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DHawes22
Posts: 6481

Posted 09/01/2010 12:55 PM

Where Does Greg Oden Rank Among The NBA's Best Centers?
1-3 (12)
24%
4-5 (7)
14%
6-10 (11)
22%
11-15 (12)
24%
Out Of The Top 15 (7)
14%

Finally, we have reached the centers. Over at Ball Don't Lie, they ranked their Top 11 centers and sure enough had Oden in the mix at #11. Oden's a tough center to predict, due to all the injuries, but he's still getting plenty of respect, especially on this list, being ranked ahead of Yao Ming. Maybe people see that Yao has chronic, recurring injures, while Greg's have just been flukes? Who knows, but this is what they had to say:

A broken wrist. Microfracture surgery. A sprained foot, hurt when Andrew Bynum (notes) grabbed him from behind and forced him to stay on the floor instead of allowing him to jump at the rim. A chipped kneecap, struck by Corey Maggette (notes) on accident. A fractured left patella tendon, hurt as he landed awkwardly after contesting a shot against Houston. These are quite a few injuries, for someone who has been playing on the NCAA or NBA level since 2006.
But they're different injuries. Freak injuries. Not like Yao Ming (notes) or Zydrunas Ilgauskas (notes) or Bill Walton turning their feet into dust with repeated stress fractures. These are just things that have gone incredibly wrong.

So, I'd like to rank Oden higher. I really would. And while some might want to see him paired with Yao Ming around the same spot, it needs to be shouted that Greg Oden is not Yao Ming. He hasn't had the same repeated injuries in the same spot. He's injury-prone, yes, but only in the most literal sense of the phrase. If Oden stays healthy and can limit his fouls? He's top five. Maybe top three.

CONTINUE READING>>>

Their Top 10 list-
10- Al Jefferson
9- Marc Gasol
8- Nene
7- Joakim Noah
6- Chris Kaman
5- Andrew Bynum
4- Al Horford
3- Brook Lopez
2- Andrew Bogut
1- Dwight Howard

Outside of Bynum being in the Top 10, let alone #5, where he doesn't belong, it's a fairly solid list. These rankings aren't based solely upon past success, rather they are predictions on how well these players will perform this year. As a fan who thinks Greg will stay relatively healthy this year *knock on wood*, he's easily in the Top 5 for me. If he has the year I'm expecting, he could end up as high as #2 when the end of the season rankings come in, but for right now I'd put him #4, behind Dwight, Lopez, and Bogut. Where do you think he should be ranked heading into the season? Are you predicting big things from Greg or another frustrating year? Try to be as opinionated as possible. No 'if he is healthy', he should be ranked this or that. Make a bold prediction. This should be a fund thread to bump about 9 months from now!

I am a fan of

Where Does Greg Oden Rank Among The NBA's Best Centers?
1-3 (12)
24%
4-5 (7)
14%
6-10 (11)
22%
11-15 (12)
24%
Out Of The Top 15 (7)
14%

FamousRoy
Posts: 144

Posted 09/01/2010 2:13 PM
I agree with your Bynum comment: While the kid has two rings already, it's merely because he's on the wagon (the Lakers). The Ball Don't Lie people never mentioned his injury problems. Bynum should be in the 10-15 range. Aside from that, however, the list looks valid to me. There's no question that Oden can perform when he's healthy, and his health is really the only reason he's out of the top 10, or top 5 for that matter. Let's hope by the end of 2011 he'll be up there!

I am a fan of Defending the Rose Garden against the Lakers!

Kim~
Posts: 1137

Posted 09/01/2010 2:50 PM
I have to see Greg play an entire season, before I would even try to compare him to other centers.

I am a fan of scrapping !

The Unholy
Posts: 320

Posted 09/01/2010 2:54 PM
yeah i hate the "if oden was healthy" nonsense. i hope oden does well but im becoming impatient, i would put him at 15 because im feeling rather pessimistic about the whole situation.

I am a fan of high octane motion offense

The Unholy
Posts: 320

Posted 09/01/2010 2:55 PM

Posted By Kim~ on 09/01/2010 2:50 PM
I have to see Greg play an entire season, before I would even try to compare him to other centers.

absolutely agree

I am a fan of high octane motion offense

Hopman27
Posts: 86

Posted 09/01/2010 3:27 PM
Bynum at number five is plain crazy. Seriously, if G.O. is getting ranked at 11 for injuries, how is Bynum at 5? G.O. is by FAR better than Bynum. I don't watch him play, so I wouldn't know, but players like Noah and Kaman seem like they deserve to be ahead of Bynum.
Fine, to take out the "if's", Oden WILL do well this year. I see a slow start, and while this might not even be that "breakout" season for Oden(at least for the first quarter-first half of the season), he'll contribute enough that Cho will have to keep Oden. I don't know if Oden will be good enough to be an All-Star this year, but whether he is or not, but the end of All-Star break, Oden will at least return to normal form, the form he was in last year.

I am a fan of

odenrising
Posts: 7

Posted 09/01/2010 3:51 PM
All these centers lose games to injury every year. Yes Oden needs to play more than last year but he is still rankable. He easily cracks the top 5 just by playing more games. Add in the natural improvement you see in young bigs and top 3 is very likely.

BDawg
Posts: 1459

Posted 09/01/2010 5:15 PM
Okay DHawes...I'll be the first. Never been one to back down from much of anything. Greg Oden, IMO, is #2 behind only Howard when he first takes the floor this season. By the end of the season, he will be challenging for the #1 spot and in the discussion nationally. He will miss only a handful of games...10 tops. I am confident an argument could be made that GO was already there LAST season, before the second injury...AND was STILL COMING ON. Howard is VERY limited offensively, much like Shaq in his prime. They both share charity stripe issues also, in DW's case...especially in the closing moments of a game. Howard is simply a freak physically, but lacks polish. I believe GO is that same physical specimen, but with ALREADY more to offer offensively. Young and motivated, he will only add to his repertoire in coming seasons, becoming the model and measuring stick for all other centers in the league this decade.

Yes, I've been saying my prayers, eating my vegetables, and NOT stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk!!

I am a fan of players that play with PASSION and PRIDE

Brandon Weinant
Posts: 103

Posted 09/02/2010 3:19 AM

kendrick perkins.. isnt in the top 10? when bynum is? lol okay... maybe its because hes mostlikely going to miss alot of games this season is why hes not making the top 10.

correct me if i'm wrong... but typically... arn't half of those players listed in the top 10.

their natural posistion is the 4?

I am a fan of defence.

TJ31
Posts: 190

Posted 09/02/2010 9:43 AM
He's top 3, easily. Considering the stats he put up last year while playing 24 minutes (11 and 8), he's an elite center. If he didn't foul and played as well over 35 (starters) minutes, he'd be putting up 16 and 12. That on top of any improvements he might have made during the off-season and he's in the same class as Dwight Howard.

I am a fan of

DHawes22
Posts: 6481

Posted 09/02/2010 10:05 AM

Posted By BDawg on 09/01/2010 5:15 PM
Okay DHawes...I'll be the first. Never been one to back down from much of anything. Greg Oden, IMO, is #2 behind only Howard when he first takes the floor this season. By the end of the season, he will be challenging for the #1 spot and in the discussion nationally. He will miss only a handful of games...10 tops. I am confident an argument could be made that GO was already there LAST season, before the second injury...AND was STILL COMING ON. Howard is VERY limited offensively, much like Shaq in his prime. They both share charity stripe issues also, in DW's case...especially in the closing moments of a game. Howard is simply a freak physically, but lacks polish. I believe GO is that same physical specimen, but with ALREADY more to offer offensively. Young and motivated, he will only add to his repertoire in coming seasons, becoming the model and measuring stick for all other centers in the league this decade.

Yes, I've been saying my prayers, eating my vegetables, and NOT stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk!!

Thank you! All I wanted was to see people step off the fence of the "healthy or not" philosophy and just make a prediction. It's cool if you don't think he'll be that good or even better if you think he's going to live up to the hype. I want to gauge the confidence ratings fans have in Greg. If Greg performs at a high level (essentially how he was playing pre-injury) for a couple of years, then I'll put him over Dwight, but as of right now Dwight has shown to be durable, has major playoff experience, and can stay out of foul trouble for the most part. Do not sleep on Brook Lopez either. He is an extremely polished center offensively, is the same age as Greg, nad really looks to have more room to grow to. In my mind, Oden's going to have to do more than just show up to overtake some of these big dogs at the top of the hill.

I am a fan of

Shawn503
Posts: 47

Posted 09/02/2010 10:25 AM
Watch this video (I did NOT make it) and then tell me he isn't the most dominating big man youve seen in a long time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmgn9zkx2Ow
And remember this is just his rookie year.

I am a fan of

commontongue
Posts: 1439

Posted 09/02/2010 11:21 AM
To put Horford or Kaman before G.O. is an insult. This kid has a presence that these guys only dream they could muster. Oden i believe is going to make an Ilgauskis comeback. If he slows down his thinking, his game will speed up.
Howard
Oden
Bynum
For now.

