tsherkin wrote:Sonics-FAN wrote:Greg Oden is NOT a scorer, not yet. He won't be playing 36 mpg either. They'll work him in slowly.
Oden's pretty much a lock for 30 mpg... and he's already got one of the best off-hand's in the league. He'll be able to convert at a decent rate at the line and he's a monster on the offensive glass. He has all your basic post moves... To suggest that he won't be a solid offensive presence right away is to deny the basic scouting report on the player. But playing 36 mpg isn't a requirement of any kind... look at Tim Duncan over the last half-decade.
Uh, Tim Duncan has four rings, ten all-star appearances and is a three times NBA finals MVP.
Greg Oden comes off a serious injury, will get his first NBA action of his life on a team loaded with offensive talent.
You're giving me a scouting report on Greg Oden. I know he's a decent ft shooter, I know he's a great rebounder. I just don't think he'll get enough touches CONSISTENTLY in his first year after surgery on a team with Bayless, Roy, Webster, Aldridge, Fernandez and Outlaw. He'll EVENTUALLY develop into a consistent go to guy, but not in his rookie season.
People should not underestimate coming off a serious knee injury that required surgery. Especially being a rookie.
Guys like Beasley, Mayo and Love are in a different situation. They're on three of the worst teams from last season. They can go for individual numbers and afford mistakes. Portland wants to be a factor in the playoffs next season.
Kind of like Durant and Horford. Horford averaged 10/10 on a 36-win playoff team with offensive talent. Durant got the green light and could do whatever he wanted, he was THE MAN and the Sonics didn't give a damn about winning games. Durant won ROY honours, averaging 20 points on 40% shooting.
My prediction is that Oden won't be Rookie of the Year. We will see if that prediction comes true as the season unfolds.
He will be a solid contributor on a talented Blazers team, but he won't put up monster numbers.
