By Tim Legler
ESPN.com

Instead, the green faithful might have watched Ohio State's Greg Oden swatting Michigan shots on ESPN. He's the top prize in the 2007 NBA draft, and Boston could get the big man.

Boston and Memphis both have a league-worst 12 wins. They've split the season series 1-1. They have no more meetings. But if they did, and it was the final game of the season with the worst record on the line, with a corresponding better chance to get Oden, what kind of things could you expect to see?

It's not been unusual in the past to see starters miss some time. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of younger players getting minutes, with a 5 percent chance improvement of getting the best pick on the line.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers compared Oden to Bill Russell on a Boston radio station. Accurate?

That's a reach for me right now. He has a tremendous upside playing with his back to basket, and he's playing it one-handed now. Still, a reach.

If Boston finishes with the worst record, it has a 46.5 percent chance of landing one of the top two picks. Is Texas' Kevin Durant the world's greatest consolation prize?

You can't go wrong with either one. I think they might be better off getting the No. 2 pick and having the choice of deciding between Oden and Durant taken out of their hands. I see Durant coming in immediately and being a 20-point scorer. When we look back a dozen years from now, he might end up being the better player.

OK, let's say Durant and Pierce are the foundation. What about the pieces?

On that team, I like Gerald Green and Al Jefferson. Ryan Gomes is a good role player.

Biggest issue?

They have to address the point-guard situation, because they don't get enough from that position. Sebastian Telfair is not a guy who impresses me. And I see Delonte West as more of a third guard on a good team, not your starting point guard.

Boston is now 2-21 without Paul Pierce, who has another ailment to contend with.

They're not necessarily rushing him back, and I imagine they're not going to be too disappointed if he doesn't return. And consider -- do you want Pierce coming back to such a depressing situation?

No way. The last time a Boston team was this victory-challenged came 10 years ago in anticipation of drafting Tim Duncan.

In that light, which five would you take: Antoine Walker, David Wesley, Todd Day, Rick Fox, Eric Williams (not to mention Dino Radja and Alton Lister) of 1996-97 slouchers that went 15-67? Or the C's starting five Tuesday against the Pistons: Brian Scalabrine, Gomes, Jefferson, West and Rajon Rondo?

Absolutely, the '97 team. You could go back and find teams that have horrendous records along with some very good players.

• Talk back to The Daily Dime gang

• Dimes past: Feb. 1 | 2 | 3-4 | 5 | 6

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

A Madison Square Garden security officer, center, watches as film director Spike Lee talks to referee Bill Kennedy during the Knicks-Clippers game at Madison Square Garden.

Daily Dish: Be Like Dirk

Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo with Chad Ford:

"It's just interesting to make those Dirk Nowitzki comparisons [to Andrea Bargnani]. I think 7-footer, European, skilled perimeter player, he's got a lot going for him like Dirk. I just think that he's a lot more -- at this stage a lot more confident than Dirk was. It took Dirk a while to feel his way in the league, but further I think he's more athletic than Dirk, and ultimately that's going to bode well.

I think he's a little bit more fluid that way, and Dirk is just absolutely one of the best in the league right now. So, I think it proves that there are some things that were misunderstood about Andrea. People thought he was 6-10, 220 pounds when he was being talked about as the No. 1 draft prospect. Well, we knew him to be 7-0, 245, and the kid might even still be growing a little bit. But barefoot, 7-0, 245, is something to speak of, and to be as athletic and quick, and he's putting moves on players that surprise people. It's that good first quick dribble that he's got. He can put the ball on the floor and make the right pass.

• See the full Daily Dish transcript