Assuming Camby comes back

[Nikolokolus]

Who starts (or maybe more importantly, who finishes) games at center?

To me it seems like a no brainer that the team functions on defense like a well-oiled machine with him in the lineup, LMA seems to have blossomed playing alongside of him, and he makes this just a smarter team, with his ability to recognize opposing teams' plays, direct traffic and cover multiple positions.

I know some of you are going to say Oden wasn't drafted first overall to be a bench player, but considering the sub 30 minute average Oden has averaged when healthy and the likelihood of needing time to get comfortable playing after another 9 month layoff (or thereabouts) I think I want to see Oden earn his spot back.

part of this is moot because Camby can probably play alongside of Greg as a power forward when LMA is on the bench.

 

[andalusian]

part of this is moot because Camby can probably play alongside of Greg as a power forward when LMA is on the bench.

There are 96 minutes per game in the C/PF positions. Between the 3 of them, this averages to 32 MPG - changing based on mismatches/health.

Unfortunately, this means that Joel has to be traded - but we knew this was going to happen when he re-injured himself.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Oden/LMA/Camby is an OMFG Perfect 3-man rotation, even if Camby-man will only be with us for a year or two more (he's already 36). Also, if we can't offload Joel, and he's not a Raef LaFrentz (i.e., too injured to even play), I'd be willing to play him 12 minute a game to reduce Camby's minute a bit to extend his career.

 

[BlazerBenner]

Nothing would surprise me from a Coach who starts Blake over Miller.

But, for 29 other teams, Camby starts over Oden or Pryzbilla, and there's no questions about it. Camby will be such a better player than both of them if you're going to look at the 2010-2011 season only.

And, don't forget the odds of Oden/Pryzbilla missing a combined 50 games is pretty good for next year. They are who they are.

It also wouldn't be bad to limit Oden to 20 minutes per game so his multiple "major" injuries can strengthen themselves at a quality pace, without risking further injury. It's likely that the Blazers play 100+ games next year when you count Pre-season and the first two rounds. Limiting Joel to 12 minutes per game would also be best for him and for the TrailBlazers.

 

[RoyToy]

Easy, Oden starts. No question.

 

[BGrantFan]

Easy, Camby starts. No question. I know Oden has a 23+ PER, but statistics mean little to me. Plus, McDillon's first instinct is incorrect, but by the 5th move he's back to his first move, which seems to be the proper initial move.

I like chocolate.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Probably a moot point. I find it hard to believe that either Joel or Oden will be 100% to start the season. Easing them in slowly is just common sense.

It may become an issue later in the season, but I will let Nate burn that bridge when he comes to it.

 

[HailBlazers]

I'm loving the Camby/LMA combo and would love to see Camby start. Moreover, I'd like to see Oden earn his starting spot and deserve it

However, in order to get Oden the needed experience against other centers he should probably start.

 

[BBert]

Easy, the best player starts. No question. I don't care where they were drafted or how long they've been in the league. We'll find out who that is next season.

 

[RoyToy]

Oden earned his spot with his play before he went down.

You also have to know what you have in Greg Oden. He's coming up on a contract year and you simply just have to know what he is. Potentially limiting his minutes isn't smart. Plus, like I said, he was playing great before he went down. Camby is 36 and won't be around much longer. Oden is still potentially your future starter for the next 5-10 years.

Easy decision imo.

 

[RoyToy]

And being that Oden is still potentially your starter for the next decade, he needs to gel with the starting 5. It's taken a huge hit already. They need to play together.

Again, Oden should start imo, unless he's physically not able to or something.

 

[Minstrel]

If Oden is healthy, he should start. Before he went down, he had more offensive presence than Camby, was a tougher man defender and was up there with Camby as a help defender and rebounder.

Camby's only advantage was committing fewer fouls...of course, if Oden continues to be foul prone, then Camby would get plenty of minutes anyway, so it solves itself.

 

[STOMP]

If Oden is healthy, he should start. Before he went down, he had more offensive presence than Camby, was a tougher man defender and was up there with Camby as a help defender and rebounder.

Camby's only advantage was committing fewer fouls...of course, if Oden continues to be foul prone, then Camby would get plenty of minutes anyway, so it solves itself.

2nd... and projections are (and always have been) for Greg to be good to go for training camp. By the start of the season he should be back to where he was. I also agree with andalusian's 96 minute point... hell I've made it a few times myself. That would be a ridiculous Bigs rotation.

