Why is it that not a single one of our guards seems to be aware that Greg Oden exists, except when a play is specifically called for him? I can't count the number of times he has rolled to the hoop with his arm in the air and it's as if he's invisible. Is it that none of our guards feels able to thread a pass into the paint? Is it that they don't think he'll catch it, or if he does, he'll travel or get called for a charge? For whatever the reason, it's glaring enough that the Lakers' announcers commented several times that Greg was open when a pass was instead made (usually to a player, usually Blake, open outside the three point line, and always ending with a clank). I remember one game when Blake seemed to make a conscious effort to drive to the hoop and drop it to Oden to start the game and he had like three straight dunks - then after that, nothing. Wouldn't this be a better way to use him than to keep pushing the post ups when those are painful to watch? (I guess he has to practice them - so why not BOTH?) Is this a guard problem or a coaching problem? I noticed that even Sergio, who I would have thought to be our most "court aware" guard was doing it too. I actually felt bad for Oden, like he must think there's a sign pasted to his back that he doesn't know about.
I was wondering that myself too, and I am thinking it's more of them being unable to make the pass... so it seems.
I agree and have wondered this same thing. I also wonder if Oden as well as Pryz gets frustrated by this. I think it was the New Orleans game where Pryz started yelling at Sergio I believe. It seemed to start just after one of these missed pick and roll plays.
Maybe his butter fingers at the start of the season have our guys hesitant to throw to him. I am glad to see Greg is getting his game together. God I can't wait to see him next year.
I think it's a combination of both the coach and the players. The guards have a really hard time finding anyone that rolls because we have a roster full of players that pops instead of rolls on the picks. Aldridge also has a hard time finding Oden WIDE open under the basket. In fact if you watch the game last night Aldridge missed Oden under the basket on a high low roll and Oden said something to him on the defensive end after a stoppage of play. I assume it was something like pass me the fucking ball. I would be really frustrated if I were Greg because it must suck to play hard all game long and have your teammates ignore on offense. God forbid we get the other team in foul trouble
Do we need to acquire somebody like Boris Diaw who has a high BBall IQ and willingness to pass who will teach the team the habit of getting Oden the ball?
Partly both. The guards tend look at him for a split second, and they aren't patient enough so they immediately pass out to LMA or whoever is at the top of the key. And the coaching staff needs to realize how to get the players in the right spots in the most basic play in hoops, the pick and roll, and get Oden the ball when he rolls. I think Mike Rice said in the pregame last night that we're ranked near the bottom of points in the paint and fast-break points. That is truly sad, which means like we all have known that when we aren't hitting jumpers, we're doomed. Doesn't make sense we should be near last in those categories when we've got Oden/LMA and a young, athletic squad.
Why would we need him? We have Travis, and he's really athletic. He can jump real high and can create his own shot. Who cares if that shot is ill advised or causes the defense to shut every other player down. Plus, what in the world would we want to feed Oden for when we can just shoot 3 pointers early in the possession or as the shot clock is winding down to 0. Ask any successful team and they will tell you that going inside out is not a good way to play. If it weren't for the fact that just about every champion in NBA history played inside out I wouldn't believe it
Honestly I think it has mostly to do with the fact that the Blazers haven't had a legitimate pick n' roll big man and point guard for quite some time and players are still trying to figure out how to play with each other. Oddly enough I remember Bayless running it with Przybilla in the the NO game (or it might have been the Celtics game, can't quite remember) and it looked like they knew just what to do (for one possession at least). It may not happen with Greg until he's consistently on the court and not in constant early foul trouble; his fits and starts of playing time surely don't do him any favors as far as developing rhythm with his guards.
Did Conley know how to play pick and roll with Greg? I seem to remember criticism of him that he didn't actually get the ball to Oden enough. If he DID, then that would be a reason to target him. Who are the good pick-and-roll playing PGs? Nash, obviously. Any others?
When I see that quote every training camp I just laugh. It reminds me of the "Kemp is in his best shape in years" comments that we used to see in the off season.
Part of it is the pick set by Oden, as well. Both the location and the effort in the pick. And part is the guards not utilizing the pick properly. They run by the pick before the C is set, so there is no pick, adn thus, when the C rolls, his defender is with him, because there was no reason to have to cover the G.
We wouldn't want to bring the ball up slow and let the other team get set on defense would we? On a side note...the 76'er Spur game Sat. was sweet. Sixers were scoring layup after dunk after layup but still lost by 2 because the Spurs were lights out from 3pt line.
Yeah there was one play last night where GO was WIDE OPEN directly underneath the basket and nobody gave him the ball. Our commentators couldnt believe nobody gave him the ball since he was there for at least 3 seconds, hands waving in the air so he could get the ball...that was bad. I agree with Nick...teams gotta get used to feeding the ball down low when the C is in a good position. We are having very similar problems with Bynum. We are feeding him the ball when he is 15ft from the basket and never when he is 5 feet away
And we always will be as long as McMillan is the coach. He's in his 9th year of coaching, so what you see is what you are going to get: perimeter-oriented teams that treat big-men like an afterthought. In Seattle, I could understand it. Not like Nick Collison was going to light anyone up. The early years here, when Joel was our only legit center, I could understand it. But a team with LMA and Oden, and as much drive and dish skill as we have, should not be near the bottom in points in the paint. And a team with Rudy, Sergio, Travis, and Batum (not to mention several big men who run well) should not be struggling to get easy buckets in transition. There is no doubt in my mind that Oden could average 17+ PPG right now if he got the touches. He also picks up fouls on the other team at a great clip. But he's gotta have the rock to do that. I know he's a rookie and they are bringing him along slowly, but I wonder if Nate is just content with Greg being a really good version of Erick Dampier for the next 10 years while we stick with a guard-oriented attack. That would be a waste.
That might be the play I was referring to. I watch on league pass and had to listen to the L*ker commentators....(pretty good by the way) They were all over that.
I don't like to bring this up, and I know a lot of folks found reasons up above as to why it may or may not be happening. The one reason i want to bring up is that the guards are freezing him out. You can say that they are "unable" to make the pass or whatever. But to me, they are flat out looking at him, and seeing him open, and not passing the ball when the pass can be made. To me, that is freezing out a player. IMO that is complete bullshit that needs to stop. Greg is a fairly efficient scorer if you just throw him the ball. I can tell you this, he shoots a much better percentage than Blake and Rudy going 4 for 19 at one point...
