O.J. Mayo vs. Derrick Rose 12.5.2007 - Updated on 12.5.2007
 | | | | | | | | | | It was a match-up observers from everywhere were waiting to see. Last night at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic, O.J. Mayo and the USC Trojans went head-to-head with Derrick Rose and the Memphis Tigers. As many hoops fans know, both players are truly talented prospects, and one of them could be the number one overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
However, neither Mayo nor Rose dominated like many were hoping for, and neither looked like natural NBA point guards in their first battle. In 41 minutes of play O.J. Mayo scored 16 points on 6-of-20 shooting, had 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls and 3 turnovers. In 39 minutes of play Derrick Rose scored 9 points (3 of 9 from the field), had 10 rebounds, 4 assist, 3 fouls and 5 turnovers. Number two ranked Memphis ended up winning in overtime 62 to 58.
Both Mayo and Rose are young and still developing into complete players, but it’s obvious which of the two is more advanced when it comes to playing the point. Derrick Rose shows maturity when running an offense and has the true pass-first mentality. Mayo, meanwhile is a shoot-first player, and often tries to carry the scoring load by himself. USC head coach Tim Floyd needs to do a better job teaching O.J. to involve his teammates more, instead of relying on O.J. to be the savior. Derrick Rose said "The hype - sometimes you want to be that person but that comes with the territory. You want all the hype. You just go out and play hard and you’ll get it, but you’ve got to make sure you don’t get too bigheaded when you get it." O.J. Mayo said "I’m just trying to get better as a player. I’m not perfect, but I strive to be perfect. Nobody plays perfect, but just try to get better."
So, HoopsVibe readers, who do you think is the better player right now? And who do you think will have a better career overall? My vote goes to Derrick Rose for both. I believe the things Derrick Rose does on the court will make him more of an effective player than O.J. Mayo. |
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Posted by
manny1
on 06.27.2008 | OJ IS BETTER THAN ROSE OJ HAS A BETTER SHOT ,Pa-------,3 ALL OF THAT ROSE JUST ON A BETTER TEAM THAN MAYO . | Posted by
karl
on 06.18.2008 | I thinkd derrick rose is a better player . He has more potential n a better leader n team player . Oj mayo is going to b all about me guy . He b good n the nba not great . | Posted by
#32
on 03.1.2008 | I have seen ever game O.J has played, he is my cousin. He is very talented, and he knows I have love for him and will always be a big fan of his. But right now Derrick is the better fundamental player and I told him that. O.J. will continue to work hard to be the best he can be. Both will have bright futures. . | Posted by
jeremy Brinkley
on 02.15.2008 | man all yall shut up! OJ is better than Derrick rose yall muchhave not seen OJ games Derrick good but hes not better than my boy read hes stats and suff look at hes basketball games you see who better. . | Posted by
Future Scout
on 02.13.2008 | I disagree with B Diddy, Mayo is selfish always has been. Rose will develop into a Chauncey Billups type player, and will become a Mr.Big Shot in the future watch and see. Rose is and will continue to be better when it’s all said and done . | Posted by
B Diddy
on 01.25.2008 | This is laughable. ESPN makes it look like O.J. Mayo is a selfish guy, but in reality, he isn’t selfish at all. Watch a USC game. His teammates are unreliable, and his coach runs a halfcourt motion offense. Those are two ingredients that would kill any freshman guard not named Mayo. Rose on the other hand, plays with the most talented supporting cast in the land, gets to run all day on weak C-USA teams, and gets most of his points/assists on the fast break. I don’t see how this is even an arguement. O.J. is strong at 6-5 215, while Rose is 6-4 200. Mayo has a great outside shot, while Rose struggles to shoot with any consistency. Mayo locked Rose down head to head, while Memphis had Douglas Roberts guarding Mayo. Yes, Rose is unselfish, but the funny thing is how is he only getting 4 assists a game on a squad that talented? Mayo has killer instinct comparable to Kobe, while Rose shies away from any big shots. . | Posted by