Joel either is a nice chip as an expiring deal at the midseason trade deadline or even more then that if he's feeling his oats and ready for PT. Starting quality 5's have real value.

STOMP

 

[Rhal]

Seems like most people who are voting for Camby to start are forgetting how Oden played before he went down. When he was in the game teams were AFRAID to go into the paint, with Camby they still attack it all the time. Oden was not only a huge defensive presence he was able to make his presence felt on the Offence most plays too.
The question isn't really weather Camby is better then Oden or vice versa its about if Oden is healthy enough to start and average 30+ minutes a game. If he is he starts, its as simple as that.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Probably a moot point. I find it hard to believe that either Joel or Oden will be 100% to start the season. Easing them in slowly is just common sense.

It may become an issue later in the season, but I will let Nate burn that bridge when he comes to it.

Wait.. what reason do you have to believe Oden will not be 100% (healthy, presumably) to start the season?

 

[Fender]

There are 96 minutes per game in the C/PF positions. Between the 3 of them, this averages to 32 MPG - changing based on mismatches/health.

Unfortunately, this means that Joel has to be traded - but we knew this was going to happen when he re-injured himself.

My thoughts on trading Joel: Looking at the history of all three of our centers, one of em is bound to be injured at some point of the season. I say keep em all just to be safe, especially if they all decide on helping the team and taking a pay cut on contracts.

 

[barfo]

I say Oden/Joel and LMA/Camby. That'll put fear into the hearts of other teams.

barfo

 

[oldmangrouch]

Wait.. what reason do you have to believe Oden will not be 100% (healthy, presumably) to start the season?

After missing all that time, it is going to take months to knock all the rust off his game...and that assumes he stays healthy.

 

[KingSpeed]

Camby starts.

 

[STOMP]

After missing all that time, it is going to take months to knock all the rust off his game...and that assumes he stays healthy.

The medical projections are for him to resume working out in the very near future... training camp is many months away. Yes we're assuming he stays healthy in this hypothetical. No one plays at all if they're not healthy.

STOMP

 

[Draco]

The medical projections are for him to resume working out in the very near future... training camp is many months away. Yes we're assuming he stays healthy in this hypothetical. No one plays at all if they're not healthy.

STOMP

I'm not sure what projections your refering too but he can't sit at the games cause it hurts his knee. He tried running on a machine with partial gravity but it hurt his knee. He is a long ways from jumping uninhibited which he will need before starting any basketball. These are all facts from his own radio show.

He is quite a ways behind the intial recovery projections.

 

[hasoos]

I would assume if Camby comes back, he buys in and there is nothing to worry about.

 

[Blaze01]

First of all, Camby would start, with Oden coming back from an injury he would need to work his way back into the rotation....

IMO Przybilla will not be ready to go by the time the season starts...so playing time for him is a non issue....then, provided that Camby and Oden are helathy...you would like to get Przybilla some minutes before the trade deadline to show that he is healthy and then trade him and his expiring contract to a team for something valuable...another scorer? pg? young project big man etc...

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm in the "Camby starts until Oden is back in game shape," group.

I think Camby is the perfect guy to mentor Greg. I would like to see him start the first half of the season, and then bring Oden in slowly and phase him into the starting lineup. No pressure on Greg. He can play with the second unit, and hopefully boost our bench a bit. We could use a scoring threat on the bench.

 

[Nikolokolus]

First of all, Camby would start, with Oden coming back from an injury he would need to work his way back into the rotation....

IMO Przybilla will not be ready to go by the time the season starts...so playing time for him is a non issue....then, provided that Camby and Oden are helathy...you would like to get Przybilla some minutes before the trade deadline to show that he is healthy and then trade him and his expiring contract to a team for something valuable...another scorer? pg? young project big man etc...

This seems the most likely outcome ... if Camby resigns.

My money would be on a youngish point guard. Maybe Minny would take a flier on him getting healthy and being productive again, cause lord knows that team is in dire need of a real center to pair with either Jefferson or Love (beyond Darko), in that case I wouldn't mind seeing Andre Miller's son (Ramon Sessions) added to this roster -- he can't shoot the long ball for shit, but he's a good pick and roll point guard wasting his talents in that poor copy of the triangle that Rambis is trying to implement.