Greg Oden's playing time

[Mediocre Man]

I can appreciate foul trouble and such, but last night there is no way GO should have played less than 30 minutes.

Hopefully Nate will get off of his 6 minutes auto sub for Greg kick, and let him play when he is in a groove.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

It's annoying when he does that.

It doesn't matter if Greg is dominating the boards and playing great defense, 6:00 mark Przybilla is walking up to the scorers table no matter what.

 

[SpanishFly]

It's annoying when he does that.

It doesn't matter if Greg is dominating the boards and playing great defense, 6:00 mark Przybilla is walking up to the scorers table no matter what.

Yep, very stupid of Nate last night to pull Greg when he had no fouls and was playing so well, give him more run when he's going well.

 

[Tince]

You guys should send your coaching resumes to all the NBA GM's.

 

[SpanishFly]

You guys should send your coaching resumes to all the NBA GM's.

hey, we are fans and this is a forum to express opinions - haven't you figured that out yet? So your opinion is to agree with Nate's decision to pull Greg when he did?

 

[Ed O]

You guys should send your coaching resumes to all the NBA GM's.

Can you please explain how and why NBA coaches get fired? Do they ever deserve it? Do they make mistakes?

It seems like we, as fans, should be able to express our opinions about a coach (for good or bad) irrespective of whether we have actually coached in the NBA or not. It doesn't make us right, of course, but it shouldn't open us up to scorn.

If you want to disagree with the opinion, that's cool. Demeaning the person just because he hasn't coached in the NBA (and happens to have an opinion that is different from yours, note... I don't see you doing it to people that say NICE things about Nate, even though the opinions are rooted in the same basic level of ignorance) doesn't seem that helpful, given the purpose of this board.

Ed O.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I notice that as Oden gets tied, he tends to picks up lazy fouls. I remember one game Joel was ready to check in and Oden looked like he was huffing and puffing a lot . . . Oden picked up a foul before Joel could get in.

Oden played 29 minutes last night on the 2nd of a back to back on the road. I was fine with his minutes and thought he really helped the team get a win last night.

 

[Ed O]

I don't blame Nate for this... Oden should be getting used to the rotation, and I think that Nate simply CAN'T play him much more (especially in the second half) if he can't cut down his personal fouls.

Ed O.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't blame Nate for this... Oden should be getting used to the rotation, and I think that Nate simply CAN'T play him much more (especially in the second half) if he can't cut down his personal fouls.

Ed O.

I think my big issue is when Nate takes Greg out JUST BECAUSE it's at the 6 minute mark. Last night Greg had it rolling, and had no fouls. Why in the world would you take him out? When he came back in is when he picked up fouls.

 

[Tince]

Can you please explain how and why NBA coaches get fired? Do they ever deserve it? Do they make mistakes?

It seems like we, as fans, should be able to express our opinions about a coach (for good or bad) irrespective of whether we have actually coached in the NBA or not. It doesn't make us right, of course, but it shouldn't open us up to scorn.

If you want to disagree with the opinion, that's cool. Demeaning the person just because he hasn't coached in the NBA (and happens to have an opinion that is different from yours, note... I don't see you doing it to people that say NICE things about Nate, even though the opinions are rooted in the same basic level of ignorance) doesn't seem that helpful, given the purpose of this board.

Ed O.

If I read someone giving Nate credit for something he shouldn't get credit for, I'd happily point that out.

If someone makes a thread after every game where things don't go flawless to be an armchair quarterback, then I'm going to chime in. It doesn't seem to bother you that all these ridiculous threads are made, so it shouldn't bother you that I chime in over and over.

I could get into the reasons it makes sense to play Greg less than 30 minutes, but in the past they have fallen on deaf ears. I figure instead of giving reasons in this thread, I would suggest that people go out in the real world and seriously look into coaching. Maybe the NBA is going too far, but it might really benefit people to see that it's much harder than it looks.

