Oden outplays Durant in Head to Head AGAIN!
by Idog1976 on Apr 14, 2009 12:42 PM PDT
73 comments
If you are going to overhype a matchup and KD for godsakes give Oden the credit he deserves. He almost doubled up on KD's points and quadrupled his boards with one great block and kept his fouling under control. He looked happy and had at least one rebound where he got WAY UP for it.
It was the best I've seen Oden look speed and agility wise and yet I hear nothing. Oden deserves some respect for staying on the floor and cleaning up alot of his foul prone behavior. If we would have just fed him the rock last night he would have scored 40+ on poor Nenad. Meanwhile KD was being D'd up by noted lockdown defender...Travis Outlaw. Where is the GO love?!?!?!
For the record I was about 4 rows into the 200 level and I saw it all quite clearly. Oden looked great and was frequently grinning from ear to ear.
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Oden > Durant
Not surprising.
http://saboner.mybrute.com
V Bedge My Brute Clan V
http://mybrute.com/team/926
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 14, 2009 12:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Not suprising to some perhaps
but the sports media’s projection of relative value of the two has been about as accurate as the financial media’s reporting of market value in September of 2007. That is too say all hype and no substance and definitely no nuanced reportage of the complete picture.
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
by Idog1976 on Apr 14, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
they were all over it
when Durant went for 36 or whatever in the game they won. Now, not so much.
by torridjoe on Apr 14, 2009 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and if I may
here’s what I said about Greg in my recap, which you can read via the below link…
:::::::::::
Oden will probably hear it from Travis about getting beat to that putback, but he’s got plenty to smile about himself. First and foremost is that he played 20 minutes and collected only two fouls. In his first half of work he rang up 10 and 5 with NO fouls, and was all over the court. His array of dunks was a blast to watch, but the key was his speed and energy. I keep telling people that Greg is deceptively fast, and as he matures will shock you with how often he beats defenders down court to get easy feeds, boards and tip ins. Against OKC, who seemed to care less and less as the game wore on, you’d have thought half the time he was the Thunder center, getting back.
::::::::::
by torridjoe on Apr 14, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
can't wait for next year
when Oden and LMA are both beating the other team’s bigs down the floor for dunks. – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
by 22baylor on Apr 14, 2009 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
meh
Blazers will get credit soon enough, and so will greg. if the national media is taking the special bus to the games, so be it. Eventually they’ll be edumacated. Till then, I simply say “wait two more years and greg’s game will speak for itself”.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 14, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oden Improving?
I hadn’t even noticed.
The Oden Era, Day 663
by Heymoe on Apr 14, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oden is our secret weapon for the playoffs
SHhh!
"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein
by Garden of ODEN on Apr 14, 2009 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oden as disappointment is a story of the regular season
His opportunity to turn it around for national stage begins in round 1
by T$ 225 on Apr 14, 2009 12:54 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
+1... My thoughts exactly...
Oden really needs to capitalize on this first round series, as this is where he can re-write the premature reputation that national media nay-sayer-haters have put on our young Big Man…
To these nay-sayer-hater Media types, Oden’s regular season has been a disappointment and they want to label him injury-prone, mentally-weak, and a bust. But with this shot at this Round 1 series where Oden will get multiple games in a row to get consistent national coverage, all the ingredients are there for Oden to re-write his bad rap…
Here are the ingredients:
1.) National Stage: Everybody will hear about it if Oden plays good or bad
2.) Best Competition NBA has: There won’t be any down-playing good Oden games due to weak comp.
3.) Refs looking at these games slightly differently from regular season games: Less slop calls
4.) Oden playing good minutes with better matchups off the bench: Likely Oden’s offense is eye-opening to many.
5.) 18-24 minutes per game: Oden will still be playing back-up center minutes, but everyone will be looking at his stat lines and realize how impressive his Per-48’s would be and what his PER is.
