My Thoughts on Oden and Your Blood Pressure

by SloppyJoe on Oct 7, 2008 8:09 AM PDT Comment 22 comments

I can't hold this back any longer.

i think 50% (based on the MSPs poll results earlier this morning) of Blazer fans need to chill the heck out. Apparently 50% of Blazer fans were disappointed in Greg's showing at FanFest.

The expectations on this kid are immense, granted, and partly due to the Blazer's own marketing efforts. But, we, ourselves are apparently inflating expectations beyond what is reasonable to expect.

Don't let those expectations blind you to his situation. Even though we all assume he's some Super-Being with Power and Abilities far beyond those of Mortal Men, he is a man who has spent the last year of his life away from the basketball court recovering from surgery. It's going to take some time for him to be dominant. It's clear he has the tools, and the abilities to become dominant, but for us to expect him to come out tonight at Sacramento and drop 30/14/6 assists and bench press Spencer Hawes in one hand while eating a chili dog in another is crazy.

I get the feeling many Blazer fans' blood pressure is needlessly being raised by these expectations and expectations of failure.If you have Prozac/Xanax/some other legally prescribed mood altering med, I'd say make sure your bottle is filled now, because what you see in this pre-season might freak you out. But I say, DON'T WORRY.

Since I care about my Blazer brothers and sisters, here is my advice. Do what I do. Sit back, realize the kid doesn't have his sea legs yet, and get back to me at mid-season (at the very least) to tell me he's a bust and that you're disappointed. Don't expect him to dominate tonight; temper your expectations for now, realizing that he's only, what, 20? Remember he doesn't come from Krypton, and can't fly.

Keep in mind, even if his conditioning is off, the sheer size of Greg is going to improve our interior defense.

That concludes my rant. Thanks for reading.

Joe

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Good

but this fanpost raised my blood pressure

He who laughs last thinks slowest.

by prezofdeath on Oct 7, 2008 9:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I take Lisinopril for my high blood pressure

Oden will be fine. He is really big. I think that will help him be a good center in the NBA.

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Oct 7, 2008 9:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

special medication

I take a shot of Patron for my high blood pressure. Fine medicine. Shame it’s not covered under my insurance.

Agreed, Oden’s gonna be fine..he generates his own gravitational field, afterall.

It’s my worried Blazer bros and sisters that I’m concerned about.

You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.

-- Unknown

by SloppyJoe on Oct 7, 2008 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

My take on the four rookies this year is that Batum is .5 rookie because he’s not ready to play this year. Bayless is just a regular old rookie, oden is about 1.15 rookie because he had a chance to see what the road was like last year and Rudy is 1.35 rookie. Rudy might have been a rookie and a half if it wasn’t for the language issue.

That’s a huge reason why I said Sergio would come off the bench before Bayless, at the start of the season. Oden has to play and it is a pretty important position for a rookie to be starting at. You know Rudy will get a lot of playing time, so that’s two rookies getting a lot of minutes. I doubt Nate gets real excited having two rookies getting significant minutes. So, I doubt he is even less willing to have three rookies on the floor at the same time or getting significant minutes. Oden and Rudy squeeze out Bayless until he can manage the point guard/shooting guard position better than Sergio. It seems like right now he’s mostly a shooting guard and for him to play, Roy has to play the point. If Roy has to play the point, then why not have Rudy at shooting guard because he’s taller?

I just know from the fanfest that Oden is so much wider than everyone. He’s going make a huge impact just by standing in the paint.

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Oct 7, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree with your assessment of the rooks and Nate’s willingness to play them..but..

While Rudy is a rookie in this league, he has professional experience going back to Age 16(?). Once he gets the language down more, he’ll probably see more PT on the floor as Nate will trust him more. Then, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lineup with Roy at SF, Rudy at SG and Bayless at scoring PG.
I still have a hard time considering Bayless as a PG…he’s an attacker, a scorer and from what I’ve seen, less of a distributor. I’m sure that as the season progresses that will change (i’m sure it’ll have to, there’s so many weapons on this squad).

