Let's Celebrate GREG ODEN !!!
by hurryup09 on Nov 23, 2009 12:50 PM PST
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PrintOK, the great 3-guard controversy is behind us. The guys are playing pretty well, considering Batum and Outlaw are out. Martell finally relaxed and found his game--at least for the moment. So before the next wave of negativity hits Blazersedge, how about taking a moment to celebrate GREG FREAKING ODEN!!!
Remember? The guy they named the "Greg Oden Draft" after? The guy who the Blazers won the right to draft with a miraculous bounce of the ping pong balls? The guy who was expected to make the paint a fearsome place for Blazers opponents to tread for the next decade or more? News flash: in case you haven't been paying attention, that guy is HERE!
Forget about the stats. You can't measure Greg Oden's impact by counting up his points, rebounds, and blocked shots--though those are starting to be impressive enough. Just look at how opponents react to GO. Already they've basically capitulated to him at both ends of the court. Their one and only hope is to get him on the bench with fouls. How pathetic is that? And that strategy is already showing signs of losing its effectiveness--kinda like how antibiotics lose their efficacy as invaders become drug-resistant. (E.g., last night's Timberwolves game, in which GO let Jefferson get his, realizing that all he had to do was stay on the floor and the Wolves couldn't win.)
I realize that some BE'ers are still disappointed in Greg Oden. Nothing short of the second coming of Shaq or Wilt would satisfy them. But I'm hoping this thread won't be a debate about GO but a celebration of his arrival. Personally, I'm LOVING watching this guy. The fact that his first two seasons were such a nightmare is making his increasingly dominant play THIS season all the more enjoyable to watch. Now that GO has begun to get a feel for what he can and can't do, and now that his teammates are figuring out how to utilize him, the sky is the limit.
Are you pinching yourself too? The Blazers drafted GREG FREAKING ODEN, and we're finally getting to watch him do his thing in a Blazers uniform!
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Let's Celebrate GO by starting Miller and feeding the post!
GO for 20-12 in ’09.
by LaoTzu on Nov 23, 2009 2:45 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Lol...
For me, the Defense on his part has just been great. its VERY NOTICEABLE when he is in and the other team doesnt get near the paint (and when he does, the monsterous shot blocks are just great; he seems to have a good feel for blocking it to a teammate instead of out of bounds a-la Lebron)
The more he lets things go instead of doing that slow foot shuffle that inevitably calls a block every time, it will be fantastic.
I also do wonder when Nate will let Greg play longer than 24 min when he has <4 fouls? I know PRzy is a beastly back up, and maybe its better that greg takes it easy so we are all ready for playoffs, however i’d love to see 30mpg night in night out.
Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.
Follow my twitter www.twitter.com/PDXBlazersFTW, @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.
I dunno
I like watching the two-headed monster of GO & Przy wear out opponents. It reminds me of tag team pro wresting, where the fresh-as-a-daisy partner comes rushing into the ring and just pummels the poor, exhausted opponent (whose own partner stretches in vain to make the tag).
Sure, come the playoffs we may see a 30-18 performance from GO (with about 7 blocks). But in the meanwhile, I’m happy to see GO & Przy COMBINE for those kinds of numbers.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
I also do wonder when Nate will let Greg play longer than 24 min when he has <4 fouls?
you and me both. Greg should be playing 30 mins a night when he is not in foul trouble. But I don’t see that happening until Nate is either gone, or has someone stand up to him about the situation.
Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?
I voted other,
I like watching players heading into the paint and stop dead in their tracks. Sometimes they hurriedly chuck up a jumper. I like watching the fear.
It wasn't the first time I'd been kicked in the cherries and called a rat by a woman, but it was the first time I didn't mind.
You're right: I'm going to go back & include that one!
Often they turn the ball over in that moment of thinking, “Uh, oh!”
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
The Yawning.
It is always so funny when people try to talk trash to him, bump him, or act pissed at him.
It seems like it is just too much trouble for him to care, or sometimes even look at them.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Pft!!...
You mean the guy that gets owned by D League Call ups. /s
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
oops.. wasn't supose to be a reply to you staylost... but do check it out :) it's comical.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Yeah, and it doesn't matter in the slightest if the would-be intimidator is NBA royalty
Remember last year’s Celtics game when Garnett got all outraged at GO for dumping Ray Allen into the photographers like he was a sack of potatoes? Or when LeBron gave GO the death look for first failing to get out of his way as he headed up court, and then for fouling him hard? (GO literally yawned that time.)
I do love those moments. If it weren’t my own poll, I think I’d vote for that option.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
My favorite moment from the Minny game
Oden blocked a shot and it went out of bounds. Instead of whooping and hollering, he went over to Andre Miller and said sorry because he didn’t block it in his direction to trigger the fast break. That’s a center you want right there.
yeah. that was great.
shows a great awareness on Oden’s part of what a proper block should be. How great is a block into the 2nd row when it just gives the other team another chance on offense? I’m looking at you, Dwight.
