If you dream of Wade, Bosh, etc in 2010

[byennie]

A little quick with the trolling accusation there!

I'm not so sure that Durant will be as great as many think. He'll certainly be an elite offensive player, but that is not enough.

Possibly not a full-on troll, but the original comment was pretty inflammatory with the whole "let me know when he does something that matters" shpiel and nothing else to add.

With that said, certainly I can't prove he'll be an elite defender, leader, etc. but you have to admit, LeBron and Magic are about the only guys who have every performed at such a level at that age. Maybe throw in Jordan at 21. I figure he has a VERY good chance of being a 30 PPG scorer with 7-8 RPG when he adds a little bulk, plus a good 3-5 assists and a block per night. That alone pegs him as a top-5 player in the league statistically. He has the perfect long build to be a good defender, but of course that is up to him to develop.

I mean who can you pick over this guy outside of LeBron, Howard, Paul for the next 5+ years?

[byennie]

Uh, OKC actually has a good owner, a great GM, and a very healthy fan base. I know a lot of people knock on them for what happened in seattle. Also, he can only be a UFA if he takes a qualifying offer (doubt it), and any offer while he's an RFA would be matched by OKC.

There isn't an owner in the league immune to trying to save $10M these days. I'm not saying it will happen, but it wouldn't require a crappy owner. OKC isn't turning big profits just yet.

[ToppersBsktball10]

When Durant does something other then score a lot of points in a loss, let me know

he's starting to use his length to shut people down on D. He's going to be a top 3 player in the league very soon.

[GKC]

Durant is crazy good. I always thought he could end up being Tracy Mcgrady with his head in the game...but watching him this year? At 20? Where's his prime?

I'm thinking he gets to George Gervin, maybe even Clyde good.

[Moranis]

When Durant does something other then score a lot of points in a loss, let me know

I'm still fairly impressed when you are arguably the most prolific 20-year-old scorer in the history of the NBA while being double-teamed every night and playing with a rookie point guard.

Mind you, he wasn't just chucking either. 47% FG, 42% 3PT, 86% FT.

He can also rebound, and will probably mature into a very good defender.

But hey, you were just trolling, right?

If by most prolific you mean almost 2 points per game less than Lebron at the age of 20, then you would be correct.  BTW, Lebron also grabbed almost a full board more per game and dished out over 4 assists more per game.  And Lebron's team won almost twice as many games. 

[yall hate]

When Durant does something other then score a lot of points in a loss, let me know

I'm still fairly impressed when you are arguably the most prolific 20-year-old scorer in the history of the NBA while being double-teamed every night and playing with a rookie point guard.

Mind you, he wasn't just chucking either. 47% FG, 42% 3PT, 86% FT.

He can also rebound, and will probably mature into a very good defender.

But hey, you were just trolling, right?

If by most prolific you mean almost 2 points per game less than Lebron at the age of 20, then you would be correct.  BTW, Lebron also grabbed almost a full board more per game and dished out over 4 assists more per game.  And Lebron's team won almost twice as many games. 

yea, I am not sure I am being called a troll for my post.  As I have said, now 3 times in this thread, he is a good offensive player, but hasnt really showed much more (for a superstar) or been able to carry his team to anything.

not at all.  He is (at least to this point, he could become anything or nothing in the future) a fairly one dimensional player, who has shown that he can score a lot of points for a crappy team.  When he does something different (make his teammates better a la Lebron, carry his team to victory like many others, etc...) ill get excited about him

[ToppersBsktball10]

When Durant does something other then score a lot of points in a loss, let me know

I'm still fairly impressed when you are arguably the most prolific 20-year-old scorer in the history of the NBA while being double-teamed every night and playing with a rookie point guard.

Mind you, he wasn't just chucking either. 47% FG, 42% 3PT, 86% FT.

He can also rebound, and will probably mature into a very good defender.

But hey, you were just trolling, right?

If by most prolific you mean almost 2 points per game less than Lebron at the age of 20, then you would be correct.  BTW, Lebron also grabbed almost a full board more per game and dished out over 4 assists more per game.  And Lebron's team won almost twice as many games. 

yea, I am not sure I am being called a troll for my post.  As I have said, now 3 times in this thread, he is a good offensive player, but hasnt really showed much more (for a superstar) or been able to carry his team to anything.

not at all.  He is (at least to this point, he could become anything or nothing in the future) a fairly one dimensional player, who has shown that he can score a lot of points for a crappy team.  When he does something different (make his teammates better a la Lebron, carry his team to victory like many others, etc...) ill get excited about him

Yeah, but he's starting to play better defense. He doesn't throw up long fadeaways. He's clutch. He can get to the line. He's athletic. And he's only 20.

[GKC]

You forget, Lebron, starting year 2 had a better supporting cast. Boozer was at least raking in double double's.

Kevin Durant is the sole player the defense focusses on, at least until Westbrook came into his own in the second half.

He's also 20. He hasn't shown you anything yet but at that age are you sure he isn't going to?

[Moranis]

You forget, Lebron, starting year 2 had a better supporting cast. Boozer was at least raking in double double's.

Kevin Durant is the sole player the defense focusses on, at least until Westbrook came into his own in the second half.

