January 17, 2007
Texas Talent
In today's world where the ACC has swollen to 12 teams and most of the games are televised, it's quite easy to lose track of what's going on in other parts of the country. It's not that you don't care, it's that you just don't have time. Well, let me offer you a tip. Texas freshman Kevin Durant is good. Really good. He's not just the best freshman in the nation, he might just be the best player, period.
Check out this table (stolen from that Sports Frog link above) of Durant's recent games:
28 points and 13 boards against Oklahoma
34 points and 13 boards against Missouri
37 points and 16 boards against Colorado
26 points and 8 boards against Tennessee
28 points and 13 boards against Arkansas
21 points and 9 boards against Michigan State
29 points and 10 boards against Gonzaga
10 points and 11 boards against LSU
And that doesn't even count his 37 and 12 from last night's classic against Oklahoma State. I mean, look at those numbers! The kid leads the Big-12 in both scoring and rebounding (by wide margins). He can shoot - he's eighth in field goal percentage, third in free throw percentage and eighth in three point field goal percentage - and he can defend - fourth in blocked shots. It's just staggering what he's doing.
And how about this for a thought - Durant was thisclose to going to UNC! Can you imagine a frontcourt of Tyler Hansbrough, Brandan Wright and Kevin Durant? Scary.
OK, now you can go back to only paying attention to the ACC.
Comments
I was surprised that he did not go to UNC given his close friendship with Lawson, but then again Ellington and Henderson went to different schools too.
I have only watched Texas twice and not all that closely, but Durant has not impressed me in the physical way that Brendan Wright has. Obviously, Durant's stats are good and I guess he was rated a little above Wright as a prospect. Wright seems to be good in almost a freakish way, a 6' 9" guy who plays 7'4".
This is a big deal because history has shown that 7' is about as tall as a big man can be before his bones become too brittle. Of all the great centers, only Kareem and possibly Artis Gilmore have been over 7 feet. Guys like Ralph Sampson and the numerous 7' 5" guys and above, like Tommy Burleson (currently Yao) have simply not been able to take the pounding.
Do you really think that Durant would be putting up those numbers at UNC? I notice that he is only hitting 46% of his shots, which is pretty mediocre for a big man. He is hitting over 90% from the foul line, so he definitely has that over Wright.
I have only watched Texas twice and not all that closely, but Durant has not impressed me in the physical way that Brendan Wright has. Obviously, Durant's stats are good and I guess he was rated a little above Wright as a prospect. Wright seems to be good in almost a freakish way, a 6' 9" guy who plays 7'4".
This is a big deal because history has shown that 7' is about as tall as a big man can be before his bones become too brittle. Of all the great centers, only Kareem and possibly Artis Gilmore have been over 7 feet. Guys like Ralph Sampson and the numerous 7' 5" guys and above, like Tommy Burleson (currently Yao) have simply not been able to take the pounding.
Do you really think that Durant would be putting up those numbers at UNC? I notice that he is only hitting 46% of his shots, which is pretty mediocre for a big man. He is hitting over 90% from the foul line, so he definitely has that over Wright.
| william wrote: |
| Do you really think that Durant would be putting up those numbers at UNC? I notice that he is only hitting 46% of his shots, which is pretty mediocre for a big man. He is hitting over 90% from the foul line, so he definitely has that over Wright. |
No, he certainly wouldn't have those numbers on UNC, but the fact that he's capable of scoring 24+ a game with 11+ rebounds tells me he'd excel no matter where he was.
I'm pretty sure when I looked up his numbers that his FG% was a bit over 50%. You have to keep in mind that although he's a big man, he plays all over the court and shoots a number of jumpers. I watched him play earlier this year and he hit a Jordanesque turnaround from about 17 feet. That's just not a shot you see many college kids hitting, much less freshman big men.
It sounds like he might be more of a Kevin Garnett-type player while Wright reminds me of a mix of Sam Perkins and Brad Daughtery. I think that the prospects were rated last year as follows: 1)Oden; 2) Durant 3) Wright.
Bill Simmons is tracking this kid as well - hoping the Celtics will land him in the NBA draft.
| william wrote: |
| It sounds like he might be more of a Kevin Garnett-type player while Wright reminds me of a mix of Sam Perkins and Brad Daughtery. I think that the prospects were rated last year as follows: 1)Oden; 2) Durant 3) Wright. |
Durant might be even more like Carmelo Anthony than Garnett.
Wright definitely reminds me of Perkins. Maybe more of a mix of Perkins and Rasheed than Perkins and Daugherty. He has Rasheed's touch (although Brad had very nice touch as well). Damn you Carolina and your endless list of ridiculously good players!
Echoing a similar ESPN article, I think we're getting a preview of what could have happened if Kobe or Garnett went to college whenever we watch Durant on TV.
(The inner UNC fan within me wants Wright to stay one more year so he can bulk up, but I've resigned myself to a 'one-and-done.' He's so silky smooth, its frightening.)
Side note, but (personally) I would love for the NBA to develop a draft rule similar to what MLB has. Either come out straight out of high school or stay for at least three years, so we can establish some continuity with the college game. But, it's a pipe dream at best.
Oh, and Dave, at the very least you won't have to complain about UNC's incoming freshman class.
(The inner UNC fan within me wants Wright to stay one more year so he can bulk up, but I've resigned myself to a 'one-and-done.' He's so silky smooth, its frightening.)
Side note, but (personally) I would love for the NBA to develop a draft rule similar to what MLB has. Either come out straight out of high school or stay for at least three years, so we can establish some continuity with the college game. But, it's a pipe dream at best.
Oh, and Dave, at the very least you won't have to complain about UNC's incoming freshman class.
I kind of forgot about Rasheed. I can see that. With the exception of Marvin Williams, I tend not to be very fond of the guys who don't stay at least three years so he slipped my mind.
By the way, the stars are back to their normal alignment. Florida State smacks Va Tech around and UNC annihilates Clemson at Clemson.
By the way, the stars are back to their normal alignment. Florida State smacks Va Tech around and UNC annihilates Clemson at Clemson.
Bob Knight had some interesting thoughts on ESPN today--pass 6 semester hours first semester, don't go to class second semester, then collect the big bucks... I hope the NCAA and the NBA understand that is a forseeable result that is not exactly a commendable result...
The traditional side of me says go to college, but the realistic side says unrestricted free market. Since I don't care for the NBA, I come down on the traditional.
The traditional side of me says go to college, but the realistic side says unrestricted free market. Since I don't care for the NBA, I come down on the traditional.
| Ed-Hoo wrote: |
| Bob Knight had some interesting thoughts on ESPN today--pass 6 semester hours first semester, don't go to class second semester, then collect the big bucks... I hope the NCAA and the NBA understand that is a forseeable result that is not exactly a commendable result...
The traditional side of me says go to college, but the realistic side says unrestricted free market. Since I don't care for the NBA, I come down on the traditional. |
And how many players across the country does this apply to? Three? Four?
At the same time, there are probably 8-10 kids who are experiencing college who otherwise wouldn't. Of those, some will realize that they simply weren't (and aren't) ready for the NBA and will stay to learn more in college. On and off the court.
A few others learned that they are ready for the NBA, but still got an extra year to mature and enjoy their youth. From what I understand, both Oden and Durant are really enjoying college life.
I think Bobby Knight is way off base on this one.
Knight wasn't advocating that strategy, just that it could happen. Of course, the cynic in me wonders if he would be so vocal if Durant played in Lubbock... It's a good thing for Virginia Tech that they didn't have this rule in football when Jimmy Williams was there...
You are right on the number in college--the thing that always got me about the high schoolers who went early was the ones who were in no way ready. Let's hope the kids who are there now get good advice and don't do anything agent-wise that will get their U in trouble.
Oden was on ESPN also. He really seems to have his head on straight. He said he would not be content to be just an NBA player, that he wanted to be a force. Judging by the film they showed, he's enroute.
Posted by Dave at January 17, 2007 02:29 PM
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You are right on the number in college--the thing that always got me about the high schoolers who went early was the ones who were in no way ready. Let's hope the kids who are there now get good advice and don't do anything agent-wise that will get their U in trouble.
Oden was on ESPN also. He really seems to have his head on straight. He said he would not be content to be just an NBA player, that he wanted to be a force. Judging by the film they showed, he's enroute.
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