I am a fan of Rip City Basketball

Lenwen76
Posts: 119

Posted 09/02/2010 3:32 PM
This year in my honest opionion .. Oden is going to break out and show clearly how good of a player and game changer he can be ..

Oden will change the landscape of the 2010-11 NBA playoffs ..

Mark it down ..

I am a fan of rip city pdx 4 life.

Kim~
Posts: 1137

Posted 09/02/2010 3:53 PM
Hard to step off the fence on Oden when we are entering season 4 of injuries, just saying, I'm a realist.......
I hope you optimisitic fans are right, I was that optimistic 3 years ago.

I am a fan of scrapping !

Lenwen76
Posts: 119

Posted 09/02/2010 7:23 PM
Kim,

The way I look at it is no matter how injury prone Oden has been .. its a fact that its never been a repeat injury on any of them .. and all of them being crazy freak accidents .. in my honest opinion.

So having that been said. I honestly feel that Oden will prevail this year as the best or very close to it Center in the game.

I am a fan of rip city pdx 4 life.

barnettfan
Posts: 370

Posted 09/03/2010 6:26 AM
Nene is a punk and should be wearing a dress. Ok got that off my chest. I like Oden,if character helped he would be one. Season 2 I was ready to trade him for a new waterboy. Season 3 I saw such a turn around and he got better with each game my jaw dropped. If he stays realitivly healthy (knock on wood folks) I say #2 I just dont think he will put the offensive numbers that Howard does but he might beat him in the D dept

I am a fan of

Kim~
Posts: 1137

Posted 09/03/2010 10:52 AM
Who cares if it is repeat injury ? Not playing is not playing.
Like I said, I hope you optomists are right finally, I have to see it ......

I am a fan of scrapping !

ClydeFrog
Posts: 975

Posted 09/03/2010 1:45 PM
#2 behind Dwight. Everyone hop on the wagon now and get a good seat because its about to get very crowed soon!

I am a fan of Watching Elliot Williams Take Flight!

TayC
Posts: 1804

Posted 09/03/2010 4:35 PM
This goes for LA to, both of these guys are just not in the top 10 yet.
Give it 2-3 years, i have said it many times before with the L-Train, and i garuntee it. just you watch.

I am a fan of The Blazers ♂, the £-Train, and of course, The ¤ King. ™

t.monkey
Posts: 1

Posted 09/06/2010 11:46 PM

The one concern I have with GO is that once he's actually healthy playing a full season, I'm afraid it'll affect Roy and LA's game. Right before he got injured last season GO sorta-kinda figure out how to score (even though he still needs to work on his hook shots much much more). That slowed down the game for the Roy and LA a lot. They weren't used to having a center who could score 10+ points. For me watching those games, it seemed like Roy and LA didn't really know how to play with GO outside of being a good defensive center. Just look at the numbers. Roy's number significantly increased after GO went down. Unless he can actually score on a consistent basis, I think Portland's better off a center like Joel or Camby.

On paper GO is awesome. 2.5 blocks per game, 8~10 rebounds, 10+ ppg... But on the court, it irritates me to see him panic with his back to the board when he has the ball in his hand.

I'm just really hoping he'll turn out to be something we've always hope for, and I'm sure Roy and LA should be able to figure things out.

I don't know, that's just my take on the issue. In all, I can't say he's better than Marc Gasol. I do agree that he's better than Bynum though.

I am a fan of Rip City. Enough said.

cransford24
Posts: 269

Posted 09/08/2010 5:25 PM

Posted By Lenwen76 on 09/02/2010 3:32 PM
This year in my honest opionion .. Oden is going to break out and show clearly how good of a player and game changer he can be ..

Oden will change the landscape of the 2010-11 NBA playoffs ..

Mark it down ..
To say that someone with career averages of 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and is coming off of a season ending knee injury is going to be the best or close to the best in the league is pretty premature. I'd like to think that he could be that dominant this year but I think that he will probably be somewhere between 8th and 15th best in the league even if he does stay healthy which is not gaurenteed.

I am a fan of the Blazers draft selections. Feels good to finally be able to say that

bar24bis
Posts: 23

Posted 09/10/2010 12:00 PM
Oden is a top five center just stepping on the court. With a three man rotation at center now, Oden should play limited enough minutes to be strong all year, and carry this team through the playoffs.

I am a fan of The NBA Championship in Portland ending with DL going Rip City!

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