Let me contribute to the question at hand and why I'm not surprised Greg didn't play 30 minutes.

1) It was the 2nd night of a back to back where we played an up tempo game the night before.
2) Greg has yet to show that he has good stamina.
3) Greg tends to commit silly fouls when he's tired. When Greg got his longest stint of the night (9 minutes) Joel was waiting to sub in, and sure enough Greg didn't move his feet and made a dumb foul.
4) When it was time for Greg to come back in (around the 6-7 minute mark), the team was outplaying the Thunder with that current unit.

I could be way off base with Nate's reasons, but those all make sense.

 

[Tince]

I think my big issue is when Nate takes Greg out JUST BECAUSE it's at the 6 minute mark. Last night Greg had it rolling, and had no fouls. Why in the world would you take him out? When he came back in is when he picked up fouls.

Didn't he take him out around the 2:30 mark in the 3rd quarter?

Don't you think there is value in having a set rotation so you don't find yourself stuck with an inept lineup later in the half?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Didn't he take him out around the 2:30 mark in the 3rd quarter?

Don't you think there is value in having a set rotation so you don't find yourself stuck with an inept lineup later in the half?

No.

You run with your horses as early and as often as you can. If Greg fouls out because of it, then play his backup. It's also a great way to teach Greg how to stay in games without fouling.

What inept lineup are you talking about? Nate runs two units, so technically the entire second unit is inept because they aren't as good as the first unit.

Miller, Roy, Webster, Aldridge and Oden need to be on the floor a lot more than the reserves. If Travis, Blake, Joel, Rudy or even Bayless is playing very well one game then rest the starter that game more than you normally would.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If I read someone giving Nate credit for something he shouldn't get credit for, I'd happily point that out.

If someone makes a thread after every game where things don't go flawless to be an armchair quarterback, then I'm going to chime in. It doesn't seem to bother you that all these ridiculous threads are made, so it shouldn't bother you that I chime in over and over.

I could get into the reasons it makes sense to play Greg less than 30 minutes, but in the past they have fallen on deaf ears. I figure instead of giving reasons in this thread, I would suggest that people go out in the real world and seriously look into coaching. Maybe the NBA is going too far, but it might really benefit people to see that it's much harder than it looks.

Let me contribute to the question at hand and why I'm not surprised Greg didn't play 30 minutes.

1) It was the 2nd night of a back to back where we played an up tempo game the night before.
2) Greg has yet to show that he has good stamina.
3) Greg tends to commit silly fouls when he's tired. When Greg got his longest stint of the night (9 minutes) Joel was waiting to sub in, and sure enough Greg didn't move his feet and made a dumb foul.
4) When it was time for Greg to come back in (around the 6-7 minute mark), the team was outplaying the Thunder with that current unit.

I could be way off base with Nate's reasons, but those all make sense.

1. It's early in the season
2. When has Greg had the opportunity to show his stamina? Everyone said he is in the best shape of his career.
3. Greg made a dumb foul with 16 seconds off the clock at the start of a game earlier this year. Was he tired then too?
4. The team was outplaying the Thunder when Greg left the game as well. He is the starter for a reason. He is better than Joel at virtually everything. The other team respects him more on defense, and they have to pay attention to him on offense.

 

[Ed O]

If someone makes a thread after every game where things don't go flawless to be an armchair quarterback, then I'm going to chime in. It doesn't seem to bother you that all these ridiculous threads are made, so it shouldn't bother you that I chime in over and over.

There is a difference between chiming in about the team and coach and chiming in about the posters. You did the latter in this thread.

Do you see the difference and why one might bother me more than the other?

Ed O.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Dwight sums it up nicely

http://www.dwightjaynes.com/the-blazers-bounce-back-in-okc

I loved the way Portland came out of the chute in this game. They ran halfcourt motion and moved the ball. They moved bodies. Heck, the Blazers even once scored when Steve Blake made a backdoor cut and got the ball for a layup — the first such thing I can remember this season. Wow — actually a basket out of an offensive set, rather than from someone going one-on-one!

