When will it be time time to play both Oden and Pryzbilla at "4" and 5?

Never. They are both Centers. That’s the position they play. It’s better to always have just one of them on the court at a time. The twin towers idea rarely works. It would only be used in dire emergency, like Lamarcus and Juwann missing the game bus.

I recall the results not being very notable.

If these two had a more polished offensive game, it would have some legs (much like Duncan/Robinson). But since Greg is not nearly the level of either Duncan or Robinson and Joel plays like he has boxing gloves on, I just don’t see it happening regularly because it puts too much pressure on the perimeter players to score.

Joel plays like he has boxing gloves on

This would have saved our bacon last night v. Atlanta, when we couldn’t get a rebound to save our lives. Those offensive boards cost us the game (and two silly Martell fouls to start the 4th quarter…).

I think it’s a good tactical move. I wouldn’t rely on it strategically, but I think you can play both at the same time – especially if we’re going into Brandon Roy isolation play mode on offense

a slow pace getting back on defense, very limited outside shooting, fewer ball handlers, high turnovers, reduced fast break potential, slower man movement in the half court, two very poor perimeter defenders, and lots of fouls.

“Lamarcus would need to demonstrate he effectively could rebound and control the paint in playing center for a lineup with possibly Howard (Outlaw would need to be healthy but also able to better affect shots inside and defensive round) at PF, Webster at 3 (again rebounding, put the ball on the court effectively, has already demonstrated that he is a well above average 3 at the shot block), Rudy (stroke it, keep up D and Rebounding), and (either PG).

And / Or L-train could learn to stretch the 2-1-2 / 3-2 zones. I Think he has the laterally quickness and clearly the length to be a trend setter at his potion. Blake and Miller would need to demonstrate they could better close, but Bayless could use such a zone to his advantage with his closing speed / aggressiveness."

If I’m coaching the opposition, I’d go with a 1-3-1 zone defense to counter a lineup featuring LaMarcus Aldridge at the 5 and Juwan Howard or Dante Cunningham at the 4.

http://www.coachesclipboard.net/131zonedefense.html

Since Aldridge and Howard both rely heavily on pick-and-pop plays from the elbows, sealing off the high-post would be key to stifiling them. Aldridge, who isn’t entirely soft like Howard, still doesn’t present a major threat inside, so the weak man-to-man interior defense in that set wouldn’t be of major concern.

Smart, timely rotations would help cover the need for solid weakside help defense and defensive rebounding, too, while allowing second possessions via offensive boards wouldn’t be a big threat — so long as guys box out in a fundamentally sound fashion — with Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla resting their rumps on the bench.

On the perimeter, it’s safe to assume a bench unit would consist of Martell Webster at the 3, Jerryd Bayless at the 2 — unless Brandon Roy is back from a hopefully short breather — and Rudy Fernandez continuing to try his hand at the 1 on offense. Yet, with a 1-3-1 zone defense, aggressive rotations would hopefully close out quickly on any corner three-point attempts by the 3, clamp down on any iso sets from the 2 trying to driving to the basket, and contain Fernandez as he cuts in motion after dumping the ball into Bayless or Roy’s hands after bringing it down the court.

All in all, almost any lineup that Portland uses with Aldridge at the 5 should be countered by the opposition with a 1-3-1 zone defense.

However, they seem to have foul troubles.

They occupy the same space on the floor (6 feet in from the hoop) and if they both run simultaneously, that means LMA comes in at Center to relieve them, which is almost always a defensive disaster.

but id like to see greg back up la while pryz plays center backing up greg. we need another big.

la at sf. g at pf and joel at center. mabey against the lakers

Just about the time when Nate figures out that Howard is no longer an NBA-level talent and isn’t a capable of being an every game back up at the four.

The Blazers either have to let Cunningham give the back up four a shot or try to work a three man rotation some of the time. Back up four is and will continue to be the biggest weakness on the roster. Millsap would’ve been a perfect addition. I don’t want to throw stones at KP, but it was short sighted to blow every dime of cap room on Miller (a luxury) and go bargain basement at back up power forward.