Oden v Shaq. Student v Teacher.

by NBAFanAddict on Oct 2, 2008 3:16 AM MDT Comment 7 comments

Greg Oden reminds pretty much everyone of a young Shaq. He is was a skinny college kid going in to the NBA. Well, in the past year, he has gotten HUGE. Okay, maybe not HUGE, but big. His matchup with Shaq will be one of the best center matchups of the season. Shaq has the size on Oden, and maybe even speed (how sad is that for a young guy like Oden).

Here is a link that shows Oden's transformation in the past year.

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Welcome to SB Nation, Trailblogger.

Stay cool tho – don’t start spamming your blog too much. Thanks.

Amare is moving.

by ZonaFlash on Oct 2, 2008 6:51 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Kind of normal

for guys to get bigger – a lot bigger – between the ages of 18 and like 22 or 25. Look at Bynum

Personally, I was 132 when I joined the Army at 18 and three years later was 165. Now, I am just a big fat slob.

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Phoenix Stan on Oct 2, 2008 9:15 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

In no way is Shaq faster than Oden.

Oden added a ton of muscle and has slown down, but he’s not going to be that way for long at all. Even still he is faster than Shaq. And yeah, i can’t wait for this matchup! Hopefully they are both healthy when we meet.

p.s. Thanks for Rudy!!!!

by In Walks Rudy on Oct 9, 2008 10:48 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Ouch.

Too soon.

by Azreous on Oct 9, 2008 11:46 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Payback. You guys stole Amare from us in the 2002 draft.

It’s true. Portland’s GM at the time, “Trader” Bob Whitsitt, said they were going to pick Amare if he was available.

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Oct 23, 2008 5:46 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shaq's no teacher

In terms of body size/shape and physical talents, Shaq is the no.1 center of all-time. In terms of overall performance, maybe top 5. But 16 years in the league and you still can’t even shoot close to 55% on FTs, at 20 million a year? He’s taken over 10000 career free throws, but probaby not half that many in practise and trainings, going by his shooting. It is nothing but sloth, arrogance, and complacency that has reduced my All-time favourite basketball player into nothing but a fat, slow, lazy, injury-prone, big-headed team-cancer. I’m probably scarred by the fact that he could have had 5 rings with the Lakers, and 2 rings with the Heat, and at least one or two more with the Suns if he weren’t so lazy and complacent.

If Oden were to become Shaq’s student, he would have a monstrous ego and a horribly out-of-shape body within a couple of months.

by felixthm on Oct 16, 2008 6:49 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a LITTLE harsh.

True, Shaq has underperformed considering his gifts and size — yes, especially at the line — but four rings ain’t bad. All but a handful of current players would take his career. Had he stayed in Orlando, they’d have won multiple titles. Had he and Kobe found a way to co-exist, they’d have more titles and the Pistons would have none (during the current era) and the Spurs would have fewer.

Say what you want about Shaq, there’s never been a physical specimen like him. Wilt was a way better athlete and probably just as strong or stronger, but to weigh 330-360 lbs and be as good as he was… that’s a freak of nature.

Oden’s a freak too, but more in the David Robinson mold. You know, a conventional freak. In last year’s training camp quickness, speed, and agility drills (before his knee problem), he outran all but a couple of his teammates, and he has amazing hops. I’m looking forward to him matching-up with Shaq.

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Oct 23, 2008 5:43 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs