Charles Oakley contacted by Portland to work with Oden?

My second question is, how do you teach bringing intimidation and intensity to work every time you get on the court? Oakley also was contacted by Portland officials who suspect it might be good for the team's health if a trace of his brutish attitude rubbed off on Greg Oden
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http://www.nypost.com/seven/0619200..._star_stephenson_in_sights_175022.htm?&page=1

 

Boy, if I had a choice, I'd sure rather see them get McHale to teach Greg.

 

Oden learning about footwork and post offense is more important to me than him acquiring a "brutish" attitude. Anyone who saw GO in college can tell you that his perceived apathetic attitude on the floor is not a detriment. Oakley wouldn't be my choice. Kevin McHale would.

 

Great news if true, but it's Vessey so.........

 

I'd prefer to get someone like David Robinson in to teach him, I don't see how him getting an attitude will hope cut down on fouls.

 

McHale, but why would he do that? Why would he go from a GM to a big man coach?

 

I'd love to see McHale working with Greg on his offense and David Robinson or Dikembe Mutombo working with him on his defense.

Isn't Charles Oakley just a poor man's Maurice Lucas? Didn't we already try that? We don't need Oden to get more physical and deliver more hard fouls (the Oakley trademark). We need him to cut down on the fouls.

If Minnesota does indeed dump McHale as head coach (they already dumped him as GM), I'd love to see Paul make him the highest paid big man coach in the league (if that's what it takes to get him) to work with Oden. Look how much better Kevin Love played after McHale took over as head coach in Minnesota. It was like night and day.

BNM

 

You really think Kevin needs the money? lol

 

We want a guy who averaged around 3.6 fouls a game playing around 30 mpg through the bulk of his career to work with Oden? Huh? Maybe Shaq will retire and can teach him free throw technique too.

 

Just a tip. When you're quoting a news story, surround the material with the "quote marks." That way, we know it's not you talking. Here's an example:

 

Footwork specialist or intimidation specialist -- makes no difference to me. As long as it helps Greg blossom into a force it could be the pope teaching him how to invoke divine intervention to make his hook shot fall for all I care.

 

being a NBA coach is partially about how you're perceived and portrayed... opportunities for employment somewhat hinge on a guy's aura of being a winner or loser. Greg has a decent chance of being a dominant player in the league regardless who they bring in to work with him. A high profile guy like McHale might benefit more from working with Greg then vise versa.

STOMP

 

I can't imagine McHale or David Robinson being willing to be a big man coach, but they both would be great fits; so would Alonzo, Hakeem, maybe even Rik Smits. I think landing one of those guys is near impossible though.

Greg needs repetition of some of the most basic post skills and getting a better touch around the rim. I don't see why a 5'8" can't teach him those things. Once he gets those things down, then we should bring in a big guy coach.

Coach Dean D. made it very clear on Talking Ball last month that he doesn't foresee a big coach coming in for Greg, nor does he think there is a need for he. He said that team was willing to pay a guy Greg's size to defend him all summer.

 

McHale is very unlikely to leave Minnesota, I think it's far more likely he just retires from basketball altogether versus moving and taking on a special assistant type of role; the travel that went along with coaching sounds to have been one of the biggest deterrents to him even agreeing to become interim coach after Whittman was fired.

 

right... I was agreeing with your post and adding my 2¢

STOMP