Back from the game -- stunned by Oden

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The way this team played tonight, I think they we're all out sightseeing in NYC all day, they looked worn out before that game started.... cept the spaniards.. probably carbo loading up with all that spanish food they have there.:cheers:
 
RW#30 said:
I agree. I like Nate and want him in PDX, but he needs to come up with a better way getting Oden the ball. Get him side pick/roll or isolate him, get him moving. Oden is a sitting duck with double teams coming at him all the time. Help the kid.
Paul needs to spend the cash and get Hakeem to Portland for a few years. I would love to see Oden model his game after the Dream.
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This is not a criticism of Oden, but he did miss two dunks while being "defended" by much smaller players. Again, this is not a slight, but I have zero problem with Oden getting second chance points at this stage of his career. There is no need to make him the primary option on offense considering how well the team is playing.

This is a huge positive, yet the coach gets criticized for not having Oden as the central point in the offense.
 
Crimson the Cat said:
He rebounded and defended.

Micro-fracture surgery + inexperience with a run-and-gun tempo = Struggle

WTF
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Agreed. He's still a rookie and he's not going to dominate every game.
This was not a good matchup for him since his post game is still in development, and he couldn't take advantage of having Lee and even Richardson on him on a switch down low.

I'm not worried... just the growing pains he needs to go through. And Joel was playing like superman on defense tonight.
 
It always amuses me when people slam on Oden. It's like they forget how bad Amar'e looked after his microfracture surgery, they forget how just about every player who has had MF will tell you it takes at least a year after you start playing basketball again to start to fully trust your knee.

Oden is running the court much better than he was even a week and a half ago. He's moving his feet on defense and affecting all types of shots, he's setting picks and rolling (despite hardly ever getting the ball in this scenario), he's quick to pass out and recognize an open shooter (wish we'd run more cuts when he's being double teamed in the post - that'd be an easy two for us considering Oden's reaction time with passing the ball), and as a rookie big man with limited offensive moves he's commanding double teams which is invaluable with our shooters on the floor.

I'd certainly understand the cause for concern about Oden's statistics and movement - if this was last year, and he hadn't gone through micro-fracture. Micro-fracture is not an excuse people - it takes you out of basketball for a long time and it makes you question your knee - this set back Greg quite a bit but he still is having very, very good games. Another thing to consider with other people like Amar'e, Zach, Brian Grant, Kidd, Webber, etc who all came back from MF surgery - they at least had it at least a few years into their careers where they had already played against NBA players and learned some tricks and trades. Greg has had no such 'luck' if you will. He had it before he even stepped on an NBA court - so in addition to learning how to play against NBA players who are the same size as him, are as quick as him (or as quick as he was and will be again), and the general things a rookie big man has to go through he also has to go through it while learning to trust his knee again and get all his timing and quickness back.

This is no easy task and is not an excuse in any way - it is simply reality and I wish some people would take it into perspective when evaluating Greg.
 
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Regardless of the stats, I've been frustrated a bit with Oden. Several people are joining me in this frustration.
Are we wackos who don't see the big picture?

No, not at all. Multiple Blazers announced to the media that "Oden was a beast" before the preseason. The
media passed on the hype. The offseason was a bit boring. Many of us watched videos of Oden swimming
and doing pilates. He was going to be in great shape! We were told that he had a year of watching
opponents tendencies. He's a very smart player, we were told.

It was all a bunch of baloney. With all this hype, he's been, at times, underwelming. That doesn't mean
I'm not excited about Oden - I absolutely am. But... not the current Oden. I'm excited about the February
Oden. I really think he'll be much better then, and so will the Blazers.
 
Lets remember, not only did he only have 1 year of college, not only did he miss his entire rookie year, not only has he not played in a year, but he is coming back from the worst surgery possible. Its hard to come back in a year from that for a seasoned vet like Zack or Amare, let alone a raw rookie.

He needs a year. He'll be fine.
 
