THE BIG THREES POTENTIAL

[mojomarc]

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I think you're underestimating Dwight a little bit here; his hook shots and banks off the glass from near the basket are starting to become more regular lately, I think he's picking it up.

I agree though, Oden has shown he's much further along than Dwight offensively, if anything at least as a rookie.

I'll give you that Dwight occassionally uses the moves, but in the four or five Magic games I've seen this year he A) doesn't go to them often (why would he?); and B) they aren't a consistent weapon like, say, Kareem's skyhook or the Dream Shake.

I don't think this takes anything away from Dwight, but it does mean he doesn't have the array of basketball-specific skills to help him on nights when he may be matched up against someone equally big and athletic. Of course, that doesn't happen very often--Bynum and Oden seem to be the only real matchups here that have the physical gifts to potentially beat Dwight at his own power game.

[mojomarc]

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I agree. If his health cooperates, Oden should be dominant. Why temper our enthusiasm for the most gifted big man in a generation?

I think you are saying the key words--we drafted Oden to be the most gifted, most dominating big man of this generation. I agree that he can get there. That is also, however, why I'm so flabbergasted that so many people are pegging his ceiling at right about where Chris Kaman is today, and some even lower.

Here are the facts: 1) Oden has been the most hyped big man for a half decade now; 2) NBA teams, particularly Boston, tanked games to get a shot at Oden; 3) Oden was drafted over probably the best offensive talent to come out of college since Carmelo Anthony, and many would argue that Durant will be better; 4) regardless of any skills, he has demonstrated that he has the same leaping ability as Dwight Howard, only in a package that is an inch taller and 20-25lbs heavier, so even without any real discernable NBA-level offensive talent you'd have to peg him at the same level as a minimum; and 5) while at OSU, he not only demonstrated better offensive talent than any other big man his age since Kareem, but he did it playing with only one hand, leading his team to the national championship game and then throwing down 25 points against triple teams of players all in the NBA this year. Why does this scream 15ppg to people? This should be at least screaming Patrick Ewing (who, by the way, averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds less per game playing similar minutes to Oden while at the same age) as the ceiling, which is just what he was drafted to be.

Granted, he will have a learning curve. He'll probably be pretty foul-prone early on, and his offensive game will need work to get to that level, but he absolutely can get there, and the Kaman numbers should be considered an acceptable floor for his performance, not the ceiling some make it to be. Kaman is a nice player and all, but IMO if you think that Portland drafted Oden so that he could be another Kaman or of player then you also should be starting and posting daily in a thread to get KP fired because he picked Kaman over the next Kobe Bryant.

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[Billy]

Some of my random thoughts on G.O:

The fact that Oden has sat out a year will provide him with at least one benefit he might not otherwise have received had he been playing--his muscle mass. Not having to adhere to the same weight room regiment as his teammates (which I'm assuming that they can't be lifting for bulk too many times during the year), he should be around the same size coming into his rookie year that most would have expected his 3rd year.

I'm sure they have him at least working on standing shots (IE: free throws) now, if not then soon. If Portland can spend a lot of time working on his free throw technique it could pay enormous dividends. Guys like Shaq, Zo, Ewing in their hay day, and Dwight now get fouled a lot--because most teams have no other choice. If Oden comes in shooting a decent FT% (say a conservative 72 - 75%) he's going to force teams to either pay at the line, or pray he misses from in close.

Lastly, I think with the slow but steady improvement of the teams D' that Oden should be in less danger of foul trouble due to his teammates deficiencies than he would have this year. Granted, he's still going to have trouble his first couple years regardless of who you put out there on the perimeter to help him. But I think the fact that the Blazer defense has become less "OLE!" and continues to get better will only help him.

[BlackMamba]

about oden's defense, i wonder how smart he's on that side.

is he an eager player wanting to block everything and everyone and finds himslef in foul trouble a lot, or is he a more patient guy?

[Andre 2999]

In 3 or 4 years:

Aldridge = Bosh (had to say something other than Sheed)

Oden = Old School Shaq

Roy = A smaller, less athletic, poor man's LeBron

By the way Spykes, I love the new avatar.

[UGotThrilled]

In 3 or 4 years:

Aldridge = Bosh (had to say something other than Sheed)

Oden = Old School Shaq

Roy = A smaller, less athletic, poor man's LeBron

By the way Spykes, I love the new avatar.

Ok, You were right on for the first two. But honestly, Lebron? Roy is so different. I know you said, smaller, less atheletic, and poor man's, but Lebron is a totally different player. I cant even think of who he compares to. But he is so much fun to have on the team.

Overall, I think that Roy stays similar on the stat line, but maybe a little more efficient of a shooter. Aldridge will continue to develop range and accuracy. Hopefully he adds some weight and rebounds really well. I have been especially excited about Oden lately. I watch the Thrilla miss some dunks, and get pushed around a bit, and I just think "Oden is going to be so much tougher." Don't get me wrong, I love Joel, its just that he is really good while Oden is great.