Oden. No doubt.

by mcmillion on May 23, 2007 11:50 AM PDT

Get the big man.

How many dominant centers are currently in the league? You'll have plenty of fingers left to include Oden after you count them on one hand.

How many hot shot perimeter players are there in the league? Way way too many.

They say the league is headed towards the Phoenix style. That's the evolution of basketball... yet, who is still alive in the playoffs? That's right, teams with big men who can play effective half court sets and dominate the paint. Duncan is going to win his 4th championship in 9 years... and people still want to shift their style of play to the Suns? Even when the rest of those championships, besides Detroit's, were won by Shaq? Up-tempo is an exciting brand of basketball, yes... but championship caliber basketball? no. You have to be able to play both styles while dominating the paint if you want to win it all. Go for the championship... not the flare.

Kevin Pritchard sees the writing on the wall. He knows the right choice is Oden. And why? Because he knows he can go out and grab the appropriate player to fill needs on the perimeter... but he can't go out and snag a dominant center quite so easily. Yes, Durant will be a stud... and yes, he will win ball games and change the fortunes of a franchise... but he will never make up for the gaping hole at center left by a decision to pass on Oden. That type of player comes around maybe once every 10 years. And a franchise gets a chance at that player once in a lifetime.

Don't pass up that chance up.

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Comments

Who's to say Oden

can't play in an up tempo style. He's a faster runner than Jamall, and Joel. He can be the trailer and ram it home on smaller teams.

by OCBlazerfan on May 23, 2007 12:16 PM PDT reply actions

oden said

he prefers a half court team that doesn't run so much.

I should seriously save all the oden/durant links/interviews/scouting reports!

Life is seroiusly good!

by ratbastird on May 23, 2007 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Agree

I applaud you..

and Oden can play in a fast paced offense, he's extremely athletic, not a normal sloth big man.

ROY for R.O.Y.

by junit3123 @ Blazer's Edge on May 23, 2007 12:34 PM PDT reply actions

actually

he made a comment that he hates running, and flordia wore him down by being a fast team and his shot started to falter.

by ratbastird on May 23, 2007 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions

your kind of turning into BP

with your anti odenness im sensing

ROY for R.O.Y.

by junit3123 @ Blazer's Edge on May 23, 2007 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah, you shall now be called

BP#2

by Devyn on May 23, 2007 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Bravo!

The Blazers have to go through the decision process, but knowing what's in the decision process, this is already a done deal.

Oden will be wearing Black and Red in June.

by Blazers Nation on May 23, 2007 12:41 PM PDT reply actions

Suns

Don't they have a pretty good center too?

by Jumbo on May 23, 2007 1:38 PM PDT reply actions

No.

They have a pretty good PF in Amare, though.

by Blazers Nation on May 23, 2007 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions

I think much is going to depend on the interviews

It sounds to me like KP is going to be weighing the interviews quite heavily. Once again he mentioned fitting into our culture. They're only 19 - he's going to look at their maturity. He'll be able to tell how they really feel about playing for Portland (not just the normal platitudes.) Someone mentioned Durant's mention of Roy & Aldridge - and when he talked about the Sonics he didn't mention any names. He knows how they play, now he's going to dig into why they play and decide which one fits the best on all levels, not just basketball skills.

by jorga on May 23, 2007 2:47 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed.

And I honestly don't have a read on which player has the edge there.
I expect something decisive will emerge toward (or maybe AWAY FROM)
one player or the other during the upcoming getting-to-know-you process.
First dude to show any hint of questionable character gets left for the Sonics, maybe?
It may very well come down to that!

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on May 23, 2007 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think the question is ...

questionable character. Both of these kids are great kids. But when you start talking about heart and drive and will and desire, I think you've gotta give that edge to Durant. From what I've heard he's living in the gym his entire life. I don't know that Oden hasn't, but I get the feeling a hurt wrist wouldn't have stopped Durant from getting into game shape until the season was half over ...

by bfan on May 23, 2007 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Or Durant might self-criticize himself into slumps

Hearing Durant never leaves the gym may throw up as many red flags as it removes. Being a perfectionist is only good for a person as long as they are perfect. The minute they aren't perfect, they get mad at themselves, self-doubt creeps in, then they go on month long shooting slumps. We know all about this because Martell Webster does the exact same thing.

Durant and Webster might well have too much of a good thing. Did you see all the slumps Webster self-criticized himself into last year? I want players that work hard, but there's a limit where some balance needs to be introduced into their lives, too.

by Blazers Nation on May 23, 2007 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions

You're assuming Durant is a perfectionist ...

Simply being a gym rat does not translate into perfectionism to me. That's not the feeling I get from Durant. I think he just loves the game. And at first blush it looks to me like he loves it a little more than Oden. I'm sure KP will figure that one out before he drafts, though.

by bfan on May 23, 2007 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions