I haven't gotten to see them play much as it's hard to get preseason games online. Looking at the box scores, I have my own opinion.
I'd like to hear from you guys that are watching these games. Who is looking like they will get more P/T this season?
It's two completely different skill sets. It would be like asking who is better, Collison or Krstic? They're both fairly effective at what they do but it's hard to quantify who's "better" per se IMO. I think Cole will play more this season because his strengths are more of what were lacking inside. That doesn't mean Cole is better than Byron but at this point is a better fit.
Cole is more of a defensive banger and mullens is a offense pick and pop player in my opinion. Both of great future value.
But Who is currently better?...if u had to get rid of one of them, who would it be?
Pub, why are you always trying to get rid of players? I bet you hate guaranteed contracts. LOL!
I think Mullens is more experienced, but Cole has more of what we currently need at the center position. Like I've always said, once Krstic's contract is up, we will make a seamless transition going from one pick and pop, perimeter oriented center to another pick and pop, perimeter oriented center.
And I'm not saying that in a demeaning way either. Pick and pop centers are a weapon if used right.
In the world of basketball analysis, little can be as deceiving as boxscores.Originally Posted by PublicEnemy
Mullens is currently the better of the two. Aldrich appears to have more potential to expand his game and overall play.
"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.
No Mullens is not currently the better of the two. The only part of Mullens game where he has the edge is mid range jump shooting. BJ is a HORRIBLE defender, set's bad screens, and has no idea where to be on the floor.
On the contrary Aldrich is positionally already a great Center, he just knows where to be, he sets probably the best picks on the team (my apologies to Nick collison here if i'm understating you), is a better defender, and has a similarly limited arsenal of down low offensive weapons to use. The other thing that hurts aldrich is his ability to stay on the floor and keep out of foul trouble, which he'll learn very quickly.
At this point I'm not convinced Mullens will ever be anything other than a hi end D-league player while Aldrich may already be a rotation big man.
This.
On a team like OKC, defensive presence, and the ability to impact more than one aspect of the game, is going to win over scoring.
We have the reigning NBA scoring champ in the backcourt, and one of the league's rising pgs; we don't need our big man to be a scorer, we need him to not give up ground in the paint, get those rebounds back out to the perimeter or back in for easy putbacks, and to set those screens that make life easier for scorers.
By my count, Aldrich wins in all those categories over Mullens. I'm not saying Mullens has no value - I still think he can be a contributor. But Aldrich is a better fit of the two, at this point.
"The dice of Zeus always fall luckily." - Sophocles
Mullens IS the better of the 2 right now.
Cole averages about a foul a minute.
Mullens is getting better at playing in the correct position. He's actually improved quite a bit. Unless Cole stays on the floor he's not going to prove that he's the better player.
Better positioning? I call BS. A player in good position does not foul at the rate Cole does. And the only game he didnt foul he played 27 minutes...BUT he got only 4 boards. I will agree that he sets good screens.
I haven't seen anything from COle that makes me think he warrants the #11 pick to be honest. Hopefully he can pick it up a bit.
Dont let the fact that you want COle to be better player and a rotation player cloud your judgement. He has been average at Best and certainly not better than Mullens.
I think both have a lot of potential, but I actually think Byron might end up being the better overall player. He was a McDonalds All-American, which doesn't mean he'll be a great pro, but what it does mean is.....the kid can ball. But he only played one year of college ball. He's still a raw talent, a work in progress. He's got so much to learn about playing in the NBA. But he's starting to get it, if he keeps working hard, he'll be a very dangerous weapon for us.
tonight if aldrich plays watch both guys run up and down the floor. Mullens looks like an athlete why aldrich looks like an ogre.
Honestly, I'm trying hard to make this forum better with questions that can be debated, where everyone won't agree. I ask the difficult questions merely from a devils advocate role and nothing else....Just imagine OKCFAN forum as a TV show and I'm ur host for the evening...
If u ever watched a talk show, u know the host does not agree with every show topic and merely acts as the facilitator for discussion.
I hope this ends ur belief that I'm somehow anti OKC.....I been with this team since the 80's
That is a pretty fair assessment. I honestly would think BJ is better from the box scores, but Scott Brooks raves about aldrich being the true center. He has yet to have a breakout game
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