Now, why couldn't GO and his handlers do this?

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illmatic99

illmatic99

formerly yuyuza1
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http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/090926_olajuwon_works_with_grizzlies_thabeet

HOUSTON - Memphis Grizzlies rookie center Hasheem Thabeet, the second pick in June's NBA Draft out of UCONN, went to a different kind of school Friday and Saturday.

Thabeet and his agents asked Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for a personal workout and the two got together for a pair of sessions in the Houston area.

Thabeet's goal was to sharpen his skills and tap into the knowledge of one of greatest centers of all-time and who better to work with than Olajuwon.

"It's always a joy for me when a great, potential talent would like to improve their footwork," Olajuwon said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. It's a huge compliment for me that somebody realized the value of their post moves and trying to pattern their game after my game."
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I get that he's been working with Bill Bayno and all, but why not learn from one of the best post players in the game?
 
Tince said:
I would be all for giving it a shot, but history tells me that assuming the best players are good teachers of the game, is far from true.
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Sure, but Hakeem has a (somewhat of a) track record. He mentored Yao early in his career, and Yao is the best offensive big man in the league right now.
 
yuyuza1 said:
Sure, but Hakeem has a (somewhat of a) track record. He mentored Yao early in his career, and Yao is the best offensive big man in the league right now.
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He was a very good offensive player coming into the league as well.

Like I said, I'm all for trying it, but I wouldn't count on any more productivity coming from Hakeem than Bano.
 
I don't think a 2 day stint with Hakeem is going to make any more of a difference than continuing to work out with BB who has devoted his time to studying Oden and taler a training regiment specifically for Oden. Unless Hakeem was willing to spend a month or so working with Oden, I don't think it would really pay off.
 
GOD said:
I don't think a 2 day stint with Hakeem is going to make any more of a difference than continuing to work out with BB who has devoted his time to studying Oden and taler a training regiment specifically for Oden. Unless Hakeem was willing to spend a month or so working with Oden, I don't think it would really pay off.
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Very valid points. People seem to think that just working with Thabeet for a short amount of a time will make a difference long term.

Unless Hakeem is willing to work with Greg all year (or Thabeet), it's not worth it.
 
GOD said:
I don't think a 2 day stint with Hakeem is going to make any more of a difference than continuing to work out with BB...
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My thoughts exactly. Seems like more of a PR move on Thabeet's agents' part than anything.
 
yuyuza1 said:
Sure, but Hakeem has a (somewhat of a) track record. He mentored Yao early in his career, and Yao is the best offensive big man in the league right now.
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actually, i'm pretty sure that hakeem didn't workout with yao at all during yao's first few years in the league because their schedules didn't match up. it wasn't until a couple of year ago that they actually worked out together.
 
rocketeer said:
actually, i'm pretty sure that hakeem didn't workout with yao at all during yao's first few years in the league because their schedules didn't match up. it wasn't until a couple of year ago that they actually worked out together.
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Thanks for clearing that up. I remember seeing a video of the two working out, and assumed it was from early in Yao's career.
 
julius said:
Very valid points. People seem to think that just working with Thabeet for a short amount of a time will make a difference long term.

Unless Hakeem is willing to work with Greg all year (or Thabeet), it's not worth it.
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Not worth what? Was he going to have to give up his first born child just to ask for a couple workouts?

I think any help, tips, pointers, etc, that Greg can get from one of the all-time greatest centers would be great.
 
This is all window dressing. Either Greg Oden is going to become a very good player or he is going to be pretty good. He has already demonstrated that he can put up numbers when he gets time, and he has probably been through the most difficult part of his career (I hope) due to the major injury he suffered. Working out for a few hours with The Dream is not going to alter his destiny. Greg has met some of the best players in the game all-time, they have given him advice. All he needs to know about being a star is resting in the mind of his team captain.
 
My money says Hasheem Thabeet will still suck ass this year despite his working out with Hakeem, and that Greg will be much improved even though he "only" worked out with Bayno and Brian Grant this summer.

This notion that working out with a former HOFer is somehow going to pay huge dividends in improvement and that somehow being around these guys will transfer their greatness through osmosis doesn't seem very realistic to me. Greg can learn footwork from any competent coach and primarily he needs to be going up against other strong physical players (sort of like he did with Brian Grant over the summer) in one-on-one and game type situations to put that practice to work.
 
blazerboy30 said:
Not worth what? Was he going to have to give up his first born child just to ask for a couple workouts?

I think any help, tips, pointers, etc, that Greg can get from one of the all-time greatest centers would be great.
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Because this isn't like a tv show where someone can mold someone after a few visits. Wisdom (in this case, basketball know-how, etc) isn't something that all the sudden comes into view after a few visits.

I know it's a quick and happy method, but it doesn't mean it works. Otherwise, you'd see all sorts of former stars working with younger players and making dividends.
 
If Greg took away one tool fom his time with Hakeem that he didnt already have then it would be worth it.
 
blazerboy30 said:
Not worth what? Was he going to have to give up his first born child just to ask for a couple workouts?

I think any help, tips, pointers, etc, that Greg can get from one of the all-time greatest centers would be great.
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It's one thing to spend time really learning, but otherwise, just a couple days could end up hurting his game. Oden would obviously respect Hakeem and would try and incorporate the lessons. But that might not be the best thing for Oden. BB and Nate have been working trying to build Oden in a particular way. If Oden then switches to concentrate on a different lesson it could potentially do harm. How many times have you heard about a golfer with an odd but accurate swing being told how to correct his swing, only to add strokes to his game. Same thing with shooting mechanics. There are some NBA players with odd shots that work. But if they try a quick fix, they can lose their shot. That's why coaches hardly ever have players completely change their shooting mechanics mid-season. They wait till the off-season when more time and effort can be spent. I am not sure exactly what could go wrong from a two day stint with Hakeem, but I just don't think it's worth it. As I said, I respect Hakeem and would love to see Oden work out with him for a more extended period of time, just not a short gloss-over.
 
What I find alarming is the number of people here who are coming to the defense of Oden, his agents, and the Blazers for not doing this.

Sure, it is only two sessions. Sure, the likelihood of GO picking up any moves is almost zero. But, how could it have hurt? We heard about how Oden changed his mindset after spending some time with BG. This could have been similar.
 
Working out with the Dream can only help a player. That said, Thabeet will go down a one of the worst picks ever. The guy will be out of the league in 4 years.
 
julius said:
Because this isn't like a tv show where someone can mold someone after a few visits. Wisdom (in this case, basketball know-how, etc) isn't something that all the sudden comes into view after a few visits.

I know it's a quick and happy method, but it doesn't mean it works. Otherwise, you'd see all sorts of former stars working with younger players and making dividends.
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And again, I ask: Not worth what? There isn't a downside.

You do realize that many players attend big-man camp and others like it, right? Those are only a few days long, but judging by the attendance, they must be getting something out of it.
 
I doubt he'd be able to help a lot in just a couple days, but he might see something that might help Oden. Some vet tip or something. Who knows. I doubt in such a short amount of time he's going to try and teach a particular move, but he might help him with a move he already has to be more effective.
 
blazerboy30 said:
And again, I ask: Not worth what? There isn't a downside.

You do realize that many players attend big-man camp and others like it, right? Those are only a few days long, but judging by the attendance, they must be getting something out of it.
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Nobody's saying it would hurt to have met and worked out with Hakeem, but I think there's a certain feeling being thrown out there by proponents of GO working out with him, that it was somehow disastrous that he didn't.
 
If we're going to bring in a special big man coach to work with Greg (and LaMarcus), I'd prefer Kevin McHale. Nothing againts Hakeem, but McHale has a better resume as a coach. He has been an NBA head coach, and young big men have flourished under his guidance. I personally think Minnesota was foolish to let him go as a coach. Yes, he deserved to be fired as a GM, but they should have reatined his services as a coach.

In any case, McHale is currently working with the Dallas big men - which isn't a good thing for us.

Again, nothing against Hakeem. He was one of the most sublime players I've ever watched play the game. He had the cat like quickness and grace of a much smaller player and was spectacular at both ends of the court. McHale's game, by contrast was much less graceful, but still extremely effective. What McHale lacked in grace, he more than made up for in execution. Given that Oden isn't nearly the graceful athlete Hakeem was, I think McHale would be a better fit. McHale's game was all about footwork and fakes. He would often combine multiple low post moves in a single play and patiently work the defense until he had a clear advantage. He was also an excellent low post defender. The thought of Oden's size, strength and athleticism combined with McHale's moves and timing is downright scarey.

If McHale is available, we should get him. Unfortunately, it sounds like Mark Cuban may have beat us to the punch.

BNM
 
Nikolokolus said:
Nobody's saying it would hurt to have met and worked out with Hakeem, but I think there's a certain feeling being thrown out there by proponents of GO working out with him, that it was somehow disastrous that he didn't.
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Actually, there were people saying that. Which is the only reason I responded. There were posts saying "it's not worth it", like there is some downside, or that it could "hurt".
 
Boob-No-More said:
If McHale is available, we should get him. Unfortunately, it sounds like Mark Cuban may have beat us to the punch.
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I was thinking the same, but it sounds like he's only there for a couple of days.
 
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