he will be 'exceptional' at any other aspect of the game, and I see him more of a perimeter-oriented forward like a Rashard Lewis type; if he focuses on the mid-range/post up game, then more like Caremelo. But for his own sake, I hope he goes to an Eastern Conf team so that he doesn't have to deal with the big PFs in the West early on. But he's no slouch either, he's going to be a great player in the NBA for years to come, I just think Oden will be a more 'impactful' all-around player. I hope Oden ends up with the Celtics, I think that team fits him well. As for Durant, he will fit anywhere he goes, but I am rooting for the top two teams in the draft to end up being in the East because I don't want either player in our conference.
Yao was still a hyped up #1 overall pick, though. Geez, it isn't like Oden is anywhere near as polished as whoever takes him would like ideally but that certainly won't stop them from taking him. To suggest Yao was more of a project than Oden is doesn't make much sense to me. Both had their flaws coming into the league yet both are/were still very much NBA ready. .....and let's be honest, there was only one man arguing that we take Jay Williams over Yao even though we already had an All-Star PG at the time and he will remain name nameless.
I look at Oden, and I may be mistaken, but I have yet to see one sign of emotion from him. Sure the pulling up on the rim might count, but have you ever seen the man use his face in a different way than the deadpan stare? We all know KD has passion, as you can see it in every game (maybe he overuses the beating your chest with the fist thing). There's a lack of passion in the NBA right now, and KD certainly will go out there every night trying to make his team and himself better. I'm not sure if it's the same way with Oden. Of course, KD got every single call in college near the end of the season, and it certainly won't be the same in the association.
I know this is a common knock on Oden, and I understand where it's coming from. But I personally don't think people need to scream or have those Rasheed Wallace type of reactions for special circumstances. I think Oden has a Tim Duncan-like demeanor. In the finals, Oden may not have had many motivational yelling, but you could tell he was playing his heart out. He wanted it way more than any of his teammates and I felt for him. This guy played on another level and was easily the most motivated person on his team. I don't doubt for a second he's got the will to be aggressive. This coming from a Gator fan. I've got to say, people knock Noah for wearing his heart on his sleeve though, so which is it people?
Hey, I for one have no problem with Noah screaming and playing with emotion, that's what the college game is supposed to be about. It certainly wasn't evidenced this year, but sometimes its the team who has the most heart who wins. Sometimes 12 seeds want it more than 5s, etc., and the random team from the cellar-dwellar of the conference shows a little bit more in the regular season. It's what makes NCAAs so great.
Yeah, sorry, that comment wasn't aimed at you. I just noticed people like to knock down Noah for his fire so I thought I'd use this Oden discussion as another point in nullifying that.
Go back to the 1984 draft. Patrick Ewing was being lauded for his defensive abilities while at Georgetown and the hope was his offense would develop in time. As it turns out, he was a pretty decent scorer in the NBA. Given there are relatively few quality traditional (multi-dimensional) centers in the NBA, Oden will be a very successful NBA career on both sides of the ball. Hopefully, he'll play on a team with a PG that can get him the ball when he has established inside position...
I wonder if those same players would have a change of heart today? Duncan wasn't a "5 star" prospect when he enrolled at Wake Forest. However, he improved steadily during each of his 4 years at WFU. Oden was a "5 star" prospect coming out of high school and played only 1 season at Ohio State before declaring for the NBA Draft. I think Moses Malone is a better comparison (for Oden) at this point in their careers.
