Giving Credit When Credit is Due #44 Edition

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 1, 2009 9:30 PM PST

I felt like I had to write this because all season long I have been very critical of Channing Frye lately he has really stepped his game up. At the Midpoint of the season when Joe Freeman wrote his mid-season report he named Greg Oden as the disappointment of the season so far. A lot of people were upset about that, as was I. But I was mostly upset that he didn't seem to consider Frye's play so far this season. He had been terrible.

Last year at the end of the season Frye was rolling. In April he averaged 12 points and 8 boards. Over the summer there was alot of talk that he was working hard on his shooting, especially from 3. Also that he was going to step his game up because it was a contract year.

Then the season starts and I thought we had a 7 foot high school player on the team. I officially gave up on him when we played at Boston, at one point he jumped up to shoot and then decided not to so he just floated the ball out in front of himself; and one of the Celtics was more than happy to take the ball.

It seems however that Frye is starting to come around. He played well at San Antonio in a losing effort. But tonight he looked sharp. He was 5-6 from the field for 12 points, and he had 4 boards in 20 minutes. Not the greatest stat line but he had some strong cuts to the hoop, finished inside, and had some great passes that his teammates unfortunately could not capitalize on.

I still worry about his defense and I think he must have a competition going with Oden to see who can have the most fouls per minute. Also I am of the opinion we should release him at the end of the season for cap space. All that said I wanted to give him some credit and I hope he has returned to form just in time for the playoffs.

Go Blazers

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We need Channing to play like this, because it doesn't sound like Greg is close to coming back...

… Nate feels Greg needs more time.

Unfortunately for Channing, there won’t be more than a few minutes of pt for him when Greg comes back, but he deserves credit for being a pro and playing well today.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Mar 1, 2009 9:33 PM PST reply actions

My expectations for Oden

I want Greg to play in at least 60 games a season and I want him to be healthy for the playoffs. If he can do that for 15-18 years and of course continue to become a more dynamic player I will be very happy. You look at a guy like Shaq and he has had a lot of seasons where he played in about 60 to 70 games and his team was able to win championships, that is the most important thing that the team succeeds.

As long as Greg doesn’t have to have season ending surgery multiple years things will be good and winning will absolve him of all the criticism. So far Greg has played in 46 games and I think he has been improving well. If he is back within two weeks and he is able to go for the playoffs I will be content with his season this year; not over-joyed but certainly not dissapointed.

There won't be clean officiating in the NBA until David Stern is forcibly removed by the US Congress in 2013 for fixing games.

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 1, 2009 10:22 PM PST up reply actions

yeah I agree

I’m worried about Greg but I agree with your general point— 60-65 games wouldn’t be a disaster. What worries me is that the notoriously injury-prone Nene injured his knee on a very similar looking play and missed a total of two games. Its going on 3 full weeks now for Greg, which seems a little long for just banging knees, but obviously I don’t know the full extent of the injury nor am I a doctor.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Mar 1, 2009 10:34 PM PST up reply actions

Yah for some reason there wasn't appropriate communication about this injury

The docs, Greg, and Nate just didn’t seem to be on the same page throughout this whole thing.

Knowing that Greg played through the injury that night in Oakland I feel like his knee maybe would have been better off if he had kept it moving. Like maybe it tightened up a little bit because he rested it and now it will take some time for him to get loose and move well again.

There won't be clean officiating in the NBA until David Stern is forcibly removed by the US Congress in 2013 for fixing games.

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 1, 2009 10:42 PM PST up reply actions

Sorry Jake but you just can't say the two incidents compare.

That is very misleading… 10 incidents that happen to be banging of knees can have 10 different outcomes… that’s like saying that every player who rolls their ankle over in a game should have the same outcome… yet some walk it off and some miss the season. Many factors come into play… how do you know the injuries are the same?

I do agree that JQ and even Nate lead us to believe that GO doesn’t seem to be sucking it up but I don’t buy into that. Hopefully he comes back healthy soon.

by QuebecBlzrFan on Mar 2, 2009 10:05 AM PST up reply actions

yeah, I know you are right

I’m just worried.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Mar 2, 2009 1:46 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed

The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.

by ratbastird on Mar 2, 2009 3:42 PM PST up reply actions

Frye has stepped up these last few games.

