Oden needs more playing time

[1 Eye Jack]

I know this will get me lots of but in my opinion you need him to get minutes in order for him to develop. It sucks because it could cost us wins and with Pryz playing so well it's actually going to initially hurt the team. Pryz is fools gold no offense to him, love his play. Pryz will help you win games now but he's not the guy who will get you to the promise land. Greg is a franchise player and the sooner we get him involved the better. He needs to get fed in the post, he needs to play more than 20 minutes a game and he needs to be in at the end of games. Ok fire away, call me

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Are you suggesting sending Oden to D-league?

 

[anonymous gambler]

I think its better for Oden if he is eased in to playing more. I'm relatively happy with the time that he is getting. He will slowly gain more playing time and confidence.

 

[timmay]

Exactly. 20 minutes or so every game, until he's up for 25, then max out at 30, and let him get his legs under him again.

I have a feeling we'll see a very different Oden by the All-Star Break, if he stays healthy (I hate adding that part)

 

[MAS RipCity]

He needs a whole year of NBA conditioning before we throw him in there 35 a night and a touch every other time down the floor. He simply isn't in game shape yet due to the micofracture. It took Amare a year and it will take Greg a year to get his quickness back.

 

[RoyToy]

He can still improve in 20-25 minutes. In order for him to get more minutes though, he needs to earn them. If he can't prove he's better than Przy, than Przy deserves to play.

Oden is like everyone else on the team. You want minutes, earn them. At this point he doesn't deserve to play more than Joel.

I don't think giving him more minutes automatically means he'll improve. 20 minutes is more than enough to show what you can do.

I'm sure he'll get it eventually, but at this point you go with Joel.

 

[RoyToy]

Btw, Oden must be tired because he has 0 blocked shots in his last 3 games. We all know that isn't the real Greg Oden.

Patience. Not only is he a rookie, he's a rookie coming off micro-fracture. So not only is he being introduced to players the same size as him for the first time in his basketball career, he can't use his freakish athleticism to his advantage, like Dwight Howard. Sure Oden is still athletic, but he's probably only 70-75% of what he really is athletically.

So what you get is a guy with no offensive moves and for the first time doesn't get to rely on his athleticism. Tough.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Btw, Oden must be tired because he has 0 blocked shots in his last 3 games. We all know that isn't the real Greg Oden.

Patience. Not only is he a rookie, he's a rookie coming off micro-fracture. So not only is he being introduced to players the same size as him for the first time in his basketball career, he can't use his freakish athleticism to his advantage, like Dwight Howard. Sure Oden is still athletic, but he's probably only 70-75% of what he really is athletically.

So what you get is a guy with no offensive moves and for the first time doesn't get to rely on his athleticism. Tough.

good post. However, I'm getting pretty tired of the "coming off of microfracture" excuse. He hasn't had pain from the
micro surgery in HALF OF A YEAR! He not in basketball shape. It shouldn't take a young kid that long to get into
shape, he should be in shape soon. It may take him a little longer to get his quickness back. He's going to get his
quickness back. He's going to get his quickness back. Really, he's going to get his quickness back - I think, I hope,
don't you think? crap.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I agree. I wouldnt mind seeing Oden get more minutes, especially when he's struggling, so he can work thru it and get used to life as an NBA big man. He also needs something to boost his confidence.

 

[mgb]

I don't mind seeing him play more when he's struggling, but what worries me is him playing to much when he's tired. Then I think he is more likely to get injured.

 

[MIXUM]

if he cant dominate vs the heat, he better check out the d league. college teams are bigger then the heat lol

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'd love to see Greg get more minutes, but that's hard to do when you are racking up 4 fouls in fifteen minutes. All I can say is thank god we've got Joel to plug in there when things have gone South for G.O.

 

[Rodolfo]

I'd love to see Greg get more minutes, but that's hard to do when you are racking up 4 fouls in fifteen minutes. All I can say is thank god we've got Joel to plug in there when things have gone South for G.O.

Without Joel's and Brandon's consistent play, it's scary to think where we'd be right now. Joel+Brandon= Our Big Two.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

I'd love to see Greg get more minutes, but that's hard to do when you are racking up 4 fouls in fifteen minutes. All I can say is thank god we've got Joel to plug in there when things have gone South for G.O.

