Raise expectations for Greg?

[Natebishop3]

One thing to keep in mind: Greg picked up two quick fouls in the first couple minutes of the game last night. Nate left him in, but would he do that during the regular season? Greg did a lot of his damage after those fouls. Something to ponder.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Limited sample size in meaningless games against a very weak opponent. I don't mean to be a downer. I am, and have always been, a HUGE Greg Oden supporter. I'm from Indiana originally, and followed Greg's career through high school and still remember vividly where I was and what I was doing when the Blazers won the 2007 NBA draft lottery. No doubt he's made great progress, but so far his competition has been one game where the best opposing big man was Spencer Hawes, and the Kings didn't even have Hawes in the second game.

My expectations have risen, especially after watching Greg in person on Tuesday. However, I don't want to get carried away - only to be "disappointed" later. So, I'm thinking of something like 1 point for every 2 minutes played and 1 rebound for every 3 minutes. So, if he averages 30 MPG, that comes out to 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. If he averages 32 MPG, that goes up to 16/10.7. Those numbers are very good, yet attainable. If he's somewhere in that ballpark, I will be thrilled and the Blazers will have a very good season.

BNM

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

I agree...I don't want to be a downer, I love Greg...of course not in THAT way...not that there's anything wrong with that...

Anyways, I was at Fan Fest and the King's game. one thing I did notice is that Greg still had trouble handling some interior passes that he received. The same issue he had last year where he couldn't catch the ball cleanly so it forced him to re-gather instead of going right up with the ball. And his little running hook is better, but some of them still look really ugly.

My point is, he is still very much a work in progress. All of these threads about raising expectations and All-Star game, etc. are driving me nuts. I am hoping for a modestly productive season that shows he is building on skills and has progressed. I will be very happy with that. Don't fall prey to the roller coaster of unrealistic expectations and irrational disappointment folks...remember it's a marathon not a sprint. We got to play em one game at a time. I'm just happy to be here, hope I can help the ball club...

 

[gatorpops]

my expectations for Greg have been pretty sky high since I first saw him play at OSU... I put him only behind Hakeem in most impressive young Bigs I've seen. Being huge, bright, athletic & coordinated is a solid combination of talents for a player to possess. While he's suffered a few injury setbacks since, none of these setbacks should impact his physical abilities longterm so my expectations are still what they were.

dude has a legitimate chance of being the greatest Blazer ever

STOMP

This for sure!

 

[maxiep]

19 PPG (55 FG%)
10.5 RPG
25 MPG
84 FT%

He's putting up very good numbers but that's really besides the point - He's playing with confidence. I think this will carry over into the regular season, maybe not the 20/10 player he's been but I think he'll exceed a lot of peoples expectations.

He seriously looks like a totally different player with this new found confidence. Imagine how he'll be when he gets his swag back. Before seeing him in the pre-season I thought he'd be a 13-14/10 this season, now I think he can be an 17/12 player. His rebounding is at an elite level already.

Not to get all man-porn, but look at the size of his freaking guns. They're the size of Rudy's legs.

As for raising my expectations of him, I don't think that's possible. I think he's going to be far and away the best center in the game within the next two years.

 

[maxiep]

Yes.

Instead of Tim Duncan as a ceiling, it should be Tim Duncan's robotic clone as a ceiling. One that will never get injured and will never miss a shot.

Huh? I always thought Tim Duncan was a robotic clone.

 

[maxiep]

Camby won the Defensive player of the year award two years ago. Dude ain't chopped liver.

Camby is a terrific talent, but he's a finesse player. I have a feeling it will be a flopathon with the goal to lawyerball Oden out of the game. We may see Camby switch on defense and defend LMA while Griffin plays Oden.

That being said, I'm interested to see these new look Clippers.

 

[Shooter]

I put no stock in pre-season games against teams like Sacramento for numbers . . .

Pre-season is not summer league. It's very competitive, with the starters playing, and a big crowd in attendance. If you watched the highlights from last night, the action looked just as intense as it does during the regular season.

