Oden is playing catch-up with his teammates

Bethlehem Shoals weighs in on Greg Oden's growth this summer and how that fits in with the Blazers' timeline.

over 2 years ago neilan 18 comments 13 recs |

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Probably the best take I've read in the national media

Thanks for the linky.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Aug 27, 2009 5:21 PM PDT reply actions

I like the way he calls the The Indianapolis Star a "puff" piece

and writes 450 words of absolutely nothing himself. The only thing of interest in what he writes is the quote he stole from The Indianapolis Star.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Aug 27, 2009 5:23 PM PDT reply actions

Well, he didn't say that i twas a bad puff piece

He said it was pleasant! Who doesn’t like pleasant?
:D

I support the Tornado Release [See: Joakim Noah]

by Prevenge on Aug 28, 2009 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I like it

But it’s quite short and simple for Bethlaham Shoals…

Always like his stuff though.

Morty

by Mortimer on Aug 27, 2009 6:24 PM PDT reply actions

That's good stuff right there.

I hope this gets rec’d up so everybody can read it before it’s gone, even though the fanpost/shot columns have been movin’ slow as molasses lately . Where’ s quezadaz?.

"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

by GonzoFan on Aug 27, 2009 9:57 PM PDT reply actions

Not new information but new angles on the problem that I appreciated

by LaoTzu on Aug 28, 2009 3:31 AM PDT reply actions

He mentioned just one thing that worries me. I hope the Blazers don't get the idea that they

are good enough without Oden and that they don’t need to wait for him to develop. They need to feed him the ball and give him his shots. They can’t afford to keep Joel in the game for the sake of winning. This is what has held Bayless back, not getting any real time. Oden needs to start, and he needs to win with Roy and Aldridge out there with him. I know Brandon realizes this, but Nate better too.

by BRoyInThe4th on Aug 28, 2009 8:25 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

RT: They need to feed him the ball and give him his shots

They signed the best lob passer in the NBA to help Greg (etc) get easy baskets

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Aug 28, 2009 11:00 AM PDT reply actions

I didn't like the take.

He needs to catch up with his team? How is that any different than any other young player coming onto a more experienced team. You could write this article about any high talent draft pick on a good team.

Disclaimer: everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazersedge.

by pualo on Aug 28, 2009 4:22 PM PDT reply actions

I agree. I thought it was patronizing.

"Aneurysm".

When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie

by annthefan on Aug 28, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I didn't like the first paragraph. He makes it sound as if it was clear KD would be a superstar while Oden would be a long-term project

It wasn’t known, and it’s not decided yet who will be what. I think I’ll make one more post on comparing KD.

There's Gotta Be More To Life

by Norsktroll on Aug 29, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I also agree

What exactly is that supposed to mean? What are they supposed to do or not do specifically?

They have to wait but they don’t have to wait? They have to keep him on a parallel track of some kind or other?

How about if they just play basketball and win some games? Would that be ok?

There’s 82 games, and 48 mpg, to make sure he gets enough touches to be developing, etc., while still winning a whole lot of games. I’m not sure I see any point to it except to be a positive “not a bust” piece recognizing that this guy could still be really, really good, and his team is really good even though he isn’t great yet. Well, that’s accurate and nice to read, and it beats the “bust” pieces, but I don’t really get the point he’s trying to make.

Perhaps I’m just obtuse.

"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue

by jscot on Aug 29, 2009 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions

It doesn't seem finished to me.

by Mortimer on Aug 29, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions

You pegged it.

I'm in the business of bringing out the best in people.

by ECFIVESTER on Aug 31, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I wonder if it got heavily edited

"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue

by jscot on Sep 1, 2009 2:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Yup. It felt like it was missing the conclusion.

by dario argento on Sep 3, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Think of it as an indirect counter

to the crud that Oden is a bust. He’s not. WE know that, but he’s pointing it out to others.

"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on Sep 3, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Truly gifted sometimes don't know how to play

People take offense at the KD reference, but I think it is a valid one. As a youth, Greg Oden was too gifted. He did not need to learn how to play. He could out muscle, out jump, out tall and out run every single opponent he encountered.

A different player, OK, hold the cat calls, who possessed over the top athleticism coming into the league was Shawn Kemp. As soon as his athleticism diminished to the level of merely moral, he was exposed as a player who had no game.

Oden’s injury exposed how little game he had. In the long run maybe it was a good thing for GO to struggle last year, as he had to work on his skill set and not rely on his purely physical advantage.

by WorkingInChina on Sep 3, 2009 8:13 PM PDT reply actions