A force being born...

[2Cleva]

I take it this Bulls fan doesn't know what a true center is since its been so long since one has wore a Chicago uniform.

whott - you nailed it.

[whottt]

(cough) Duncan

Considered a PF...

I mean we could also throw Garnett and Nowitzki out there as C...but they are considered PF's and have other players called C's starting next to them. Like Duncan.

(cough) Gasol

Also pretty much considered a F...

But thanks for bringing Gasol up...a guy who started making an impact at a very young age in the modern NBA....and he didn't have Bynum's size...in fact he still doesn't have Bynum's size.

Bynum looks to be about 7'1 and 280-290lbs with really long arms and a feisty streak...saying he can't be consistent against what passes for a C on a lot of teams is like saying a young brick wall can't be consistent if you smash your hand into it.

[objective]

Bynum is legit. Regardless of the Suns defense, he showed he has great touch around the basket, good hands, a credible passer already, and a hard worker. He works to get good position (not just this game but the pre-season as well), shown himself to be at least a competant rebounder and doesn't give up on plays.

To draw a comparison to another young bigman people here are familiar with, he's younger, taller, longer, faster and all around better than someone like Jackie Butler, which he should be considering he was a lotto pick and Butler was undrafted.

[AFBlue]

Odom has always had the talent to be a lot more than he was(he has Dirk, KG, Webber type talent IMO

Webber is the odd man out in that comparison, but he's the only one I would confuse Odom's talent for. KG and Dirk are considered by some, despite their team results, to be the best players in the league...I wouldn't put Odom near those two even when judging solely on talent.

He's Al Harrington in purple and gold.

[z0sa]

Lamar Odom has the ability to be way better than pippen was. If odom can run the triangle like Pippen did, and stays aggressive instead of just giving it to Kobe every time down the floor, then the Lakers could definitely hurt some people in the playoffs.

[AFBlue]

Bynum is legit. Regardless of the Suns defense, he showed he has great touch around the basket, good hands, a credible passer already, and a hard worker. He works to get good position (not just this game but the pre-season as well), shown himself to be at least a competant rebounder and doesn't give up on plays.

To draw a comparison to another young bigman people here are familiar with, he's younger, taller, longer, faster and all around better than someone like Jackie Butler, which he should be considering he was a lotto pick and Butler was undrafted.

He's Dasagana Diop, except he came into a program with Phil Jackson and Diop took a 4yr hiatus in Cleveland while gaining weight instead of losing it.

I'll admit that Bynum has a better shot at developing his offensive game though.

[whottt]

Webber is the odd man out in that comparison, but he's the only one I would confuse Odom's talent for. KG and Dirk are considered by some, despite their team results, to be the best players in the league...I wouldn't put Odom near those two even when judging solely on talent.

He's Al Harrington in purple and gold.

Not sure...the primary criteria for lumping KG, Dirk and Webber together is that they are all bigmen that can play like a guard...they are all guys that can pass, shoot, average over a block and a steal per game...


Or to put it another way...they all have the traditional SF skill set but play pretty much PF(although Dirk and KG have spent seasons as SFs).

Webber gets a bad rap because he is completely devoid of heart, balls and crumbles under pressure like the gutless that he is...I don't think it's fair to take that out on his game though...he's got sick game, sick as anyone whoever played PF in this league.


They are all bigmen that can do it all...Webber probably is the least guard like of them all when it comes to scoring style...but he's a better passer than Dirk, that's for sure.


Odom has that same skill set...and Odom did run the point for the Clippers on occassion...he's done it for the Lakers.


I think Odom is the most PG like of them all...and he's turning into be the best inside bruiser of that group as well.

Odom has sick talent...he just lacks the want too's and would probably rather be out lighting up a blunt moreso than even Webber.

Talent? I don't know if I would describe Dirk and Webber as 5 position talents...but I would definitely describe Odom as a 5 position talent...I mean legitimately can play all 5 well.

[Medvedenko]

The bottom line is how Kobe will integrate himself into this team. That's simply the core of the situation. I truly don't believe it's the guys figuring out how to deal with Kobe, it's the other way around. As a leader, he needs to find the strengths in his teammates and minimize their deficencies with his overal talent. That's what a great leader does, now can Kobe do this day in day out, is up for review. I've seen it in some games, some I've seen him instill his will to the detriment of the team. It's all on his shoulders.