He's also 20. He hasn't shown you anything yet but at that age are you sure he isn't going to?

Boozer wasn't on the Cavs when Lebron was 20.  The Cavs starting lineup was Big Z, Drew Gooden, Lebron, Ira Newble, and Jeff McGinnis.  Eric Snow, Sasha Pavlovic, Tractor Taylor, and Lucious Harris were the other guys to start any games and Varejao as a rookie also played a fair amount of minutes.  That is not exactly a great rotation as outside of Lebron and Big Z, no one else was worth a crap that year. 

[Chris]

Why are we comparing Lebron and Durant.  Durant is not Lebron.  He will never be Lebron.  But I think he has a legit chance to be the second best player in the game if he continues to improve, and fill out his body. 

[byennie]

If by most prolific you mean almost 2 points per game less than Lebron at the age of 20, then you would be correct.  BTW, Lebron also grabbed almost a full board more per game and dished out over 4 assists more per game.  And Lebron's team won almost twice as many games. 

1) I said arguably... meaning in the same group as LeBron, not better

2) LeBron was 21 most of his second year. Despite coming straight from high school, he was actually older than Durant when he entered the league.

3) Durant actually scored more points per 40 minutes than LeBron.

4) Rebounds were basically the same.. 6.9 to 6.7 per 40 minutes.

5) Durant was a more efficient scorer and significantly better from 3PT and FT

6) LeBron was a much better passer, yes

7) LeBron's Cavs were still a lottery team, but he had better players around him. Durant's team was in such bad shape they had to move to OKC!

Obviously Durant has a huge task ahead of him to match LeBron's career, but his 2nd year is right up there and his 3rd (at age 21) hasn't happened yet.

[byennie]

Scratch my comments about 21 versus 20... I'm obviously losing my mind (and ability to interpret birthdays). But the rest stands =)

[byennie]

You forget, Lebron, starting year 2 had a better supporting cast. Boozer was at least raking in double double's.

Kevin Durant is the sole player the defense focusses on, at least until Westbrook came into his own in the second half.

He's also 20. He hasn't shown you anything yet but at that age are you sure he isn't going to?

Boozer wasn't on the Cavs when Lebron was 20.  The Cavs starting lineup was Big Z, Drew Gooden, Lebron, Ira Newble, and Jeff McGinnis.  Eric Snow, Sasha Pavlovic, Tractor Taylor, and Lucious Harris were the other guys to start any games and Varejao as a rookie also played a fair amount of minutes.  That is not exactly a great rotation as outside of Lebron and Big Z, no one else was worth a crap that year. 

It wasn't a great team, but it's also not that impressive to lead that crew to a lottery pick in a very weak eastern conference that year. I would say Lebron's ability to win games was neither here nor there at that point.

[Moranis]

You forget, Lebron, starting year 2 had a better supporting cast. Boozer was at least raking in double double's.

Kevin Durant is the sole player the defense focusses on, at least until Westbrook came into his own in the second half.

He's also 20. He hasn't shown you anything yet but at that age are you sure he isn't going to?

Boozer wasn't on the Cavs when Lebron was 20.  The Cavs starting lineup was Big Z, Drew Gooden, Lebron, Ira Newble, and Jeff McGinnis.  Eric Snow, Sasha Pavlovic, Tractor Taylor, and Lucious Harris were the other guys to start any games and Varejao as a rookie also played a fair amount of minutes.  That is not exactly a great rotation as outside of Lebron and Big Z, no one else was worth a crap that year. 

It wasn't a great team, but it's also not that impressive to lead that crew to a lottery pick in a very weak eastern conference that year. I would say Lebron's ability to win games was neither here nor there at that point.

The Cavs went from 17 wins to 35 in Lebron's first year, to 42 in his second year (and lost boozer and ricky davis, two legitimate talents in the process).

The Sonics/Thunder improved by 3 wins from Durant's first to second year, despite adding a top five pick and losing no one of significance.

[GKC]

You forget, Lebron, starting year 2 had a better supporting cast. Boozer was at least raking in double double's.

Kevin Durant is the sole player the defense focusses on, at least until Westbrook came into his own in the second half.

He's also 20. He hasn't shown you anything yet but at that age are you sure he isn't going to?

Boozer wasn't on the Cavs when Lebron was 20.  The Cavs starting lineup was Big Z, Drew Gooden, Lebron, Ira Newble, and Jeff McGinnis.  Eric Snow, Sasha Pavlovic, Tractor Taylor, and Lucious Harris were the other guys to start any games and Varejao as a rookie also played a fair amount of minutes.  That is not exactly a great rotation as outside of Lebron and Big Z, no one else was worth a crap that year. 

It wasn't a great team, but it's also not that impressive to lead that crew to a lottery pick in a very weak eastern conference that year. I would say Lebron's ability to win games was neither here nor there at that point.

The Cavs went from 17 wins to 35 in Lebron's first year, to 42 in his second year (and lost boozer and ricky davis, two legitimate talents in the process).

The Sonics/Thunder improved by 3 wins from Durant's first to second year, despite adding a top five pick and losing no one of significance.

To be fair they had major coaching problems. I don't think its fair to judge Durant solely against Lebron. Watch him as a player, and if you watched his growth, especially since his rookie year, you know we've got somehting special.