Spring Break
Still Oden over Durant?
Ben Bradea
Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: Sports
Would you do it again? Would you take an injury-riddled 50-year-old over a budding superstar? Would you take 3.9 fouls per game and numerous foul-outs over the fourth-leading scorer in the NBA at 26 points per game?
Two years ago, the choice was clear: a franchise center who comes around every 10 years over a skinny athlete who shoots too much. Kevin Pritchard and the Blazers sure thought they were getting the final piece in building their dynasty.
But through a year of micro fracture knee surgery rehab, a sprained foot and a chipped patella bone, Greg Oden, in his first two years, looks like he has arisen the ghosts of Sam Bowie. Yes, the same Sam Bowie that the Blazers once chose over Michael Jordan.
So is Kevin Durant the next Michael Jordan? Surely he isn't, but his 26.0 points per game coupled with his rapidly-improving outside game makes him one of the best young players in the game. While Oden sat out his sixth game on Friday night with his current patella injury, he looks more disinterested than ever.
While Oden was playing against three future NBA big men in the 2007 national championship game, people saw the possible future that he might have in the NBA: swatting jump shots into the stands, dunking like he had personal animosity against the rim, grabbing rebounds with authority that led with outlet passes to fast break points, and shooting left-handed free throws like he was left-handed. This is what we all expected.
Today, when he is on the court, we are relegated to watching a 280-pound old man lumbering his way across the court, committing silly fouls and struggling to get the ball above the rim.
So would you do it again? I would.
Why you ask? In a few years when the Blazers bring home the Larry O'Brien Trophy, all that Greg has gone through over the last two years will make him better for the game of basketball. My preference is the guy who has shown flashes that he can be the next Dikembe Mutombo on defense and who can develop his outside game like Patrick Ewing.
I don't need Kevin Durant taking shots away from All-Star Brandon Roy and bringing his lackluster D and his 180-pound, "Feed the Children" frame to Portland.
Give me the seven-foot beast that will bring four rings to Portland just like Shaq did for L.A. Oden will be special, he just needs time; he can't even legally buy a drink yet. Coming off of microfracture knee surgery doesn't sound like an easy task either, especially for a 20-year-old. Once he tones down and continues to work with a big-man coach, such as Maurice Lucas of the Blazers, he will learn how to move, stay out of foul trouble and improve his post game.
Even Oden himself can see the prize; he told ESPN the magazine "I wanna win a lot of championships, like 15."
Priceless.
Ben Bradea, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
Two years ago, the choice was clear: a franchise center who comes around every 10 years over a skinny athlete who shoots too much. Kevin Pritchard and the Blazers sure thought they were getting the final piece in building their dynasty.
But through a year of micro fracture knee surgery rehab, a sprained foot and a chipped patella bone, Greg Oden, in his first two years, looks like he has arisen the ghosts of Sam Bowie. Yes, the same Sam Bowie that the Blazers once chose over Michael Jordan.
So is Kevin Durant the next Michael Jordan? Surely he isn't, but his 26.0 points per game coupled with his rapidly-improving outside game makes him one of the best young players in the game. While Oden sat out his sixth game on Friday night with his current patella injury, he looks more disinterested than ever.
While Oden was playing against three future NBA big men in the 2007 national championship game, people saw the possible future that he might have in the NBA: swatting jump shots into the stands, dunking like he had personal animosity against the rim, grabbing rebounds with authority that led with outlet passes to fast break points, and shooting left-handed free throws like he was left-handed. This is what we all expected.
Today, when he is on the court, we are relegated to watching a 280-pound old man lumbering his way across the court, committing silly fouls and struggling to get the ball above the rim.
So would you do it again? I would.
Why you ask? In a few years when the Blazers bring home the Larry O'Brien Trophy, all that Greg has gone through over the last two years will make him better for the game of basketball. My preference is the guy who has shown flashes that he can be the next Dikembe Mutombo on defense and who can develop his outside game like Patrick Ewing.
I don't need Kevin Durant taking shots away from All-Star Brandon Roy and bringing his lackluster D and his 180-pound, "Feed the Children" frame to Portland.
Give me the seven-foot beast that will bring four rings to Portland just like Shaq did for L.A. Oden will be special, he just needs time; he can't even legally buy a drink yet. Coming off of microfracture knee surgery doesn't sound like an easy task either, especially for a 20-year-old. Once he tones down and continues to work with a big-man coach, such as Maurice Lucas of the Blazers, he will learn how to move, stay out of foul trouble and improve his post game.
Even Oden himself can see the prize; he told ESPN the magazine "I wanna win a lot of championships, like 15."
Priceless.
Ben Bradea, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.