Oden is already impacting both the team offense and the team defense just with his presence. Once he also starts feeling comfortable, the big individual numbers will come too. Very exciting. The prospect of Oden, Aldridge and Roy in their primes is tantalizing, and then you throw in an emerging Rudy and Batum and maybe Sergio and it becomes really quite hard to believe how much talent the team has. And that's without considering Webster and Outlaw, who I think can be/are good players but may not have major roles if Rudy and Batum develop into special players. And all of that is without considering Bayless. Heh. Should be a fun 10-15 years.
Joel was also playing for a contract at one point. He avg 2blk/g for 2 straight years. This year he isn't even averaging 1, and only 1.2 last year.
I've heard of major league starters having their personal catchers, but NBA centers having their personal point guards? I'm not sure Portland has the minutes for that.
greg was lucky they didnt call that last block a goal tend. but damn you could tell he was getting confident. and like another poster said he never looked tired out there. he was pumped. to bad we lost
He's 29. He's not breaking down. He avg one less minute a game last year than he did in the season he avg 2.3blk/g. Joel played for the contract. Nothing wrong with that.
And don't forget Webster. He may be in the mix as well. If this team can gel in the next 15-20 games we may just go all the way this year. It has happened before.
I never understood why Nate didn't run the pick and roll with Joel. It worked well with Damon and NVE
I mentioned him! He was in the first "And that doesn't even consider..." section. It has, but I don't think this team is better than the Lakers, even gelled. Unless Oden becomes a top center this year, the Lakers core of Kobe/Gasol/Bynum/Odom with supporting players like Ariza, Farmar and Radmanovic is too good and experienced. I think the team could potentially win a round or two in the playoffs if things really come together.
I almost hate to say it, but we do have one guard who's pretty decent at running it and that's Sergio. I have a feeling we may see him making the kinds of passes to Greg that he makes to Rudy if they are the court enough.
i'd like to see roy and oden run that better...only pick and pops the guards pass it to the player setting the pick
I don't hate to say it, but Rodriguez needs to get the starter minutes at point guard if we're not going to run a Roy/Fernandez backcourt. He's playing well, and his game is a nice mix with Roy, Aldridge and Oden. And Webster will also benefit from drive-and-dishes from Rodriguez.
Pretty much summed up my thoughts. Though Oden's impact, overall, was significant. He gets his wind, and his legs, wow. Special things will happen not for him, but for the people that surround him. Can't wait.
word Gavin, I used to respect him. But he's quickly losing credibility. Too bad. He's a big Blazers fan.
i agree. lamarcus needs to be somewhere except the corners, put rudy and blake on the corners. i hope nate didnt draw that play up for lamarcus to be at the corner
I've been pleasantly surprise that Oden hasn't got near the fouls many thought he would. He did get four tonite, but how some talk he wouldn't be able to get off the bench because of all the fouls he'd get. I think he'll get the other teams bigs in foul trouble more than he'll get into foul trouble.