Hell let him play till he fouls out. That's an additional 8 minutes based on the 4 fouls in 15 minutes. He needs court time to improve, sitting on the bench isn't going to help him learn. These guys get hardly any practice time during the season so he's waisting time on the bench. Obviously it could/will likely cost us a few wins but I don't want to waste an entire year seeing him play 15 minutes a game. Let the learning begin.........

 

[RoyToy]

Thought about this more as the day went on, and what kind of coach would McMillan be to play Oden more than Przybilla when Przybilla is playing the best ball of his career? How can you do it?

You can't. Joel has worked hard and it's showing on the court. He looks good out there with the team, and as said above, is playing the best ball of his career. I think you have to reward him for that.

Oden's time will come. He's only 20 years old, and he still has a lot to learn, let alone just get in game shape.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Thought about this more as the day went on, and what kind of coach would McMillan be to play Oden more than Przybilla when Przybilla is playing the best ball of his career? How can you do it?

You can't. Joel has worked hard and it's showing on the court. He looks good out there with the team, and as said above, is playing the best ball of his career. I think you have to reward him for that.

Oden's time will come. He's only 20 years old, and he still has a lot to learn, let alone just get in game shape.

I truly understand what you are saying. Problem is we are talking about a player that's low ceiling is the best Pryz has ever played. Joel has been amazing and probably been our 2nd best player this year problem is Joel doesn't lead us any where but maybe a low playoff spot while Oden has the potential to lead us all the way to the championship. Again I love what Joel has been doing, but I would rank developing Oden above what we are getting from him. Sorry but at a minimum I want to see Oden getting 25-28 minutes a game. Feed him the ball 10-12 times and get him in during crunch time. Speed up the process a little, presuming he's healthy.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hell let him play till he fouls out. That's an additional 8 minutes based on the 4 fouls in 15 minutes. He needs court time to improve, sitting on the bench isn't going to help him learn. These guys get hardly any practice time during the season so he's waisting time on the bench. Obviously it could/will likely cost us a few wins but I don't want to waste an entire year seeing him play 15 minutes a game. Let the learning begin.........

I see your point, but I actually think it can be more harmful to a young player's confidence to just leave them out there to founder rather than pulling him when it looks like they are on precipitous slide -- especially a guy like Greg that seems to internalize so much pressure. Being pulled in the middle of sucking it up on the court can be a teaching moment if done correctly.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I have the answer answer fro Oden . . . forget psychology 101 on the guy, get him a cup of coffee before the game so he can WAKE UP!

 

[Ghost Pepper]

I think Greg has big time confidence issues! Don't know why but he vanishes, and his body language shows he really is not feeling strong with what he's doing out there.

To be honest this is exactly the opposite of how I thought he'd begin his career. I figured he would be so dominant that he'd foul out all the time. Truefully he looks like he's just hanging on out there and his fouls are not ones a big man like him should be making.

Doesn't matter if he hasn't played with the starters he's a huge kid that should be demanding the ball down low, he's not! That concerns me. The great centers do, and did from the minute they put their NBA shoes on.


If Greg doesn't have Shaq like killer instinct on the low post than him being a franchise center may never happen. I think when Portland drafted him most of us thought on the lines of Patrick, Hakeem, Bill and Shaq. What would you compare him to now?

I am far from giving up on him!!!! BUT... he needs to show some real fire. The other centers in the league should feel beaten before they even play him. I don't see that! Let's hope it changes.

 

[andalusian]

I think Greg is smarter than you give him credit. He said clearly that at this point his job is to rebound and play defense - he knows he is not in proper game shape - so he accepts what his job is.

He is already an elite rebounder - and I think that once his conditioning will improve you will also see the defense and rotating on smaller players will be much better. I am willing to bet that once these things happen - he will be able to spin away from his defender quickly, he will be used to catching these fast passes in traffic and this entire issue will be no more.

Until late January I expect him to go up and down between having dominant performances in short spurts and games where he just tries to blend in. At that point - I am guessing you will start seeing a much better Greg Oden - and he will start to dominate on a more consistent basis around the time we roll into the playoffs.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

How would you rate him to Shaq, Hakeem, Patrick or Yao in their first year? That is the type of player he was hyped to be? Not saying he wont be, but honestly how do you view him in comparison right now? I'm still not sure! Yes, I understand that all of these centers are very different but their instant presence in the league I believe is more my ?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

How would you rate him to Shaq, Hakeem, Patrick or Yao in their first year? That is the type of player he was hyped to be? Not saying he wont be, but honestly how do you view him in comparison right now? I'm still not sure! Yes, I understand that all of these centers are very different but their instant presence in the league I believe is more my ?

