Greg Oden Was Beasting

by Ben. on Nov 19, 2008 1:06 AM PST Comment 31 comments

Hey guys, I understand everyone is upset about the calls. But if you're worried about the calls in one November game against the Warriors in Oakland (we never win in Oakland) when Anthony Tom Morrow is 76 for 79 from the field, you are thinking short.

I suggest you start thinking long. This video should help. Go here and select "watch in high quality" for optimal viewing.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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YES!!!

I’ve been dreaming of this Oden domination for so long!! You probably won’t hear anymore about Oden being a “bust”. Now it’s time to seriously start talk about rookie of the year and place our votes for the all-star game!

by BrokeButStoked on Nov 19, 2008 1:23 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

this is great.

it’s so cool to see him play so well and realize this is only the beginning. he looks better, moves better, looks more relaxed every game.

hey, and this seems to be causing travis to pass!

ignacio

by ignacio on Nov 19, 2008 1:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone else notice

that at the end of that game he wasn’t really sweating? This as opposed to earlier when he’d break a heavy sweat getting from the bench to the scorer’s table.

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 19, 2008 1:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

look how far out he was coming to set the picks and how quickly he was getting to the hoop, even in the fourth quarter. tired people can’t do that!

reminded me of a practice report from like six weeks ago where oden was coming allll the way out, and how surprised i was to see him do that.

well… still surprise to see it happen in a game. ridiculous.

by Ben. on Nov 19, 2008 1:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yah

Back from the get go when we were talking about Oden being different and special his range was one of the major factors in that assessment. So big, so strong, moves so far so fast!

—Dave

by Dave on Nov 19, 2008 1:35 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i noticed his breathing

which didnt seem bad late in the game.

ignacio

by ignacio on Nov 19, 2008 1:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i'm noticing too what an economy of movement he has

there’s so emphasis on him being a “beast” and on his size, but there are a lot of tall and very strong players — the difference with oden is what a natural smooth-moving athlete he is. his BBIQ seems extremely high as well. he’s the real thing.

ignacio

by ignacio on Nov 19, 2008 1:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The pick and roll

actually includes “and roll” this year.

However, I’m highly suspicious Greg’s rebounding numbers were inflated. I suspect they credited him with a rebound, and didn’t give Rudy an assist, on that pass off the backboard.

Rudy’s game is made to play with a guy like Greg. When Oden goes back into the starting lineup, can you keep Rudy out of it?

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 Nov 19, 2008 1:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

blake or batum?

by Ben. on Nov 19, 2008 1:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that is a good question, so the two proposed starting line ups would look like…

Oden-LMA-Rudy-Roy-Blake

Oden-LMA-Batum-Rudy-Roy

Personally I find myself inclined towards the second… in say, a year from now, three rooks all on the starting lineup is a bit much, so for now I would go with the first. This is of course until Dec. 5th

when Martell gets back could we possibly see some floor time of

Oden-LMA-Webster-Rudy-Roy?…

by eyeotiger on Nov 19, 2008 2:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that's the question

This year is about integrating players together. I think Blake’s steady hand is helpful for that.

I also think we can better afford to go small ball with Greg in there. I mean, with Greg in there, is it even possible to go small ball? I think with Greg and LaMarcus on the front line, you could play Tiny Archibald and his little brothers at the other spots and still not really be small ball.

I also think our eventual starting lineup (middle of next year?) may be Jerryd, Rudy, Brandon, LMA, and Greg. I think we can play enough zone to keep from getting hurt with that lineup. Or at least, if we get hurt on the defensive end, we’ll more than make up for it at the other end.

I don’t know, I can’t figure this one out. We have too many good weapons. Let’s hire somebody like Nate McMillan to figure out what to do.

Did you see that LeBron says a big factor for him is going to be chances to win multiple championships? Is he sending smoke signals to KP, or to Mitch Kupchak? Let’s see, to get LeBron, we’d probably have to give up LMA plus Rudy plus Travis or Martell plus Joel plus two first rounders plus whatever. And that would only be if Cleveland was convinced they had to trade him.

It would at least answer the question as to who starts at SF for us. We’d need them to send us a backup big man who is at least healthy enough to carry luggage. We could throw in one of our fifteen backup PGs that KP has dispersed around the world (since we don’t actually right now have a starter at that position).

by jscot on Nov 19, 2008 4:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That was a rebound

No way that Rudy threw that oop.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Nov 19, 2008 8:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I live in Europe

Over here, we think Rudy can do anything.

by jscot on Nov 19, 2008 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

"I believe in [Joel]. I just love the way he plays." - Nate McMillan

by jamon51 on Nov 19, 2008 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Does the video work for everyone else and just not me?

:( GO GREG! :)

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

by faith on Nov 19, 2008 5:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It didn't work for me until it loaded fully

Then it was kind of jerky.

by tominhawaii on Nov 19, 2008 7:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I just had to move the cursor

once it froze, I just manually moved the dot a little further and it started playing again. Not sure what’s hanging it up.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Nov 19, 2008 8:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

it’s a big file. esp in high quality. let it load all the way in its own browser window at youtube if you’re having problems…

if that doesnt work just buy a new computer or upgrade your internet connection…

by Ben. on Nov 19, 2008 8:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Spot up shooters are going to be sooooo important

Greg does get it. Watch him and Rudy. Pick and roll with Roy will be devasting. Dumping the ball into the low post and kicking back out to Rudy or Webster will be devasting as well. Once Aldridge figures out how to play with Greg (some high low action) the sky is the limit. I’m plum excited!

"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.

by blazermaniac32 on Nov 19, 2008 5:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Can you imagine

if Martell is hitting and we’re playing a team that has a not-so-quick PG? Rudy & Martell playing that game with Greg, and LMA in a high post to keep the opposing PF honest? Who are you going to leave, Brandon? These guys are really going to put the hurt on people when everything is clicking.

by jscot on Nov 19, 2008 6:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I am so starting to visualize this

Spacing will be crucial, remember how long it took shaq to figure out to pass out of the post, but once he did their was almost nothing you could do to stop any of his teams? Fisher made a living off of Shaq passes. Martell and Rudy should as well.

"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.

by blazermaniac32 on Nov 19, 2008 6:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

And Greg already has a vision for passing out of the post.

by jscot on Nov 19, 2008 7:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Ben!

watching Greg, made my morning

cheers

by naybobjoe on Nov 19, 2008 8:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Watching Greg Last night

brought a HUGE smile to my face. I was giddy. I was clapping and hooting and hollering (and hitting stuff because of the refs).

Greg is a complete monster. Just wait until he gets in shape.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Nov 19, 2008 8:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Greg was a BEAST!!!

Each game I get more and more excited to see him play. 2nd double double in only his fourth (fifth?) game… That oop from Rudy was so sick, I went banannas. Greg Oden a bust? Only if you are talking about what he does to the rim.

G.O. for R.O.Y.

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by j-blaze on Nov 19, 2008 9:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Greg needs to sweat more...

i think this will help…considering Frye said he’s top 10 sweat’ers…It will add to his nasty-ness

by My3rdLegIsAlsoLongerThanMyFirstLeg on Nov 19, 2008 10:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I just watched the clip

It sure looks to me like the refs are going to have trouble calling games with Greg in them. He’s so strong that fouls bounce right off of him. He has a couple dunks with people hanging on him (Turiaf) and no call at all becuase it doesn’t effect the dunk….just crazy

by SalemORguy on Nov 19, 2008 10:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs