Who should Oden Study?

by RipCity2008 on Mar 25, 2008 11:30 AM PDT

There was an interesting story today on ESPN. com. Basically it is David Thorpe assigning the top rookies a veteran to study during the off season. He recommends that Oden study Tim Duncan, to help out his offense. What do you think? Who do you think Oden should "study" in the off season?

Poll

Who should be Oden's Homework?

Tim Duncan

20 votes

Shaq

4 votes

Amare'

5 votes

Dwight "SUPERMAN" Howard

10 votes

Be himself

15 votes

Bill "throw it down, big man" Walton

7 votes

Bill Russel

32 votes

93 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 24 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Machiavelli or Nietzche

He could use the whole 'Lion and Fox' aspect to his game, and it is pretty apparent that he's a superman (or ubermensch).

Other than that, I'd say Bill Russell - he's the smartest of the bunch basketball-wise, and maybe Walton (since he had such a sweet outlet pass).

by DonkeyShins on Mar 25, 2008 11:50 AM PDT reply actions

I'd go with Karl Malone

Oden is kind of built like the Mailman...just bigger and better.

"martell and blake make mormons angry"

by prezofdeath on Mar 25, 2008 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Sabonis

by Sabonis4Ever on Mar 25, 2008 11:51 AM PDT reply actions

Ooh.

Good call. Completely spaced on that one.

by DonkeyShins on Mar 25, 2008 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Be Himself... to be like Mike...

I recently read an article from ESPN The Mag, and His Airness Michael Jordan had written an article about the state of the NBA. His schpeal was about how he (Jordan) didn't have to pretend, he simply stayed true to himself, his game, and his desire to compete and win. Jordan felt that in games and in marketing he was able to preform within his abilities and never tried to be something he wasn't.

I think this is great advice. Greg Oden should focus on his game and develop himself to the best of his abilities rather than trying to compare his ~repertoire~ with those of NBA greats. Those "greats" have no real impact on how Oden can and should play the game. Oden is an individual athlete, he has his own unique set of skills, and the NBA and basketball world are different today.

Obviously developing a baby-hook like Kareem, a base-line spin & bank like Hakeem, or a drop-step spin and slam like Big Shaq are great "moves" to watch and learn from masters, but I do not think Greg Oden would be well served trying to build his game around any former players.

If I were Greg and liked to talk in the third person, I would say "Greg Oden needs to invent Greg Oden, not try to reinvent somebody who is not Greg Oden. That would not be in the best interest of Greg Oden and Greg Oden's future with Portland and the NBA Hall of Fame."

Oden has impressed me this season because he is not shy about training hard and keeping a smile on his face while he does not get to play. Oden hasn't felt sorry for himself, or if he has, he has never worn it on his sleave. Greg just continues to prove that he is part of the culture change that KP wanted to bring in.

It is going to be great once we get to see what his conditioning and strength training this off-season has done to his game, and to see how good he is at this early age. I am excited.

by Scotty the Mastermind on Mar 25, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep. I mentioned before the season

started that it would be great to have Sabonis mentor Oden. His (Sabonis) passes were a thing of beauty even when he couldn't run anymore.

by annthefan on Mar 25, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree! Sabas was "The Pass Master"...

and would be a great center coach.

38:19 Min, 11-18 FG, +11 +/-, 5 Off, 12 Rebs, 7 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk, 22 Pts - LMA vs Clips 3-21-08

by LaMarvelous on Mar 25, 2008 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I think thats the wrong link

Oden '08 Worth the Wait

by JTDuck22 on Mar 25, 2008 12:05 PM PDT reply actions

I think that you are correct

My fault here is the correct link http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=RookieStudy-Ode n&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fsto ry%3fcolumnist%3dthorpe_david%26page%3dRookieStudy-Oden

by RipCity2008 on Mar 25, 2008 12:13 PM PDT reply actions

Hakeem

One can always dream...

"Life is a meaningless sequence of events in between Blazer championships"

by broggerboy19 on Mar 25, 2008 12:32 PM PDT reply actions

Agreed

He's a bit bigger than Hakeem ever was (weight and strength wise), and a bit more defensive-minded.

Hakeem was one of the best offensive centers of all time. Top 3, no doubt. He was a good defensive center, but not one of the greatest.

The "given" about Oden is his defense, we're all rather certain that will happen. If he was able to imitate some of Hakeem's ingenuity and touch on the offensive end, that'd make him a more complete (and unstoppable) player.

by rmcdougall on Mar 25, 2008 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Are you sure?

The Dream is the all-time blocked shots leader, with about 400 more than the 2nd place Kareem.

He also amassed a bunch of steals and played a major role in minimizing the impact of Patrick Ewing and rookie-Shaq in two NBA Finals victories.

I'm a bit biased, since Hakeem is my all-time favorite big man, but I would definitely say he was one of the greatest on both ends of the floor.

I agree with your comment abt Oden, but I'm not holding my breath, and will be more than happy with Bill Russell-lite or more by the end of his career.

"Life is a meaningless sequence of events in between Blazer championships"

by broggerboy19 on Mar 25, 2008 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Didn't "The Dream" also

once have a quadruple double?? Now that is a stat line

by 92wastheyear on Mar 25, 2008 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions

You're right

I seem to have clouded my memory with his offensive greatness.

So ya. Hakeem would definitely be a good model to follow.

by rmcdougall on Mar 25, 2008 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Only because they didn't count

blocks when Wilt and Russell were playing. Wilt would be so far ahead in triple doubles there would be no chance to catch him ever.

People think Wilt was only offense and Russell was only defense but that would be wrong. When Wilt set the record for rebounds it was against Russell. And Russell does have all those rings!

I like the Dream too but he was not as I remember those other two.

by lee3022 on Mar 26, 2008 2:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Another vote for Hakeem

It's pointless to compare players of different eras since the league has changed so much, but Hakeem was one of the best.

by leeroyjenkins on Mar 27, 2008 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

hmmm... overall i'd go bill russell

The article seemed to specifically focus on areas of improvement for next year and Duncan's post moves wouldn't be a bad area for oden to study with a little amare on the side.

Luckily he's been watching ALL the big men as they come into Portland for ideas and moves. I think he'll do just fine next year (fine being 15/10/and 1 block or a little more.)

I think the following year he'll jump up to 20 points. then again, if aldridge is clicking and roy... people may keep pressure off oden and I think he could make them pay.

Team OK just has to say that we'll take the lead with no delay. We have the players to keep the pace and in the end we'll win the race.

by ratbastird on Mar 25, 2008 12:56 PM PDT reply actions

Pistol Pete Maravich

You can't teach size and he already has that. I want him to learn how to pass.

The square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.

by tominhawaii on Mar 25, 2008 2:07 PM PDT reply actions

Sabonis.

by annthefan on Mar 25, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

I was trying

To think outside the box. I hope he watched Black Magic. He could learn a lot from that documentary.

I'm not sure Sabonis is a good mentor. Remember when Rasheed threw him a towel and Sabonis couldn't even catch it?

The square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.

by tominhawaii on Mar 25, 2008 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

That's the one thing I could never forgive

Sheed. But Sabonis had the class not to respond in front of the world. It could have been the ugliest free-for-all in basketball history because it was between team mates. I'll bet Sheed regrets it too although he'd probably never admit it. Now if Sabonis knocked Sheed up against the wall and slapped him around when they got to the locker room I'd be all for it.

by annthefan on Mar 25, 2008 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

ESPN

they seem to have asked the same question:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=RookieStudy-Dur ant&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fs tory%3fcolumnist%3dthorpe_david%26page%3dRookieStudy-Durant

by rmcdougall on Mar 25, 2008 5:10 PM PDT reply actions

Oh lol

I'm clueless, I need to read better.

by rmcdougall on Mar 25, 2008 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Sabonis/Walton

Both were great passers. That's the thing he needs to be first. The scoring will come naturally. If he can learn to fire the outlet pass, we get easy baskets. That was Walton's greatest offensive weapon. He should have had 10 assists a game, because his outlet passes were the real assist.

If Oden can find the cutters when he's got the ball in the post, find the open man when teams double down on him, then you really have something. A double team against him can be effective, but if a team is always punished for double-teaming him, then they have to go single-coverage. I don't think he needs any great offensive moves against single-coverage from most defenders. The most important offensive weapon for a guy that size is the ability to punish double-coverage.

I'm frequently right, but always certain

by jscot on Mar 26, 2008 1:02 AM PDT reply actions