What do you think about Rudy possibly taking over the SF starting slot by seasons end? I think it’s entirely possible. He can already slash to the hoop, pass and if he ends up being a more consistent shooter than Martell and improves his english, I think he’s a lock for starting SF.

You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.

-- Unknown

by SloppyJoe on Oct 7, 2008 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm trying to picture Rudy guarding LeBron and Carmelo

but all I see in my mind is an image of Rudy getting swept over Niagara Falls.

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Oct 7, 2008 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious to see if he can even guard the 2's of the league...he did well during the olympics from what I saw,

but that was run and gun tempo, we’ll see him in one or two half court sets some time soon. but if we don’t , that’d be a good thing right?,meaning he’d be playing the tempo he’s good at.

"the Knicks are an ongoing experiment in sporting altruism, with the motto "We suck, so you don't have to." This is the designing principle. Stop overcomplicating things."
-jawaan oldham

by faith on Oct 7, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roy would guard Carmelo

He knows how to block his shot.

The most amazing thing about my amazing ego is I have amazingly little about which to be egotistical.
The pick and roll this year will emphasize "roll" followed by "dunk", followed by the wailings and lamentations of your women.

by jscot on Oct 7, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm kind of with MiledAnimal

I’m not sure about the future of this team. I think Webster is going to have a great year and get a new contract. I’m an admitted homer but I think if Oden works out, and I am right about Webster, then the Blazers probably don’t need to make any moves this year. Here is how I see things breaking down and I am probably wrong.

This year is all about getting three rookies used to playing 82 games and making the playoffs. Unless someone gets hurt or Bayless blows up by the trade deadline, I don’t see any moves being made this season. If Bayless blows up, then I think Sergio gets moved to make room for Bayless and to maintain team harmony.

After that, I’m not sure. I like the idea of the team being two deep at every position, but I’m not sure it can be two “starters” deep at every position. I think next years starters will by Oden, LA, Webster, Roy, and Bayless with Rudy the first guy off the bench. If Blake says jiggy like, then he’ll demand playing time and I don’t see him going anywhere. If I had to guess, I’d say Outlaw and Sergio get moved in the off season and of course Raef just gets let go. Then if I’m right about Webster being good to go, then what does the team need in place of Outlaw and Sergio? Most people would say a “savvy veteran” and I think savvy veterans are lame.

I also do not want Channing to go and I don’t think he wants to go. I think Przybilla wants to stay too. I think both of them want to be on a winning team. I’m just glad it’s not my problem and I can just sit back and watch. If I had my way, no one would go. Raef would get cut now and they would sign both Hill and Jackson. That way all 15 roster spots could play and hopefully three never get too.

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Oct 7, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We've talked about this before...

Yes, Roy may “have” to play the point on offense when Bayless (or Rudy) is in the game (unless Blake is playing point)

But “someone” also has to defend the other team’s point guard at the other end of the court. If the opponent’s point guard is “average” (like Blake) Roy and Rudy could handle the job. But if the opposing PG is a penetrator (like CP3, Deon Williams, Nash, etc) then Nate will need to insert a defensive PG

And that’s Bayless, regardless of his “rookie” status, he’s the best on-the-ball defender the Blazers have, and there’s not even a close 2nd

So…depending on the matchups…Bayless will get some PT…but I agree that a Jerryd-Rudy backcourt will not be utilized unless the game is out of reach. That’s why Nate will keep rotating Roy or Blake (when healthy) in, to help the “rookies” run the half-court offense.

Sergio’s best chance for PT is as an injury replacement, like now, while Blake nurses his hammy

by two4larue on Oct 7, 2008 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

Like I said before. Start of the season, Sergio will be the first point guard off the bench; end of the season, Bayless will be the first point guard off the bench.

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Oct 8, 2008 5:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Oden isn't gonna need the chili dog....

…can I have it??

"I figured out how to get the canoe down the mountain, but I will need a snow blower and all your butter"-Michael Kelso

by 92wastheyear on Oct 7, 2008 10:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Popcorn Shrimps

mmmmmmm……..

Ball Don't Lie

by bothteamsplayedhard on Oct 7, 2008 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're over-reacting

Oden’s a new toy. We just found out that it requires some assembly. It’s Christmas. We want to play with it now. Of course, we’re disappointed. I don’t think anyone’s ready to throw him away just yet.

Why does everyone keep telling me to stop having high expectations? That’s the fun part right now. Can’t you just let me be on cloud nine for a while? I’m not out there making Blazer fans look stupid by saying we’re going to win the title. The only thing I’m guilty of is trash talking to my L*ker fan friend.

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Oct 7, 2008 12:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I expect Oden to dunk on Hawes’ head 15 times, and then dump the chili on Hawes and eat him for lunch. Nate will hold him out of the rest of the preseason games while he builds up his appetite for the opener against Bynum.

by jscot on Oct 7, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

yeah, I like being on cloud nine too. It’s not like I’m going to throw away my brand new ipod video because it hasn’t been full charged yet. I just want the thing to play music and movies NOW! Dominate tonight Greg! haha. On a serious note, I wish Greg the best tonight no matter what happens.

by blazerbeliever on Oct 7, 2008 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sugar coating anything wouldn't

help anything, if he comes out and flops…we’ll know he needs work (not that we don’t already) if he comes out and tears a board or two down, with 15pts15 rebs, well, who know’s what kind of wiggage we’d have.

but Not telling it how we saw it won’t do us any good. nor him. right?

So, …..just keep our feet on the ground and our heads on our shoulders and do like we do. no?

"the Knicks are an ongoing experiment in sporting altruism, with the motto "We suck, so you don't have to." This is the designing principle. Stop overcomplicating things."
-jawaan oldham

by faith on Oct 7, 2008 12:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The media seems to be tempering expectations as well.

They all say to be patient and everyone will wait and see.

by CaptainSexyJacob on Oct 7, 2008 12:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nate playing rope a dope with other teams

My guess is that Odens true offensive potential won’t be displayed until December by design. For the first couple of months, Roy and Aldrige will be our bread and butter as most plays will go through them. As teams adjust and try to limit those options, I’d expect Nate to all of a sudden open the door on plays designed for Oden but act as a decoy going though Lma and Roy. IN other words the Blazers are practicing plays design for oden but are only practiced behind closed doors. In public we get to see the Roy LMa show with a webster/outlaw twist (and a sprinkle oF Rudy). Make teams focus on those guys on offense and let them forget about Oden. Once ODENis an AFterthough on Offense plays will be fed thourgh him until teams adjust. Once they adjust to Oden’s offense Roy and Lma will be finding all those plays for them have opened up again.

In short, I think Nate is playing his cards close to his chest only showning the known commodities. The unknown commodities such as Oden’s offense will be added into the fold during the season and not before hand, lest we reveal too much of our hand.

by NWfan on Oct 7, 2008 1:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Reporting what we see is one thing

extrapolating those reports into predictions of future behavior is a different thing.

Brandon Roy has six years of post high school basketball under his belt and he is still improving. Oden and Bayless have one.

Oden is coming off microfracture surgery. Almost everyone who successfully recovers from this surgery takes two years. One to get back to the game and one year of playing the game.

by raoulduke on Oct 7, 2008 1:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good points

I personally believe that Oden represents future dominance, not necessarily immediate dominance – because of his inexperience as well as his rehabilitation.

The Blazers don’t need him to be the next Shaquille this year in order to improve. I do believe that future dominance by Oden will be a big part of the championships that the Blazers will win, but there’s plenty of time for that. How he performs tonight is important but not everything.

by Storyteller on Oct 7, 2008 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, I rather see him start slow and be playing strong in March

than push it too hard now and have a setback. I know there’s been a lot of talk on the radio that he should just man up and paly through the tweaks, but that really strikes me as short sighted. We don’t know how those tweaks affect his gait and the weight distribution on his knee and so forth.

The other thing is this questioning of his heart and desire and so forth. I can’t imagine getting through a rehab the way he did without heart. By all accounts he worked his ass of every day.

by raoulduke on Oct 7, 2008 3:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs