OT: March Madness discussion

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:44 am

I just woke up from the deep slumber that the game put me in. HOLY CRAP that game was boring.

The only thing I took from the game is that Oden wasn't as overrated as I had previously thought. Apparently I had watched the few OSU games that he decided he didn't want to play hard in. The way that guy protects his basket is amazing. Think Dikembe with more offensive skill. He'll be a damn good pro, but that is mostly a product of virtually nil quality centers in the NBA. I think Durant will be better overall though. I think it would be a mistake to take Oden above Durant at this point. Who knows, it could change if they both come back next year, but I'm still hitching my wagon to Durant. Obviously the team that picks #1 will need to draft for position, but I'm of the camp that believes you take the best available regardless of position...especially when you have the first pick in the draft.

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:49 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:I think Durant will be better overall though. I think it would be a mistake to take Oden above Durant at this point. Who knows, it could change if they both come back next year, but I'm still hitching my wagon to Durant. Obviously the team that picks #1 will need to draft for position, but I'm of the camp that believes you take the best available regardless of position...especially when you have the first pick in the draft.

No, conventional wisdom is that if there's a potential big man that can impact the game, you draft the center. Quality centers are few and far between. In the last 20 years I can't think of many - Hakeem, Shaq, Robinson, Duncan, Ewing, Mourning, Yao.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:55 pm

F308GTB wrote:No, conventional wisdom is that if there's a potential big man that can impact the game, you draft the center. Quality centers are few and far between. In the last 20 years I can't think of many - Hakeem, Shaq, Robinson, Duncan, Ewing, Mourning, Yao.

But the problem is that a lot of teams are going without traditional centers. The game has shifted recently to the fast pace, up and down game the Suns like to play. Now, that certainly is because of the lack of centers, but just because Oden is a center, doesn't mean he's going to dominate the NBA. Hell, he rarely dominates the college game as is. Sure, he's got potential, but Durant is ready now and he's going to be a better pro going forward.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:44 pm

Well, all I can say is that you should have been there. What a friggin' experience! I'll post photos soon, but I had to be very discreet (photos were a no no on security detail) about taking them. However, the shots I got I think will be great.

We were stationed on the floor itself-I was about 5 feet from the Florida bench, and thrill of thrills-I got to meet Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Dean Smith. I was stunned.

It was far more enjoyable than I could have anticipated...

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:02 pm

Are you talking about Noah coming out for a breather?? I think he just gets too hyped up and wears himself down by wasting energy.

Even though I am an FSU fan, I found it hard to route against the Gators. I like the way they play and the way they fit together as a team. I am not sure Ohio State did that great a job using Oden. It is like at times they were 2 teams - a fast break team when he was out of the game and a walk up the floor and run sets team when he was in the game.

Watching the Gators makes me feel old because it doesn't seem that long ago that their fathers were playing. I remember Yannick Noah playing tennis and I even saw Tito Horford play when he was with the Hurricanes (He was very stiff and it was obvious he had not grown up as a BB player, no big surprise he was a washout in the NBA).

Glad you guys had a great time at the tournament. I am jealous!!

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:45 am

Couldn't agree more Teal. Being there in person for an event
like this was the greatest. The whole weekend was a blast. The
practices, pep rallies, concerts, hoop city, drinking, etc. Me and my
wife had the best time and the Gators winning it all was the icing on the cake. Memories that will last forever.

tealboy03 wrote:Well, all I can say is that you should have been there. What a friggin' experience! I'll post photos soon, but I had to be very discreet (photos were a no no on security detail) about taking them. However, the shots I got I think will be great.

We were stationed on the floor itself-I was about 5 feet from the Florida bench, and thrill of thrills-I got to meet Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Dean Smith. I was stunned.

It was far more enjoyable than I could have anticipated...

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:22 am

There are suspicions that NCAA was going to make sure Oden wasn't going to be in foul trouble for the title game as he was in the game against Georgetown.

He's suppose to be 270 but he's young and he could put some more pounds on and still be agile and explosive.

His prospects are going to depend partly on how much the NBA wants him to be a success. If he's given more latitude on defense, staying out of foul trouble, he'll be a force. But NBA 4s and 5s with just a bit of skills could get him into foul trouble, unless the NBA wants him to stay in games rather than watch from the bench.

As for comparisons to Ewing, Duncan, Akeem, a better comparison would be Dwight Howard, another player who came into the league very young, very athletic but very raw in terms of footwork and low-post moves.

Oden would be doing very well if he can perform like Howard did in his rookie year and go from there, get stronger and more polished.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:25 am

double post.

Server errors.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:16 pm

wco81 wrote:He's suppose to be 270 but he's young

LOL@ the onion

http://www.theonion.com/content/from_pr ... final_four

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:31 pm

Leebo33 wrote:
wco81 wrote:He's suppose to be 270 but he's young
LOL@ the onion

http://www.theonion.com/content/from_pr ... final_four

Yeah, that is hilarious...can you guys really tell me this dude is 18?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:40 pm

Ya it's hard to use the term 'kid' to describe him after taking a look at his mug.

I guess he'll get the last laugh. When he's in the NBA, the women aren't gonna care how he looks.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:47 pm

I met Oden last year at Indy, as we brought him and Conley Jr. to the track to serve as honorary starters for a practice day.

Oden was a very nice, very quiet kid. But as he walked away, I thought to myself: "There is NO f'ing way that kid is 18 years old. This has Danny Almonte written all over it."

Take care,
PK

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:03 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Leebo33 wrote:
wco81 wrote:He's suppose to be 270 but he's young
LOL@ the onion

http://www.theonion.com/content/from_pr ... final_four
Yeah, that is hilarious...can you guys really tell me this dude is 18?

Yeah, he looks like a Mastiff dog...

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 6:14 pm

He does look much older than his alleged age but he would have been better off coming clean, if he's older, last year so that he can enter the draft right away.

If he's lying to set himself up for a pro career, might as well do it so he can get into the NBA earlier.

It's understandable about Latin players lying about their age to get long-term contracts or commitments from MLB teams.

But in this case, the lie would delay his pro career and leave him vulnerable to an injury which could hurt his value.

The real money for these phenoms is from the endorsement deals, not the rookie NBA contract. Durant is apparently being courted hard by Nike.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:35 pm

wco81 wrote:He does look much older than his alleged age but he would have been better off coming clean, if he's older, last year so that he can enter the draft right away.

Is the rule based on age alone? Hoopedia states, "U.S. players must be at least one year removed from high school *and* 19 years of age (by the end of that calendar year) before entering the draft. " Maybe he didn't finish High School until age 29?

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:37 pm

I dont know much about the guy, but is there a birth certificate or something that they can confirm his age? Is he American born? Or is he like some of the baseball players from other countries where their papers get 'lost'.

If this guy is really 18, then Albert Puljos is really 36. Oh wait, nevermind, bad analogy.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:56 pm

Funny how everyone calls Noah ugly, but they say nothing about this guy.
Oden looks like he was wacked with the ugly stick and then went back for seconds and thirds! I really dont know how he could possibly be 19?
At the game, I almost got him and Bill Russel mixed up. If Russell touched up that gray in his beard, you woudn't know who was older

tealboy03 wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:
Leebo33 wrote: LOL@ the onion

http://www.theonion.com/content/from_pr ... final_four
Yeah, that is hilarious...can you guys really tell me this dude is 18?

Yeah, he looks like a Mastiff dog...

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:13 pm

Bob Huggins to West Virgina. One year was too long to stay in Manhattan, KS.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:23 pm

JackB1 wrote:Funny how everyone calls Noah ugly, but they say nothing about this guy.
Oden looks like he was wacked with the ugly stick and then went back for seconds and thirds! I really dont know how he could possibly be 19?
At the game, I almost got him and Bill Russel mixed up. If Russell touched up that gray in his beard, you woudn't know who was older

tealboy03 wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote: Yeah, that is hilarious...can you guys really tell me this dude is 18?

Yeah, he looks like a Mastiff dog...

oden could kick our asses. noah...less likely.

so there is yr reason for not teasing his looks.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:50 pm

This just in.....

Donovan to stay in FL

4 Fla juniors to declare for NBA draft - Noah, Brewer, Horford & Green

press conference was at 4 pm today

DivotMaker · Post by **DivotMaker** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:14 am

Looks like Billy Gillispie is going to be the new KU coach....

http://blogs.chron.com/aggies/2007/04/k ... nounc.html

A&M gets to start all over now....