WHEN Oden comes back

[magnifier661]

I say this because the stupid ass "dog and pony show" of Oden should be over. I have no doubt in my mind that Oden will sign some sort of extension with the Blazers and PDX will be more than happy to take that gamble.

So when he comes back, what type of numbers are you hoping for?

Realistic Happiness: 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks (playing 73%+ of total games in the season)

Homer Happiness: 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks (playing 73%+ of total games in the season)

Dissapointment: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block (playing 73%+ of total games in the season)

Total dissapointment: Playing less than 60% games, regardless of numbers.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

If Oden doesn't average 24pts and 14 rbds per game we should send a SEAL Team to eliminate this basketball terrorist.

 

[magnifier661]

If Oden doesn't average 24pts and 14 rbds per game we should send a SEAL Team to eliminate this basketball terrorist.

LOL

 

[BBert]

12 pts, 10 reb, 2 blks, 32 mpg.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Osama Bin LOLlin!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Osama Bin LOLlin!

That would be a great moniker.

 

[maxiep]

I think he'll be a monster when he comes back, but it will be on the QO and then he'll force his way out of here as a UFA, trying to force a sign and trade if he can't find a team with cap space outright. I think Portland is too weird and there's too much pressure for him here. I just don't think this place is for him and when he thinks of this place he thinks of his body betraying him.

 

[mook]

He's a lot like Sabonis. It's not just about raw numbers, but his overall impact on the game. Last year in 21 games he "only" put up 11pts/8rebs, but he had a dominating PER of 23. (Sabonis had a career average PER of 21, but again the raw numbers weren't that special.)

Total disappointment will be if he isn't able to play at 100% in the playoffs. His first playoff stint was pretty dreadful, but he was going up against a dominating Yao. If he is 100% and Aldridge brings his A game, this team is going to win a couple of playoff series.

Everything between now and that point is kind of incidental to me. I mean, I'd love to see him average 25/15 in the regular season and all (who wouldn't?)

But even if he pulled that off and missed the playoffs due to injury, I'd consider it a very disappointing year. With a healthy Oden, we could make the WCF even as the 7th seed. Without a healthy Oden, we might not get out of the first round as a #1 seed.

 

[mook]

I think he'll be a monster when he comes back, but it will be on the QO and then he'll force his way out of here as a UFA, trying to force a sign and trade if he can't find a team with cap space outright. I think Portland is too weird and there's too much pressure for him here. I just don't think this place is for him and when he thinks of this place he thinks of his body betraying him.

Maybe. Or maybe he sees how unpleasant things went for Bosh, LeBron, Stoudemire and Carmello, and realizes that the media scrutiny tends to get much, much worse after you force your way out of town. I kind of hope he seeks to avoid the media spotlight by just going the more traditional route and signing a long-term deal with the team that drafted him.

I could be wrong, though.

 

[magnifier661]

I can't change my profile

 

[maxiep]

I can't change my profile

I dig the photo, Mags. I recognize you and Eric, I assume the blonde is your girlfriend, but who is the guy in the middle?

 

[magnifier661]

I dig the photo, Mags. I recognize you and Eric, I assume the blonde is your girlfriend, but who is the guy in the middle?

Well my avatar was when I bumped into Miller at breakfast. The left is my girlfriend, and the one you questioned is PHXBlazer

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I dig the photo, Mags. I recognize you and Eric, I assume the blonde is your girlfriend, but who is the guy in the middle?

I believe that's PHXblazer1, who went to the game with KingSpeed.

EDIT: Late, but I was right!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Well my avatar was when I bumped into Miller at breakfast. The left is my girlfriend, and the one you questioned is PHXBlazer

Looks like your girlfriend giving you a prostate exam.

 

[magnifier661]

Looks like your girlfriend giving you a prostate exam.

LOL! She was!

 

[magnifier661]

I believe that's PHXblazer1, who went to the game with KingSpeed.

EDIT: Late, but I was right!

DING DING DING!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i expect oden to average 16/12/2 and once he starts rolling, 24/14/3

 

[3RA1N1AC]

just hope it is with us, basically we need to blow any other offer out of the water this summer and sign his ass no matter what

 

[Boise Blazer]

Dissapointment: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block (playing 73%+ of total games in the season)

Honestly even though I think he could average a lot better if healthy and comfortable I would be "satisfied" with 8 pts and 8 rebs IF he averaged 2.5 blocks, stayed out of foul trouble and played in 75% of the games.

He is SUCH a presence when he is on the floor especially on defense but even on offense due to the fact that he has to be accounted for. This team would be a serious contender with him at 15, 14 and 3 but this team doesnt need him to be that to be a much better team.

I guess thats my thing with Oden. Some people feel like his numbers dont show much but he is so much more than just the stats. I honestly would take a very average Oden if healthy. That "average" Oden would make us so much more deep and complete and it would make our team so much better.

 

[Nikolokolus]

"When?" What exactly does "when" mean? Are we talking about after the lockout ends and "when" he resumes playing on another team after his QO runs out and he becomes an unrestricted free agent? Well, I'd say that "when" that happens they'll be lucky to get 45 games a year out of him for 3 or 4 years.

 

[julius]

So when he comes back, what type of numbers are you hoping for?

Realistic Happiness: 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks (playing 73%+ of total games in the season)

Homer Happiness: 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks (playing 73%+ of total games in the season)

Disappointment: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block (playing 73%+ of total games in the season)

Total disappointment: Playing less than 60% games, regardless of numbers.

