How does Greg Oden have more potential than Dwight Howard?

[Da KO King]

Oden has more potential cause Chad Ford says so.

[Valliant13]

Much higher basketball IQ. (and lets be honest IQ in general)
Shot better free throw with his off hand than Dwight can with his good hand.
Can play back to the basket better than Dwight all ready.
Has a Ducanesque mentality in term of learning fundamentals instead of solely relying on his freakish athleticism.

Essentially Oden seems to be smarter, a more disciplined student of the game, and he's bigger now than Dwight was at the same age. He ceiling is higher because his seems willing to compliment his freakish athletic gifts with a strong ability to learn, and very professional approach to the game.

*Obvious most of that is supposition at this point. It is however supposition that is strongly supported by the evidence at hand and widely agreed upon expert analysis.

[ZHAKIDD532]

They'll both be good, maybe great, let's leave it at that...

I do think however, that Portland's FO seems to have its priorities straighter than Orlando's over the past year or so and they are in position to give him a better supporting cast so that might contribute to his development...

[Sharas]

howard is IMO clearly better athlete, but he has no skill at all yet. although he isn't tim duncan, oden has potential to be way better offensive player. he'll be better man-to-man defender and better shot blocker IMO.

also, as someone already said, i agree that he seems to be really willing to learn and improve, and seems like he has decent bball IQ. howard does not.

[Sean77]

At this point, Howard's the better athlete(Oden still gets winded too early) and Oden is the more skilled player(right now Howard's go-to move is just the two-handed dunk) offensively, but who knows once Oden comes into the L. Howard might work on his post moves and shooting over the offseason. I do think Oden is in a better position for success than Howard if he goes to Portland, which he most likely will - they need a big man to complement Zach more than they need another offensive threat next to Roy.

But even Howard needed to put on more weight when he came in, so we'll see.

[ballahalic]

Serious question.

They are both around the same height and Dwight Howard can probably jump higher.

So why the hype surrounding Oden, what makes him head and shoulders potentially better than Dwight?

he does hes going 2 be the best blocker ever in the nba just watch and see

[geeWiz15]

because Oden's taller, more mobile and is much more coordinated.

[2LeTTeRS KD]

Cause Greg Oden keeps up with point gaurds in work outs. Have you seen the video of him dribbling 2 basketballs. He's been more dominant in the post to from what I saw in the NCAA finals. He is probably going to be a better shot blocker. Oden is incredibly fast on defense. He has a more athletic body than Dwight Howard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUOL7ohUSFA

Height Oden 7 Howard 6'10.25
Weight Oden 257 Howard 240*
Wingspan Oden 7'4.25 Howard 7'4.5
Standing Reach Oden 9'4 Howard 9'3.5
Vert Oden 34 Howard 35.5
Lane Agility Oden 11.67 Howard 11.21
Bench Press Oden N/A Howard 7

http://www.draftexpress.com/measurem...raft=100&sort=

And this is before Dwight even got into weight training, and he put up these numbers straight out of high school whereas Oden had a year of college training. Howards numbers are even more impressive since historically straight out of high schoolers have not been known to impress with there measurable at the pre-draft combine (see Monta Ellis, Al Jefferson, Shaun Livingston, etc.) and since joining the Magic he began working with weights seriously for the first time in his life and had gained 20 pounds before the season started that you can see on his frame as well as reportedly growing an inch. The quickness arguement also holds no weight because if you remember, which I'm sure you dont, you would know that prior to the draft Howard was hyped as being a former point guard who had a late growth spurt that supposedly had guard skills (that we still to this day haven't seen) and was even faster than Oden who you say keeps up with point guards.

Oden at this second is by no means a better prospect than Howard. Actually imo he's slightly worse because althoguh their both raw on offesne, Dwight has shown me an ability to put points on the board in the league to the tune of 18 a game shooting about 60% from the field, which we haven't yet seen that from Oden, as well as being slightly more athletic (no slight to Oden just shows how much of a beast Dwight is) as well as seeming to lack the fire and agression that I see inside Dwight.

[eliteballer]

Oden has a better feel for the game. Has more natural basketball instincts and skills. It's like asking what makes Vince Carter and T-Mac better than James White and Darius Miles.

[BFRESH44]

Oden has a better feel for the game. Has more natural basketball instincts and skills. It's like asking what makes Vince Carter and T-Mac better than James White and Darius Miles.

[i seen hippos]

Did anyone take the seriously after reading "Dwight can probably jump higher"?

[Pyro]

Because IMO...Oden is already as good as Howard...and he hasn't even played in the NBA yet...remember...hops isn't everything

Oden will be a better defender on helping in the paint and one on one

The biggest thing he has over Howard is size. They are the same height but Oden is much thicker and wider and at one point he was weighing a muscular 275 before he was injured...I'm sure by the time he is 28 he could weight a muscular 285 or 290 which is scary

Another reason is...if Portland does keep Zach, Oden will be able to learn a lot of low post offensive moves as Zach is probably the best low post scorer in the NBA...hate it or not...so Oden will be a beast on the D and has potential to be the same on the offensive end

Dwight is much stronger than Oden and wider to

But Oden does have better post moves

[Da KO King]

And this is before Dwight even got into weight training, and he put up these numbers straight out of high school whereas Oden had a year of college training....

GTFOH. You trying to use logic and numbers to disprove the obvious?! That's a biatch move.

No matter what those numbers say Oden is the better prospect because everyone says so. Can't believe you h8 Oden so much you'd try and throw up FACTS to argue everyone else's THEORY. :rollingeyes:

What has the basketball world come to when someone has the nerve to question the authority of experts like Jay Bilas, Chad Ford, and Dick Vitale?

:)

[Sneakerpro]

Call me crazy but I think Dwight will be a better player when their careers are over.

[Collie]

Yeah everyone must be stupid.