How long do we get to watch Oden get missed over and over again

I just wanted to bring up the fact that if the Blazers keep missing Oden open in the middle over and over and over again I think I will be sick. If you can get Joe "Butter on my hands" Pryzbilla dunks and shots, you can get Oden shots. There have been so many times the last several games in particular, where he was open, and they just don't throw him the rock. The players also don't seem to realize you can just throw it up, and as long as he knows its coming, he will go get it. Just throw the damn rock.

Greg can't get involved in the game, unless the other players involve him.

 

Yeah, it's been an issue ever since his first game this year... it's pretty frustrating to watch sometimes when he's waving his giant arms in the air for two, three seconds and he doesn't get it.
The only player who I really see force it in there off a pick and roll is Rudy, and he's always out there with Joel on the second unit. I don't think I've seen much of Rudy and Greg together involved in a pick and roll situation, but I know Rudy would look for him off the pick when he's always forcing it into Joel.

 

It's funny too, because if you look down the Blazers scoreboard, you can tell everybody was having a hard time getting it going. Except for Greg. He only missed one shot. When you have a guy who is scoring at an 80% clip, throw him the rock. The Blazers are looking for somebody to step up and help. The best thing this team and it's "Live by the 3, die by the 3" mentality could use, is more interior buckets. Right now the Blazer 3's are being forced a lot, they are not rhythym 3's. Going inside 1st, will make the shots rhythym 3's.

 

Who knows, it could be a trust issue too since they've seen Greg get stripped so often. But whenever he got the ball last night inside, good things happened. The coaching staff just needs to realize when you've got two talented big guys who can play inside like Greg and LMA, we just need to force it in there every play no matter what.

Let G.O. keep learning from his mistakes, that's the only way he'll get better. Compare to what he's doing now to the Miami game his first game back, it's been a world of difference.

 

I agree. I was screaming at my tv a few times last night when he was wide open, and Roy or Blake would look right at him, then dribble off into space somewhere. The added benefit of lobbing it up to him is that if he catches it high and takes a quick shot he's less likely to get stripped. Plus, when he's open for so long, he then has to vacate the key, and then when the outside shot goes up, he hasn't had a chance to reclaim rebound position.

 

Exactly. We can't get better inside, unless we go inside. Guys can't learn, if you don't give them the chance. We may get our lumps, but the Blazers will be better for it by end of season.

 

Yup. It's frustrating watching GO flash to the hoop while he goes unnoticed. They need to make a bigger effort to get him the ball.

Rudy runs the pick n roll with Joel to perfection, why not let Rudy run it with Greg?

 

Greg has shown he's a good passer, with good court vision. And he'll get better. He had some very nice assists last night. Inside-outside gets you a much better rhythm shot; or better yet, and Oden dunk.

 

A simple lob pass up to the rim would suffice, but Roy and Blake are too afraid of turning it over, and thus look past the big fella.

 

Gotta let Sergio and Greg run the pick n roll more, or even Rudy and Greg.

But what I think should happen, is Greg needs to confront the team, including the coach, and tell them what he feels. He should be frustrated and say "I want the damn ball". He is progressing on offense, and at a faster pace since Mo Lucas has come back and we got some days of practice.

 

He's too big of a guy, and he's been too wide open, to miss. I have to think they're intentionally not looking to him, i.e. that's the way the plays are being called. Think about all the talk from Nate and KP about Oden's impact this year being mostly at the defensive end and anything he provides offensively being a bonus. I think the team is still scared to put him in a position to fail. He's taking more and more jump hooks lately and expanding his game, though, so hopefully that will slowly change.

 

Joel gets the ball from rebounds and Sergio, and sometimes from Rudy.

The Spanish connection plays team ball, involving all 5 players.

Roy and Blake and LA have mainly a 3-man game going.

That's what's holding back progress right now.

 

I would call that more like Roy, Blake and LA taking all the shots, but so far, there is only a one man game.

Just kidding.

I do agree with you the Spanish Armada brings a much more team oriented game. You are also correct in the fact that it is Sergio and Rudy who get Joel the ball. I also notice, that those same players, and Greg Oden, are seldomly on the same court together.

 

I agree, my only real knock on Roy is that he seems to miss a lot of opportunities to feed Greg especially on some of his drives. Giving Greg 2-3 more opportunities to dunk a game will only help his confidence and also help Roy get even more room to work because Greg's guy won't be able to come help.

 

Rudy is the only guy that seems able to execute that pass consistently off the pick-and-roll. Too bad Greg is usually in foul trouble lately when Rudy is in the game.

 

It's the main reason this team needs an up grade at the point. Blake is just not a true point. He is a great backup. Sergio has missed at least 10 lay ups this season. Dude is 6'3" and misses lay ups. I think the team should have tried to package a deal together to get Baron Davis. There isn't another PG that is available that will help this team. And shut up with the Devin Harris posts. He isn't going anywhere.

 

The more I think about it, the more I think McMillain needs to go.

We have a talented team and I don't think Nate is doing a very good job of maximizing talent. Rudy has become a spot up shooter. Oden is merely a big body in the middle. We need a better passing point guard and we need an actual offense.

 

Yea I know what your saying there in many ways. I don't dislike Nate, but I see things out on the court that make no sense to me. Like Joel Pryzbilla and Greg Oden getting the ball at the top of the 3 point line, middle of the court, for the soul purpose of looking for one SF cutter that they almost never throw the pass to. SF cuts down the baseline, Batum and whoever is playing center make eye contact, and 99.99% of the time, the pass isn't thrown, and you are left with a big guy with no passing/dribbling skills stuck at the top of the key for a major portion of the shot clock just trying to find a guard to pass it to.