The Sebastian Express said:
It always amuses me when people slam on Oden. It's like they forget how bad Amar'e looked after his microfracture surgery, they forget how just about every player who has had MF will tell you it takes at least a year after you start playing basketball again to start to fully trust your knee.

Oden is running the court much better than he was even a week and a half ago. He's moving his feet on defense and affecting all types of shots, he's setting picks and rolling (despite hardly ever getting the ball in this scenario), he's quick to pass out and recognize an open shooter (wish we'd run more cuts when he's being double teamed in the post - that'd be an easy two for us considering Oden's reaction time with passing the ball), and as a rookie big man with limited offensive moves he's commanding double teams which is invaluable with our shooters on the floor.
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I thought the exact same thing as I was watching the game on yet another pirated feed, this time of the Knick telecast. Oden looked pretty good running the court, didn't he? Sure, he missed two gimme dunks, but he's still learning to trust his game.

I don't get the Oden bashing by the OP in this thread.
 
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PapaG said:
I thought the exact same thing as I was watching the game on yet another pirated feed, this time of the Knick telecast. Oden looked pretty good running the court, didn't he? Sure, he missed to gimme dunks, but he's still learning to trust his game.

I don't get the Oden bashing by the OP in this thread.
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Oh he definitely is. He's moving much faster up and down the court both ways - just last week or a little longer he was kinda jogging up the court in short steps but he is taking much longer strides now.

Another thing that would help Greg is if the guards fought through more screens instead of letting the opposing team get the switch leaving Greg on a point guard on the perimeter. He did a fairly good job against Duhon on the perimeter tonight which is really quite an improvement. Each game he is getting better at something, even if it is a little thing. He's coming over from the weak side better, not bringing down his arms nearly as much as he was before (but still doing it), holding the ball better.

A lot of people seem to be concerned about him getting blocked because he gathers himself after getting an offensive rebound before he goes back up for a dunk - this is simply an explosiveness and knee-trust issue. Once he trusts his knee and fully regains the hops he had before it will be a non-issue in my opinion.
 
i didnt get to watch or hear much of oden playing due to i was at work for the first half but people mess up seriously im thinking exactly what other people have been saying give him a year hell at least a couple months before he gets consistantly better.... i believe hes running a lot better especially at that piston game.... give him a couple of months to get his legs he will be swatting shit outta the air like its nothin.... im going to be patient with the big guy
 
RW#30 said:
I agree. I like Nate and want him in PDX, but he needs to come up with a better way getting Oden the ball. Get him side pick/roll or isolate him, get him moving. Oden is a sitting duck with double teams coming at him all the time. Help the kid.
Paul needs to spend the cash and get Hakeem to Portland for a few years. I would love to see Oden model his game after the Dream.
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That's exactly what I was thinking. It's either his teammates aren't looking for him, or he just isn't in the right spots on the court to get the ball.

Right now, Greg just sets picks up top, he rolls to the hoop and is routinely wide open for a second but never gets the ball. Part of it is he's still uncomfortable 10 feet away from the hoop with the ball and part he just needs to be more aggressive.

I'd like to see Brandon take the ball to the hoop off a Greg screen and have the defense choose between Brandon laying it up or passing it off to Oden right at the hoop. Either way, it'll come with time and as the players still learn how to play with him.
 
I am a believer in Oden, but missing 2 dunks is pretty bad. I still think he'll be a beast and this year is a learning year for him, as most players with MF take a year to gain full strength, trust, and mobility of their knee.
What I am worried about is how long does it take to get into game shape? He still seems to take forever to get up and down the court, hopefully the conditioning will be done in time.
Thank God we are winning, otherwise the media would be on his ass, poor guy.
And yes, I think he prolly should look into a shrink ala Marty.
 
Clearly Greg is feeling the pressure a bit.

We have something of an ideal situation for that not to be the case. Mainly the team is playing well and second, there are lots other guys who are capable of being the main guy, particularly Roy.

It wouldn't hurt to make a concerted effort to not focus on Greg. He's in a great situation, even as a highly touted #1 pick in that he can come along slowly and the national media probably won't devote too much attention. Obviously, the injuries hurt that perception but as long as he's healthy and having some nights like the 13/13 there is nothing to be concerned about. This team does not need him to be a superstar or even an all star now or in the immediate future.