If the glory can be killed, we are lost. --John Steinbeck
by DrivetheLane on Nov 23, 2009 10:55 AM PST up reply actions
I liked the one from the previous game vs the Wolves when GO spiked Flynn's shot straight down
Best of both worlds: on the one hand you had the intimidation factor, and on the other the ball didn’t go out of bounds, so the Blazers were able to run it back the other way. (As I recall, they did convert that fast break.)
But ultimately, robrum2 is right: unlike so many young bigs (or even old ones), GO clearly sees his blocks not as opportunities to show off, but rather to create offense. Bill Russell must be smiling, seeing that. (Until GO does it to Russell’s Celtics, that is.)
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Yeah, what's up with blocking to a team mate?
I thought you were supposed to block it out of bounds, knock them to the ground, then look at them and pretend to slick your hair back like Bowzer Bird Man. It LOOKS cooler, and really, isn’t that what basketball is all about?
My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.
by OCBlazerFan1 on Nov 23, 2009 11:17 AM PST up reply actions
agreed
He even has cut down drastically on the silly turnovers that haunted him for the first few games. Just in the 14 games played, he has progressed.
I voted the dunks
mainly for the look of resignation that you see on the face of his defender afterward, but there is no wrong choice here. GO is the total package at center, and given the dearth of talent at that position league-wide, he is a game changer the second he steps on the court.
"man, steve blake is clutch *dead*" - Ben Golliver on Twitter
Too bad your poll didn't have the option "All of the above".
But my favorite GO moment of the season so far was when he got a desperation pass from Miller laying on the floor and ran from half court for a dunk! Hahahahahahahhhaahhahahaaa! I loved that! The guy can dribble. We have a point center!
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
I like his passing
Especially to cutters down the middle. That’s what has me very hopeful.
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
by blazermaniac32 on Nov 23, 2009 12:31 PM PST reply actions
Same here
As Oden gets more attention from other teams, this is going to be very important to the offensive makeup of this team. (Let’s say, as opposed to a recent ex-Blazer who is a black hole no matter if he’s double or triple teamed…hmm, I’m sure you know who I am talking about)
My favorite moment of this year by far for this team was Oden and Aldridge 2 on 1 break. I was rolling on the floor laughing and pumping my fist after that one.
By gosh, you're right, blazermaniac. Now I've gotta go add that one to the poll too!
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Once he learns he is in control and doesn't need to rush things
I think we will find out that he will be one of the best big man passers in the game. A long ways to go, but I can see this happening. Then we just have to design an offense that utilizes those skills. In that sense a Martell, Rudy (cutters and three point shooters) become even more important. And then it even makes more sense for Blake to play ( I know that is blasphemous to some).
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
by blazermaniac32 on Nov 23, 2009 1:44 PM PST up reply actions
Oden has been our absolute best and most consistent player this season on both ends of the court.
10/8/2.5 don’t seem like much, but it ain’t his fault no one passes to him.
It is his fault he gets in such foul troubles, though, so aside from that (serious) negative, he’s been our MVP.
His defense has changed everything. His offense is downright underrated, especially to people who still watch Dwight Howard clang line drive hookshots off the back iron. He is still absolutely raw yet changes the game completely when he is in.
Once he gets the fouls under control, the stats will reflect his overall impact. 2.5 blocks in 24 minutes turns into 3+ blocks in 30+ minutes, his rebounds start getting high enough to lead the league, his offense keeps improving as we learn how to play with a finisher like him…
I can’t wait for everyone to figure it out, but it won’t be widespread till he can stay on the damn floor.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Nov 23, 2009 1:01 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I agree with you Mort.
but I don’t see Nate having the confidence in Oden yet. He takes him out of games even when he is not in foul trouble, and we can only hope that changes in the future. Greg has played over 30 minutes only once this year, and that was in overtime at ATL, and is avg only 24 mins per game on the season. That needs to be at or above 28 by the end of the season for this team to be special. And he needs to be on the court for 30+ next year at the latest for this team to be a championship contender.
Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?
I agree with all that
The keys to our championships are Greg Oden becoming Greg Oden.
I sympathize with Nate a little bit, because Oden hasn’t been able to do much to give us confidence re: his fouls… he’s been in constant foul trouble and, to me, there is no perfect solution except Oden learning to manage it better on his own.
So, in the meantime, you try saving 4 of his fouls for the 2nd half. You protect his minutes to have his defense and offense out there for the last 5 minutes. It’s frustrating when he only plays 24 minutes and ends with 4 fouls, but with his foul problems it is impossible to predict that he will stay out of foul trouble.
I am glad Nate is going back to letting him play and doing the normal 3-fouls-a-half-thing, even though I think I get why he did the 2 fouls in the first half limit.
