For all the people bagging on Oden

[tlongII]

I think Oden has played very well. The problem has been that he just hasn't been able to play enough.

 

[PapaG]

I wonder who this thread is directed toward, since I've yet to see a poster say that the team is worse with Oden on the court. Knowing that they are better is likely amplifying the frustration of him being out, if anything.

 

[LittleAlex]

Three things happen without Oden:

-Portland's rebounding prowess disappears when Przybilla isn't in the game
-Portland's perimeter defense is even more exposed with no big man to close the lane when Przybilla isn't in the game
-Portland has no low-post presence on offense, ever.

Oden's scoring game is far from refined, obviously, but he still draws consistent double-teams, something that Przybilla does not do despite superficially similar scoring numbers. Those double-teams in the post are gold for all the jump-shooters on team. Portland is an elite jump-shooting team when Oden is pulling an extra defender...they're significantly less so when there's no one to draw defenders away from their man.

So, yes...even at this early stage, when Oden is so disappointing to a certain segment of fans, he's absolutely a game-changer. A player who can change the game like that when he's at the worst he'll ever be in his career has an immense ceiling.

Oden draws a double team away from the ball in a lot of cases. Two guys try to keep him off the offensive glass. Often, they fail.

This team misses Oden. Honestly I don't care if he starts or comes off the bench, but he does need to be in the game. If nothing else, him playing keeps Frye on the bench.

Repped the post.

 

[LittleAlex]

So you're saying Przybilla gets the ball stripped out of his hands more than Oden? You've got to be joking.

Learn the game, then post.

He doesn't get stripped because he doesn't catch the ball.

Also, the next time you see Pryz back down a guy on the low post will be the first time. Hard to get stripped making a move in the paint when you hardly ever actually try and make a move in the paint.

I love what Joel brings to the team, but low post scoring really isn't one of those things.

 

[KingSpeed]

People who disappointed in Oden you have your reasons and rights. Keep in mind how many big man came in dominated the first year? We had J. O'neal for 4 years traded him and than he blossomed. Look it Bargnani, he took 2+ years, now he is showing signs. Bynum averaged 1.6 points as a rookie... WOW what a bust.
We have a guy basically out of high school after a major injury. We need to have patience and support him. Fine you want to critique him, fair but don't spew your garbage around here "I do like that we're 11-5 without him..but in some aspects, we're also 39-23 without him too." "Dude, Greg was in foul trouble 90% of the time he was on the court.
And who's bagging on him?! If you're insinuating me, surely you jest". Give him credit where credit do. Yes he intentionally ran into Maggette to get hurt. Greg gives us a lot, size, defense, dept, and a year or two from now he will be the one who take us to the promise land.

A) Bynum's not that great and neither JO or Bargnani are Hall of Famers. When we drafted him, we expected him to be a once in his generation hall of fame center. If all we get is JO, I'll be disappointed.

B) He's not basically out of high school. The guy reached the fucking title game in college.

C) Why does everyone act like he's a victim of foul trouble. The foul trouble is HIS fault.

D) Check out David Robinson's rookie numbers after missing TWO YEARS of basketball. But Oden had surgery, right, so could I please have two thirds of what DRob had???

 

[Nikolokolus]

I wonder who this thread is directed toward, since I've yet to see a poster say that the team is worse with Oden on the court. Knowing that they are better is likely amplifying the frustration of him being out, if anything.

I won't name names, but it's been said.

 

[Shooter]

When you blame every team failing on a player and refuse to credit that player with any of the team's success, it definitely qualifies as "blind."

Now you're just making things up. I NEVER blamed every team failing on Wallace; how could I, when there were so many boneheads on the team in those years? And I certainly understand that Wallace was a very talented player who contributed to many Blazer victories over the years. The problem is, he also undermined the success of the team with his tantrums, his record-setting technical fouls, his ejections, his suspensions, his refusal to lift weights with the rest of the team, his attacks on Dunleavy, his lackadaisical play, his refusal to play in the paint, his lack of respect for the fans and the organization, and on and on. Wallace was a very talented player who was his own worst enemy, and who was a key part of a very dysfunctional team.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Now you're just making things up. I NEVER blamed every team failing on Wallace; how could I, when there were so many boneheads on the team in those years? And I certainly understand that Wallace was a very talented player who contributed to many Blazer victories over the years. The problem is, he also undermined the success of the team with his tantrums, his record-setting technical fouls, his ejections, his suspensions, his refusal to lift weights with the rest of the team, his attacks on Dunleavy, his lackadaisical play, his refusal to play in the paint, his lack of respect for the fans and the organization, and on and on. Wallace was a very talented player who was his own worst enemy, and who was a key part of a very dysfunctional team.

Well said.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Check out David Robinson's rookie numbers after missing TWO YEARS of basketball. But Oden had surgery, right, so could I please have two thirds of what DRob had???

In addition to not having major knee surgery, Robinson also had four years of college ball and turned 24-years old five months before the start of his rookie year. Lets see how Oden is doing at 24 - 25 years old before we start comparing his numbers to the Admiral's rookie year.

BNM

 

[KingSpeed]

In addition to not having major knee surgery, Robinson also had four years of college ball and turned 24-years old five months before the start of his rookie year. Lets see how Oden is doing at 24 - 25 years old before we start comparing his numbers to the Admiral's rookie year.

BNM

Sure but can't we have 60% of what DRob was. Isn't there a middle ground between 9/7/1 and 24/12/4?

 

[Boise Blazer]

I guess what has always been weird to me is the way some fans root for their team. Why is it as fans we all seem to love the last guy off the bench but some people cant root for our starting center because he was injured due to no fault of his own? "Fan" is such a subjective work isnt it?

 

[blue32]

get well big man, we must have you back.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Sure but can't we have 60% of what DRob was. Isn't there a middle ground between 9/7/1 and 24/12/4?

Yes. The middle ground would be Greg's per 36 numbers which average out to around 14 pts/11 rebounds/1.9 blocks.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/odengr01.html

It's not like Greg has been an unproductive player, you're just erroneously using per game statistics for a player who doesn't play starters minutes. Greg's biggest enemies seem to be his health and getting the fouls under control, if those happen then he's going to be a very very good center.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Yes. The middle ground would be Greg's per 36 numbers which average out to around 14 pts/11 rebounds/1.9 blocks.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/odengr01.html

It's not like Greg has been an unproductive player, you're just erroneously using per game statistics for a player who doesn't play starters minutes. Greg's biggest enemies seem to be his health and getting the fouls under control, if those happen then he's going to be a very very good center.

COME ON NIK!!! That just makes waaaaaaaaay too much sense. To you and me at least.

Im with you though, seems like its not skill but time on the court and knowledge of the game and we know both of those will change.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Back before the season started, there was a thread about predicting Oden's stats. If you had posted in that thread predicting 9/7, you would have been flamed as a "hater" who had no faith in the kid.

Today, anyone who expects better than 9/7 is deemed to be a "hater". It's almost comical.