6.) What Oden really means to this Blazers team: If Oden is a non-factor, pundits will continue to label him a bust, if Oden provides key rebounds, blocks, shot-alterations, hard fouls, and points in the series… especially if Portland advances to Round 2, then it will be clear to all that Oden is a key piece to this team.
by Portland Dynasty on Apr 15, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw it too.
You can see Oden slowly start to trust his body again.
Give him an off season to work on his skills and foot work, and I predict you will see a completely different oden next year.
by MotoMan045 on Apr 14, 2009 12:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Off season?
He has until the finals to get it 100% together and frankly i’d prefer he have it by the WCF against the lakers.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 14, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
3 strait games
bayless leaves over my dead body
by thomasikehara on Apr 14, 2009 12:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I hate how everyone wants to focus on individuals
Last I checked, this was still a team game. One of the things I love the most about this Blazer team is that they are truly a team.
Bottom line for me is this: Blazers with Oden > Blazers with Durant
Oden could go to OKC and pull down 20 and 10s shooting 42% from the field being force fed the ball, and Durant could come here and put up 25 points while we get torched all game by opposing wings and get killed on the boards when Joel is out of the game. Who cares? Our team with Oden is in my opinion better than our team with Durant would be, and it’s certainly much better than Durant’s current team is.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
by douglast on Apr 14, 2009 12:59 PM PDT reply actions 6 recs
that is
what i’ve been saying since we drafted him. shrug I’ve reached the point where I figure the team and players will either prove me wrong or prove me right. At the moment, i’m a LOT more right than wrong.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 14, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
the best thing about it is
that they have already exceeded our expectations. Therefore, there is no pressure on them. Anything they do in the playoffs will be marvelous. – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
by 22baylor on Apr 14, 2009 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The team is more important
no doubt. I just want to see Oden get the credit he deserves cause he’s certainly got criticism on this site on a level I would only expect to see turned on Kobe and the L@kers. I’ve been a Blazers fan for as long as I can remember so don’t worry I root for jerseys not players…just like you. That said I freaking love Oden as a guy and am happy to see flashes of brilliance as a player.
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
by Idog1976 on Apr 14, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
HELLOOOOO !!!
I’ve been saying this for TWO years, but the FatfromNYC and
others want to keep pushing KBone & ripping GO !! Nuff said !
Oh, and Jscot and I predicted 55-27 and got ripped by some.
Let them eat cake ! Sour cake !
It's GO time !
by walkoff41 on Apr 14, 2009 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jscot was way off
Hopefully going 54-28 isn’t even close to 55-27!
by Zaig on Apr 14, 2009 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Wilt Chamberlain (etc) won the individual awards, Bill Russell still has the rings
And if he was playing in Nate’s offense, Durant would be camped out in the corner shooting treys
(not that there’s anything wrong with Nate’s offense, just sayin’)
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure Nate would change his offense
For a guy like Durant.
But we would be even worse defensively (that means no Batum guarding any starters), and I don’t think our offensive flow would be as cordial and nice as it is now, where everyone has a nice role that fits them perfectly. Roy needs the ball in his hands and SHOULD have the ball in his hands— he’s not as good of a shooter as Durant but a much much much better playmaker and decision maker.
Durant, because of his offensive talent, warrants touches as well, likely to the detriment of LMA. We end up going inside even less, hoist a lot more jumpers, and our inside outside attack becomes an outside outside sometimes inside deal. Durant isn’t a playmaker, so he wouldn’t play off of Roy and LMA, just beside them, getting his— and while he’s very good at that, you want your primary ballhandlers to be good at setting up others as well.
Even though it would seem like our offense would maybe be even better, I think it stands a good chance of hurting us there and will obviously hurt us defensively… no question there.
I still say Durant might become a good defender, but he’s one of those guys stuck in between positions defensively. Those don’t work out well… he has plenty of time to learn where he’s gonna defend though. And offensively, he needs to learn to be able to help his teammates score, which is what being a true threat and leader is about.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Apr 14, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep going...you'll talk yourself out of it
Durant’s “role” would be similar to Travis Outlaw. You know it, I know it, your dog knows it.
(sorry about the Canzano channeling)
Fortunately, KP had the choice and chose the big man. No sense looking back (unless…someone brings the 2007 draft comparison up, again…)
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am 100% behind KP's pick of Oden
Even more now than before, despite Oden’s (for him) up n’ down start.
I am a bigger fan of Durant than most Blazer fans maybe (not as big as some of course), but he doesn’t do anything as of yet that would really help us. More points? Yawn, we’re already great there. We need a secondary playmaker (not just a guy who can get his own shot) and much better defense.
The way I see it, even though Durant is an amazing scorer, you can’t just drop him in on our team and expect the same sort of production. He gets those points because he is option 1, option 1A, and option 1B, and then they look at Green and Westbrook. He wouldn’t get that here, and if he isn’t being used as a big scorer he doesn’t provide a lot else… yet.
Both Oden and Durant were likely crowned a little too soon, but Oden gets a lot of guff amidst a year better than Durant’s rookie year, on a really good team and coming back from a bad injury. Durant’s numbers look nice, so he gets more of a pass, and no one expects his team to be good so no one hates on him for that aspect.
It’s unfair, but I don’t REALLY care that people are hard on Oden. He’s going to be really good and the obvious pick as the years play out.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Apr 14, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel bad for Greg
Because his stats suck because we never give him the ball. When he gets more moves hopefully we just feed him all game long. It will make everybody’s life easier. Rudy would more threes, Brandon would only see one defender instead of two or three, LMA will be all alone on the weak side, Blake can just sit back and bomb threes. In the next couple years we will have three starters who need to be double teamed, and our whole team can shoot the ball. OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION!
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 14, 2009 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We need a secondary playmaker (not just a guy who can get his own shot) and much better defense.
Ding ding ding ding!
This was my take after the Philly game, when they doubled Roy “out high” going down the stretch and Brandon didn’t have anyone he could throw the ball to who could exploit the 4 on 3. Either a complete PG or a versatile SF is required to compliment Roy and make the defense pay for the “trapping” of #7. I hope this defensive strategy doesn’t come back to bite Portland in the playoffs—but why wouldn’t an opposing coach try it until the Blazers prove they can penetrate and get dunks when the ball is taken out of Roy’s hands?
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
exactly
“The way I see it, even though Durant is an amazing scorer, you can’t just drop him in on our team and expect the same sort of production. He gets those points because he is option 1, option 1A, and option 1B, and then they look at Green and Westbrook. He wouldn’t get that here, and if he isn’t being used as a big scorer he doesn’t provide a lot else… yet.”
That is exactly it. Durant is an excellent player, although for is position there are plenty that do the same thing…regardless he is not the right fit for our team. He needed a team that could work around him and frankly Roy is our guy to work around. Maybe someday he’ll be as good as Roy…but I don’t see it…
I have my P.h.D in unreliable hyperbole.
by Eat Politicians on Apr 15, 2009 1:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Pass him the ball
Watch him shoot it 1 to 10 seconds later
Go back on defense
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 14, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bottom line for me is this: Blazers with Oden > Blazers with Durant
+1 my brutha – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
by 22baylor on Apr 14, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OKC doesn't have a center that can defensively or offensively match up against Oden.
The Blazers do have a forward that can stick of Durant. Typically, that is Batum. Last night, Outlaw did a particularly stellar job of containing Durant. In the lane, LaMarcus kept him in check.
I would argue it’s a match up issue rather than anything else.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
by Arby on Apr 14, 2009 1:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
stick on Durant*
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
by Arby on Apr 14, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you're going to keep score with this 'Oden v. Durrant' thing
I’m thinking you’ll lose in the end. Plus it’s pretty much irrelevant when the two of them don’t:
a) play the same position
or
b) guard one another
and
c) don’t play with comparable teammates
Roy Tribute
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
by Net Ranger on Apr 14, 2009 1:09 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
incredibly irrelevant
(a) each head to head matchup is just 1 game
(b) they don’t even guard each other.
Oden has had, when he’s been on the court, a much better rookie year than Durant if you go by PER (instead of ppg like the stupid ROY voters do). However, Durant was a year younger and was being coached by PJ.
Durant had a magnificent year offensively. His defensive on court/off court numbers look absolutely terrible— we will see if this remains true next year.
This will be a more fair debate next year— they are about the same age (Durant a little younger) and neither will be a rook.
by jksnake99 on Apr 14, 2009 1:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
bottom line people
durant=good health and very good nba production,oden=incomplete and injury prone.until g.oden can play at leadt 72 games a season,people will have their doubts about him.if he can polish up his game and footwork then who really knows.
by fatty on Apr 14, 2009 1:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Durant's been so healthy
Didn’t he miss ten games? I also thought wins were a good sign of NBA production. He’s been doing a great job with that too.
by robrun2 on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
didn't you notice
he said 72 games. 82-10 is… 72.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 14, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hahahahaha
So the cutoff for healthy is 10 games, right where Durant is at. Convienent.
And Durant’s production is on one side of the floor. Anybody who understands anything about the game can see this.
by Zaig on Apr 14, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kevin Durant is so putrid on defense that it's ceased to be funny anymore. Now, it's just a sad joke.
Net Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions: +8.6
Net On-Court/Off-Court Effective Field-Goal Percentage Allowed: +3.8%
Y’know, I’m sick and tired of people who don’t comprehend the importance of defense raving about how the supposed greatness of Durant. With Durant’s team being substantially better whenever he’s sitting on the bench — or whenever he’s on the inactive list with an injury, which is even better for the ballclub from a win-loss standpoint — there’s definite problems.
Sans the 1974-1975 Golden State Warriors, I implore y’all to find a team that won a title behind a leader who was an offensive-minded wing. Indeed, it’s imbecilic of any front office executive to build a ballclub with its franchise cornerstone being a one-dimensional guy like Durant — who, despite no longer being a high-volume shooting chucker, is a me-first ball hog who bogs down the offensive flow — and that’s that.
by AK1984 on Apr 14, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Durant = McGrady?
Look at how the Rockets improved when Tracy went down
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
On NBAtv
I was watching this slide show thing they have, where they sit a player down and he watches slides and talks about his career and thoughts. It’s boring, just background noise while I was working.
They had Durant on, which was weird to me since there isn’t exactly a lot to remember thus far for him, and he kept talking about how he wants to be McGrady and that’s who he modeled his game after.
It made me think of you, AK.
But it doesn’t take much to make me think of you… (wink roguishly).
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Apr 14, 2009 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
How is this a big deal?
If Greg had 30+ last night and nothing was said it would be a big deal, but he didn’t. He played a good game, but really nothing worth national respect.
Just think about this though, Greg’s defense is coming around, he is helping this team on that end of the court. But his offense is really bad, he isn’t fluid, or confident, but that should all change next year. That is because this will be the first summer Oden will have to work solely on his bball game. No rehab from any injury, (knock on wood for the playoffs) no draft, just bball. Him, a coach, and the gym. I would not be suprise to see Oden have 3 bankable moves next year, (Jump hook with either hand, up and under, and the drop step) and with that he will avg a double-double.
Lets, as fans, continue to let Greg be Greg, don’t force it, you will know when he has a dominate game because it will jump out at you. This is just the beginning.
by usmcr3049 on Apr 14, 2009 1:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He's already good
and he continues to get better. it’s all good.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 14, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah but Ben
had several refrences to Durant including his pre-game warm up, pictures of his shoes and didn’t mention Oden AT ALL! This is a Blazers site not a Thunder or Durant fan-boy site.
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
by Idog1976 on Apr 14, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Ben likes Durant, ya can’t blame him, and he only gets to write about him twice a season in the home game wrap ups he does so nicely. He’s a fan of the kid, and writes about Oden all the time.
I think we should applaud Oden, feel perfectly happy with our pick, and not expect everyone else to really go gaga when he has what should be a normal game for Oden. Trust me, everyone will realize how good Oden will be soon enough.
National media is lazy, so I don’t expect them to see how good Oden played without being really prompted to (like, with a 30+ point night or sumthin’), and even we should make too big of a deal out of a game like this because this is just barely scratching the surface of what he’ll become. Makes us look like we ain’t EXPECTIN’ it when we blow up a game like this to matter more than it really matters.
Durant, OKC, don’t matter to us. Believe me, I love Oden and want him to get the love he deserves, but it’ll come. It’s truly just a matter of time before he is in shape and out of foul trouble, because even if he adds nothing to his game except minutes on the floor, he’ll be a very very nice player. I expect more than that, but it’s clear his basement is a dominant big man.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Apr 14, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's actually, Weeell !
Why do you always have to get the last word Capt. Morty ?
It’s just your calming nature I suppose. National media – Lazy ?
NO, Really ? GO has to have 30 to get noticed ? We both know
that’s not why we drafted him, of course.
1. Dominate the PAINT – on defense.
2. Own the Backboards
3. Low post power threat.
4. Put backs, Alley Ooops & Throwdowns !
5. Physical intimidating force.
6. Set picks & start the break.
7. Run the floor
Score 30 ? Perhaps the LAZY national media will be waiting a while.
We have a TEAM, and don’t need a 30 pt scorer, well perhaps once in a
while. Now for school – Aikido principle = Strength + BALANCE = POWER
It's GO time !
by walkoff41 on Apr 14, 2009 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Much rather see 3 guys drop 20
Than 1 guy drop 30 and two drop 15. I love the balanced attack. Phoenix Suns boxscores back in the day made me giddy. 8 guys in double figures and NO guy above 20? It was a routine occurence and it shows that team basketball CAN win games. (Just not when Bowen TKOs your MVP in the playoffs.)
by Zaig on Apr 14, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Balance, Grasshopper, Balance !
It's GO time !
by walkoff41 on Apr 14, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
'77 Blazers
Luke scored 20ppg, then there were always 6-7 guys in double figures
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually I can blame him
cause he ain’t that good. He’s alright, but there are plenty of alright small forwards in this league. People who think he is the next Lebron or Kobe are DELUSIONAL. People who think he was a better pick than Oden simply don’t understand team dynamics. They go to the Bob Whittsit school of team dynamics. Thankfully KP understands this…
I have my P.h.D in unreliable hyperbole.
by Eat Politicians on Apr 15, 2009 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
quit making sense
EP you’re confusing me!
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
by Idog1976 on Apr 15, 2009 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Greg's offense isn't that bad
Oden is 4th on the team in points per 36 minutes (behind Roy, Aldridge, and Outlaw, Shav doesn’t count), and he is scoring his points with a 56.5% FG% and drawing a lot of fouls. If you compare him with Przybilla, Oden is already a far superior offensive player.
by trk on Apr 14, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Get used to it
The media thought Oden was going to be Shaq coming into the league. Until he does that they won’t care about him.
Anyone with a brain knows that he won’t be Shaq, because Shaq was a twice in a century freak. (Also see Wilt.)
by Zaig on Apr 14, 2009 2:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Guess i left my brain at home
talk to me in two years.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 14, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 years?
Oden needs to put on about 50 pounds in 2 years to become the player that Shaq was. I don’t care if Oden starts averaging 30/15, he still isn’t Shaq.
by Zaig on Apr 14, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
well
if you’re judging by weight and not production, then i definitely don’t want him to be like shaq! YIKES!
