Kevin Durant: the comparisons

This kid is really getting better every game. I dont care what he does in the NCAA's, he has got some skills that you just dont find in the majority of very good players, even in NBA players.

The comparisons:

Tracy McGrady... no way Durant is as athletic as McGrady
Dirk Nowitizki... closer but a very diff. type of jump shot and game
Kevin Garnett... Garnett is a true power foward, Durant is not yet

Now obviously he is not as good as those mentioned above. But he might be. He is not as athletic as any of the above, but he is as skilled right now.

The extraordinary traits and skills:

1. A 7' 4" wingspan. He can block shots standing and he jumps very quickly, but not high.

2. He has one of the quickest jumpers for a tall man I have seen. The kid can catch and shoot better than the vast majority of pros already. Extremely quick shot.

3. Versatility offensively. He can play inside and outside. He has great post up moves, and at the same time his arms are so long, he can dribble past people without getting the ball stolen because the ball spends very little time in the air. This was Magic Johnson's great trait as a Point Guard.
He can take you in the post, take you off the dribble, can catch and shoot. He may be one of the most versatile college offensive players I have ever seen without being an incredible athlete.

4. He has quick feet and can get to balls in the air which makes him a slick rebounder, not a power rebounder. This is Dirk's strong point.

The Weak points:

1. He is not a great passer, but a good team player.
2. He is weak. He is actually better at covering guards than true power players. With the quickness of the off guards and the 3's in the NBA, and the strength of the power forwards, I dont know who he will cover. (I think his arm length will come in handy here and his quick feet will help once he bulks up a bit)

Conclusion: He should stay at Texas because I want him to.

And because he can be the number 1 choice next year. Any team that skips Oden is making a huge mistake.

[horseofcourse]

What about Carmelo Anthony...doesn't he remind you of him just a bit??

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

What about Carmelo Anthony...doesn't he remind you of him just a bit??

Nopes.

Mellow was/is very strong with all kinds of hops and speed. He can overpower most pros that can stay with him speed wise, and go around guys that are strong. Mellow is much stronger than the 3 pros I mentioned, McGrady, Dirk, and Garnett.

Durant does not have near the athletic ability. But I think he has more skill. Like I said, the diff. between this kid and other really good college players is Durant has extremely long arms, and he is first and foremost a basketball player, not an great athlete.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Nopes.

Mellow was/is very strong with all kinds of hops and speed. He can overpower most pros that can stay with him speed wise, and go around guys that are strong. Mellow is much stronger than the 3 pros I mentioned, McGrady, Dirk, and Garnett.

Durant does not have near the athletic ability. But I think he has more skill. Like I said, the diff. between this kid and other really good college players is Durant has extremely long arms, and he is first and foremost a basketball player, not an great athlete.

I think you are wrong about this guys athletic ability. I cant understand where you are coming from. He is WAY more athletic thann Dirk and has a more polished face up game than KG. Now. He is 6'11, can run, shoot, and pass. What more do you want? He needs to get away from Rick Barnes before he kills him.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I think you are wrong about this guys athletic ability. I cant understand where you are coming from. He is WAY more athletic thann Dirk and has a more polished face up game than KG. Now. He is 6'11, can run, shoot, and pass. What more do you want? He needs to get away from Rick Barnes before he kills him.

Dirk is most likely the MVP of the NBA (I think Nash may have been out too much). You are comparing an 18 year old to a mature pro? No earthly way he is as athletic as Dirk, no flippin way. He might be in 3 years. This is not Lebron James or Carmello Anthony body wise. These guys are absolute horses athletically, Durant is a basketball player. That is what he is. Not a tight end.

Durant is playing against vastly inferior players. He is not a good passer, he will get better. What sets him apart is his variety of moves offensively. And his incredibly long arms. What I want is more muscle. I want better defense. He will get crushed with that body in the pros. It will all come along because he is a player. He knows the game, he has that knack. Just a little more beef and he will be fine.

Rick Barnes kill him? Just wait till he goes 82 games and maybe playoffs, playing 3 times a week traveling constantly, then we will see what killing means. DJ Augustin plays the whole game at point guard, he is the one you should feel sorry for.

Keep em coming. I can type extensively about this kid. I have watched almost all of his games. Villanova did the best job of shutting him down this year. But that was early. Durant continues to advance. His game gets better. Barnes is the best coach he could have had. He has the guts to mold the team to showcase Durant. And I guarantee Durant, all his family and past coaches know this. He is playing with a Point Guard that will also be a good pro, just not next year. Durant could not have landed on a better team for him.
BTW I went to the University of Texas starting in 1978. I have watched Texas basketball for a long time. Rick Barnes is the best coach UT has ever had hands down. I just dont particularly like picking up players for one year. It reminds me off the horses, wisk them off the the shed, in this case, to the pros. Makes it harder to really consider them a part of the school. My little thing. Id rather just let them go pro.

[Samarta]

I'm going old school on this one.....he is the second coming of George "The Iceman" Gervin! Not sure how many of you are old enough to remember, but I know there are some here...For those that didn't have the chance to see him, he was 6'7 or 6'8, silky smooth, unstoppable on the offensive end. Durant is as close to him as I've ever seen....

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Dirk is most likely the MVP of the NBA (I think Nash may have been out too much). You are comparing an 18 year old to a mature pro? No earthly way he is as athletic as Dirk, no flippin way.

Maybe we are thinking of a different Dirk. I am thinking of the one who runs the floor as though he has cement shoes and hasn't bent down in 3 years. The one that has a bunch of quick little tricks and fade aways to get his shot off. The one that has a vertical leap of 3 inches. The Dirk who I think is a great player despite his lack of athleticism. And you were the one who started the comparisons. I believe that he reminds me most of Tom Chambers with Caldwell Jones body.
His body surely is underdeveloped compared to mature NBA players but saying that he is not athletic or is just better than inferior players has me puzzled.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pgardn

. He has the guts to mold the team to showcase Durant.

You are kidding me? It takes guts to showcase the best player in college basketball? It would take guts to take him out occasionally and give him a breather so he does not run out of gas late. Rick Barnes is a terrible game coach.

[jpops757]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Dirk is most likely the MVP of the NBA (I think Nash may have been out too much). You are comparing an 18 year old to a mature pro? No earthly way he is as athletic as Dirk, no flippin way. He might be in 3 years. This is not Lebron James or Carmello Anthony body wise. These guys are absolute horses athletically, Durant is a basketball player. That is what he is. Not a tight end.

Durant is playing against vastly inferior players. He is not a good passer, he will get better. What sets him apart is his variety of moves offensively. And his incredibly long arms. What I want is more muscle. I want better defense. He will get crushed with that body in the pros. It will all come along because he is a player. He knows the game, he has that knack. Just a little more beef and he will be fine.

Rick Barnes kill him? Just wait till he goes 82 games and maybe playoffs, playing 3 times a week traveling constantly, then we will see what killing means. DJ Augustin plays the whole game at point guard, he is the one you should feel sorry for.

Keep em coming. I can type extensively about this kid. I have watched almost all of his games. Villanova did the best job of shutting him down this year. But that was early. Durant continues to advance. His game gets better. Barnes is the best coach he could have had. He has the guts to mold the team to showcase Durant. And I guarantee Durant, all his family and past coaches know this. He is playing with a Point Guard that will also be a good pro, just not next year. Durant could not have landed on a better team for him.
BTW I went to the University of Texas starting in 1978. I have watched Texas basketball for a long time. Rick Barnes is the best coach UT has ever had hands down. I just dont particularly like picking up players for one year. It reminds me off the horses, wisk them off the the shed, in this case, to the pros. Makes it harder to really consider them a part of the school. My little thing. Id rather just let them go pro.

You make me wonder if you have seen Dirk. Durant is head and sholders superior athleticaly. Im a very strong Dirk fan but this is very obvious. Dirka weak point is athletic ability. Im not sure what position will be Durants strongest. He has th skills for all 5 and could cause match up nightmares at any of them. He has shortcommings that could be exploited at all of them too.Even with his scoring potential the one could be his potential strongest position. Shades of Majic , just bigger and probably quicker. King got it right Barbosa is the fastest with Jet Terry chalanging for pure speed but harris is Quicker moving with the ball.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

What about Carmelo Anthony...doesn't he remind you of him just a bit??

NO