Jeff Green at power foward?

Clangus · Post #1 » by **Clangus** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:14 am

Since the other thread is about Chandler, I thought I would start this.

My thought is that he is fine and very effective there and after WATCHING THE THUNDER for the last 12 weeks - he should be considered our PF of the future.

Here is a list of the starting Power fowards from the top 4 teams in each conference and their heights/weights

Kevin Garnett 16.4 / 8.9 / 6'11 -253
Ben Wallace 3.1 / 6.7 / 6'9 - 240
Rashard Lewis 18.5/ 5.8 / 6'10 - 230
Josh Smith 15.7 / 7.5 / 6'9 - 240
Lamar Odom 10.3 / 7.1 / 6'10 - 230
Kenyon Martin 12.9/ 6.4/ 6'9 -230
Tim Duncan 20.8/ 10.5/ 6'11 - 255
LaMarcus Aldridge 17.6/ 6.8 / 6'11 - 240

Jeff Green 16.7/ 6.6/ 6 '9 - 235

He's not giving up anything in size or weight. Don't try the "with shoes" "without shoes argument either as clearly all teams say guys are bigger smaller than they really are.

I cant see why he couldn't stay there. Esp considering he likes playing with contact.

wiff · Post #2 » by **wiff** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:39 am

I went to a couple Sonics games last year and I had a chance to see Green and Wilcox stand right next to each other. Wilcox had him about a half inch in height and about 15 pounds.

Green can get up as well as anyone in the league. Green will do fine at PF.

I think sometimes people get too carried away with height. Sure you don't see many 5'6" PF in the league but the dude can ball.

He isn't terribly long in his reach but neither was Kevin Willis.

He's taller than Charles Barkley.

Personally I let someone's stats speak for themselves.

Since he has been moved to PF he has been pulling in 17pts and 7rebs. That works for me for a 22year old second year player.

richboy · Post #3 » by **richboy** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:01 am

Well my opinion is you are what position you defend the best. I think Durant future is at PF because IMO he will be the best defensive player of the two at PF in the long run. Right now Durant doesn't have the strength to defend much at the PF. With Tyson at Center you may see Durant more at PF because Tyson can defend the best post player,

The thing about Green is he doesn't have very long arms. Although he does have the height to play pf. He is about 6'9 1/2 with shoes. I think Green could become a PF but he not rebounding much at PF. If he not rebounding I have to wonder if he can be a real Pf. If Durant played PF he probably average 10 rebounds per game.

Mufasa_Reloaded · Post #4 » by **Mufasa_Reloaded** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:09 am

^ I agree, I think Durant and Green can switch off on SF/PF defensive assignment later if they need be.

It depends on the draft though... I think if they draft Griffin or Monroe, they'll just trade Green for a SG.

Post #5 » by **BrooklynBulls** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:12 am

I think Green is a 3. He has the game of a 3. Especially defensively, he's far better on the perimeter than he on the interior in the post.

blzrfan · Post #6 » by **blzrfan** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:16 am

I think you should trust your eyes instead of the listed height and weight. Jeff Green is undersized for a PF. I've seen him get push around by Aldridge and he's not a big PF.

There's no way Durant can play the PF position. The kid is barely 200 pounds and his body type is not one to gain much weight. Just look at his small shoulders.

Basically, I think the Thunder will trade Jeff Green for a PG or true PF in the future.

Mahoney_jr · Post #7 » by **Mahoney_jr** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:42 am

I always thought Durant would fill out more when he'll 24 or 25 (and would play PF fulltime then). But his frame isn't anywhere comparable to Dirk's for example. He will never bulk up considerably. On the other hand he seems quicker than Dirk. Maybe Durant can be a pure SF during his prime and maybe switch to PF in his late career.

And Jeff Green is a tweener in my eyes. He's a less power forward than David West is in NO and even the Hornets didn't have top inside D. I think Jeff Green might be traded until his value is high (2010-2011).

Post #8 » by **wizkid27** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:24 pm

I really like Green at PF. Not because of any numbers or height or weight. I'm a big believer in stats, but just watching Green and Durant manning the forward spots, I feel like they compliment each other very well and give pretty much everything you need to from your forwards. Add into the mix that I've felt like if they got a Chandler type player (and they actually got Chandler!), that any of their other deficiencies would be covered up very well. Then on top of that, you've got an athletic/great rebounding guard in Westbrook. I really think that those 4, with another solid guard, can be a long-term successful starting lineup.

Post #9 » by **SD2042** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:27 pm

Overall, this team has a lot of athleticism to work and build upon for the future.

OzThunder · Post #10 » by **OzThunder** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:57 pm

i don't like this trade green talk. If we didn't have durant we'd all be drooling over green.

I love him, if he has a big guy on him he takes him off the dribble and pulls up over him or gets to the rack. (Speaking of pulling up over him, you've gotta give him credit for developing his jumpshot over summer. There's no one i feel safer with for an open 3 on this team. and he went from a ugly air ball every three attempts to a knock down shooter)

And with a smaller player he backs them down and scores with one of the most polished jump hooks in the game. People that say he can't play PF don't watch games, and are thinking of the 3 times they saw his highlights in college.

On defense he might be a little bit weeker, but he's still solid and improving aswell as the mentioned fact that he's usually switched with durant so green guards the smaller perimeter players.

Clangus · Post #11 » by **Clangus** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:45 pm

seattlefan35 wrote:i don't like this trade green talk. If we didn't have durant we'd all be drooling over green.

I love him, if he has a big guy on him he takes him off the dribble and pulls up over him or gets to the rack. (Speaking of pulling up over him, you've gotta give him credit for developing his jumpshot over summer. There's no one i feel safer with for an open 3 on this team. and he went from a ugly air ball every three attempts to a knock down shooter)

And with a smaller player he backs them down and scores with one of the most polished jump hooks in the game. People that say he can't play PF don't watch games, and are thinking of the 3 times they saw his highlights in college.

On defense he might be a little bit weeker, but he's still solid and improving aswell as the mentioned fact that he's usually switched with durant so green guards the smaller perimeter players.

Finally someone who watches Thunder games. Thankyou.

Trading Green is simply a Stupid idea.
Good point about his improvement. He sure has gotten ALOT better in the off season. If he was on another team (without KD) He'd be getting drooled over big time. He's improved more than any other soph besides KD (and is right there with him as far as improvement goes IMO)

dlts20 · Post #12 » by **dlts20** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:04 am

you guys probably dont remember me but when you drafted him last year I said that you guys are crazy for thinking that he is average. I said that he would be a stud and would be the PF for you guys. Im just shocked that it took you so long to put him there. He can hang with the big boys as he's played downlow in HS & College. Also, whatever he will give up on D he can get back on O. He's a stud and always has been. I watched him alot in HS and knew you guys got a great tandem when you drafted the 2 of them. The league is smaller now and mostly an umtempo game. He can definatly play the 4

Khan · Post #13 » by **Khan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:04 am

Being in the western conference, i don't know how well Green can handle the defense assignments against Amare, Dirk, Duncan, Gasol, Boozer, Millsap, Aldridge, West...they are mostly taller, more skilled and much stronger than Green. Offensively speaking, i have no doubt he can handle the load, but unless he puts on another 10lbs (which may hurt other aspects of his game), i feel he will waste his potential, or he will turn into another Jamison, which is not bad, but...is he the ideal PF for a championship team?

Durant on the other hand should be a SF at all times. I guess it really depends who we will draft in the upcoming draft because if Blake Griffin is staying in OKC, unless Green is willing to settle for being the 6th man, he most likely will be traded.

OzThunder · Post #14 » by **OzThunder** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:56 pm

where does he get a reputation as a bad defender? Brooks usually puts him on the opposing teams best player. That's usually a wing player, and durant switches to the power foward. Doesn't mean he can't guard the bigs. And i know he's not an awesome post defenders for the guys you mentioned, but he's atleast a decent, probably average post defender...aswell as still being young and on a huge learning curve.

Post #15 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:25 am

green's playing style reminds me a lot of david west. he would have benefitted tremendously, as west does, from a shot blocking center to acutally play interior defense because green (and durant) are terrible at it.

i do believe he would be much more effective as a SF, and agree with posters who say that okc would be best served trading green for an upgrade at another position if possible.

richboy · Post #16 » by **richboy** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:46 pm

Green can be fine at PF but its to early to tell. Right now the Thunder are not a good team. Right now we know Green can put up numbers at PF when winning is not the most important thing. If the goal is to win a title the question of can Green be a PF for a contending team is tougher.

Also now that Green is playing PF perhaps he will add muscle and strength in the offseason. Maybe next year he is a 20 and 8 PF.

I disagree though that Durant can't be the PF of the future. If you have a defensive center next to him I see no problem. I wouldn't have Durant guard guys like Duncan or Gasol. If a Matt Bonner is in the game he should be guarding him.. Durant could guard Odom. He could guard the likes of Bosh, Dirk.

I guess best case scenario Durant and Green become interchangeable on both offense and defense. That like back in the 60s there is no real PF or SF. Just 2 forwards.