Joe the Przybilla

[Fez Hammersticks]

Have really lost a step with Przybilla in and Oden out?

4 ppg 11 rpg 2 apg

Granted, Oden is a huge presence on the offensive end but Przybilla is rebounding the ball very well and playing solid defense, something we just want Oden to do.

The way he's playing, do you still start Oden even though he really doesn't deserve to considering how Joel is playing?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Joel is playing pretty well.

Oden dominated Joel in practices to earn the starting job.

Joel will be the potentially the best backup big in the league when Oden gets back.

 

[Ed O]

The way he's playing, do you still start Oden even though he really doesn't deserve to considering how Joel is playing?

Absolutely. Joel's doing the same thing he's always done. We're losing almost every game.

Why wouldn't we start the best center prospect of this generation?

Ed O.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Yes. The problem with Prz is that he's almost a non-factor offensively. Oden will eventually be as much of a defensive presense and a much better option offensively.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Call me old fashion, but you start the best players you have. Right now Joel is a better player than Greg Oden.

 

[THE HCP]

Pryz is the best backup center in the league flat out! But Greg needs to start for us to take it to the next level.

 

[MIXUM]

joel looks good when we are playing a mediorce team but he wont help us get in teh post season. hes a GREAT backup for defense but starting....you can do better

 

[Ed O]

Call me old fashion, but you start the best players you have. Right now Joel is a better player than Greg Oden.

Well Greg's not healthy, so of course he is.

But what evidence is there that Joel's better when both are healthy? Oden got more double-teams in a quarter than Joel's got all season.

Ed O.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think this would light a fire under Greg. Similar to what we did with Zach Randolph. Even though Zach was putting up close 20/10 we continued to start Rasheed Wallace while Zach just got better and more aggressive because he played with a chip on his shoulders. Not to mention it would alleviate some of the pressure.

 

[Ed O]

I think this would light a fire under Greg. Similar to what we did with Zach Randolph. Even though Zach was putting up close 20/10 we continued to start Rasheed Wallace while Zach just got better and more aggressive because he played with a chip on his shoulders. Not to mention it would alleviate some of the pressure.

Well I think that Rasheed was still markedly better than Zach at the time, but here I believe that Greg is markedly better than Joel.

I agree it MIGHT help to have Oden on the bench, but I'd prefer to let him play the minutes he earns, which SEEMS to be in the starting lineup.

Ed O.

 

[hasoos]

There is no way a healthy Oden isn't better than a guy who seems to coat his hands with fresh butter before receiving every pass.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

A healthy Oden is a rarity at this point. He's trying so hard to impress people and also trying not to get hurt he's playing out of control at times.

I'm not advocating starting Joel the entire season, maybe Greg's first 10 games back to ease him into the system slowly and to get him in game shape.

 

[hasoos]

I think this relates to this thread somewhat, so I will throw it out there. When Joel is on the floor, you have to put another offensive player out there to make up for him. Right now the Blazers go out with 2 guys who can score, who you have to double, and 3 guys you can double off of. This means way too many players are free to double down on Aldridge and Roy from many different angles. This is the reason, I think you need to put a Rudy into the starting lineup. If you double off of him, you pay.

 

[BalancedMan]

To be honest, at this point I think it's smart to bring Oden off the bench. Maybe it'll be good for his head and give him less pressure. Regardless, when Oden comes back, I'd rather him play 20 minutes a game for a while rather than more. He's clearly not in game shape.

Oden at 100% for 20 minutes > Oden at 80% for 30 minutes.

 

[hasoos]

To be honest, at this point I think it's smart to bring Oden off the bench. Maybe it'll be good for his head and give him less pressure. Regardless, when Oden comes back, I'd rather him play 20 minutes a game for a while rather than more. He's clearly not in game shape.

Oden at 100% for 20 minutes > Oden at 80% for 30 minutes.

You have a strange way of doing math. 80% for 30 minutes is always going to be more production than 100% for 20 minutes.


1.00 production x 20 minutes=20 production minutes.

.80 production x 30 minutes= 24 production minutes.

 

[MickZagger]

Absolutely. Joel's doing the same thing he's always done. We're losing almost every game.

Why wouldn't we start the best center prospect of this generation?

Ed O.

Are you trying to insinuate that Joel is the reason we haven't won 2 out of the last 3 games?

 

[LittleAlex]

Call me old fashion, but you start the best players you have. Right now Joel is a better player than Greg Oden.

Joel's hands are all thumbs. The offense suffers because players shouldn't ever pass him the ball. When they do, he looses it about 50% of the time. For this reason, and this reason alone, Joel should not start.

 

[Ed O]

Are you trying to insinuate that Joel is the reason we haven't won 2 out of the last 3 games?

When I insinuate there's no mere "trying".

But no. There is no insinuation.

I am rejecting, though, that Joel has been better than he's been in the past.

Ed O.

 

[MickZagger]

Aldridge plays good defense against Stoudamire and that Phoenix game goes down to the wire.

Aldridge grabs more than 2 rebounds against Utah in his 36 minutes of play and we win that game.

I'd hardly pin Joel with any kind of blame for those losses.

 

[Bravo]

Are we watching the same guy? For the last several years, Przybilla has seemed to me to be more of a waste of space than anything. Last year, he was 33rd in the league in rebounding. This year, he's not much better. As was pointed out, he's a complete non-factor offensively, and that's saying it nicely.

In the Houston game, he had more fouls than points and rebounds most of the game. (I think he ended up with 5 fouls vs. 6 pts and boards.) His three successful shots were probably a total of 2 feet from the basket. In the fourth, the Blazers were up by ten with Joel on the bench. When Nate brought Joel in, I told my buddy, "There goes the lead." Sure enough, minutes later the game was tied, and it took Brandon's last ditch efforts to save it at the buzzer.

Personally, I'd rather see Aldridge at center and Outlaw at forward when Oden's out. Joel should be traded or cut. But that's just my take.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Last year, he was 33rd in the league in rebounding.

wasn't he one of the best in per-48 though?

The difference in our team when Joel had to go out was extremely obvious... to say we should "Cut or trade" Joel, considering Oden is in his 2nd year in the NBA and has played 13 minutes is somewhat laughable.

 

[Jayps15]

wasn't he one of the best in per-48 though?

The difference in our team when Joel had to go out was extremely obvious... to say we should "Cut or trade" Joel, considering Oden is in his 2nd year in the NBA and has played 13 minutes is somewhat laughable.

Joel was 2nd in the league in rebound rate last year, which corrects for time played and team pace. And so far this season he's 3rd...

But yea we should totally get rid of the only healthy center we have

 

[anonymous gambler]

You have a strange way of doing math. 80% for 30 minutes is always going to be more production than 100% for 20 minutes.


1.00 production x 20 minutes=20 production minutes.

.80 production x 30 minutes= 24 production minutes.

Actually that's bad math- because you would have 30 minutes of play in either instance. It's not just 100% for 20 minutes- it's 100 percent for 20 minutes plus whatever Oden's replacement would do in the remaining 10 minutes.

that said, I don't think we can really quantify this!

 

[Boob-No-More]

But yea we should totally get rid of the only healthy center we have

Never thought I'd hear Joel described as our healthiest center, but it's unfortunately an accurate statement these day.

Even if Oden was 100% right now, which he won't be for a very long time, I would not trade Joel unless it was part of a package that brought us a star player at SF or PG in return. Even when healthy, Oden won't be playing more than 30 - 35 minutes per game. We will need someone to spell him for stretches and he will also occasionally be in foul trouble.

Joel is a great back-up center. He's a very good rebounder and a good shot blocker. Yeah, he's a weak offensive player, but the game is played at both ends of the court. He's been the best rebounder on a weak rebounding team for the last several seasons, and as has been pointed out, one of the best rebounders in the entire league on a per minutes basis. We have enough scorers on the second unit (Rudy, Outlaw, Fye and eventually Bayless), that we'll need Joel's rebounding and defense much more than a 5th scorer off the bench.

As weak as he is offensively, Joel has always known his limitations and doesn't try to do more than he's capable of on offense. He has a career FG% of 0.545 and is shooting 0.800 from the field so far this season. Yeah, I know the sample size is small, but he's only missed 3 FG in 6 games so far this season (12 - 15). He also sets good screens, which helps free up the more talented offensive players for some easy looks. So, his contributions on offense aren't completely non-existent.

BNM

 

[Masbee]

Are we watching the same guy? For the last several years, Przybilla has seemed to me to be more of a waste of space than anything. Last year, he was 33rd in the league in rebounding. This year, he's not much better. As was pointed out, he's a complete non-factor offensively, and that's saying it nicely.

In the Houston game, he had more fouls than points and rebounds most of the game. (I think he ended up with 5 fouls vs. 6 pts and boards.) His three successful shots were probably a total of 2 feet from the basket. In the fourth, the Blazers were up by ten with Joel on the bench. When Nate brought Joel in, I told my buddy, "There goes the lead." Sure enough, minutes later the game was tied, and it took Brandon's last ditch efforts to save it at the buzzer.

Personally, I'd rather see Aldridge at center and Outlaw at forward when Oden's out. Joel should be traded or cut. But that's just my take.

Just to clarify, Joel is one of the best rebounders in the NBA.

He happens to play on a team that has the slowest pace in the NBA, thus reducing his opportunities to rack up more boards.

He happens to play limited minutes due to past durability issues, limited offensive game, foul troubles, coaching decision, etc.

But, when Joel is out on the floor, there are few in the NBA better at vacumning up the boards.

That fact (your 33rd stat is worthless, just like points per game is), and his excellent defense and setting brutal picks are why he gets as much playing time as he does.

 

[Boob-No-More]

In the Houston game, he had more fouls than points and rebounds most of the game. (I think he ended up with 5 fouls vs. 6 pts and boards.) His three successful shots were probably a total of 2 feet from the basket.

You forgot to mention that Joel held Yao to 13 points on 4 - 13 shooting and 6 rebounds in that Houston game. With Oden out, we don't have anyone else that is close to being able to guard Yao in the low post.

In the fourth, the Blazers were up by ten with Joel on the bench. When Nate brought Joel in, I told my buddy, "There goes the lead." Sure enough, minutes later the game was tied, and it took Brandon's last ditch efforts to save it at the buzzer.

Since you actually watched the game, you are no doubt aware that we built that 10 point lead with TMac and Yao on the bench. Joel came back in the game to guard Yao when Houston brought back their starting unit. The Blazers lost that lead because they couldn't hit a shot, turned the ball over and couldn't stop TMac. The Blazers didn't score in the last 3:18 of regulation. They had plenty of open shots, they just couldn't make anything. Roy made only 1 of his last 10 shots during regulation and the Blazers as a team only made 2 of their last 16 FGA during regulation. The poor shooting was the reason Houston was able to come back from 10 down and send it into overtime.

BNM

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

Joel is a great backup center, and serviceable starter. He is an upper tier defender (I'd put him about #10 among centers) and a good rebounder. Saying he is a waste of space sounds like someone who has never seen him play. He OBVIOUSLY effects the offense with his interior presence, and it's obvious to anybody who watches that he goes hard after the rebounds.

I'm all for Joel starting for the first few games that Greg is back while he gets more comfortable and in the flow. Then at some point you enter him into the starting lineup while still giving Joel more minutes. Then you slowly increase PT for Greg until he's 100%. This will take pressure off of him, and give him a chance to get back into game shape.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Are we watching the same guy? For the last several years, Przybilla has seemed to me to be more of a waste of space than anything. Last year, he was 33rd in the league in rebounding. This year, he's not much better. As was pointed out, he's a complete non-factor offensively, and that's saying it nicely.

In the Houston game, he had more fouls than points and rebounds most of the game. (I think he ended up with 5 fouls vs. 6 pts and boards.) His three successful shots were probably a total of 2 feet from the basket. In the fourth, the Blazers were up by ten with Joel on the bench. When Nate brought Joel in, I told my buddy, "There goes the lead." Sure enough, minutes later the game was tied, and it took Brandon's last ditch efforts to save it at the buzzer.

Personally, I'd rather see Aldridge at center and Outlaw at forward when Oden's out. Joel should be traded or cut. But that's just my take.

Przybilla had the second best rebound rate in the league last year, second only to Dwight Howard. Thanks for playing, try again.

 

[Nate4Prez]

Are we watching the same guy? For the last several years, Przybilla has seemed to me to be more of a waste of space than anything. Last year, he was 33rd in the league in rebounding. This year, he's not much better.

Clearly, we are not watching the same guy, we are talking about Joel Pryzbilla, not Joe the Plumber, but I could see how the thread title confused you.

 

[KingSpeed]

Joel isn't averaging 11 rpg. Where did that stat come from?

I will say that I think we got off to a slow start against the Lakers because of Oden. Not because he played horribly but because the team wasn't used to playing with him and I think they were a bit nervous with him. Once Joel entered the game, it looked like the team relaxed and started playing better.