I am truly excited to see Oden this year. I never lost faith in him like so many did. I kept trying to remind people that he was just a rookie and one that was coming off microfracture surgery. Hopefully I am right, and he will be as good as I think possible..
I'm quite excited. I've always felt he was a franchise center talent, but there was always the nagging doubt that the injury could alter his career, even though it isn't supposed to. Hearing how good he looks (athletically, I realize he's not up against intense NBA competition) is really great to hear. If Oden plays anywhere near the level of a top center, Portland will be a title contender this season.
I so desperately want to believe all this......but until I see it in games that count against at least average NBA centers......
I understand that it's just practice, but he's playing against Joel and Collins, right? So at least half the time he's playing a legit center--one of the best defenders in the league.
It's not whether he's scoring or whatever that matters, since this isn't meaningful competition. It's the athletic prowess that he's apparently showing. That is as meaningfully evaluated whether everyone else is going at full speed or not. If he can run, jump and move better, that is very big.
Hearing all of this certainly makes me excited about Oden and the Blazers, but wasn't this the same type of hype that was being propagated last year around this time? Until Oden can prove he can do it in a game that means something, I think I will try to hold back my exhilaration. I don't want to get my hopes up like last year, only to have it crushed. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice...
This from (resident homer) Mike Barrett: http://mikebarrettsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/comfortably-strung.html
There's only so long GO's natural gifts can remain suffocated. Clearly he played too heavy last year and wasn't even close to the player we saw at TOSU. He's getting into real basketball shape and is getting more comfortable with the added muscle on his frame. I never expected him to be an elite offensive player; I think in his prime years, he'll average 17-19 ppg. Howver, I do expect him to be considered one of the greatest rebounding and defensive centers ever by the time he retires. I look forward to seeing the real Greg Oden this year.
I think a couple of 20-22 ppg seasons are definitely in his future (if healthy). Dwight Howard has averaged 20 ppg for the last two years, and Greg can potentially develop a better post game, plus he's substantially bigger.
It doesn't count, but he's going up against one of the better defensive centers in the league tonight. On TV no less!