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 14, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's why I hate the Shaq comparison
Ewing is a lot better. Only with better FG% and a real supporting cast!
Even in terms of numbers, I doubt Oden ever gets close to Shaq.
1. We play a slower game
2. We don’t need him to be Shaq. Not enough points in a game for him to go 30/14.
by Zaig on Apr 14, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I must thank you, Zaig, for you're seemingly the only one with common sense when it ...
comes to comparing Greg Oden to the pivotmen of yesteryear. On 12/19/2008, I made the comments regarding this topic: “Greg Oden lacks the innate athleticism of Hakeem Olajuwon and natural brute strength of Shaquille O’Neal; thus, it’s unfair to compare him to either one of those guys. Instead, Oden’s closest comparison stylistiically is that of Patrick Ewing. For Oden’s sake, however, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him being the second-coming of Ewing, although I can clearly envision how it could bother the big dude when folks heap far-fetched expectations upon him. Indeed, it’s got to be rough for Oden.”
http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/12/28/703494/rudy-needs-to-go#11020519
Again, Oden has next to nothing in common with O’Neal or Olajuwon — or, for that matter, the vastly overrated Bill Russell — thus, people need to reign in their expectations. As it is, Oden’s current style of play and production is eerily similar to that of Ewing during his final two years at Georgetown. Once Oden adds a few face-up moves to his offensive repertoire and quits being so overaggressive on pick-and-roll defense, then everything will be golden for him.
by AK1984 on Apr 14, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't want Oden emulating Ewing's offensive game
Bill Russell overrated? Whatever
Greg needs to keep playing with his back to the basket. Period. I don’t care if he ever developes a face-up game and settles for 10 foot jumpers like Ewing did. (What a waste of your size/length/strength, and it guarantees a lower FG% and fewer trips the the FT line.) On defense? Sure, I can see the Oden-Ewing comparison but here’s hoping Greg is more Shaq-like on the offensive end. We already know that Greg can pass out of the box if he sees the double-team coming, and he’s only going to get better at it as times goes by
But please Greg, leave the Ewing-like face-up jumpers to LMA
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
LaMarcus Aldridge's face-up game is based on high-post field-goal attempts ...
that he hoists around 15 to 18 feet away from the basket. Conversely, Patrick Ewing was known for his baseline jumpers he shot from around 10 to 14 feet away from the basket. If Greg Oden can develop an effective spin move and nail those short-range jumpers at an efficient rate, then more power to him. That, without a doubt, would diversify his game down on the low block from being a one-dimensional back-to-the-basket scorer into a amazingly versatile force of nature in the interior.
by AK1984 on Apr 14, 2009 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he can be SORTA Shaq-like
In that he will be a combo of extreme size and quickness that no one we know about can really handle.
Bigger/longer than Howard, stronger than Bynum, quicker than Yao to counter Yao’s strong base, etc…
Someone else could come along, but Oden’s freakish size and (before micro at least, and I expect it to mostly return if not fully) insane athleticism make him unguardable, ala old Shaq. He’s already mostly unguardable one on one, getting doubled every night even when he’s playing sorta bad, because he’s just so big.
Similar to Shaq in that way, I’d say. Different but similar. Just a huge body that ya can’t do anything about.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Apr 14, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bigger/longer than Howard, stronger than Bynum, quicker than Yao to counter Yao’s strong base, etc…
You used the words longer and quicker.
Prime Shaq =
Bigerr than Howard
Bigger than Bynum
Bigger than Yao
Bigger than anyone ever to play in the NBA.
