Rookie of The Year For '08-'09 Season: Greg Oden?
Vegas has Michael Beasley favored to win Rookie of the Year for the 2008-2009 season, but I am going with my man who was predicted to win it last year, Greg Oden.
What? How? Well I thought Vegas was smart, but apparently not. Oden actually is actually officially a rookie next season, according to the NBA, because he did not play a single game last year.
Last year, nothing would have stopped Kevin Durant from having a rookie of the year season since Greg Oden was raw and skinny.
Sitting out a year actually helped out Oden even more. He is leaner, used to the NBA life, and really worked on that jump shot.
Oden also has one of the best talent on his team to take pressure off of him. This will get him boards and blocked shots. I predict he will be a 15 point, 12 boards, 4 assists, and 2 blocks a game type of player.
His solid overall performance and the fact his team will most likely have a better record than Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose's teams, he has to be the favorite.
Oden will be an animal next year since LaMarcus Aldridge and him will be a duo in the front court that will one day be compared to Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Derrick Rose is being pressured to carry the Bulls and be their savior. He does not have that scoring ability or mentality and is more of a distributor. He may average ten points and eight assists. Not bad, but not rookie of the year worthy.
Michael Beasley is expected to be a scorer in the NBA. It is not college. Beasley also already has Dwayne Wade and Shawn Marion who will be scorers. Beasley, though, will see how difficult it is to board while playing against guys who are stronger and as athletic as him. I predict he will average 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Oden will be the core on a growing Trail Blazers team, which is why I favor him to win rookie of the year. I take nothing away from the other top rookies, but Oden has the experience and team around him to take the title of best rookie.
