European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 28, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stars and june 2007 sports Henin Advance to third round at Page s3 immediate Impact dont count on it if players go West by Brian Mahoney the associated press Lebron James needed Only four years to reach the Aba Tim Duncan was a Champion in half that so How Many seasons will it take Greg Oden to play for his first title i Hope Oden said with a smile during the not big Oden and Kevin Durant figure to go 12 in what shapes up As the strongest draft in but there also Likely headed to the rugged Western where 50 victories want Good enough to earn Home court advantage in the first round last to realize How Strong the West consider that the spurs Cav Aliers finals mismatch would have taken place in the first round if Cleveland had been in the other the cars 5032 record would have been Good for sixth place they were second in the East and Given them an opening round meeting with third seeded san so if Portland and which own the top two picks in the draft Are hoping to take a giant they May need to think they might have to Settle for Small Steps at people dont understand How Good the Aba the Aba is it really said former Seattle coach Bob fired before possibly getting the Chance to coach one of the potential can miss you play 82 games in seven months or six months and and you play four games in five its the Guys that have to score every that the hardest thing to Durant will be asked to do while Oden can probably make a big enough Mark at first with his rebounding and shot but enough to make the Pacific Northwest teams instant contend Erst Hose skills might not even be enough for either player to make an Allstar team any time soon from the whose play ers occupied All five spots on the Alliba first san an tonics place As a dynasty has been debated since it prospects High on the Aba radar while Many believe the Portland Trail blazers Are going to make Greg Oden the 1 Overall selection in the Kevin Durant is another franchise player who could make an immediate Impact during his Rookie some top prospects expected to go Early in the first round Kevin Durant Texas can score from any spot on the floor extremely versatile Ai Hor Ford Florida handles the Ball and passes Well for a big Man Mike Conley Ohio state exception Al Quick May be the Best Point guard in this draft Brandan Wright unc a Force near the some scouts have questioned his intensity Corey Brewer Florida most out standing player of the 2007 Mcaa final four i Jinlian f611 China athletic Power Forward with Excell ent Quick Ness jumping ability Greg Oden o70 Ohio state most Likely the top can Domin ate on the defensive runs the floor exceptionally Well won a fourth title in nine but the spurs  even get out of the second round four times during that Span in a Confer ence that has won seven of the last nine at Portland finished 10 games behind the los an Geles lakers and Golden state who grabbed the wests final two playoff and As Good As Oden and Durant that a Large Gap to make up unless they have it takes a lot of com Cleveland Cen Ter a Drunas a Rauskas obviously one Guy wont be Able to turn a franchise you have to have a Good mix of veterans and enough Guys like Lebron come into the league probably once in 30 so to expect those Guys to do the same its unfair More than anything to the spurs set the Standard for oneyear san Anto Nio improved by 35 victories in David Robinsons Rookie and bettered that record with a 36game jump in duncans first but Duncan had played four years at Wake and Robinson was even More mature after serving his two year military commit ment following his play ing Days at Oden and on the other were just finishing up High school this time last i think that would be unfair pressure to put on whatever Young kid is drafted in spurs coach Gregg Popov Ich said when asked about a san Antoni Type we All can guess what we think is presented by first round thursday Portland Seattle Atlanta Memphis Boston Milwaukee Minnesota Charlotte Chicago from new York Sacramento Atlanta from Indiana Philadelphia new Orleans clippers Detroit from Orlando Washington new Jersey Golden state lakers Miami Philadelphia from Denver Charlotte from Toronto through Cleveland new York from Chicago Phoenix from Cleveland through Boston Utah Houston Detroit san Antonio Phoenix Philadelphia Dallas through Denver and Golden the associated press going to but i believe thai the two Guys youre talking Abb Are like 18 or 19 years when David came i Don remember How old he but think he was about he playe at the he played vice Ball after he was Vei mature i think that huge emotional physically and i dont thin those Young men can be put i that same category As far As Bei prepared to go do see draft on Page 48 Ohio states Greg Oden is expected to be the first pick in the Aba draft on if the Portland Trail blazers dont take him the Seattle supersonics will Likely snap him up with the second the Brent As blow ninth inning drop fifth straight Page so