Greg Oden was getting the ball early, feeling a part of things and it all looked great. But coach Nate McMillan, apparently following a predetermined substitution plan, lifted Oden and Blake at the six-minute mark and it kind of went south from there.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Dwight sums it up nicely

http://www.dwightjaynes.com/the-blazers-bounce-back-in-okc

Sounds like Dwight thought starting Steve Blake is a good thing . . . and you think he sums it up nicely. So now you think Blake should start?

 

[Masbee]

I can appreciate foul trouble and such, but last night there is no way GO should have played less than 30 minutes.

Hopefully Nate will get off of his 6 minutes auto sub for Greg kick, and let him play when he is in a groove.

Oden was drenched in sweat and sucking wind.

But, yeah, do leave him in.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

You guys should send your coaching resumes to all the NBA GM's.

Let's not criticize the president either then.

 

[Minstrel]

Let's not criticize the president either then.

Or the GM. Or the players, for that matter. After all, we haven't played in the NBA...what qualifies us to criticize the professionals?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Let's not criticize the president either then.

I don't care about criticizing Nate or Obama . . . it's when you compare Obama to Nate that it starts to sound a little pycho.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Or the GM. Or the players, for that matter. After all, we haven't played in the NBA...what qualifies us to criticize the professionals?

Exactly . . . anyone can criticize. Whether they qualify as having a knowledgeable and reasonable criticism is another issue.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Sounds like Dwight thought starting Steve Blake is a good thing . . . and you think he sums it up nicely. So now you think Blake should start?

No, but I thought the team was playing really well last night with Blake in the game.

 

[BrianFromWA]

My gut feeling is that the offense looks good when Blake is in the game AND he's 4-5 from 3pt land (and 6-9 overall).

Doesn't happen that often.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

My gut feeling is that the offense looks good when Blake is in the game AND he's 4-5 from 3pt land (and 6-9 overall).

Doesn't happen that often.

I don't think he was referring to Blake's shooting as to why the Blazers looked good at the start of the game . . . it was more about ball movement and making a concentrated effort to get the ball inside to Oden.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't think he was referring to Blake's shooting as to why the Blazers looked good at the start of the game . . . it was more about ball movement and making a concentrated effort to get the ball inside to Oden.

Ball movement in general actually.


The cut by Blake was great, as was the pass. That is how you attack a team, and set a tone.

 

[anonymous gambler]

Blake played well last night- Nate should have stuck with Blake and Oden a bit longer. I think Miller is generally better than Blake, but believe in sticking with the hot hand.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Ball movement in general actually.


The cut by Blake was great, as was the pass. That is how you attack a team, and set a tone.

Blake played well and was a huge part of the win. You make things sound so simple (don't take Oden out, start Miller) when they aren't that simple. If Miller started yesterday, who knows if they get off to that start. Believe it or not, Nate takes some time thinking about these issues. I'm not going to say he is always right (who is on their job) . . . but I feel that you simplfy the issue making it sound like a simple no brainer choice when clearly that is not the case.

But kudos to you . ... you have managed to convince some that Nate is an idiot. That was easy for you to do with Cheeks as coach, but I'm impressed taht you have as many rallying around you chanting fire Nate . . . taht isn't easy with a coach like Nate.

 

[maxiep]

I think his auto rotation is a reflection of his opinion of GO's conditioning. I would expect as Greg continues to get his NBA legs under him, that time will lengthen.

 

[magnifier661]

I can appreciate foul trouble and such, but last night there is no way GO should have played less than 30 minutes.

Hopefully Nate will get off of his 6 minutes auto sub for Greg kick, and let him play when he is in a groove.

hear hear! Seriously, our offense shouldn't be this mechanical. We have athletic players and most are young. Give Oden at least 30 minutes a game and his offensive game and defensive timing will greatly improve.