Greg Oden is waking up

[Nikolokolus]

I don't think so. LaMarcus has had a few good games but since Oden has played 20+ minutes in the last three games LaMarcus has completely vanished. In those games LMA is shooting an abysmal 40% from the field and looks totally out of sync.

why would that surprise you? Adding a truly game changing low post presence was/is going to force LMA to adjust his game, especially considering how much he was trying to get on the block himself. The guy is going to be fine, it's just going to take some time for everyone to adjust to Greg's presence, and probably Lamarcus the most of anyone on the team.

 

[HOWIE]

By mid-season, LMA and GO will be a top three 4/5 tandem in this league.

Do you think it will take that long? Greg is looking a lot better, I think that having him come off the bench has been a big help for his confidence. Mid-season he is going to be out right scary.

 

[ehizzy3]

Do you think it will take that long? Greg is looking a lot better, I think that having him come off the bench has been a big help for his confidence. Mid-season he is going to be out right scary.

but who knows how long it'll take for lamarcus to adjust. hopefully not long

 

[TehChad]

LaMarcus will be fine. In fact, he's going to be even better eventually when Greg is out there with him.

 

[HOWIE]

but who knows how long it'll take for lamarcus to adjust. hopefully not long

They do need to learn to play off one another. Even with the loss tonight, I like what Oden was doing towards the end of the game....cleaning up and following teammates towards the basket. They really are still learning each others games.

 

[BalancedMan]

If there is a bright spot it's Greg Oden. The guy is slowly getting into game shape and he's putting up extremely impressive numbers in limited minutes. I can't wait to see the impact he'll bring when he's in shape and plays 35 mpg. Impressive.

The last three games where Oden played 20+ minutes.

15.3 PPG
9.6 PPG
3.0 BPG
65 FG%
25.3 MPG

Those are easily ROY numbers right there.

As for Aldridge, he'll come around. He can shoot the necessary outside jumper for the high low game and has developed some good post moves as well. He proved last year he could score 17 points at a good rate on a good team. He'll get his touches and produce well. LMA can guard PF's most of the time, which is fine by me (most PF's don't "create" for themselves like Outlaw can when he's at PF). LMA has size too. Granted, I didn't watch the whole game and didn't really see them in the lineup at the same time that much. So who knows.

 

[PapaG]

Aldridge missed some shots he'll normally hit. Also--irrespective of the level of the officiating--he will get experience on how to exploit smaller guys being on him in the post.
No reason to give up on him just yet.

Oden looks like he's improving with every game, though. His conditioning CAN'T be all the way to 100%, but he still was able to run and move much better than he had previously. It's exciting.

Ed O.

I'd love to hear how he should do this when the opposing 6'6" player is chest bumping him with two hands on his back and then flopping and getting the call. Tonight was SO poorly officiated. Four fouls on LMA on the same flop. Ridiculous, and I have never seen it before in my life.

 

[shamelessblazer]

Aldridge missed some shots he'll normally hit. Also--irrespective of the level of the officiating--he will get experience on how to exploit smaller guys being on him in the post.

No reason to give up on him just yet.

Oden looks like he's improving with every game, though. His conditioning CAN'T be all the way to 100%, but he still was able to run and move much better than he had previously. It's exciting.

Ed O.

I think Aldridge is simply used to being quicker and more agile than the guys guarding him (as he was drawing the biggest defender most of the time), thus the preference for fade-aways. And now he has to get used to driving straight at the defense and face up jumpers as he is bigger and can overpower and shoot over the smaller defenders guarding him often times. GO is gonna make Brandon, Rudy, and Lamarcus more versatile and better players, as none of them have ever played with a good big guy, and they all need to learn to pass to him, and play off of him. Roy actually moved off the ball a few times tonight and made good things happen, almost got a tear in my eye. Rudy made a high post entry pass that was perfect for the turn around and dunk. Aldridge's time will come, and how sick will he be shooting down the lane for an easy dunk while his defender cheats on Oden?

 

[Boob-No-More]

If there is a bright spot it's Greg Oden. The guy is slowly getting into game shape and he's putting up extremely impressive numbers in limited minutes. I can't wait to see the impact he'll bring when he's in shape and plays 35 mpg. Impressive.

The last three games where Oden played 20+ minutes.

15.3 PPG
9.6 PPG
3.0 BPG
65 FG%
25.3 MPG

His EFF = 23.0 in those same 3 games. That kind of sustained production would put him in the top 15 in the entire NBA - and every player with an EFF > 23.0 is currently averaging => 33.0 MPG.

Even including his first two games, which were statistically abysmal, Oden is now:

6th among rookies in EFF at 13.8
10th among rookies in PPG at 9.8
2nd among rookies in RPG at 7.2
1st among rookies in BPG at 2.4

What's most impressive is how fast he has skyrocketed up the charts in all these categories. Until 4 days ago, he as tied for 46th in rookie EFF and couldn't crack the top 40 in rookie scoring. At the rate he's moving up, he should be leading all rookies in RPG after one more game and in another week he should be battling it out with Derrick Rose for the lead in rookie EFF and challenging Rudy for the 5th spot in rookie scoring.

BNM

 

[STOMP]

...but he's a JOBBER! and he'll never be a great offensive player.

Seriously now, the church of Bill Simmons Broadcasters look to be eating some large slices of humble pie.

STOMP