I’m happy to see it. I hope he can get a good contract with a winning team that needs him next year. Unless, of course, he’s willing to be our third-string PF/C for on the cheap. However, I think he’s more talented than that.

Patience is underrated. Fan opinons are overrated. So, yes, that means that I too am overrated.

by T Darkstar on Mar 1, 2009 9:34 PM PST reply actions

Love the guy

but currently there’s no room for him with Oden.

I think people were harder on frye than they should have been as the injury was a set back. Blazer fans do tend to be nit picky and harsh at times… although I suppose that’s any fan.

Still, I also admit that Frye has “underwhelmed” this season regardless of injury. Hopefully he takes advantage of Oden out and does some serious damage.

The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.

by ratbastird on Mar 2, 2009 3:44 PM PST up reply actions

I wonder what it is about the post All-Star stretch...

but what ever it is Channing just seems to suddenly find his game. All I know is we really need guys to step up their game right now so I say -

Whoo Hooo! to the Buffet of Goodness! Please give me another heaping helping of that Buffet!!!!

Blazer's Edge Ambassador to The Dream Shake Blog
LMA Rocks and B-Rex ROARS!!
RRRRRRROOOOOOOWWWWWRRRRRRSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by LaMarvelous on Mar 1, 2009 9:50 PM PST reply actions

Good fouls

It seems to me that most of Channing’s fouls were smart and hard fouls, not like Oden’s silly fouls.

by RunBLG on Mar 1, 2009 9:55 PM PST reply actions

He does foul hard, I'll give him that

But a lot of his fouls would not be necessary if he would just move his feet. I feel like Channing lets guys go by him and then clobbers them, where as Greg try’s to play D and is just a step slow picking up a ticky tac foul. If Greg can get that step down he will be a great defensive player.

There won't be clean officiating in the NBA until David Stern is forcibly removed by the US Congress in 2013 for fixing games.

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 1, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions

was thinking the same thing

I’m not looking for stats with channing. I’m looking for efficiency and smarts. Make open shots. Don’t force. Be 6’11" and rebound.

Bring back the Uncle Cliffy!

by hawkblogger on Mar 1, 2009 10:02 PM PST reply actions

Channing's Play

Channing is going to need to play big the rest of the season especially if Oden is going to need another knee surgery.

by Portmann on Mar 1, 2009 10:02 PM PST reply actions

I think it's two things

1) he’s got some guaranteed minutes, so he doesn’t have to worry about getting yanked after one bad play.
2) it’s a lot easier to get into a rhythm over 8 minutes than it is when you’ve only got 2 minutes to try to look good.

But I have to support timbo for a second and say it was nice to see Channing in the paint today.

Anyway, points 1 and 2 are why I’ve hesitated to declare Shavlik “not so good,” since he’s now getting the minutes Channing was up until last week, well still even less, really. But so far, despite LetsBlaze’s assertions, Channing is looking better than Shav.

by Section323 on Mar 1, 2009 10:03 PM PST reply actions

agreed...spot minutes are a detrement to any player

IE Bayless, Sergio, and Frye. Frye did well toward the end of last year because he had solid minutes and started…also that was when teams were packing their bags for the summer as well. As well as Channing has been shooting, and as much as I like him…developing Greg is a higher priority for me than getting Channing significant PT so that he can play well.

The most hated Blazer is like the least hottest supermodel - Sabonis4Ever

by Philthyanimal on Mar 1, 2009 10:10 PM PST up reply actions

My problem...

was at the beginning of the season Frye had a spot in the rotation and he couldn’t do anything with it. He lost it. And now it looks like he is playing better and deserves a rotation spot on another team, next year.

There won't be clean officiating in the NBA until David Stern is forcibly removed by the US Congress in 2013 for fixing games.

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 1, 2009 10:26 PM PST up reply actions

He also was coming back from injury

It set him back. I give him a little pass for that.

