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thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

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Oct 28, 2010 9:26 AM
Gasol is not a "banger". He's just not. I like his game ALOT, but he's not a physical player. Blake Griffin is a physical player.

Speaking of Griffin, WOW! Really, really impressive! I don't know if there is anyone in the NBA that gets off their feet as fast as he does. He is just able to elevate faster than everyone else which will result in him being one of the top rebounders in the NBA. Just a freakish athlete.
Oct 28, 2010 9:26am
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

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7,384 posts
Oct 28, 2010 10:28 AM
I guess I am the only person who didn't think Oden should have been a number 1 pick in the first place. I thought he could be decent like a Mutumbo type but I never saw anything more and it appears he will never even make it that far.
Oct 28, 2010 10:28am
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

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Oct 28, 2010 10:40 AM
bigdaddy2003;535983 wrote:I guess I am the only person who didn't think Oden should have been a number 1 pick in the first place. I thought he could be decent like a Mutumbo type but I never saw anything more and it appears he will never even make it that far.

I didn't think he'd be great because he was entering the NBA already at 40 years old ;-)
Oct 28, 2010 10:40am
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

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Oct 28, 2010 10:41 AM
Fab1b;535990 wrote:I didn't think he'd be great because he was entering the NBA already at 40 years old ;-)

Lol yeah he looks like LeBron's dad.
Oct 28, 2010 10:41am
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Oct 28, 2010 11:15 AM
thedynasty1998;535949 wrote:Gasol is not a "banger". He's just not. I like his game ALOT, but he's not a physical player. Blake Griffin is a physical player.

Being reckless like Griffin isn't necessary to being a banger. Being a banger requires a good to great low post backdown repertoire, which Gasol has.
Oct 28, 2010 11:15am
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Oct 28, 2010 11:20 AM
bigdaddy2003;535983 wrote:I guess I am the only person who didn't think Oden should have been a number 1 pick in the first place. I thought he could be decent like a Mutumbo type but I never saw anything more and it appears he will never even make it that far.

I didnt either. I watched both Durant and Oden in HS and in college. Durant would have been my pick from the get go.
Oct 28, 2010 11:20am
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

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6,844 posts
Oct 28, 2010 11:43 AM
lhslep134;536013 wrote:Being reckless like Griffin isn't necessary to being a banger. Being a banger requires a good to great low post backdown repertoire, which Gasol has.

Gasol isn't a backdown player. Please give me 5 guys who fit your criteria for a "banger". I'm honestly interested to see examples because I think we are thinking of different things.
Oct 28, 2010 11:43am
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

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6,844 posts
Oct 28, 2010 11:45 AM
Laley23;536016 wrote:I didnt either. I watched both Durant and Oden in HS and in college. Durant would have been my pick from the get go.

Add me in the minority who didn't understand the pick either. It just seemed so obvious which one would be an elite player, and which one would be a difference maker. Plus, at the time Oden came out the game had changed. If you can't get up and down the court it really limits you as a C.
Oct 28, 2010 11:45am
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Oct 28, 2010 12:05 PM
thedynasty1998;536030 wrote:Gasol isn't a backdown player. Please give me 5 guys who fit your criteria for a "banger". I'm honestly interested to see examples because I think we are thinking of different things.

Re-watch the 2010 finals and try and tell me that Gasol isn't a backdown player. Just because he doesn't do it every single time doesn't mean he's not one.
Oct 28, 2010 12:05pm
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Oct 28, 2010 12:08 PM
thedynasty1998;536033 wrote:Add me in the minority who didn't understand the pick either. It just seemed so obvious which one would be an elite player, and which one would be a difference maker. Plus, at the time Oden came out the game had changed. If you can't get up and down the court it really limits you as a C.

Who says Durant would have developed the same in Portland?

By the same token, you're saying the Rockets should have taken Jordan over Olajuwon? No, because they had Clyde Drexler, and had a need for a game changing center.

If Portland drafted Durant, IMO he doesn't become the elite player he is because Brandon Roy was already The Man there, and the reason Durant has flourished in OKC is because he's The Man there. The Trail Blazers took Oden because they needed what they thought would be a game changing center, which almost every expert at the time agreed that Oden was.
Oct 28, 2010 12:08pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Oct 28, 2010 12:16 PM
lhslep134;536065 wrote:Who says Durant would have developed the same in Portland?

By the same token, you're saying the Rockets should have taken Jordan over Olajuwon? No, because they had Clyde Drexler, and had a need for a game changing center.

If Portland drafted Durant, IMO he doesn't become the elite player he is because Brandon Roy was already The Man there, and the reason Durant has flourished in OKC is because he's The Man there. The Trail Blazers took Oden because they needed what they thought would be a game changing center, which almost every expert at the time agreed that Oden was.

A. Watching Durant for 2 yrs in HS and a year in college he was always going to be The Man, and develope into a top 10 player (MVP, I wouldnt have put money on, but easily top 10 player). Oden had HUGE question marks going all the way back to HS. He has no offensive game, and no skill set. His asset was rebounding and defense. But his body was so old and fragile, it was a very risky pick and Durant was a cant miss.

B. Drexler was in Portland, not Houston.

C. Brandon Roy had 1 shortened year under his blet in Portland. It was a very good rookie year, but no way was Oden drafted to be second fiddle to Roy the way you assume Durant wouldve been. Either was going to be The Man with Roy as the second star.
Oct 28, 2010 12:16pm
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

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Oct 28, 2010 12:24 PM
The reason Portland chose Oden is not because they had Roy. Durant would have developed no matter who drafted him.

I know that Portland thought they made the right choice in Oden and I understand it. In most drafts it wouldn't have even been a discussion, but Durant was one of those "once in a lifetime" talents.
Oct 28, 2010 12:24pm
Iliketurtles's avatar

Iliketurtles

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8,191 posts
Oct 28, 2010 12:35 PM
Laley23;536016 wrote:I didnt either. I watched both Durant and Oden in HS and in college. Durant would have been my pick from the get go.
Count me as another one who said Durant was better.

How bad is Portland at drafting though? Bowie over Jordan and now Oden over Durant.
Oct 28, 2010 12:35pm
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jordo212000

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Oct 28, 2010 12:35 PM
Oden is injured again? man
Oct 28, 2010 12:35pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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Oct 28, 2010 12:57 PM
jordo212000;536092 wrote:Oden is injured again? man
Same injury from last year.
Oct 28, 2010 12:57pm
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Oct 28, 2010 3:43 PM
Laley23;536073 wrote:A. Watching Durant for 2 yrs in HS and a year in college he was always going to be The Man, and develope into a top 10 player (MVP, I wouldnt have put money on, but easily top 10 player). Oden had HUGE question marks going all the way back to HS. He has no offensive game, and no skill set. His asset was rebounding and defense. But his body was so old and fragile, it was a very risky pick and Durant was a cant miss.

B. Drexler was in Portland, not Houston.

C. Brandon Roy had 1 shortened year under his blet in Portland. It was a very good rookie year, but no way was Oden drafted to be second fiddle to Roy the way you assume Durant wouldve been. Either was going to be The Man with Roy as the second star.

Shit you're right about Drexel my bad.


But regardless.....You can't tell me that Roy and Durant would have both been "The Man" on the same team. I am very firm in my stance that I don't think you can have 2 of "The Man" that play similar positions (SG/SF).


The only way that you can get 2 guys like that on the same team is if one of them takes a defined role as the sidekick (i.e. Pippen), because Roy and Durant are both strong willed personalities (even though Roy is more vocal than Durant up to this point), OR if they play different positions (i.e. Kobe and Shaq).
Oct 28, 2010 3:43pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

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Oct 28, 2010 5:02 PM
lhslep134;536298 wrote:Shit you're right about Drexel my bad.


But regardless.....You can't tell me that Roy and Durant would have both been "The Man" on the same team. I am very firm in my stance that I don't think you can have 2 of "The Man" that play similar positions (SG/SF).


The only way that you can get 2 guys like that on the same team is if one of them takes a defined role as the sidekick (i.e. Pippen), because Roy and Durant are both strong willed personalities (even though Roy is more vocal than Durant up to this point), OR if they play different positions (i.e. Kobe and Shaq).