Well I agree (maybe out of frustration) . . . there has been so much hype about him that I expected more of an immediate impact. With his size and flashes of potential, there is no way a franchise or hopefully fans give up on him, but I'm surprised that with his body size, he sure can disappear on that court (and at times not just disappear but be a liability).

I got to figure, when GO finally gets right, that the very least, he will be a banger down low and be the physical presence the Blazers need. At the most . . . another Ewing? I don't see this quickness that puts him into the category of a Shaq (or Howard) . . . but with all the reports of his quickness, soft hands, hard work ethics . . . I mean there has to be some truth to all that, right?

 

[audienorris]

How would you rate him to Shaq, Hakeem, Patrick or Yao in their first year? That is the type of player he was hyped to be? Not saying he wont be, but honestly how do you view him in comparison right now? I'm still not sure! Yes, I understand that all of these centers are very different but their instant presence in the league I believe is more my ?

none of the great centers were coming off of micro fracture their rookie year though either so thats what makes the comparison at this point unfair.

 

[mgb]

none of the great centers were coming off of micro fracture their rookie year though either so thats what makes the comparison at this point unfair.

Exactly.

He has seem to have regress the last couple game. I see him sometimes and he just doesn't seem like he's trying to get position or go after O rebounds for one thing. While I don't expected him to be trying to score every time other aspects of his game that I expect him to do well right now he isn't at least in the last couple games.

 

[bodyman5001]

I wonder what his diet is like on the road. I think he is trying to slim down so he can regain his hops. I really would like to know what he is eating because he looks dog tired out there.

NBA back to back games over and over plus poor diet could equal lack of energy.

Just eating a proper diet for his size coupled with the rigors of an NBA season should cause him to get in better shape, no need to starve.

 

[Nate Dogg]

Its obvious that Joel has really stepped up his energy this year. I am very impressed by him.
Greg might be worried about his starting role at home so it didn't make so much of an impact as if he came off the bench. He needs to learn not to be timid by other players and just perform what he knows best. Joel has really stepped up beyond my expectations this year and can only imagine how much energy he is feeding off of others. Greg might be in a slump like LA is. Who knows.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Its obvious that Joel has really stepped up his energy this year. I am very impressed by him.
Greg might be worried about his starting role at home so it didn't make so much of an impact as if he came off the bench. He needs to learn not to be timid by other players and just perform what he knows best. Joel has really stepped up beyond my expectations this year and can only imagine how much energy he is feeding off of others. Greg might be in a slump like LA is. Who knows.

Sometimes you just need to force the issue. With Greg he's passive in nature so you force him to step up by giving him more minutes. I think some of the issue is Greg feels guilty for taking Joel's starting spot because he feels like he doesn't deserve it.

 

[KingSpeed]

I agree with giving him major minutes. We've already seen what he could do against Golden State in 30 minutes- 22 pts, 10 rebs. Play the guy. And get him the ball. PLEASE.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

I agree with giving him major minutes. We've already seen what he could do against Golden State in 30 minutes- 22 pts, 10 rebs. Play the guy. And get him the ball. PLEASE.

Agree force the issue. I think we'd be surprised at what he would do if he was forced to play more. 17 minutes is absurd for him. should be no less than 25 minutes a game.

 

[KingSpeed]

I love Joel but he is overrated by many of you guys. He's averaging 6 pts, 8 rebs, and 1 blk. He shoots 82% because Roy and Blake set him for dunks right at the basket. That is all he does. He doesn't post up. He doesn't get double teamed. And thus he doesn't have the opportunity to pass like Greg has in recent games. Oden could finish the dunks right at the basket that Joel gets just as good as Joel does. If that's all he did, he'd shoot 82% too. As for Oden's offensive game, how often do we give him the basketball? For the first several games, he would set screens and roll to the basket but no one would pass it to him. Over the last two games, he's quit trying. We need to give him the ball and give him time out there. His biggest weakness right now is turnovers but that will stop if he gets more time to get comfortable.

That is my opinion.