The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.

by ratbastird on Mar 2, 2009 3:46 PM PST up reply actions

Exactly

Channing works good with extended minutes, but fails as a spark-plug off the bench. Last year it was the same. Shav is better at that.

Proud Odensheeple

by Norsktroll on Mar 2, 2009 1:12 AM PST up reply actions

has anyone seen his offensive game outside of hoisting long jumpers?

he’s actually a very skilled post player. I for the life of me can’t understand why he’s fallen so in love with that jumpshot. I know it’s pretty but he makes himself so one dimensional sometimes. He can do a lot more (go back and watch him play in his Arizona days)

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Mar 1, 2009 10:25 PM PST reply actions

even his NYK days

if you look back the dude was ballin’ I think like Rudy he gets kinda pigeon holed as the “go out there and just hit open jump shot” guys, when I feel that they can both do so much more.

"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08

by SpyderRyder on Mar 1, 2009 10:28 PM PST up reply actions

i suspect that is due to their respective roles

that nate has set out for them. starting out this year each of our role players seemed to be one dimensional in terms of their shot selection on offense…but lately they are adding other dimensions to their offensive game. rudy, bayless, frye, trout can all do more…but they probably need to act within the boundaries of their roles under nate.

The most hated Blazer is like the least hottest supermodel - Sabonis4Ever

by Philthyanimal on Mar 1, 2009 10:41 PM PST up reply actions

Frye was active around the basket tonight

Cutting to the hoop AND hitting his jumper. The more active he is the better it is for the Blazers. He is good at being that guy who annoys the hell out of the other team. Hustle Channing, hustle like crazy.

Karma

by Sabonis4Ever on Mar 1, 2009 11:05 PM PST reply actions

he still has a long way to go

in his rebounding abilities. lately he has been tapping it to other people when he should have better position and already boxed out his man and just grab the board. for the minutes he is getting he should have 3 more a game

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Mar 1, 2009 11:50 PM PST reply actions

Because when he is playing neither Pryzbilla nor Oden are playing...

I will agree with that. Like I said this may just be an anomaly but I hope it is not.

There won't be clean officiating in the NBA until David Stern is forcibly removed by the US Congress in 2013 for fixing games.

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 1, 2009 11:52 PM PST up reply actions

Frye-lock!

Definitely because of his solid playing time. Admittedly he had some at the beginning of the year and he was in a slump (remember he just came back from surgery, apparently a little too early). Since GO went down Frye is shooting well, playing much better D (still not great but much better than in the early season) and just plain being awesome old Frye.

Frye-lock and I'm on top rock you like a cop

by pklym on Mar 2, 2009 8:42 AM PST reply actions

He is doing great!

Glad that you are giving him kudos! It would have been easy to get real down and lose confidence… instead he has fought through it and trying to make a contribution by playing well.

Maybe he even gets better defensively and with the rebounding. Even when Greg gets back it will be valuable to have him as an option as a backup when we need size as Nate mentioned.

Best thing he can do is keep playing and showing what he can do on the floor… everyone already knows that he is an asset to the team even when he doesn’t play!

by QuebecBlzrFan on Mar 2, 2009 10:11 AM PST reply actions

Frye is still the same Frye--he's just getting minutes these days, so he's shining a little brighter.

Want more aggressiveness? Try less Baylesslessness.

by prezofdeath on Mar 2, 2009 2:55 PM PST reply actions

and I say that in a positive way.

It’s silly when people knock him when he’s only played 4 minutes in 5 games and he comes in and bricks a few or makes a defensive screw up. You have to get a consistent 7 minutes a game to get in the flow, I think.

Want more aggressiveness? Try less Baylesslessness.

by prezofdeath on Mar 2, 2009 2:55 PM PST up reply actions

I HATE CHANNING FRYE'S GAME

why does he play like he’s 6’3"?

by Qyntel Woods on Mar 2, 2009 4:57 PM PST reply actions

Perhaps that's how they ask him to play?

Clear the lane so folks can drive…Frye does have a decent post game as well, but a big who can shoot from the outside opens things up nicely for SG/SF types.

But let’s not turn this into a dogfight…

by DonkeyShins on Mar 2, 2009 5:02 PM PST up reply actions