Oden Returns To Action
By David Thorpe
Scouts Inc.
Portland rookie Greg Oden looked better, physically, than he did a few weeks ago. I noticed that a few days ago in person, and I still feel that way after seeing him on television.
He is about 7 to 10 pounds lighter. His early energy was good. This guy has some agility, despite being so large and away from the game for so long. In time, that agility will triple in impact on the game. I liked his aggression from the post when the Heat doubled him, twice passing out and getting the pass deflected, only to see him hustle to regain possession.
As the game wore on, his bounce and reaction time suffered. It's important to remember that there is so much going through his mind; defensive responsibilities, awareness to help on finishers (he had two power blocks), block-out duties, etc. As the game slows down for him, he'll clear his head and get back to being a beast on the glass. That's his natural instinct. He may have looked rough in the post Wednesday night, but as he learns what NBA teams will do to stop him, he and his teammates and coaches will come up with strategies to counter those actions.
He is a very cerebral player with a good feel for the game, so I expect that learning curve to be both steep and fast.
