2 choices, 1 selection

[cfoo]

Yeah I know. I'm just saying from an ncaa standpoint that big men win. Gray will be a quality backup though imo. Hawes should be pretty good too. I don't think we should necessarily draft any of them. I think all those guys are quality midround picks that you can potentially get a decent starter/good backup out of though.

[cfoo]

Two guys that I'm more and more not so high on is Noah or Holford. I know Florida has been struggling but I don't think either guy is going to be that great at the pro level. I think both will be good players but they both have major flaws in their game imo. This is why I really think Ainge should trade the pick if we don't end up 1 or 2. And I'd even consider trading it for a guy like Gasol at 2, just because we need a center and I don't really see any that stand out that are going to be available the quality of Gasol.

[eja117]

I think Melo won without a major big man. I don't remember the Kentucky teams having much except Walta and mark Pope. UCLA had Zidek. I guess Corliss Williamson was a big. Did Michigan St have one?

[cfoo]

Well that's what is cool about college basketball is any team can get hot. The year Melo won was a pretty weak year for College bball though. I watch these teams and there are some teams that are awesome 3 pt shooting teams like tennesee. Any team can get hot and can beat any given team on any given night. Florida lost to a team that was a 3 pt shooting team that just got hot against them. I just tend to think those teams that have strong guard play are going to be streaky where the teams with big guys are much more consistant.

[freshnthehouse]

derrenmatts said:

I don't think its a debate whether or not we should take Oden with the 1st overall pick. IMO, its an easy call--you go with Oden. I'd have a hard time trading Jefferson in order to get Oden (and I don't think any GM would do it anyways), but I'd definitely trade Pierce.

DM, when you say that you'd have a hard time trading Jefferson for Oden you meant that you'd have a tough time holding in the laughter as you traded AlJeff for the next great NBA bigman. I've been an AlJeff supporter since day 1, but he wont be in the same league as Oden.


Amd yeah, even though its becoming the trendy pick to take Durant #1, IMO you still have to go big a.k.a. Oden with the #1.

[cfoo]

I'm pretty much with Fresh where I would trade whatever to pair Pierce with Oden and watch this team win championship after championship. And I think Al is great but I would trade him Oden. The more I think about it, I would trade Green, Al and our #1 for Oden to pair him with Pierce. That is an agressive move that some people might question, but I want to win and that is the type of move that would be pretty bold.

[eja117]

So Chief. Are you saying if they were all young you'd trade something like Elton Brand, TMac, and Durant (I guess Durant equates to something like Dirk or Grant Hill pre-injury) for Shaq? I guess I see that.

[cfoo]

Well my thinking is you only need so much, and I think a team with Pierce and Oden and solid roleplayers would dominate. So it's about winning ultimately. Big Al I like better than Brand. I just like his game better. There's no guarentee Green is TMac, but I like Green and that's just my bias. He might not be as good but I think he is a better roleplayer than TMac is because I think he will be a consistant player for a long time. And you are assuming we get the #2 pick with Durant. But yeah I wouldn't have any problem with that trade. Pierce and Oden would be really good and I would take my chances with that tandem against anyone. Shaq and Kobe. Shaq and Wade. Pierce and Oden. I'd like to see that.

[eja117]

I'd be happy with that. There will always be another 2nd rounder for DA to get or a Delonte with the 24th pick or a kid that slips. We can definitely build around Oden and PP. We don't necessarily need a TA or GG to take over for PP in 3 years. The Kings eased Kevin martin in and it worked for them, hence our saying here that wings grow on trees. Personally I'd rather try to keep Oden and Durant and trade PP or someone else instead if I had to just for youth reasons but I can definitely see what you're saying. I just hope Oden heals up

[Roadrunner]

The year Syracuse won the NCAA tournament, Texas barely beat UCONN playing at home in San Antonio, Texas. Texas then went on to play Syracuse away in Albany, NY. By the way, UCONN beat Syracuse 3 times that year.

[eja117]

I might be a little more likely to want Oden now that Durant is hurt. I don't think it's that bad though seeing as he kept playing

[FLCeltsFan]

I watched both players yesterday and while Durant is impressive and would be a great pick at #2, I have to agree that if we have the chance, we have to take Oden. He is going to be a dominant center in this league and if you can get a 7' talent like that I don't think you can pass it up.

[eja117]

One thing I feel awkward about with Oden is that Durant got 9 rebs yesterday despite getting hurt towards the end. Oden got 6. Why is the taller supposed #1 pick doing worse at key stats? Either he isn't as good in some ways or he's way more hurt than we think. Both those reasons are reasons not to draft him.

[cfoo]

There's nothing to feel awkward about. Stats are just that. Which team won and which team is #1 in the country? If you watch Ohio St you'd know what I'm talking about when I say a big man effects the game in more ways than just numbers. So many shots were missed just because of his presence.

[freshnthehouse]

cf00 said:

What gives the Celtics a better chance of winning. Drafting Durant and trying to trade Pierce? Or trading the pick and going with Gasol, Jefferson and Pierce or something along those lines? I tend to think Pierce, JEfferson, Gasol gives us a better chance to win. I don't know.. Durant, Jefferson is tempting and would be exciting but it will also take patience and starting over in a lot of regards.

Going with Durant gives us a much better shot at winning. I'd much rather roll into the future with a frontline of Pierce, Durant, and AlJeff than I would Pierce, Gasol, ALJeff. I'd be more confienet in trading durant for a big that can dominate on the defensive end, but clearly Gasol isnt that kind of player. If Durant doesnt work out at PF, you trade Pierce way before you trade Durant. For one, Durant is a DECADE younger than Pierce. ANd IMO he will be a much better player than Pierce in a few years.