Who says Greg Oden isn't ready for the NBA?

I see your point. I just think that he's at a stage where he's better than the kids around him but not ready to step up to the next level and become an impact player.

 

boots, you really have three choices:

1. Ignore this thread and let it go away.

2. Admit that your logic was terribly flawed and that in backpeddaling to defend it, you said some really dumb shit.

3. Continue to try and defend it, sounding ever more delusional as you go.

No one's saying you have to like Oden. You might think he's going to be a bust at the next level, and, hell, there's a chance you might be right. But to continue on this "not physically impressive" bent, when that's so obviously stupid, and keep throwing out different examples, only to have them shot down, is only going to get you mocked. A few pages ago Herschel Walker and David Robinson were the only people who "impressed you physically" at Oden's age. When it was pointed out that Robinson was much smaller than Oden at the same age, up comes Karl Malone.

To wit:

Before, Stanley Roberts impressed you. Now, only Karl Malone. You're clearly flailing, and everyone can see that.

Let it go, man. You lost this one. Let it go.

EDITED: To fix typos.

 

But that's the thing. How many rookies are EVER ready to become an impact player. Even if he spends another year at OSU, there's a better-than-average chance that he's still going to struggle some in his first year.

Another year at OSU isn't going to prepare him to face the competition he'll face in the NBA. Another year in at OSU isn't going to prepare him to play the schedule that NBA teams play. Another year at OSU isn't going to help keep him from hitting the "rookie wall."

There's no reason to think that his arrival as an "impact player" will be sped up by another year at Ohio State. There's plenty of reason to think it will be delayed by a year, in fact.

 

It is increasingly sounding like the Boots' real issue is that he just doesn't like the way Oden's body looks--that his muscle tone is not as "cut" as Malone's and Robinson's was--well, who gives a shit, this ain't no bodyboilding contest. He is over 7ft 270 lbs. He is the most impressive combination of overwhelming size, strength, quickness, and athletic ability we've seen since Shaq entered the college game. That's what the rest of us were talking about when we called him physically impressive, I'm no longer sure what Boots was talking about.

 

Look, I was impressed with David Robinson physically. Anyone who saw him in high school will attest that he wasn't just "a skinny kid". Oden is big but I'm not goo-goo over him. I'm sorry.

 

I agree but I also don't see a burning fire in him that would make me think he could stand up to the grind of the 82-game regular season. And I haven't included exhibitions and post season play.

 

And that's a fine opinion to have. It's also another reason to get the fuck out of Columbus. The longer he stays in school, the more time scouts will have to pick his game apart. If it turns out he really is some kind of lollygagger, there's a chance another year in school will expose that.

As it is, he's going to be the No. 1 pick. He can't be drafted any higher. Whether or not he's ready is irrelevant. If NBA teams think he's ready, that's really all that matters.

It sounds like this is turning into a "Will Oden be a great pro" thread. That's something that can at least be argued. Arguing whether or not he should stay in school is like arguing whether or not the sky is blue.

 

I'm still not so sure that he would be number 1. While height is something you can't teach, I think others are thinking Durant could be better. Remember the year Jordan went number 3 in the draft. The best player isn't always number one.

 

IMO, it's going to take balls bigger than any GM has to take Durant ahead of Oden. And, even if it were to come out that he would be picked No. 2, is it really worth going back to school to improve your draft stock by one position?

 

And, as to the Jordan reference, the reason he didn't go No. 1 is because there were BIG MOTHERFUCKERS that got picked ahead of him. That would point more toward Durant going No. 2 than Oden going there.

 

Right, but they weren't better. Teams draft for needs. That's why Jordan fell. No one knew Jordan would become what he became but the point is, height is something you can't ignore, which is why people are flocking to Oden. If he were 6-10. Would he still be thought of as a number 1?

 

Keep digging, boots.