Similar to how Wilt was bigger than anyone in that era.
by Zaig on Apr 14, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wilt was pretty skinny
I’ve been enjoying the old-school NBA highlight reels that Comcast has been running in-between the Blazers games to fill time on channel 37. Late-60s, early 70s, that was the era when I came to know NBA basketball. Sure, Wilt was dominant, but he wasn’t the “only” big guy out there (Nate Thurmond, et al) And it always took quality teammates for him to finally beat Russell and the Celtics (Phila with Rodgers/Greer/Cunningham, etc, Lakers with West/Goodrich, etc)
I’ll never have the same respect for Shaq that I have for Russell, mostly because too many times I watched O’Neal bowl over defenders and not receive the appropriate offensive foul call. It was like the league and the national announcers were “in” on the concept that “Shaq’s too big and agile, the refs have to call the game a ‘different’ way when he gets the ball around the basket” etc. Once Shaq knew no one could touch him (or that there was no way he could foul out) there was no way to stop him. (Because after all, no one tunes in to watch the refs call the game, they want to see Shaq bowling over defenders and dunking, right?) So of course he accumulated numbers, like a college player would playing in a pickup game against high schoolers
If Oden ever gets the “benefit” of the charging non-calls that O’Neal got I won’t complain, because hey, I’m a Blazer fan and he’s my guy. But if “all” Greg does is have a career like Russell where he defends the paint, rebounds and is a leader on a team that wins multiple championships (like 15?) then I won’t care if he’s ever compared to Wilt and Shaq
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My favorite quote from Bill Russell
“the game is scheduled,we have to show up and play so we might as well win”
by southern oregon on Apr 14, 2009 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't you just hear
Oden saying something just like that?
by two4larue on Apr 14, 2009 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, he did.
Of course, the national media won’t mention the fact, since it contradicts their Universal Narrative that Oden is the unholy spawn of Sam Bowie and a dyslexic librarian…
Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...
by timbo on Apr 14, 2009 2:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Deron Williams also regularly outplays Chris Paul head to head. Paul is still the better player.
While I love the promise of Greg patrolling the paint in the next decade, think he is a great guy off the court and believe he is the better fit for this team, it’s hard to make the case that Durant is worse than him at the moment just because his team sucks and traded away most of its interior defenders and rebounders to regress again from what they had going before the deadline. While I think he defends poorly, I’m also not in the camp that he is the worst in the league and will never be able to learn it.
Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.
by Norsktroll on Apr 14, 2009 2:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I HATE
HOW my sandwich doesn’t have any mustard on it today! Why didn’t Durant or Oden put any mustard on my sandwich?!?!!?!
Must be the pers rating.
I have my P.h.D in unreliable hyperbole.
by Eat Politicians on Apr 14, 2009 5:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Whatever
It’s clear Oden is the better choice and Durant is alright on a team were he actually gets minutes. If he was on the blazers he would probably get less minutes than Batum, because he just don’t work for our team. Ike Diogu had 35 pts and 11 rbs for Sacramento the other night against Denver and I don’t see Fatty or NBA.com shrieking about how the Kings are the next up and coming team. It’s clear the people who believed this early on are simply having to cling to those ideas even when it’s playing out to be quite the opposite.
But it doesn’t matter.
Greg had a +/- of +19, Kevin had -29.
In 20 minutes to KD’s 30 minutes, Greg outscored and outrebounded KD. KD had a turnover and Greg had none and they both had 2 PF’s.
But it’s just one game, I don’t think KD was the wrong choice for Seattle…I mean Oklahoma City, but he was clearly the wrong choice for Portland. It doesn’t matter what color his shoes are or whether he can learn to play defense in the future. He can’t play defense now, he is a blackhole on offense like Z-Bo because he can’t pass out of a double team and he is a position tweener.
He might be the nicest kid in the world and I’m sure he would beat me in basketball, but that ain’t saying much. Truth is KP and the blazers organization made the right choice. Case closed.
I have my P.h.D in unreliable hyperbole.
by Eat Politicians on Apr 14, 2009 8:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
you forgot to throw
down the mike and walk off stage with both hands in the air.
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
by Idog1976 on Apr 15, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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