Oden wants the damn ball

[KingSpeed]

"It puts my confidence up," Oden said of his performance. "It puts confidence in my teammates ... to actually throw me that ball when I'm rolling to the basket and give me the ball when it's low in the clock in the post. It's not just for me as much as you want to say, it's for everybody, it's for this team. And we won and that's all that really matters."

That says it all. He's sick of rolling to the basket and not getting the fucking ball.

 

[alex42083]

Well give him the ball then. I think the concern earlier was that he was getting stripped and blocked from behind a lot, and there were threads about why he gets stripped so often.

Now? That hasn't been too much of an issue. He's putting the ball up high and showing some finesse when he needs it, and some power when he can. Before he just tried to dunk every time, and now he's showing off his skills.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Feed him till he can't have another bite! Finally he says give me the ball in the low post! About Time!

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Oden sets up a weak pick and roll at times....he seems to roll a nanosecond too early. he'll get the timing up later...just something i noticed, the pick and roll was overutilized and looked unnatural.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

I'll tell ya something I saw! Once Greg was going our guards like Segio just started hucking up shots cause they knew Greg had the paint to clean up their misses.Tonight was the first time I'd seen that with Greg and our guard play on offense.

 

[shamelessblazer]

I bet Greg enjoyed playing with Sergio (and LMA too) tonight as opposed to Blake and Roy (having the ball so much). We gotta get Blake and Roy hitting cutters and rewarding motion, it will make them more dangerous too. Some of LMA and Sergio's passes (along with Rudy's) to Greg were dynamite tonight, and there's a reason why when he came back (and off the bench) things were easier as far as scoring. He was playing with Sergio and Rudy and getting some feeds, that has to continue.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Get him the ball and every other player on our teams life becomes easier! They become wide open!

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I believe you're misreading it. He didn't demand the ball or say he wanted it or anything. He said his performance will give his teammates confidence to give him the ball when he rolls now.

 

[KingSpeed]

You have to read into it when he says "It's not just for me as much as you want to say, it's for everybody, it's for this team." That implies that he has tried to get them to throw him the ball and they haven't and he feels like he's being selfish and he's trying to say, give me the ball, I can help. It's for the team. Just like Shaq always said to Kobe. Give me the damn ball!

 

[Natebishop3]

Bout freaking time he spoke up.

 

[mgb]

"I was just trying to post up harder," said Oden. "They (my teammates) were getting me the ball in a good spot to score. I have to give a lot of the credit to them. I wanted to start stepping up my game. I want to be consistent. I've being saying that all year that I need to be consistent every game."

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/news/news.aspx?id=4204971

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Bout freaking time he spoke up.

lol, listen to the interview on oregonlive - he's basically mumbling

 

[hasoos]

I talked about this in a different thread the other day. I have noticed in games Gregs game picks up when you get him involved offensivly. Part of the problem being, it seemed that the guards were almost freezing him out of the offense, which has to get frustrating. What they don't realize is, with Greg, he is almost always open even with a man on him. You just need to lob the ball up so he can jump up and snag it. He's open. Just throw him the damn ball and get out of the way.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Greg looks great when he doesn't put the ball on the floor. (as most 7 footers) The difference between hitting Greg on the move and passing it to him outside of the key is huge. DRIBBLE PENETRATION is the difference. Sergio id it well last night, but there is no reason why Roy, Rudy, Bayless and Blake can't either. Especially Roy and Bayless as they can get to the basket at will. I am confident it will happen more often.

 

[PapaG]

Oden dominated another donut team. While the effort and energy was fantastic, I'm really not too surprised that he overpowered a team playing Dan Gadzuric at center. He's been consistently having very good to great games against teams without a legitimate post threat.

He's been getting the "damn ball" against teams like this all season. He was given the ball like this against Charlotte, unfortunately he was going against a player in Okafor who exploited the match-up to Charlotte's benefit.

The NBA is a match-up league, and when Greg is a plus, he has consistently shown the ability to win match-ups. When Greg is a minus, he gets into foul trouble and isn't nearly as aggressive rebounding and defending.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Oden dominated another donut team. While the effort and energy was fantastic, I'm really not too surprised that he overpowered a team playing Dan Gadzuric at center. He's been consistently having very good to great games against teams without a legitimate post threat.

He's been getting the "damn ball" against teams like this all season. He was given the ball like this against Charlotte, unfortunately he was going against a player in Okafor who exploited the match-up to Charlotte's benefit.