Lets hope most of the fans don't get to ornery about it.
 
Oden is in terrible shape. He needs to stop killing the Big Mac's. Once he regains his lift he'll be fine. It might not be until next season.
 
RW#30 said:
Oden will be fine. This was a crappy game against a gimmicky offense. You could tell he never been in this situation. The Knicks were running all kind of crazy double teams, and defensive rotations. This is Nellie ball. Big guys have trouble with it.
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Greg Oden had 22 & 10 versus the real thing- Nellie ball, that is, in Golden State. There's just no excuse for Greg playing as badly as he is. Even before the surgery, he looked weak in summer league. I'll be patient but I'm worried.
 
If Oden isn't careful with those dunks he will end up busts just like the players in the two videos below.

[video=youtube;5_r4AGX3Qmo]

[video=youtube;4AicEsGj63g]
 
I'll take Buck Williams' evaluation over Talkhard's.
 
this might just be me, but i think oden would flourish with MORE responsibility. if he was on the wizards, he would be getting 15 shot attempts per game, and have a better chance of working through any confidence issues.
 
I think one of the main reasons Bynum has flourished is that he has been getting one on one coaching from the captain, Kareem.

That's what Greg needs - I agree we should hire Hakeem, or Ewing, or some other major center to tutor the kid.

What say you, DaRizzle?
 
Stevenson said:
I think one of the main reasons Bynum has flourished is that he has been getting one on one coaching from the captain, Kareem.

That's what Greg needs - I agree we should hire Hakeem, or Ewing, or some other major center to tutor the kid.

What say you, DaRizzle?
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I'm not saying it's a horrible idea, but great players don't always make great teachers, but if Nate and KP think there is somebody out there that can fill the role, then I guess they should go out and get them. It's a damn shame Mo Lucas hasn't been healthy, I think he could teach Greg a thing or two.
 
A week ago we had a thread about what a bust LaMarcus was because his shots were not falling - while he was running the floor, playing defense, being active and passing well.

Take that thread, replace shots with dunks, replace LaMarcus with Greg - and presto.

I predict 27 points against the Pistons.

(and by 27 I mean 14 and by Pistons I mean Wizards).
 
Fuck people. Oden is averaging 8/8 in just over 20 minutes a game.


If he played 30ish minuteshe would be at 12/12 with about 3 block per game.


This is a player that hasn't played in over a year, and is still not in game shape yet.


Last night he missed two dunks and had trouble defending the pick and roll. Keep in mind that EVERY team runs this for a reason.....IT IS HARD TO DEFEND. He also had 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in only 19 minutes. He also changes the way teams attack us inside. 3 times I counted players bringing the ball back out because oden was standing there.


He has also had 5 double doubles this year so far.
 
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Mediocre Man said:
Fuck people. Oden is averaging 8/8 in just over 20 minutes a game.


If he played 30ish minuteshe would be at 12/12 with about 3 block per game.


This is a player that hasn't played in over a year, and is still not in game shape yet.


Last night he missed two dunks and had trouble defending the pick and roll. Keep in mind that EVERY team runs this for a reason.....IT IS HARD TO DEFEND. He also had 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in only 19 minutes. He also changes the way teams attack us inside. 3 times I counted players bringing the ball back out because oden was standing there.


He has also had 5 double doubles this year so far.
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No, you're wrong! Greg's a bust, he's the next Kwame Brown, Micheal Olowokandi, and Sam Bowie all rolled into one, he's got no fire, he doesn't chest bump during introductions, he doesn't sprint up and down the floor like a gazelle, he's not dominating the league like the next Bill Russell would, he's terrible, he doesn't smile enough, he kicked my dog, he doesn't want to win, he's too nervous, too uncoordinated. He's only had a lousy five double-doubles in 13 games. He sucks, we suck, we're never going to go anywhere with him, let's trade the bum.

Did I miss anything?
 
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