Should Oden come in off the bench?

[noknobs]

Interesting poll at Oregonlive. Looks like the majority right now think it would be a good idea to bring him in off the bench when he first returns. I kind of like the idea. It'll help bring him along slowly until he gets in game shape, and relieve some of the pressure so he doesn't feel like he has to do too much right away.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2008/10/todays_poll_bench_greg_oden.html

 

[DaRizzle]

Absolutely...let the kid warm up to the league

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Don't care, as long as he plays.........

 

[maxiep]

Christ on a popsicle stick, what is this shit about babying Oden's transition? All he needs is to play. He's our best center by a country mile, even at his current state of 40-50% of his potential.

Start him. Play him 40 minutes a night, until he fouls out or pukes on the court. I'm a fan of strategy, but sometimes you can overthink a situation.

 

[DaRizzle]

^Not until he proves it...I know, thats hard to grasp

 

[maxiep]

^Not until he proves it...I know, thats hard to grasp

Until he proves what? That he's our best center? It's proven every time he practices. It was proven this pre-season. I love Joel Przybilla, but he's Chris Mihm compared to Oden.

 

[noknobs]

Christ on a popsicle stick, what is this shit about babying Oden's transition? All he needs is to play. He's our best center by a country mile, even at his current state of 40-50% of his potential.

Start him. Play him 40 minutes a night, until he fouls out or pukes on the court. I'm a fan of strategy, but sometimes you can overthink a situation.

Teams do this all the time. It helps the transition by bringing him in off the bench and then later inserting him back into the starting lineup. It's not baby-sitting, it's just common sense.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I like the idea. Let him get used to the speed of the game and not have too much expected of him.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I absolutely agree. When he plays in his first all-star game this year, he should come off the bench.

 

[maxiep]

Teams do this all the time. It helps the transition by bringing him in off the bench and then later inserting him back into the starting lineup. It's not baby-sitting, it's just common sense.

It's fucking stupid. What does it matter whether or not he starts or comes off the bench in terms of helping his transition? Do they dribble the ball differently when he comes off the bench? Are the rules different? Is the hoop bigger? Play him hard and as much as you can.

Here's another rule: You don't lose your starting job due to injury.

Joel Przybilla plays better with the second unit than the first. Sergio is the only guy who can run the P&R with him. Blake has similar chemistry with Oden.

Man, the Canzano jock sniffing around here is a joke.

 

[handiman]

Every other player had to earn a starting spot... Greg was handed his prior to camp.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I don't think its a bad idea to have Oden come off the bench for a couple games once he returns.

 

[Drttimmy]

I have to admit, the thought occurred to me by the second half and I was going to start a thread about it after the game.

1. The postgame comments from both Roy and Aldridge, saying they played passively due to Greg's presence and expecting him to carry the team and load. This might be fine in 2 years when Oden is tearing down backboards and commanding constant triple teams, but for now we can't afford these two to play without aggression. Going back to last year's familiar lineup where they were the unquestioned focal points, should fix their passive approach. Of course, it could be argued that it's on them to make adjustments and they are supposed to be pros....

2. Less pressure on Greg. I don't think it can be argued that it would ease the pressure on him. In every preseason game I saw him in and including the Laker game, he looked tight and anxious. Bringing him in during the course of action might allow him to play more loose. I mean, that is one of the reasons Travis hasn't started, right? Plus, second unit guys seem to have more fun than the regulars. There's a sort of outsider comaraderie they share. Might help make the game more fun for him. A problem he seems to be having.

3. Beat up on lesser opponents. While he uses the first part of the season to get in shape and rebuild his confidence, he can do it against lesser second unit players which could actually hasten his development. Success breeds confidence, and he should be much more successful against the Chris Mihms of the league than the Andrew Bynums.

4. Let him slowly integrate into the team. He's such a powerful presence. I can see the temptation his teammates have to let him carry them. And he is, frankly, not ready for that yet. You take away the temptation by separating him from the regulars. However, he is destined to be both the offensive and defensive anchor of this team and that needs to be fostered. He can be prepped for that role on a reduced scale with the second unit. Then, of course, ease that into a full time starter's role in the second half of the season.

 

[dpc]

All I care about is that he plays. that's it. I don't care if its starting or coming off the bench. As long as he is on the court playing.

 

[Tortimer]

I think it is stupid and can't believe the way people want to baby Oden. I do get the idea of bringing Oden along slowly but not starting him now unless it was for just one game would kill any confidence Oden has which is very little right now. I would put him right back out in the starting unit. If Nate thought this was a good idea I wouldn't want to do it more then just the first game back.

 

[Drttimmy]

I think it is stupid and can't believe the way people want to baby Oden. I do get the idea of bringing Oden along slowly but not starting him now unless it was for just one game would kill any confidence Oden has which is every little right now. I would put him right back out in the starting unit. If Nate thought this was a good idea I wouldn't want to do it more then just the first game back.

Hmm, maybe. But Oden doesnt strike me as the kind of guy who would be ego-crushed if he was told he wasn't going to start temporarily. Bayless, Damon, or Jarrett Jack? Yes. Oden? No. He seems to be very much a team oriented player(always talking wins before personal stats), and if he's told it's what is best for the team, then he'll carry forward with his soldier-like mentality.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

No. Not unless we feel Joel could have more of an overall impact as a starter. I don't. Even in the shape Greg's been in he's still put a lot pressure against the opposition's defense, was solid on the boards, and defended well. I don't see how we'd be a better team with their roles reversed.