I'd consider "disappointment" to be a realistic barometer for next year. Mostly, I'd like to see him play a high % of games, almost regardless of his stats. I think IF he's healthy (and playing in Portland), the #'s will come whenever he's ready. But my preference is that he just plays games, and is healthy.

 

[Blazinaway]

I just can't get myself excited about Oden's return because I just don't believe or trust he'lll stay uninjured for long, and now I have to add to that the possibility he leaves and if we keep him we'll have to likely offer a lot dollars, and then we could have the "luxury" of paying him 8.8 mil next yar while he may still be rehabbing and then he can leave next summer - LOL it's just a big fukkin joke. I think I'm just worn out by all the disappointment. "Numb" about Oden probably says it best for me

 

[PapaG]

My view Oden is quite simple.

If he can stay on the court, I'll be thrilled. I can't bring myself to put any more hope than that in the guy at this point.

Anything that he can give on the court is a positive to me, just so long as I never again have to get gutpunched by hearing the terms "exploratory surgery", "microfracture", and "timeframe" associated with Greg's name. Most players can be frustrating because of inconsistent play on the court. We, as fans, haven't really even been given that rollercoaster ride of player development with Oden. I think that attaching numbers like 8/8 to his name and labeling it a "disappointment" may be one reason that Greg may want a fresh start somewhere else. In Portland, he'll always be compared to Sam Bowie and Kevin Durant, by association as the #1 overall pick for the franchise, and the key to winning an NBA championship. In another city, he won't carry the burden of those expectations, and he could settle into a more realistic role, whatever that may be, given his injury history and time off of the court.

 

[magnifier661]

Well papa that would completely suck. I, for one, still have a ton of faith that oden will be able to make a significant contribution to this ball club. I actually think the injuries will slow him down a little; which will help with his foul troubles. I remembered him trying to rush things too much; which caused him to get into foul trouble.

What these injuries taught him, the blazers and oden is patience. If it can be somehow applied on the court; we should be in very good shape. I think oden himself would think 8/8/1 would be a disappointment. I except him to have a much higher standard for himself.

 

[PapaG]

Well papa that would completely suck. I, for one, still have a ton of faith that oden will be able to make a significant contribution to this ball club. I actually think the injuries will slow him down a little; which will help with his foul troubles. I remembered him trying to rush things too much; which caused him to get into foul trouble.

What these injuries taught him, the blazers and oden is patience. If it can be somehow applied on the court; we should be in very good shape. I think oden himself would think 8/8/1 would be a disappointment. I except him to have a much higher standard for himself.

Greg's own expectations are just that ... his own. I hope he stays in Portland for 10 more years and has a HoF career. Whether that happens has nothing to do with my expectations for him. I think it's fine that people still want to have MVP-level expectations for him to some degree. I just need to take a more cautious approach, for my own sanity as a Blazer fan.

 

[magnifier661]

Greg's own expectations are just that ... his own. I hope he stays in Portland for 10 more years and has a HoF career. Whether that happens has nothing to do with my expectations for him. I think it's fine that people still want to have MVP-level expectations for him to some degree. I just need to take a more cautious approach, for my own sanity as a Blazer fan.

True, but I don't think 15/13/2 is MVP standards. I think that's what a perfect "role playing" big man should be at. Now if we are talking about 25/13/2, then that would be MVP standards. In fact, I think Oden should be at least a double double guy with 2 blocks a game.

 

[Boob-No-More]

In fact, I think Oden should be at least a double double guy with 2 blocks a game.

Although those numbers (10 PPG, 10 RPG and 2 BPG) may not blow people away, only two players in the entire NBA averaged a double double with at least 2 BPG this season - Dwight Howard and Andrew Bogut.

Honestly, in his first season back from microfracture surgery, I'd be happy with 10/10/2 and would be ecstatic with 14/11/2.5. It will take Greg quite a while to play himself into game shape, get used to his teammates and get used to to the speed of the NBA game. I suspect his reactions will be slow for a couple months, which will result in foul trouble and limited playing time. If he can ever get an extended stretch of at least three months without injury, I think we'll finally start to see the real Greg Oden.

BNM

 

[magnifier661]

Although those numbers (10 PPG, 10 RPG and 2 BPG) may not blow people away, only two players in the entire NBA averaged a double double with at least 2 BPG this season - Dwight Howard and Andrew Bogut.

Honestly, in his first season back from microfracture surgery, I'd be happy with 10/10/2 and would be ecstatic with 14/11/2.5. It will take Greg quite a while to play himself into game shape, get used to his teammates and get used to to the speed of the NBA game. I suspect his reactions will be slow for a couple months, which will result in foul trouble and limited playing time. If he can ever get an extended stretch of at least three months without injury, I think we'll finally start to see the real Greg Oden.

BNM

I think I would be even more ecstatic if he was putting up 8/14/2.5 than 14/11/2.5. My reason would be mainly he would be a defensive monster! As much as I am a fan of offense; I think defense in the paint is even more important. Also, the offense could come in time just like you said.

 

[Minstrel]

I have a hard time putting a raw numbers expectation on Oden, because even if he stays healthy, I'm not sure whether, or how much, he will solve the foul issues. So minutes per game is a pretty difficult to pin down variable.

I expect a lot out of him, if healthy, on a per-minute basis. His career PER, which spans one full season of play combined, is about 20. That's All Star caliber. In addition, he plays great defense...he completely changes the team's complexion, defensively. Combining the two, you have a major impact player in the minutes he's played thus far in the NBA. I would expect that to continue...a 20+ PER with great defense. His counting stats will depend on minutes played which, due to health and fouls, I really have no way to predict.