What bugs me endlessly is when we’re well ahead in a game and Nate treats Oden like any other starter and takes him out of the game… when I think that is valuable in-game development time for Oden, to try out new moves, gain more confidence in the current ones, and, of course, boost the stats, which in turn boost confidence.
He’s the only starter we’re developing, so he’s different. Sit Roy, sit LMA, but Oden needs as many minutes as he can get for a variety of reasons.
Mortimer
I agree with you about the blowouts
I want Greg in there as well, getting looks and shot attempts. My only thought as to why Nate keeps him out is he is afraid of him getting injured during scrub time, as I am sure that is Oden got hurt badly playing mop up duty Nate would be done as a coach in Portland.
Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?
People would 2nd guess the hell out of it, true.
It’d be a short sighted complaint, but one that would happen.
—M
Miller does pass to Oden.
And he is trying to teach other Blazers to do the same.
With Miller running the point, this team is SOOOO much better. And Oden is an all-star.
Think rest & refresh !
When the SS Vulcan gets out to sea in cruise mode, don’t you get off
the wheel for a little R & R (or some Blazers) ?
It's GO time !
I actually wouldn’t have a problem with Greg on the second team. Let Joel take on the defensive assignment and collect the early fouls against the other teams starting center.
Greg could then come in and either work on his offensive game and get more touches against their back up center. And whose say he wouldn’t finish those games either and against guys like Dwight Howard or Shaq, a fresh Oden would be so much more effective.
"We didn't start the fire. It was always burning. Since the world's been turning." - E. E. Cummings
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Nov 23, 2009 5:20 PM PST up reply actions
Darn it.
Meant to vote for all of the above.
--
by CaptainSexyJacob on Nov 23, 2009 1:53 PM PST reply actions
Nah, just once when I took shenanigan's advice and added a poll option
Actually I did the same thing a few minutes later, but the post was already at the top that time.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
To all those who think Greg should get more minutes
We are tied for first place at 10-5. It’s safe to say McMillan’s plan is working. We want Greg fresh for the playoffs, right?
And when Greg sits, Joel comes in. It’s not like he’s surrendering minutes to Chuck Hayes or Mikki Moore.
I want to see Greg play a lot too. In June, not in December.
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
I'm sure injury is on Nate's mind--or at least in the back of it
Who could blame him? I believe GO has still missed more NBA games than he’s played in. Give Nate another year or so to get over the trauma of GO’s early injury problems. In the meanwhile, what’s the problem? Joel’s arguably the best back-up center in the league. Centers tend to get hurt when they’re winded and not moving well. Guys come flying at them and they don’t react nimbly.
So I have no disagreement with letting GO and Joel splitting those minutes—particularly since GO seems OK with the arrangment. A two-headed center is a time-honored key to an NBA championship. My childhood team, the Warriors, shocked the world by winning it all in ’75 with Clifford Ray & George Johnson splitting time in the post. With all due respect to those guys, GO/ Przy blow them away.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Favorite GO
momemnt is when he pushed yao in the back last year in the playoffs. It caused a nice little reaction on the houston forums and i laugh everytime i think about it. I also love his thunderous shaq like dunks and the way he totally dominates smaller players. I’m hoping for 15+ dunks the next time they play in GS.
This post should be updated with the news of Greg's fantastic game tonight
You won.
by Roybot on Nov 11, 2009 1:41 AM PST
Well, let's see...
I could add a poll option, thus shooting the post back to the top of the list. I think that’d annoy Timmay!
How about, “My Favorite Greg Oden Moment is: When He Dominates Joachim Noah!”
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Your wish is my command
Although I didn’t update the date this time around. This Fanpost has already had its day at the top of the list.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Serendipitous time to write this post, right before Greg has a great game.
I agree. Let’s celebrate G.O.!!!!
Me and my gf both like
Him shooting free-throws. Instead of trying to look cool, he sticks his tongue out like your kid brother. He looks like a dopey little kid of the 7’1" 275# variety.
Honor Alaa Abdelnaby.
First in the NBA. At least alphabetically
That was a heck of a game he had last night
Although I’m not sure it was the most difficult test
Blazer Fan
He certainly demonstrated most of the poll "moments"--some multiple times
The highlight for me was when he frustrated Noah so badly that he threw a temper tantrum. I LOVED that!
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Moral of the story:
Don’t dunk on Greg Oden. GO not like. GO get mad. GO smash!!
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
I want to be wrong about Oden and for him to be a scorer
Please let me be wrong
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Nov 24, 2009 2:23 PM PST up reply actions
I can grant that wish!
You’re wrong, leeroyjenkins. For proof, just blur your eyes ever so slightly when watching Greg Oden play and project what he’s already doing forward a year. It doesn’t take a whole heck of a lot of imagination to see what this guy is turning into. Even last season, a lot of us could see it. After last night, it should be getting awfully obvious.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
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