Who should Oden's big man coach be?
by Idog1976 on May 12, 2009 12:30 PM PDT
Email
PrintAs an aside I personally believe that Greg will regain most of his athleticism and also that he has the drive. I would prefer if we take both of these as certainties merely to advance my specific question of who his coach should be.
There are actually very few big man specialists in the form of former players out there that are available. To my knowledge Ewing is locked up in Orlando, Shaq is still playing, Hakeem lives part time in Africa and also coaches Yao, and Kareem currently coaches Bynum in LA. So I got to thinking what legendary big man is out there that might be a good coach? Of course Sabas leapt to mind but I felt he might have soured towards the Blazers and he also lives in Lithuania as far as I know. Thinking about people nearby it suddenly hit me. Who is the arguably the greatest former player big man of all time other then Wilt and Jabar?
Bill Russell.
Hear me out here. Bill took a shine to Oden and actually met with him prior to the draft along with other bigmen greats. I realize he is old (wooden still coaches in his 90's!) and that aspects of the game have changed. But blocking shots and playing defense and rebounding is the same as it was in Russell's era. Bill Russell lives on Mercer Island so he could fly down to Portland with Paul Allen or borrow his helicopter/jet. What's more Russel could help Oden to stop the greatest threat to someone exceeding his ring count ever. That of course is LeBron James. Indeed, if Portland is to stop "The King" then they will need a near to completely maxed out potential Oden along with Roy. Without Oden becoming the force we all hoped he would be I see an endless succession of LBJ rings. So then who would you bring in to coach Oden?
P.S. I know very little about college coaches and other potential big men coaches out there so please enlighten me O'fellow Edgers.
--EDIT-- I want to be clear I don't think Oden needs an Ex-player as a coach so I wrote that part badly. I am not knowledgeable about college coaches etc. so I took the path of least resistance and tried to think of players that could mentor him. I also chose Russell due to the fact that I believe greatness can rub off on players. Perhaps this only happens when one plays with them but I know for a fact Jordan and LBJ have had that effect on teammates.
97 comments
|
6 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
ewing
bayless leaves over my dead body
by thomasikehara on May 12, 2009 12:31 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
question answered. +1
"Literary Criticism is not bookkeeping." -SB
by nightbluefruit on May 12, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes but
Ewing coaches Dwight Howard down in Orlando. I mentioned that in the post and he is locked up with them for the foreseeable future.
"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; water cannot drown it.
The Bhagavad Gita
Ewing is willing to leave to expand his coaching experience.
He seems to want to end up with the Knicks.
I would really like to see Alonzo Mourning train Greg
I think it was Brian Wheeler who said the team is contemplating bringing him in as a big man coach.
draft rodrigue beaubois
In a perfect world I would go with David Robinson...
but ZO would work just fine.
As a person he would fit right into the team culture (in general), and he could actually play against Greg a bit. I like it.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
I'd be interested in Alonzo
But I’m unaware if there’s any sign he’s a good teacher. I’d hate to waste a year on a coach who hasn’t shown some ability to train the game, instead of play it.
He might be a great fit, but I’d hope KP would put him through the paces to make sure he’s ready for this kind of task. If he could teach others to play with his desire, energy and skill, it would be hard to go wrong.
That would be awsome
Greg needs to have a physical presance challenging him, I think Oden needs to be in Atlanta some this summer also. I read an article that you can get a pick up game there with current and former players during all hours of the day.
I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team.
""If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win."
His stare became blank. It was apparent he was back in that place, on the Rose Garden's logo, picking up Aaron Brooks as the crowd nervously roared.
Pick up game?!?!??!
I would absolutely flip my lid if I heard he was in a non-coaching staff sanctioned pick up game.
"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; water cannot drown it.
The Bhagavad Gita
I mean
if the coaching staff doesn’t sanction a pick up game, I don’t want Oden to be playing in it. If he is playing with responsible NBA players that is one thing but I don’t want him blowing out a knee playing with thug-life NBA ballers and a few scrubs off the street.