Well thats fine, and I kind of agree. But when Durant came along, I think Roy wouldve been fine in the 2G spot. I mean, he could be Westbrook for Durant.

Now, off the top of my head I can think of some similar situations that worked (of course not all are as good as Durant and Roy):
Miller and Rose
Billups and Hamilton
Billups and Anthony
Duncan and Robinson
Wade and LeBron (they may not win a title ever, but they will for sure be damn successful)
Webber and Divac (talk about bad drafting. Only the Hornets could trade Kobe for Vlade!)
Barkley and the Dream (and now Clyde the Glide)
Shaq and Malone
Dumars and Isiah

etc...

So I kind of agree, but it all depends on the player. Durant and Roy both seem like they can play with anyone. Hell Roy played second fiddle throughout college with Nate Robinson at Washington (till SR season), and Durant was a great teammate with Damien James, DJ Augustine, and AJ Abrams. Durant also played HS ball with Greivis Vasquez.
Oct 28, 2010 5:02pm
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

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8,534 posts
Oct 28, 2010 5:33 PM
lol i forgot allllllllll about AJ Abrams...his jumper was deadly
Oct 28, 2010 5:33pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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Oct 28, 2010 9:37 PM
I haven't seen too much of the first half, but it doesn't look like John Wall has gotten off to a very impressive start. 3-13 FG shooting with 4 assists. Wizards are down 24 at the half to Orlando.
Oct 28, 2010 9:37pm
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2quik4u

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Oct 29, 2010 12:04 AM
lebron is averaging 8.5 to's pg
Oct 29, 2010 12:04am
bigdaddy2003's avatar

bigdaddy2003

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Oct 29, 2010 12:41 AM
I wasn't hugely impressed by Wall in college. I only watched 5 or 6 Kentucky games but I didn't really see a bad ass player that may change the game. He is just a rookie so I will obviously give him a chance to shine but I am definitely more interested in Griffin.
Oct 29, 2010 12:41am
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Oct 29, 2010 9:27 AM
Laley23;536407 wrote: Miller and Rose-----defined roles. Miller clearly the shooter/scorer
Billups and Hamilton---Billups is a point guard. Significantly different position from shooting guard.
Billups and Anthony---see above
Duncan and Robinson----true, but I think you'd agree it's different talking about two big men who don't touch the ball every play than a SG/SF combo
Wade and LeBron----verdict's not out yet. I'll be very interested in revisiting this point with you
Webber and Divac---see point about Duncan and Robinson, and I'd say that Webber had the more defined role as a scorer
Barkley and the Dream----big men
Shaq and Malone----really? This was Malone's last year, he was barely a shell of what he was in Utah
Dumars and Isiah----again, a point guard

Basically the only example that IMO I think would apply to what I'm saying is Lebron/Wade, and so far, and keep in mind this is only through 2 games, but there's been a lot of standing and watching the other person go to work.

I just really don't think Roy and Durant would have reached their maximum potentials that we now see them at because even with defined roles, one of them would have been a sidekick, and while I think that person would have been Roy, I don't think he'd be the great player he is now in that role.
Oct 29, 2010 9:27am
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

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Oct 29, 2010 9:41 AM
Obviously the Blazers can't go back in time, but if they could, there is no question they choose Durant. They made the choice at the time that they thought improved their team the most, and that's fine. But to say Durant and Roy couldn't have reached their potential while playing together just isn't true.
Oct 29, 2010 9:41am
F

friendfromlowry

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6,239 posts
Oct 29, 2010 1:42 PM
I think Wall will be more entertaining when he has Hinrich AND Arenas to pass to on the break. They were also missing Josh Howard.
Oct 29, 2010 1:42pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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Oct 29, 2010 9:37 PM
Heat looking better tonight. Dwight Howard has been shooting a lot of Tim Duncan's patented bank shot with mixed results. I think he is doing teams, especially the Heat, a favor if he starts shooting jump shots.
Oct 29, 2010 9:37pm