Exactly. It was fun watching Nate play with his new toy tonight. Nate intentionally left Greg out there tonight. And not because Greg was dominating, because quite honestly, he wasn't. He was playing *good*. Nate forced the issue tonight with Greg, in hopes that it will pay dividends down the line. I like the move, despite the outcome of the game. You could see Greg's confidence grow even as he was getting tired. He started licking his palms, he had a little jive to his step, and all this was when he was supposed to be TIRED. He's getting it, and he's getting it fast. I loved that Nate left him out there.....even though I was calling for Joel's return.
how about in college? almost 16 points in 29 minutes on over 60% shooting without much use out of his better hand.
I was actually happy tonight after the game and that is RARE when we lose. In fact, it might be the first time ever. Not that we lost, but how I caught a glimpse of what this team can be. Insert Webster in that corner, take some time off the shot clock going through Oden and we either get a dunk or a three by someone who should be shooting it.
I didn't get to see much of it, but I think Greg's first basket was a shot that he kinda laid in the hoop. I think in a few months (maybe weeks) that the same situation would have been a monster dunk. You can kinda tell that he is having situations where his first instinct won't work because his body won't let him. I doubt he has ever been this slow since he reached his full height. I am not scared though, because when he gets the quickness back watch out.
How is that 'great'? Again, Oden looked tremendous tonight, but Dawson (and to more ridiculous extent Cowherd) are correct in analyzing his offensive game right now. It's either a dunk or FTs at this point. Nothing wrong with that, and Shaq proved you can be a great offensive weapon following this approach, but Oden looks to be much closer to 'great' on the defensive end at this point than the offensive end. And that's totally fine and totally expected. Let's let Greg become Greg, whatever Greg that will be.
I'm sure the LMA for three play was by design. He is making those in practice and he hit a HUGE one in the final minutes of the game against San Antonio.
"The Devil," Comcast Sports Net, has been showing "classic college basketball" regularly. They're showing old Ohio St games, as well as Washington and Arizona, etc...etc.... I watched the Ohio St vs Florida Championship game and was blown away by Oden's mobility. At first I was like "where is THAT?! -- what happened???" -- then I realized what has happened. Lots. Micro fracture is no small surgery. And the dude hasn't played real hoops in a long, long time. The guy in that championship game was a gazelle. I sometimes think Greg is old. He isn't. He'll be back to that form, which is a form he didn't even come close to matching even tonight vs the Hornets. The guy will be fine. So will the Blazers. They might actually be better than fine. Can't wait.
I have no idea what Dawson said, but you are TOTALLY IGNORING and TWISTING Cowherd's point. Cowherd (piggybacking on Bill Simmons) said that Oden will never be a great offensive player. He's basing that on too little data and ignoring too many scouting reports and too much supporting evidence. You are twisting the statement that he made to one of what Oden can do NOW. Now what he someday might do. I don't think that anyone will argue Greg is great offensively right now. Ed O.
Oden had a nice hook shot tonight. I didn't see anything tonight that made him look like he's not a good offensive player.
I think he'll become a lot more consistent with that shot when he starts putting a little arc in the shot. He usually shoots it very flat. A little more arc and a lot of his misses will go in instead.
Yeah - kind of cringed when LMA took that shot. But, also the 3 point attempt over 2 Hornets by Roy was also pretty bad. If he makes it, his legend grows, but that was not a good shot to take. I would have liked to see him take the 20 and draw up another play.
The Hornets are becoming the new Spurs to me. Meaning they cry over everything and I just don't like them. Off the court Chandler, Paul, and West all seem likeable, (just Like the Spurs) but on the court they are all over the top when it comes to complaining. And then there is Scott........ with that obnoxiuos smirk. Unfortunately the act works with the refs.
I'm not twisting anything. Why are you so upset? Would you feel better if I were anonymously trashing Dawson and Cowherd on the message board that you moderate? Cowherd and Simmons may be correct; no one knows the answer right now, but it seems a bit odd to be using tonight's offensive game by Oden as an "I told you so" against Cowherd that proves his prediction false.