 

[Sedatedfork]

I remember this being discussed on BBF a little over a year ago. After Oden's fairly uninspiring summer league, I and a few others thought he should come off the bench until he earns his spot. Some ridiculed those who thought that way. Interesting that a year later, the same discussion is being had. I don't think it is babying Greg. It is a message to Greg to show us you deserve to start. I think the coaches are clearly in the best position to determine whether he should start or not. How many of us have seen much more of Greg than the few minutes he played against the Lakers?

 

[Drttimmy]

No. Not unless we feel Joel could have more of an overall impact as a starter. I don't. Even in the shape Greg's been in he's still put a lot pressure against the opposition's defense, was solid on the boards, and defended well. I don't see how we'd be a better team with their roles reversed.

I think it's more in indictment against his teammates than him necessarily. I actually liked his presence against LA. He seemed to be gobbling up rebounds. Took up huge amounts of space. Was getting off good shots(much better than some of those embarrassing desperation throws from some of the others). Maybe most importantly, he was commanding their full teams attention when he was thrown the ball. If he wasnt immediately doubled, the Laker team D sagged and was on alert to shift. He commanded their focus unlike any of our other players. All of these are good things! Great things. That's why he's going to be a superstar.

But he's not ready to do it alone. And he was left to do it alone against LA because the team, apparently, doesnt know how to play with him yet. Which makes sense. They've only spent a training camp and some informal summer scrimmages together. They do know how to play with Joel. Easing his assimilation into a young team that won 50% of their games last year, might be our best move for our long term prospects.

Or maybe it's all for naught? By the time he comes back, last year's lineup will have been in place for nearly a month and maybe guys will feel assertive and comfortable in their roles again. Maybe it will be easier to just swap him in at that point? Maybe...

 

[noknobs]

No. Not unless we feel Joel could have more of an overall impact as a starter. I don't. Even in the shape Greg's been in he's still put a lot pressure against the opposition's defense, was solid on the boards, and defended well. I don't see how we'd be a better team with their roles reversed.

But it wouldn't be for a long time, probably only a few games, it's not like their roles are really going to be reversed. It's completely temporary and should in know way be viewed as a slight to Greg's ability. In my opinion he earned the starting spot in training camp and preseason, this would just be to get him back in the swing of things.

I think it is stupid and can't believe the way people want to baby Oden. I do get the idea of bringing Oden along slowly but not starting him now unless it was for just one game would kill any confidence Oden has which is very little right now.

I think you're babying Oden if you're afraid to crush his confidence by easing him into the rotation. That's a little overly sensitive. He's a big boy, he can handle it. He'd know it's for his benefit, it's not because he's not capable. No one would look at this as Oden losing his starting job, unless your name is maxiep, it's just temporary.

Play him hard and as much as you can.

If you want to do that right when he comes back, that's probably the worst idea I've seen for quite awhile.

Man, the Canzano jock sniffing around here is a joke.

I don't even have a clue how Canzano relates to this discussion at all. I live out of state and have avoided anything with Canzano's name on it for over a year. Did someone piss in your cornflakes this morning?

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I find it humorous that some think it would lessen the pressure on him; I doubt it would. Infact I'd wager it'd put far more pressure on him than starting would. He's the number 1 pick, people are already calling him a bust, injury prone, and some are saying we should have picked Durant. That he's the second coming of Bowie.

So how do you lessen that pressure? You bench him! Because then you know, he doesn't feel like he's failed some how, that he's gotta do even more to earn his starting role back, so he'll be pressing it when he's in the game to try to get his starting job back which will lead to him probably doing too much.

If you want to bench him to lessen the pressure in my opinion it'll just do the opposite and because of this is a horrible idea.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm in the "who fucking cares" category ... I just want Greg to play and be productive, if the trainers and coaches decide that easing him will get that done, then so be it. Personally I don't think his problem is going to be solved by babying him and bringing him along slowly; the dude needs to get into game shape and that ONLY happens in a game.

 

[KingSpeed]

Yes. We looked so much more comfortable when Joel came in on Tuesday night. The team isn't used to playing with Greg and it showed. Bring him off the bench and let him ease his way into the starting lineup.

 

[BenDavis503x]

Interesting poll at Oregonlive. Looks like the majority right now think it would be a good idea to bring him in off the bench when he first returns. I kind of like the idea. It'll help bring him along slowly until he gets in game shape, and relieve some of the pressure so he doesn't feel like he has to do too much right away.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2008/10/todays_poll_bench_greg_oden.html

I think so. He needs to prove he can start. Not just start.

Nice avatar too!!! I love Trailer Park Boys.

 

[YugoslavianMtnHound]

Decent idea. in the Laker game he got in quick foul trouble.

 

[hasoos]

I think bringing him off the bench would be good to get him into basketball shape. Once he has his legs back underneath him, then start him.

The reason why? So the starting unit can gain some cohesiveness, and if he gets hurt again, they don't have a wrench thrown into the equation, because he wasn't starting anyhow. Once the Blazers are confident he is healthy and in shape, then phase him in.