"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; water cannot drown it.
The Bhagavad Gita
Walton?
Why not bring in someone already invested in the Blazer Organization? Although, I’ve heard that his health is subpar as of late (back problems I believe).
I didn't mean to turn you on
That or Charles Barkley McLovin
All of the cute cuddliness of the Real Barkley, with none of the after taste.
I didn't mean to turn you on
I think it's partially that Walton has a few limitations
First limitation is that there’s no sign he’s ever trained a center successfully before (unless there’s an article I haven’t seen).
Second limitation is that he hasn’t played in the modern NBA. He played in an era with different rules and playing styles. I think this may be related to why Bill Russell doesn’t seem to train folks much. It seems that Kareem (who’s training Bynum) is the cutoff point, though Kareem has been coaching in general for a while since retiring.
Third is that Bill’s game and Greg’s are fundamentally different. You won’t see Greg dribbling the ball up court and calling plays. They have commonalities (good passing and rebounding), but it may not be a great fit.
Limitation #4, of course, is that his coaching style is likely just handing Greg the ball and yelling “Throw it down, big man!”
Walton
Is having some health problems though they have not been disclosed to the public.
I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team.
""If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win."
His stare became blank. It was apparent he was back in that place, on the Rose Garden's logo, picking up Aaron Brooks as the crowd nervously roared.
Any of those guys would be good
Its a matter of who’s available and willing to put the time in with Oden.
I said other
I don’t believe Russel could be convinced at his age to tackle it. I like Mourning don’t know if he would be a good coach though… I wonder what Sam Bowie is up to. Don’t laugh Bowie’s fundamentals were off the chart. Wouldn’t it be ironic if Bowie ended up making Oden better? Would be fitting though considering the all the critics out there.
Something tells me that the Bowie idea is horrible
Maybe he’d be the best coach in this situation, but the national media would have a field day with that one.
"There goes Brandon Roy... the best there ever was in this game"
by two buck chuck on May 12, 2009 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions
good player doesn't always mean good front office or coaching ability.
I have no idea if they are good coaches, but as far as former players, I’d go with Terry Cummings, Mark Aguirre, Moses Malone, Dave Cowen, Ralph Sampson.
dinasour type of guys choir boys
no forwards
Cummings and Aguirre were face the basket players. Sampson is interesting , but Malone doesn’t have the kind of rep that makes you think mentor … I don’t know I still like Bowie.
Individual coaching
is different than front office don’t you think? I mean a player as raw as Oden needs some fundamentals right?
Karl Malone
would be my only exception. I think the Mailman could definitely teach GO a thing or two
lots of veteran tricks
and you won’t find a better low post scorer in the center’s list, outside of Jabbar
Good player versus good coach.
That’s a huge, HUGE distinction there. Understanding an individual players abilitites, understanding the intricacies of movement, breaking down actions which occur on the subconcious level into a conscious explanation and communicating (which is both send and receive) are far more important than performing those same skills oneself. If you get a great player who is a great coach, you have a gem. I’ll take a great coach who is a horrible player anyday over the opposite.
The cowards never started
The weak died along the way
Only the strong survived
They were the Trailblazers
Yogi Berra as a hitting instructor
Great example of this came from the book Ball Four. Berra was a HoF catcher who could really hit. But when young players came for advice he got all confused when talking about where to hold his hands and how to move his legs, so he gave upand ended the coaching session with the classic line
“Awww, just watch me do it!”
Fixed
my bad.
"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; water cannot drown it.
The Bhagavad Gita
Clearly
we need future Greg Oden to travel back in time and mentor his younger self.
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
unfortunately
greg’s gonna need to lose 25lbs in order to get it up to 88 mph.
"So, then, I was like, it'd be really dirty if I put up 42. So I did!" -Brandon Roy, post-game comments after game 2 of the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs
by 5212872 on May 12, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1
lmao
"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; water cannot drown it.
The Bhagavad Gita
ME!
