Oden vs. Durant - Just Pick Already!
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by user Deuelio
By nature, I hate hype. I get worn out by excessive coverage of a news item or event and despite my status as a HUGE Blazer fan, the Oden vs. Durant debate – AKA “Decision ’07” has worn me out.
Thankfully, the Oregon State Beavers gave me brief respite, but with the draft just four days away and the Beavs currently basking in a back-to-back championship haze, I have to weigh in because everyone else has.
First, I’m very excited to have Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Both should instantly make Portland better and put us on the brink of the playoffs. And secondly, they both appear to be great guys who will fit in perfectly with Portland’s youth/character movement of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Jarrett Jack and everyone else not named Zach Randolph or Darius Miles.
The question remains though, who to take? GM Kevin Pritchard studied under Greg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, so he knows first-hand what a revolutionary big man can do for a franchise. But he’s also very shrewd. I think everyone thinks he’ll take Oden, but he may love Durant. The fact that Durant wowed everyone at his recent workout only muddies the issue in my mind.
I’ve waffled back and forth. I started out as 100% Oden but I’ve wavered slightly after reading reports of Durant’s recent workout. Several weeks ago there was a report released the Oden was falling apart. His wrist won’t bend, he had bulging discs in his back, he was actually 43 years old etc etc etc. I don’t believe these reports and even if they are true, I trust the Blazers brass to poke and prod Oden in all the right places to see if he’s suitable to draft. So while I’ve waffled back and forth, I remain slightly in the Oden camp, believing (rightly so) that big men lead to championships. Even if Durant turns out to be the next Jordan, Oden is more Hakeem than Bowie.
All this leads me to my point. As long as the Blazer front office is on the same page, I’m okay with whomever they select. If Nate/Pritchard/Allen et al want Durant, I’m okay with it. If they want the big man, I’m okay with it. But no more of this crap we had a few years back where some in management wanted Chris Paul but John Nash wanted Martell Webster. Of course it was Nash who had selected Sebastian Telfair at 13 the year before and needed him to work out to save his job. Drafting Chris Paul just one year after selecting Telfair would have meant that Nash bungled the Telfair selection. So in that scenario, they weren’t on the same page…they weren’t even in the same book.
After one draft, Pritchard has an A+. Parlaying John Nash’s mistake into the rookie of the year and turning Victor Khryapa into LaMarcus Aldrige has earned him a lifetime of free drinks in Portland. If by selecting Oden or Durant, he helps bring a championship to Portland, the man could probably run for mayor.
He’ll face stiff competition from Brandon Roy though.
Brandon Roy will be tough to beat as mayor though.
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