Common Sense 2003
on 12.17.2007 | for the person below me: What does your comment have to do with the article? It was about the match-up between O.J. and Derrick. Yes Jerryd is playing well. . | Posted by
on 12.17.2007 | Jerryd Bayless @ UofA is playing better than both of them . | Posted by
Memphis Blake
on 12.9.2007 | O.J. might be better right now by a small margin, but I think Derrick Rose will have more success in the long run . | Posted by
hoopdreams
on 12.9.2007 | oj is better keep it 100 come on now this kid is no joke for all stop sleepin on that young man rose is a great player but mayo is the 1 stop it chal whos been on the ray dar for the longest . | Posted by
Ladale
on 12.9.2007 | O.J. Mayo has the height, but he is too light in the rear end to possibly handle the shooting guards such as Kobe, Ginobli, and especially Lebron and McGrady. Derrick Rose however, is naturally strong and athletic in his make-up, and will dominate the pick and roll on the nba level. Something Memphis does not run. . | Posted by
Dusty Allen
on 12.8.2007 | O.J. is one of the most self-centered guys I have ever seen. He plays it off like he wants to be the ultimate team guy, but really he’s focused on gettin his. Derrick Rose is the type of player you want to build your team around that for sure. You’’ have alot more success that way. That’s why his team is #2 and O.J’s isnt ranked at all . | Posted by
L.C.
on 12.6.2007 | It’s a good possiblity that O.J. will never become the PG a team needs him to be. So he might as well move to the SG spot, and take ever single shot like he’s already doing. I hope teams skip over him and let him slide down late in the lottery. I don’t think he’s going to make his teammates any better, and therefore a team may not get better and progress with him around. Derrick Rose is and will continue to be a great PG, leader and player. He will win atleast two championships in his career, the kid just has special ways about, not to flashy, not to basic, just right. WHen it’s all said and done Derrick Rose will be the more successful one . | Posted by
Lucky #13
on 12.6.2007 | As far as playin the point, Rose got OJ beat. but i think Mayo’s real future is as a shooting guard. he can play the 1, but he’s not a true point guard . | Posted by
da futa nba *
on 12.6.2007 | OJ has the potential to become a shooting guard at the next level. he got da the size at 6’5 to guard nba SG so some nba teams can gamble on him because he can be a good SG if not a PG. Derrick Rose is about 6’2 so he limited to playing PG in NBA so if he doesn’t show his PG skills he might drop down below. Both players a re traffic players. . | Posted by
HE THE BEST!
on 12.6.2007 | OK, O.J. I GOT YO BACK! I KNOW YOU’RE BETTER THAN THE OVERRATED ROSE, AND YOU’LL HAVE THE BETTER CAREER. I CAN’T WAIT TILL U PROVE THE DOUBTERS WRONG . | Posted by
Sho Nuff!
on 12.5.2007 | It’s a draw. LOL! just kidding, you already know that my boy D-Rose has got this battle all locked up, fa sho! O.J. just go away! . | Posted by
Charles
on 12.5.2007 | I love the fact that Derrick Rose is mature. Just by reading his quote you can tell, unlike O.J. "it’s all about ME-YO". I’m really pulling for Derrick to beat O.J. in all aspects, that would be a great thing to see. I think Jerryd Bayless is better than O.J. as well . | Posted by
O-Mazing!
on 12.5.2007 | Look at O.J’s face he is determined to be the best player of all time. O.J. is no doubt the better player right now, and will continue to be in the future. He hasn’t be watched since junior high for nothing. Watch and seeing greatness in the making. . | Posted by
Jessica S
on 12.5.2007 | Yeah it figures, so little teenager would say O.J. Mayo is 8 times better than Derrick Rose. It would be alot closer than that with the one-on-one match-ups. It’s actually a tough call, but I would say Derrick is better right now, with O.J. topping him as far as having the better career. The Me-First players always do . |
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