I don't blame Greg for the quality of the other team, either. I give him credit for showing up and being ready to play. The Kings may not be an elite team, but they are definitely an NBA team, and their players are not slouches.

The last two games have been real tests, and legitimate games, and Oden has fared very well, indeed. I can't wait to see him get even better as the season goes along.

 

[gatorpops]

Pre-season is not summer league. It's very competitive, with the starters playing, and a big crowd in attendance. If you watched the highlights from last night, the action looked just as intense as it does during the regular season.

I don't blame Greg for the quality of the other team, either. I give him credit for showing up and being ready to play. The Kings may not be an elite team, but they are definitely an NBA team, and their players are not slouches.

The last two games have been real tests, and legitimate games, and Oden has fared very well, indeed. I can't wait to see him get even better as the season goes along.

In answer check my new Avatar and tag line.

 

[LittleAlex]

I agree...I don't want to be a downer, I love Greg...of course not in THAT way...not that there's anything wrong with that...

Anyways, I was at Fan Fest and the King's game. one thing I did notice is that Greg still had trouble handling some interior passes that he received. The same issue he had last year where he couldn't catch the ball cleanly so it forced him to re-gather instead of going right up with the ball. And his little running hook is better, but some of them still look really ugly.

My point is, he is still very much a work in progress. All of these threads about raising expectations and All-Star game, etc. are driving me nuts. I am hoping for a modestly productive season that shows he is building on skills and has progressed. I will be very happy with that. Don't fall prey to the roller coaster of unrealistic expectations and irrational disappointment folks...remember it's a marathon not a sprint. We got to play em one game at a time. I'm just happy to be here, hope I can help the ball club...

This is the truth. Greg is showing a ton more promise this season then last year, but big men tend to take a good 4 years in the league to reach their potential. Greg is just entering his second.

There will come a time in a couple of years where these last two games against the Kings are considered to be sub par performances for him. At least that is what I am hoping for.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

My point wasn't his stats. You can see it in his eyes that he's playing like he A) knows what's he's doing. B) playing with confidence.

Last season he looked like he hated the game of basketball. One reason why I bashed him all of last season. But I always maintained that I hoped he'd prove me wrong.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

7 fouls in 52 minutes? So if he played one game straight through, he would have fouled out before the end of the game? How is that encouraging?!

It means that, if he continues to play this way, he won't foul out until 44.6 minutes into the game.

After 35 minutes, he would have, on the average 4.7 fouls. This is about how long I expect him to play. So, in a substantial number of games he would not finish in foul trouble. It is a little over a foul worse/game than Dwight and Nene last year. However, it is considerably better than his 6.25 fouls/35 min. last year.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Check this gem by Berger:

The Blazers look deep, athletic and awfully dangerous in a playoff series. How far they go depends on health and the continued improvement of Greg Oden. With Shaq out of the West, it would be a positive sign if Oden embraced the idea of filling that vacuum and becoming the best true center in the conference.

 

[blazerboy30]

It means that, if he continues to play this way, he won't foul out until 44.6 minutes into the game.

After 35 minutes, he would have, on the average 4.7 fouls. This is about how long I expect him to play. So, in a substantial number of games he would not finish in foul trouble. It is a little over a foul worse/game than Dwight and Nene last year. However, it is considerably better than his 6.25 fouls/35 min. last year.

I'll add: Who cares if he could "only" play 44 min/game?

If it allows Oden to play intense and intimidating defense for the entire time he is in the game, then he should use his fouls. It's not like he gets to accumulate them and save them for the next game.

 

[Entity]

Well, by 44 minutes he would only be averaging a disappointing 32.1 pts / 17.7 rbs, which would be short of his potential 35.1 pts / 19.3 rbs he'd be getting with Wilt Chamberlain minutes (48).

 

[Natebishop3]

With Shaq not in the west, and Yao out with injury, I think there's a legit chance that Greg could make the All-Star team this season (if he continues to play this well.)

 

[The Sebastian Express]

With Greg at this point it isn't the stats that show the improvement because he will have bad games still; the improvement is in his footwork and not overthinking things anymore. The statistics will come in time.