The NBA is a match-up league, and when Greg is a plus, he has consistently shown the ability to win match-ups. When Greg is a minus, he gets into foul trouble and isn't nearly as aggressive rebounding and defending.

Was he really given the ball the same way against Charlotte? Going to the basket? Or did he have to post up against Okafor? Seems to make a difference for Greg right now.

 

[hasoos]

Oden dominated another donut team. While the effort and energy was fantastic, I'm really not too surprised that he overpowered a team playing Dan Gadzuric at center. He's been consistently having very good to great games against teams without a legitimate post threat.

He's been getting the "damn ball" against teams like this all season. He was given the ball like this against Charlotte, unfortunately he was going against a player in Okafor who exploited the match-up to Charlotte's benefit.

The NBA is a match-up league, and when Greg is a plus, he has consistently shown the ability to win match-ups. When Greg is a minus, he gets into foul trouble and isn't nearly as aggressive rebounding and defending.

Um no he hasn't been getting the ball like that all season. You look at the number of field goals attempted again and tell me that. He hasn't been getting the ball 1/3 of that amount most of the season. If you are going to form an identity for your team, you can't just throw your game plan out out the window after the first 3 plays of the game. You have to keep going to it, and going to it and then go some more. You have to have patience, and you have to leave your big guy in, even when he has a little foul trouble. What's the worst thing that happens? Joel Pryzbilla comes in. Leave Oden in, feed him the ball.

 

[PapaG]

Um no he hasn't been getting the ball like that all season. You look at the number of field goals attempted again and tell me that. He hasn't been getting the ball 1/3 of that amount most of the season. If you are going to form an identity for your team, you can't just throw your game plan out out the window after the first 3 plays of the game. You have to keep going to it, and going to it and then go some more. You have to have patience, and you have to leave your big guy in, even when he has a little foul trouble. What's the worst thing that happens? Joel Pryzbilla comes in. Leave Oden in, feed him the ball.

How do you keep going to him when he is in foul trouble?

It's about match-ups, and when Oden is a plus, he is utilized. When he is a minus, he isn't utilized. I imagine the more he develops, the more times he will be a plus, and the more he will be utilitzed.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Oden should get the ball most every time down the floor. The entire defense reacts to him when this happens because he is so big. He doesn't need to shoot everytime, just get the ball a lot.

I also like when Greg makes quick moves. He doesn't do that enough, but I think that's just confidence though.

Greg also needs to learn when to block shots.

 

[PapaG]

Oden should get the ball most every time down the floor. The entire defense reacts to him when this happens because he is so big. He doesn't need to shoot everytime, just get the ball a lot.

I also like when Greg makes quick moves. He doesn't do that enough, but I think that's just confidence though.

Greg also needs to learn when to block shots.

Nope. He's not ready for that every game. Against donut teams like Milwaukee w/out Bogut, I agree. Against real NBA teams with real NBA centers, nope.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Nope. He's not ready for that every game. Against donut teams like Milwaukee w/out Bogut, I agree. Against real NBA teams with real NBA centers, nope.

PapaG, I think that what you see as his ineffectiveness or not being ready against non-donut teams is almost a misuse. I mean, we saw yesterday that even against the donut guys he still was awkward with the righty hook, and looked a little off in his footwork when he stopped, set, and initiated a play (other than the Gadzuric flop, iirc).

When he wasn't really thinking--when he was cutting through the lane, or (heaven forbid) bringing the ball up after a steal -- he was almost fluid, and just made things happen underneath. I really think it's the issue that most of our offensive sets have...that we give time to the defense to set and reset, and then it's our strength vs their strength (or in Greg's case, his baby steps against a legit NBA post defender or two). But when there's a lot of motion, Greg's cutting, or following Sergio to the hole, or dropping behind his man to position for the rebound dunk--that's when he's effective. The defense is on its heels. And the more he does that (against ANY competition), the better he'll be.

 

[PapaG]

PapaG, I think that what you see as his ineffectiveness or not being ready against non-donut teams is almost a misuse. I mean, we saw yesterday that even against the donut guys he still was awkward with the righty hook, and looked a little off in his footwork when he stopped, set, and initiated a play (other than the Gadzuric flop, iirc).

When he wasn't really thinking--when he was cutting through the lane, or (heaven forbid) bringing the ball up after a steal -- he was almost fluid, and just made things happen underneath. I really think it's the issue that most of our offensive sets have...that we give time to the defense to set and reset, and then it's our strength vs their strength (or in Greg's case, his baby steps against a legit NBA post defender or two). But when there's a lot of motion, Greg's cutting, or following Sergio to the hole, or dropping behind his man to position for the rebound dunk--that's when he's effective. The defense is on its heels. And the more he does that (against ANY competition), the better he'll be.

I hope Oden becomes a 20/10 player. At this point of his development, however, it's only when he is physically dominant over the opposing player that he is a plus on offense, both in the post and in the scenario you describe. What I'd like to see from him is consistent rebounding and defense in games where he is a minus on offense. That's the next key to his development IMO. It seems at times as though he gets discouraged when he can't just impose his will on the block.

I'm not at all saying Oden can't be effective at all times. I just strongly disagree with the camp who wants to force-feed the guy the ball in the post no matter who the oppenent is. Is there another team in the league who does that for any low-post player, rookie or All-Star?

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'd say that, just off the top of my head, K*be and CP3 get Bynum and Chandler the ball where they can be effective with it, not just dump it to them on the block. If the "dump to the block where he's back to the basket" is what you're talking about force-feeding, I kind of agree, though he already shows really good passing instincts. But in terms of hitting him when he's running through the paint more than once a game...giving it to him on set plays out of timeouts or something, yeah...I think he needs some touches. Not SHOTS, necessarily...touches.

 

[PapaG]

I'd say that, just off the top of my head, K*be and CP3 get Bynum and Chandler the ball where they can be effective with it, not just dump it to them on the block. If the "dump to the block where he's back to the basket" is what you're talking about force-feeding, I kind of agree, though he already shows really good passing instincts. But in terms of hitting him when he's running through the paint more than once a game...giving it to him on set plays out of timeouts or something, yeah...I think he needs some touches. Not SHOTS, necessarily...touches.

I've mentioned this in other threads, but Oden could get the ball, open, at the FT line almost anytime the team wants to do so. The problem is that the defender sags off 5', and for whatever reason Oden won't shoot a 15' FT line shot while wide open. So the possession stalls, usually a shot is rushed, and there is nobody underneath to get an offensive rebound.

If Oden could hit a 15' shot, or even take one, I think we'd all see him used in a much different manner. Is it Nate's fault or the guards' fault that Oden hasn't developed to the point where he is a threat offensively at the FT line extended?

 

[alex42083]

If Oden could hit a 15' shot, or even take one, I think we'd all see him used in a much different manner. Is it Nate's fault or the guards' fault that Oden hasn't developed to the point where he is a threat offensively at the FT line extended?

I just don't think he's comfortable taking a jump shot yet. I don't think it's anyone's fault. I think he's taken like two jump shots all season, and they both went in.
I agree that he needs to become a scoring threat from 10-12 feet away from the hoop, and at least try a jumper once a game. He's got good form and he needs to show it.

 

[PapaG]

I just don't think he's comfortable taking a jump shot yet. I don't think it's anyone's fault. I think he's taken like two jump shots all season, and they both went in.
I agree that he needs to become a scoring threat from 10-12 feet away from the hoop, and at least try a jumper once a game. He's got good form and he needs to show it.

Yep, and again, I'm not criticizing Oden, but rather commenting on where I see room for improvement. Greg passing up those open shots does hurt the offense at this point, so either remove him from getting the ball in that position or encourage him to shoot an open 14' shot.

 

[Natebishop3]

I just don't think he's comfortable taking a jump shot yet. I don't think it's anyone's fault. I think he's taken like two jump shots all season, and they both went in.
I agree that he needs to become a scoring threat from 10-12 feet away from the hoop, and at least try a jumper once a game. He's got good form and he needs to show it.

God no... the last thing this team needs is another jump shooting big man. I've had enough of it with Frye and LMA.... at least Aldridge can hit the shots, but we need a banger in there. We need a guy who owns the paint. That's the whole attraction of Oden. He's a true center.

 

[cdub503]

one of these days when we are woopin some teams ass i want to see either joel or greg take a damn 3.... just to see it done

 

[BrianFromWA]

one of these days when we are woopin some teams ass i want to see either joel or greg take a damn 3.... just to see it done

Can it look much goofier than this?
[video=youtube;BXvxgmUk5e0]

 

[ucatchtrout]

You have to read into it when he says "It's not just for me as much as you want to say, it's for everybody, it's for this team." That implies that he has tried to get them to throw him the ball and they haven't and he feels like he's being selfish and he's trying to say, give me the ball, I can help. It's for the team. Just like Shaq always said to Kobe. Give me the damn ball!

He isn't Keyshawn Johnson.

He is Greg Oden.

And because he is we should give him the damn ball, dammit.