I’d have that monster acting like a monster and tearing off opposing centers heads and dunking them on their forwards. I’d have greg so pumped and rearing to go that there would be an erie silence in the garden on the day of his rebirth…..one of curiosity and one of wonder….of course we’ll have all the hoopbla and hype again, but he wouldn’t be fazzed by it, becuase this time…..this time it’s pay back time.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
giggle....
so is pot. who’s complaining.
(not that I approve or even condone pot smoking, despite …cough hack, etc… once upon a time)
and meth heads need to just be shot…in the leg.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
I heard Bill Bayno will be with him in LA again to work out in August (Courtside?). A candidate could be Mychal Thompson
In LA, a number of top players train over the summer. Among them Emeka Okafor, UCLA players, etc. After summer school and a few Team USA practices, Greg will find ample opportunity to train there before training camp starts.
As for his big man coach over the summer and the year, I think Bayno will stay on as a development coach, but he hinted at bringing in a specialist. I think Mychal would be a candidate who resides in the area. Or even Bill Walton, though a younger candidate might be better since he probably can’t directly play with Greg anymore.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
Bayno is great
Mychal Thompson has already said that he would quit his job in LA if the Blazers offered to let him train Greg and be part of the organization.
draft rodrigue beaubois
Sign him up, and pack his bags....n get him there here whereever greg is already then.
:)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Anyone have a teaching resume for Thompson?
I’m curious who he’s helped train. A quick search failed.
Yeah, Sweet Bells sure has a way with words
But Thompson the player was just “aiight”
A lot of what Blazer fans were complaining about Cliff Robinson in the ’90s they were saying about Mychal back in the ’80s
Moses Malone would steal Thompson’s lunch money everytime they hooked up. Mychal seems to think that if Portland had drafted Jordan and not dealt for Vandeweghe the Blazer’s center position would’ve been “fine” with he and Wayne Cooper back there
That’s not the way I remember it. The paint was wide open. There was a reason why Ramsay wanted to draft Bowie (after they lost the coin flip for Hakeem) and a lot of the reason was the twinkie post defense that Thompson was playing
So Mychal as a big man’s coach to Oden? Meh
Agreed about Mychal
but come on. I could have played center on a team with Jordan and Drexler in the back court and I was only 8 years old in 1984…
"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; water cannot drown it.
The Bhagavad Gita
Mychal Thompson said he was up for the job on the radio...
Thompson was a Blazer for 8 years, he was the #1 overall draft pick in 1978 so he could relate somewhat to Oden in that perspective, plus the guy said he wanted to come in a help Greg Oden when he was on the radio at the end of last week. Thompson said that the NEXT best thing to playing pro hoops is coaching and helping other achieve that dream. I really liked his attitude when i was listening to it. I vote for him since he is a former Blazer and chomping to be part of this organization again. Oden deserves one dedicated coach just for him. And if those other guys, Ewing, Robinson, Russell, Sabonis, they could all be scheduled by Coach Thompson for one to two day clinics with each of those legends.
by Portland Dynasty on May 12, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Ideally, you get a coach who can physically bang with GO
Bayno said on Courtside that, even with his pads on, he can’t really impede GO. Neither would an aging former center like Bill Russell, Nate Thurmond, et al. But a guy like Mourning, with the pads, would be more than up to the task.
This is important; how can GO prepare to deal with the strength and mass of guys like Shaq, Yao, and Howard unless he can experience that in practice. The pads can simulate it, at least—if a reasonably big, strong guy is wearing them.
By the way, no here has mentioned STEVE JOHNSON, but as they said on Courtside, he’s ideal in some respects. He lives locally, he’s big, and he was very strong in the areas Greg needs work (footwork, shooting, etc). If you saw Johnson on a recent Blazers broadcast demonstrating post moves with Michael Holton, you had to be impressed. It appears he knows how to teach, and he appears physically up to the rigors of coaching Greg Oden (with those pads, that is!).
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Gary Coleman?
:p
Of all the things that can be expressed in the printed word – love, hate, fear, joy – true humor is the one that is the most difficult of all. Sarcasm, for example, is an art of delicate subtlety. Yet too many people wield it as a bulldozer – loud, smelly, ugly, and destructive – and think they are being funny.
In the 2006 NBA offseason, Olajuwon opened his first Big Man Camp, where he teaches young frontcourt players the finer points of playing in the post. While Olajuwon never expressed an interest in coaching a team, he wishes to give back to the game by helping younger players.
When asked about how the league was becoming more guard-oriented and whether big men were being de-emphasized, Olajuwon responded, “For a big man who is just big, maybe. But not if you play with speed, with agility. It will always be a big man’s game if the big man plays the right way. On defense, the big man can rebound and block shots. On offense, he draws double-teams and creates opportunities. He can add so much, make it easier for the entire team.”
Olajuwon has worked with several NBA players such as power forward Emeka Okafor, of the Charlotte Bobcats, and center Yao Ming of the Rockets, among others. He also runs the camp for free.
Stay away from this guy!
Yao = Always injured
Okafor = no passing
Yeah, Hakeem is a legend and a god among mortals when it comes to big men, but not the right fit for GO. In fact, he’s the bizarro pick. If we could lure Ewing away from the Magic I would do a thousand fist pumps. I would be like a Kirk-Gibson-rounding-the-bases robot.
"Literary Criticism is not bookkeeping." -SB
by nightbluefruit on May 12, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Why would we want to bring in Bill Russell?
He didn’t even make AK1984’s list of the top 5 all NBA teams… He’s obviously garbage.
"There goes Brandon Roy... the best there ever was in this game"
Last night Bayno talked about
Greg needing a big body to play against. From this standpoint, I think someone who is younger makes sense. Sure, Bill Russell might be a good coach, but his body is too old to actually get in there and bang with Oden.
So I think someone like David Robinson or Zo makes a lot of sense. I also am really intrigued by the idea of Sam Bowie. Mychal Thompson is 53 or so, but he might still be a good idea.
Either way, I would like to see Portland bring in a FULL-TIME mentor. Not just pay someone for this summer.
Glad to hear from Bayno though that they have in fact talked about paying someone to come in and help Greg. That is great news!
And Paul Allen is on board
which is always great.
I would like to see
whoever John Thompson had with him at Georgetown.. any one know? He did ok with his centers there. Find out who he had helping those guys mature. Gotta remember that Greg is the same age as the kids he was working with there.
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 12, 2009 2:17 PM PDT reply actions
We could hire Rayful Edmond to make Greg a mean baller - oh wait, Jailblazers :)
Craig Esherick was one assistant coach and succeeded Thompson (not very successfully), but don’t know if he was responsible for big men.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
bringing up the drug lords eh?! nice!
Thompsons track record with big men is pretty damn impressive, and while usually its not the head coach who does the actual coaching, I would be interested to know who on his staff was responsible for developing big men
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 12, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe we could get Mourning and his Georgetown coach/trainer as a consultant?
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
moses malone
he did wonders for hakeem amare and yao,and unlike most of the blazers organization he’s a serious baller.who man’s up and god does most of this blazers roster needs that infusion of manhood.go to houston like most nba stars do during the summer.put away the damn shoolbooks boy and become a real nba center.stop acting like a stiff and just man*up.you owe it to the"franchise’b.roy to do it.
If Moses would do it, yeah
But he doesn’t have fond memories of his first trip to Portland back in the summer of ’76
I’m really not sure why someone would choose to stay in Houston for the summer if they could afford to live in Portland…but there you go
Sam Bowie
It would be great poetic justice for Greg to become a dominating big man, and have Bowie be his coach. Bowie could play well before the injuries.
My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.
I think David Robinson is still too closely tied in with San Antonio.
I’m sure it would be blasphemous from their side to see him coming over to Portland to help Oden.
I just don’t see it happening.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
What about John Thompson?
He coached Ewing, ’Zo, and Mutombo at Georgetown, knows how to be a big, intimidating presence himself, and seems to be a strong, father figure according to the sentiments of his former players.
I haven’t heard of him doing this kind of individual work, but Mr. Allen and KP can be persuasive.
what i mentioned above
is that thompson coached the whole team but he had someone work with the bigs. gotta find out who that was..
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 13, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I keep seeing Jack Sikma on Houston's bench
He’s a guy who spent a lot of time in the Northwest, won a title, and knows a little about playing NBA center. Granted, he built his offensive game around a 10 foot jumper, but he obviously can coach and could help GO.
Granted, he built his offensive game around a 10 foot jumper
So did Ewing and David Robinson
I want Oden to back down defenders like Shaq and dunk and/or draw the foul, not learn how to develop a face-up jump shot
They even stopped letting Shaq do that severall years ago
They’re certainly not going to allow Greg Oden to do it. Nowadays, bigs have to have actual game to score. You need that 10-12 foot jumper to keep defenders honest. Practically every big in the league save GO and Przy have it.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
You need that 10-12 foot jumper to keep defenders honest.
I’d rather Greg’s defenders be scared, than honest
GO has a drop step (ref Bynum faked out of his sneakers, final Laker game in the RG) and can shoot a hook with either hand. As Bayno said, he just needs more reps and better balance to be “square” to the hoop and shoot ‘em straight. I don’t want GO shooting jumpers, that’s what LMA is for. Oden should consistently attack the basket and get the opponent’s big men into foul trouble. Offensive rebound and stick backs, keep his hands up to receive drop passes from penetration and double digit ppg will come naturally if he can stay out of foul trouble on the other end
Did you not see what happened in the Houston series?
Yao was able to camp out in the lane on defense because GO and Przy gave him no reason to have to leave there. As a result, there was no way for Roy, LMA, Trout, et al to get to the basket.
Look around the league: what other centers DON’T have a baby 10-12 foot jumper in their arsenal? I can’t think of one off-hand except for Dwight Howard & Shaq. Yao has it. Bynum has it. Horford has it. Even Perkins does. And here’s the thing: both GO and Przy have that shot; I’ve seen them take it during warmups. They just need to be encouraged to get it ready for prime time and then to use it.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Fatty!!!
Because apparently only he knows what a “baller” is.
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
and he'd get oden to "MAN" up.
I like cowboy up but..hey who’s payin attention…. (cough… 09)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Why any former player?
I’m certainly not against the idea, but it seems kinda trendy to me. Ewing, Olajuwon, Jabbar, etc. were great players, but did they have Mikan and Chamberlain teaching them? Since when is “former All-Star” a requirement for a bigs coach?
It's = It Is
Its = Belongs to It
Watching Dwight
tonight against Boston I realized how much further along Oden is on offense than him.
Rich Mahorn
I know he wasnt great at all but he would give oden some toughness. But if we want somebody hall of fame worthy i would say David Robinson. Very Classy guy would be loved by the fans
Dwight Howard! What? Under contract? Harumph, okay
I like the idea of Bayno continuing to work with him, and adding a guy who can still post up against him like a Steve Johnson or Zo Mourning.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
i hate to say it
but although karl malone used to annoy me, he had a great back to the basket game with decent footwork, plus he was a hardworker.
and he won't take no excuses...
had he not been a jazz man, I’d have dug me some karl…..
how many games did he miss? riiiiiiiiggght.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
and a l*ker..............
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
and a hunter
hes the elmer fudd of little mexican girls
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 13, 2009 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Robert Parish
Clifford Ray is hands down the best big man coach in the NBA. Robert Parish learned his trade from Ray while he was a player. During Parish’s career he showed incredible footwork + positioning defensively, and was a through and through big man. Nowadays, in the offseason, he coaches alongside Clifford Ray in a big man camp, coaching a bunch of NBA big men.
I think Parish would make an excellent big man coach and he’s already stated he’s interested in getting into coaching.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
