ODEN vs DURANT

These two young players will forever be linked as the #1 and #2 picks of the 2007 NBA draft. While their young careers have certainly taken different paths up to this point, I was a proponent of the Blazers drafting Kevin Durant long before they selected Greg Oden #1 on that fateful June afternoon nearly two years ago. Of course you say, “Oh Tyler that is easy for you to say now after Oden has been hurt and Durant is averaging 25 plus”. However you would be wrong if you alleged that is how I came to this conclusion.

When the Blazers drafted Oden they saw a young big man with Patrick Ewing like shot blocking ability, and lift like a youthful Shaq. I too saw many of those things, but I also understood that drafting a big man on raw talent alone didn’t always pan out. I looked back at past draft selections like Michael Olowokandi, Kwame Brown, and Sam Bowie (sorry for bringing that up), and figured that the risk would not be worth the reward. You counter saying, Greg Oden lead his team to the Final Four, and lost to the mighty Gators, I say so what. Oden’s team had NBA players on it to, like Mike Conely Jr., and Daquan Cook. What Oden did in college was impressive, but by no means was he the lone piece that kept that ship afloat.

What Kevin Durant did in college was unbelievable. He wasn’t playing alongside future lottery picks, he single handedly lead that team to victory night after night without the supporting cast Oden had. Don’t get me wrong, Texas basketball has more talent than say a Washington State, but Durant was that team, and was the face of college basketball for the 2006-2007 season. It was evident to me that his game would translate nicely to the NBA. With a skill set similar to a 23 year old Tracy McGrady, his mark on the NBA would be felt within minutes of him taking the court. Maybe the Blazers expected Oden to turn into the next David Robinson, and I can’t completely fault them for that. All too often we pick the beautiful and crazy girl knowing that it will be fun for a few months, though truly understanding nothing will ever come of it. It should have been clear to many that Durant was going to be a perennial All Star, not on some “tickle me elmo” fad that lasts for a Christmas season. The Blazers however rolled the dice, and it bit them.

I understand Oden has been hurt, but honestly the Blazers have been a better team this season with Joel at the 5, and Oden playing his 20 foul prone minutes a game. I don’t believe the Blazers drafted Oden with the number one pick thinking “he is going to be a great hustle man in this league”. However if that was the case they should have committed their future to players like Udonis Haslem, Kenderick Perkins, Joe Smith, or Drew Gooden. All of whom have proven track records as “nose to the grind stone” type of players. While Durant is averaging 25 down in OKC, albeit on a bad team, Blazers fans have to honestly be asking themselves if their team made the right choice. Roy, Durant, LA and the crew sounds like a lineup that could win the west every year; while Roy, LA, and crew sounds like a franchise that is satisfied with hosting two playoff games every April or May.