| Oden or Durant? The (pseudo) Debate Ends Today Authored by Billy Ray - June 28, 2007 - 10:06 am
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The biggest debate in the days and weeks leading up to the NBA draft may have been if there was a debate at all as to who the Trail Blazers should draft. On one hand Kevin Durant, an electric small forward who can play any position on the floor. His incredible range and smoothness make him a match up nightmare in a few seasons years. On the other is Greg Oden, a 7 foot tall athletic monster who has been chased by NBA scouts in the high school circuit for years and was considered by many to be the next big thing to be coming to the NBA since Lebron.
As the draft drew closer the Trail Blazers instituted a marketing campaign calling for drivers to honk their car horn once for Oden and twice for Durant. A mini website was established just to further fuel the debate. Kevin Pritchard himself added more fuel to the fire routinely using the same reasons he admires Oden as he routinely mentioned in the past few weeks as to why he drafted franchise corner stone Brandon Roy. While at the same time Pritchard raved about Durant’s workout, calling it “as impressive as anywhere I’ve seen [at the practice facility].”
By now everyone has their opinion. Some will always favor Durant who’s athleticism and knack to put the ball in the basket will make him a favorite to win NBA scoring titles down the road. Others will favor Oden whose sheer power and size will put whatever team he is with as a perennial contender. Lastly there will be a group of people that can see both players strengths as well as their weakness’s but will be happy with whoever is called.
Recently there has been a little spark of contention that the Blazers debate is little more than a marketing ploy that has run its course. Many see the Blazers “decision” as nothing more than a way to keep the team on the lips of fans and sports analysts throughout the country. Many are convinced that the Blazers need to give up the charade, announce who they will select in advance and let the cities new found Blazermania envelop the player in the most welcoming of fashions.
Hogwash. Clearly in most peoples minds the only debate has been whether the Blazers should even want a debate. But, this is a very rare opportunity to debate two players whose futures both spell Hall of Fame caliber. Why not enjoy every last minute of it? Yes, it’s true, by roughly 4:40 PST today there will be no more debate, the Blazers will have made their choice and be well onto the player-x era.
But now is the last moment to enjoy this time. Now is the last opportunity to be able to think about not one, but two potential franchise changing players. The Blazers may never see an opportunity quite like this one again.
So today, as you get ready to watch the NBA draft if you are already in a particular camp, take a moment to think about the other player. Just for one moment put aside the reasons why you may like one player, or dislike the other and think about their potential impact.
Maybe you won’t like it. Maybe it’s so clear in your mind who to pick that thinking about the other just doesn’t’ feel right—and that’s fine. But relish this opportunity Blazer fans. Four years ago this team was the Jailblazers. Any escape from reality—especially one of this magnitude—would have been one of the most welcome sites to any weary Blazer fan.
Nothing like this may ever come again in your lifetime. Two young players that are considered to possibly go down as two of the greatest of all time do not knock at the door often (see: once in a lifetime). Just take a moment and consider what it would be like to have that other player. Remember how nice it is to be able to debate two players of this magnitude and which one you want.
Pseudo debate? Maybe, but nonetheless it should forever be a treasured memory in every Blazer fans heart.
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