OT: Oden is a freak of nature

[BirdMan21]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2007/06/greg_oden_is_a_freak_of_nature.html

Greg Oden is a freak of nature (updated)
Posted by Jason Quick June 04, 2007 11:24AM

The Oregonian has secured the official weights, measurements and testing results from the Orlando predraft camp, and wait until you get a load of the freak of nature called Greg Oden.

For starters, his numbers blow Kevin Durant out of the water.

There are several startling revelations in the numbers, and the one that immediately pops out is the bench press. Players were rated on how many times they could bench press 185 pounds. Oden didn't attempt the bench press in order to prevent an injury to his right wrist, which has recently recovered from injury.

But get this: Only one player was unable to bench press 185 even once - Kevin Durant.

There is more.

Oden is faster than Durant in the 3/4-court sprint, quicker in the lane-agility drill, and has better numbers in the running and standing vertical leaps. And, Oden has a mind-boggling 7.8 body-fat percentage ... most big men are north of the 12 percent range. For instance, other top-rated big men such as Washington's Spencer Hawes (13.0), Duke's Josh McRoberts (13.7) and Pitt's Aaron Gray (10.8) don't compare.

Let's get to the specifics.

Oden is 6-foot-11 without shoes, 7-feet with shoes.

He weighs 257 pounds.

His wingspan is 7 feet, 4.25 inches (fourth best in the draft). His standing reach is 9 feet, 4 inches (the highest of anyone in the draft). His standing vertical is 32 inches, his running vertical 34 inches.

The lane agility drill, where a player runs through cones alternating between running backward, sideways and forward, is 11.67 seconds. And his 3/4 court sprint was 3.27 seconds.

The thing that jumps out is Oden's speed and agility.

We all know Oregon's Aaron Brooks is fast. Brooks finished the 3/4 court sprint in 3.2 seconds. Oden was 3.27 seconds. Durant, meanwhile, finished in 3.45.

Oden's 11.67 in the agility drill speaks volumes to the footwork so many scouts rave about. Durant did the same drill in 12.33.

Durant's specifics are as follows:

Height: 6-foot-9 without shoes, 6-foot-10.25 with shoes. Weight: 215.

Wing span: 7-foot-4.75 (second longest in the draft - Maryland's Ekene Ibekwe is 7-6). Standing reach: 9-2.

Body fat: 6.6. Standing vertical jump: 26.0 inches; running vertical jump, 33.5 inches. Lane agility: 12.33 seconds and 3/4 court sprint, 3.45 seconds.

Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard declined to comment on the numbers, in part because he had just received them himself.

But really, there is no need for comment. The numbers speak volumes.



Those numbers are absolutely rediculous, anyone who thinks that Oden will not have a bigger impact than Durant might need to rethink thier standpoint. Kid is just a freak.

 

[elindholm]

"Oden tested better than Durant" and "Oden is a freak of nature" are actually not equivalent statements, even though the author of the article seems to think they are. Did it occur to him that the comparison might say more about Durant than it does about Oden?

 

[slinslin]

Durant finished 78th overall.. Oden 66th or something without looking it up. Oden's number would be higher since he skipped the bench pressing.

 

[azirish]

Oden weighs 257, has a 9'4" standing reach along with a 32" standing jump. I'm not sure about his immediate impact on the offensive end, but he is going to block a lot of shots.

 

[Gaddabout]

Wow. Right before Jason Quick wrote that, he called up Suzie and got the low down on Wanda Bennett from 4th period: DYE JOB!

*snap*

I know journalism is getting informal with all the blogging and stuff, but I don't think I can take my sports written in giggly school girl style. Apparently Seattle and Portland are going to compete against each other for prom queen.

 

[mathbzh]

But really, there is no need for comment. The numbers speak volumes.

Those numbers are absolutely rediculous, anyone who thinks that Oden will not have a bigger impact than Durant might need to rethink thier standpoint. Kid is just a freak.

Some time ago (about 1.5 year) I started a thread about a French freak, Sidiki Sidibe (7'1 260 lbs 32'' vertical leap... ) he is now 22, play for the Real Madrid young team and don't show any promise of being someday a dominant basketball player. Being a freak is not enough.

I believe Oden will dominate the paint for the next decade. But nothing is sure. A lot of thing could go wrong with is career. His body is a great tool, but to be a great center he will need more.

Durant has already everything and he will become stronger, jump higher, run faster... He is not yet a great athlete and is already a great player. He should become awesome. All we should do is observe these two young kids and enjoy.

 

[mathbzh]

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2096

But Can He Play? Analyzing the NBA Pre-Draft Combine Results

You should read this.




http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2096

 

[azirish]

Oden is not Sene.

Oden physically dominated at the college level like no one in years. We are not talking about having a good game or beating up on some scrubs, he beat up everybody.

Durant is a completely different kind of player. His skills are through the roof as a shooter, rebounder, and even pretty good on defense. He'll be a great star and is the early favorite for ROY.

But Oden is clearly the best rookie center prospect since Duncan.

 

[mathbzh]

Oden is not Sene.

Oden physically dominated at the college level like no one in years. We are not talking about having a good game or beating up on some scrubs, he beat up everybody.

Durant is a completely different kind of player. His skills are through the roof as a shooter, rebounder, and even pretty good on defense. He'll be a great star and is the early favorite for ROY.

But Oden is clearly the best rookie center prospect since Duncan.

This is what I say. Oden is a freak AND a very good basketball player.
But as a player he still have a lot to learn (this is natural given is age).
Durant is already a great player but not yet a great athlete (this is not a surprise given is age and body frame).
I believe you can't say Oden will have more impact than Durant by just reading these evaluations.

Oden is clearly the best rookie center prospect since Duncan... and Duncan is not a freak.

 

[azirish]

This is what I say. Oden is a freak AND a very good basketball player.
But as a player he still have a lot to learn (this is natural given is age).
Durant is already a great player but not yet a great athlete (this is not a surprise given is age and body frame).
I believe you can't say Oden will have more impact than Durant by just reading these evaluations.

Oden is clearly the best rookie center prospect since Duncan... and Duncan is not a freak.

Duncan had four years of college before being drafted. But in any case, I see Oden as more of a Patrick Ewing type center than a Duncan - only more physical.

 

[devilalum]

Oden weighs 257, has a 9'4" standing reach along with a 32" standing jump. I'm not sure about his immediate impact on the offensive end, but he is going to block a lot of shots.

I saw him routinely block shots in games where his hand was well above the box on the backboard.

 

[Chaplin]

Oden is not Sene.

Oden physically dominated at the college level like no one in years. We are not talking about having a good game or beating up on some scrubs, he beat up everybody.

Durant is a completely different kind of player. His skills are through the roof as a shooter, rebounder, and even pretty good on defense. He'll be a great star and is the early favorite for ROY.

But Oden is clearly the best rookie center prospect since Duncan.

While Oden is definitely the best rookie center prospect since Duncan, he certainly didn't dominate the college level like no one in years. In fact, in terms of hype, Oden was underwhelming. Many thought it was because he showed the rare trait of having a game that was better suited for the pro level rather than college.

 

[nashman]

Does a basketball weight 185 pounds? That has got to be one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. The kid is a freak, young and will only get better and stronger, I still say he ends up being the best player to come out of this draft.

 

[elindholm]

While Oden is definitely the best rookie center prospect since Duncan, he certainly didn't dominate the college level like no one in years. In fact, in terms of hype, Oden was underwhelming. Many thought it was because he showed the rare trait of having a game that was better suited for the pro level rather than college.

Or because he was playing on his wrong hand.

Or because the referees "wouldn't let him stay in the game" and kept calling fouls on him.

Chaplin is right; Oden hasn't dominated the college game. So far, it's been one excuse after another for why he's been merely good instead of mind-blowing. Maybe all of the excuses are legitimate, but so far Oden has not demonstrated the kind of performances that will make him an NBA superstar.

 

[carrrnuttt]

While Oden is definitely the best rookie center prospect since Duncan, he certainly didn't dominate the college level like no one in years. In fact, in terms of hype, Oden was underwhelming. Many thought it was because he showed the rare trait of having a game that was better suited for the pro level rather than college.

It's called a wrist injury, and shooting all season with his off-hand, which he successfully pulled off, I might add. He's now a threat with either hand.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Does a basketball weight 185 pounds? That has got to be one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. The kid is a freak, young and will only get better and stronger, I still say he ends up being the best player to come out of this draft.

Why is it silly? The bench press is a sign of strength. The fact that he couldn't even do it one time is very telling.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Again, the best way to judge is to watch him on the court. Some guys get so caught up in numbers. When Oden was on the court, he dominated the game on both ends. His presence was just huge.

The only really big question about Oden will be fouls, but my guess is that he'll get superstar treatment from game one. NBA referees tend to call fouls based upon anticipation rather than actual observation.

They look at what a guy is attempting to do defensively, subconsciously run that through their seive of what they believe that guy is actually capable of doing based upon their perception of skill level and athletic ability, and then they call the foul if there is a disconnect.

That said, if NBA refs begin to "believe" he is a freak of nature, he'll be able to stay in games.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Or because he was playing on his wrong hand.

Or because the referees "wouldn't let him stay in the game" and kept calling fouls on him.

Chaplin is right; Oden hasn't dominated the college game. So far, it's been one excuse after another for why he's been merely good instead of mind-blowing. Maybe all of the excuses are legitimate, but so far Oden has not demonstrated the kind of performances that will make him an NBA superstar.

wow. if you're skeptical of oden you're going to be shocked at what he eventually does at the next level.

he took a team with some pretty good talent to the national championship game as a freshman and got beat by a defending national champion with three lotto picks on it. he started the season injured and STILL played effectively without having fully recovered. his numbers are better as a freshman than almost every other dominant center at the same stage. i don't get where your skepticism stems from . . .

 

[azirish]

There are a number of people who suggest Oden will be much more effective at the NBA level than college because they don't call incidental contact as fouls as much.

Most guys who get into quick foul trouble are ones who MUST jump to contest shots. Oden may take a little while to get used to charge circle and rotations, but with his length he's vastly better suited to contest straight on slashers than most bigs.

 

[Rab]

I've bought into all the Oden hype. I think he is going to do great things in the NBA.

 

[azirish]

I've bought into all the Oden hype. I think he is going to do great things in the NBA.

There are several issue that kindof get mixed up:

1. Who will be the Rookie of the Year? I'll guess Durant, although on the Sonics he may not get the minutes if Lewis is re-signed. In general, Durant's skills suggest he could put up great stats. Oden is not likely to have huge offensive stats on a team that has another guy who scores in the low post.

2. Who will be the first to make the all star team? I'll guess Oden will get selected as early as this coming season, but certainly within the next three. Durant will be struggling in a conference with lots of great forwards. His stats will have to be through the roof to make it that soon.

3. Who will be bigger star over his career? As great as Durant will be, including being a regular MVP candidate, I'd say Oden will leave the biggest impact if he lives up to his potential. Franchise centers are very rare and very visible.

4. How will their impact compare: This is not like LeBron and Carmelo who play similar postions. They are two radically different kinds of players. It is like when Hakeem and Jordan were drafted in the same year. Hakeem got to the finals long before Jordan did but did not win a championship until later. In both cases, the supporting cast was decisive, but both had Hall of Fame careers.

 

[Russ Smith]

Caveat, I like Kevin Durant a lot and think he'll be a very good NBA players for a long time, maybe great. But to me the last guy to come in as a freshman and be conference player of the year in a major conference and display the type of talent he had was Shareef Abdur Rahim at Cal.

Durant put up 25 PPG 11 RPG, Shareef put up 21 and 8 or 9 IIRC. I'd argue the college game is diluted now since early entry is so common, the year Shareef came out, Garnett went straight to the NBA and started the whole wave of HS to NBA players. So Shareef put up his numbers in a less diluted college game.

I think Durant is a better player than Shareef was, he's a bit taller, longer, handles better and has better range. Shareef has been a good solid NBA player but he never became a star because he wasnt' a good defender and he basically was a good offensive player who didn't do a whole lot else. 18 PPG and just under 8 RPG for his career.

I think Durant will score better I think he's probably going to rebound better although shareef was stronger coming out of Cal. But for Durant to have a much bigger impact on wins and losses, he's going to have to be a much more complete player than he is now. If you watched the USC game against Texas in the NCAA's the key to that game was Tim Floyd was smart enough(god that hurt me to write) to realize that they were going to put Durant on his weakest offensive player so he stared a different lineup and attacked Durant. It was no surprise Hackett had a career high that game, it was by design to force Durant to cover someone, and he wasn't able to do it.

Durant is a much better offensive player now, but Oden is a much better defensive player he impacts the entire game by neutralizing the paint.

 

[Chaplin]

Take this as you will, but word is that Durant had a bad workout with the Sonics the other day.

 

[azirish]

Take this as you will, but word is that Durant had a bad workout with the Sonics the other day.

It would be interesting if they decided to trade out. There would be a lot of suitors.

 

[Rab]

It would be interesting if they decided to trade out. There would be a lot of suitors.

There would be suitors all over the place, but I think they would be crazy to pass on him. Players with his ability don't come around often, but I guess anything is possible.