B-Roy, Oden as Olympians?

by zenbowl on Aug 28, 2008 6:14 AM PDT Comment 16 comments

Slam Online has an early, early projection for 2012 that includes TWO Blazers:

Greg Oden – The main question mark in the 2008 Olympics was the lack of big men. That won’t be an issue in London where the best center prospect since Shaq will bring unstoppable shot swatting and rebounding potential. Oden will also bring a fresh personality that Team USA had been lacking for quite some time.

and

Brandon Roy – A born leader, B-Roy will be the quintessential play-maker as well as one of the best all-around players by the time 2012 rolls around. Roy won’t flinch at any defense thrown in his way, nor will he hesitate to get in a teammate’s face. Like his Blazers teammate Greg Oden, Roy will serve as a positive influence and an ambassador to the game.

I find it interesting that they listed Oden first, seeing how proven Brandon is at this point.

That two Blazers would be projected as not just Olympians, but true ambassadors and leaders, well, that should say something about coming years.

FWIW, the projection lists five "keepers" from the current team: LeBron, Paul, Williams, Wade, and Bosh. Not sure about Wade lasting four more years at this level, but you never know.

The "ten to consider", other than Oden (who was listed at the top) include Horford, Amare Stoudemire (injuries?), Al Jefferson, Mayo, Kevin Martin, Durant, Rudy Gay, and Joe Johnson.

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Roy and O are shoo ins

But who else?

Don’t know who Kevin Martin is. Joe Johnson will be too old wouldn’t he? Where is Howard? Will he be to long in the tooth in four years to back of GO? Here’s off the top of my head.

G Paul, Williams, Bayless, Rose
G Roy, Mayo
C Oden, Howard, other?
F LaBron, Beasley
F Powerful Forward, Aldridge

No Durant due to annarexia.

by Blazersaurus on Aug 28, 2008 7:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

don't know who Kevin Martin is?

You need to watch a Kings game- Martin is probobly the NBA’s most underrated player— supremely gifted offensive player… and one of the best NBA comparisons for what we hope Rudy can be.

Oden and Roy are far from shoo ins.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Aug 28, 2008 7:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roy n' Oden

If Oden is healthy, I’d say he’s a shoo-in, but that can’t be argued with anything more than hope.

HOWEVER, Roy, again if healthy, has been on pretty much every list by every writer, pundit, and telecast as a probable selection to Team USA. I haven’t seen one where he wasn’t included as the consumate teammate and playmaker.

As much as anyone can be a lock who wasn’t on the team already, I’d say Roy is.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Aug 28, 2008 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

they both have great chances

neither one is a shoo in.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Aug 28, 2008 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

First we wait and see how it will work out this season for the this year US team´s players.

Then we can fear or hope…

The Midnight Rambler

by amlmart1 on Aug 28, 2008 7:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wade looked pretty much fully recovered to me.

I’d say the continuity with his recent injuries is completely severed now.
That’s just a rough impression, but it’s a solid one.

=(_8c(|)

by QualityPie on Aug 28, 2008 10:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope he's healthy

Because he’s an awesome player when he’s healthy.

Riley was was pickling my grits when he kept making Wade play while the Heat were waaaay out of the playoff picture, and Wade was so obviously hobbled and hurt. NO reason to risk the career of such a talent (or any lesser talent). NONE.

So I’m a’ gonna kick Riley in the neck next time I see him, and worse, muss up his hair.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Aug 28, 2008 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who starts?

Oden or D. Howard?

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Aug 28, 2008 10:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ask me again

In 2 to 3 seasons.

One thing I enjoyed about people actually watching Howard in the Olympics is that they see how he can score with a total lack of real post moves, and just overwhelming size and athleticism. I got the feeling some people didn’t watch many Magic games. He’s a total beast and very dominant some games, and he does it merely with athleticism and very little skill.

Oden, who is just as athletic (if not more so) and much bigger, can at least do the same to score over double digits (which some worry he won’t be able to).

We’ll just have to wait and see if Oden is better than Howard, and who would start on Team USA of course… and if either would even play. Next year, I’m sure Howard will be more effective by a sizeable margin but I hope we see the glimmers of what Oden will soon become: a total and complete monster who devours all who come before him to be sacrificed by the townspeople so Oden will let them live.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Aug 28, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

MAybe Dwight Howard starts . . .

. . . at power forward, ALONGSIDE Oden.

If Oden’s healthy, and Howard improves upon his already stellar-when-young level,
I could see that being a killer frontcourt tandem.

=(_8c(|)

by QualityPie on Aug 28, 2008 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Poor LaMarcus

Why is he the third wheel all the time?

Hopefully he geeks out at home and spends all day on his computer reading all this “Oden this” and “Roy that” and gets all P/O’ed and comes into the season with a chip on his shoulder.

I believe in you, LMA! You can be an Olympian, too!

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Aug 28, 2008 12:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Dude's gonna be our scoring leader

This team, with all the firepower we’re collecting on the perimeter, will still go through LMA for points. Inside out is the way to go, and Oden is not gonna supplant LMA as our post scorer anytime soon. Dude’s gonna have like 25 games scoring 25+, book it.

Andy Roddick has the most wimbledon titles in the world. He just hides them in Federer's trophy case

by premthegrem on Aug 28, 2008 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree...

which is why it’s so weird to me that he constantly #3 of our Big 3.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got Roy and Oden as our main men, I just never see Aldridge get quite the same acclaim.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Aug 28, 2008 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You just wait

I love LA.

And he’s going to be AAAAWWWWEEESSSOOOOMMMMEEE.

by Blazersaurus on Aug 28, 2008 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

because he's not as good

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Aug 28, 2008 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roy yes, not sure on Oden.

Yes I think Roy would be good for 2012. Not sure on Oden. LMA? Why does he keep getting overlooked. I don’t understand either. Maybe he should merit consideration for London 2012.

by CanadianBlazerfan on Aug 28, 2008 6:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs