Yeah, I go to bed kinda annoyed about the lack of effort on the defensive end, expecting to wake up to some threads about the wing/guard defense, and am bombarded with threads about Oden?? Come on really? It wasn't Oden's fault last night; it was the guards (and Travis) not staying in front of their men. Numerous times Kidd blew by Sergio and often times Travis lost his guy or let Josh Howard go to the rim. Our TEAM defense is fucked. I'll say what I've always said this year, we need a better damn coach, OR some defensive help in terms of coaching or player(s). But I've said that from the beginning of this year... BTW: Greg should have played more minutes, and the guards need to give him more touches, or McMillan does..
I get so fucking tired of all this shit about Oden. Just a few games ago mostly the same people were going crazy about how good Oden is playing. I think Oden should get as many minutes as he can until he fouls out. I also think our team just doesn't get Oden the ball after he works hard to get into position. It also depends on the match up. I doubt to many true centers can guard Dirk if he is playing center. If I was Oden I would be depressed like hell because of how the team uses him and never even try's to get the ball to him even when he shows that he can dominate the opposing center. Part of this is the coach's fault and part is just the players. The only thing I have to sort of complain about Oden is that he at least not in public which is good doesn't demand the ball and start telling the coach and players when he works hard to get in position get me the fucking ball!!!!!!!! He also gets those cheap fouls that are sometimes questionable and really can't afford to go after every block. IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO BE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ODEN NEEDS TO DEVELOP AND PLAY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND SENDING HIM TO THE D LEAGUE WON'T HELP.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last night when the Blazers fed him in the post it worked. He embarrassed Dampier by muscling him down (how many guys can do that?) and scoring on a chippy. After that he got Damp so focused on not getting humiliated again it opened up driving lanes for Roy. Then we just inexplicably stopped going to Oden. If I had the chance, I'd ask McMillan two questions: 1. Why do we run our offense through Aldridge instead of Oden? Oden is a better and more willing passer, he gets guys in foul trouble, and when fed on the offensive end he becomes much more aggressive on defense. Aldridge's 15 foot game doesn't really create for others, and it can easily come off of Oden in the post. I swear, last night I think the Mavs looked visibly relieved that we ignored Oden so much. And we couldn't get him the ball when he was covered by Nowitzki or Brandon Bass? Please. 2. What is the disadvantage in letting Oden play through fouls? So what if he fouls out by the end of the third quarter a few times. I think there'd be a big psychological boost for Oden if he didn't have to worry about constantly getting yanked out for a ticky-tack foul. Besides, it forces refs to have to call that 6th foul, something they're less inclined to do on a big ticket draw like Oden.
Oden's last 3 games, all against teams with mediocre centers (since Chandler was out). Utah - 5 pts, 1 reb, 1 block, 2 steals, 5 fouls in 11 minutes. Also had 2 FT attempts NO - 6 pts, 6 reb, 4 fouls in 18 minutes, 0 FT attempts Dallas - 6 pts, 4 reb, 2 fouls in 21 minutes, 0 FT attempts
If Shaq had the guards not throw him the ball like they are not throwing it to Oden when he is open, he would have simply beat their ass by now.
Maybe that's one thing Oden should learn from Bynum. [video=youtube;6mOzQnwhqFE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOzQnwhqFE[/video]
Thanks for pointing this out. I hadn't gone back to check, but I knew Oden was struggling in his last few games. Rep points to you.
For the season, prior to yesterday's game...<table width = 500><tr><td>PlayerName</td><td>+/- Per 48</td><td>+/- Total</td><td>Games 48</td></tr> <tr><td>Aldridge, LaMarcus</td><td>+7.3</td><td>+258</td><td>35.2</td></tr><tr><td>Roy, Brandon</td><td>+6.3</td><td>+203</td><td>32.4</td></tr><tr><td>Batum, Nicolas</td><td>+5.8</td><td>+99</td><td>17.2</td></tr><tr><td>Blake, Steve</td><td>+5.4</td><td>+131</td><td>24.3</td></tr> <tr><td>Bayless, Jerryd</td><td>+4.7</td><td>+36</td><td>7.6</td></tr><tr><td>Oden, Greg</td><td>+4.5</td><td>+86</td><td>19.1</td></tr><tr><td>Fernandez, Rudy</td><td>+4.3</td><td>+105</td><td>24.6</td></tr><tr><td>Przybilla, Joel</td><td>+4.0</td><td>+85</td><td>21.4</td></tr><tr><td>Rodriguez, Sergio</td><td>+1.9</td><td>+30</td><td>15.4</td></tr><tr><td>Outlaw, Travis</td><td>+1.5</td><td>+38</td><td>25.0</td></tr><tr><td>Frye, Channing</td><td>-3.8</td><td>-31</td><td>8.2</td></tr></table>
Time For Oden To Sit I don't think he's starter material.............right now. Too inconsistent; his personality/psyche hasn't matured at the rate I had hoped. Appears to be in "sulk mode" again. Oh, and the fact that, invariably, Greg leaves the game...early....with two fouls and the Blazers behind. Not to mention, from the couple of recent games I've watched, Bayless' drive and force/dish style of play really seems to compliment Greg's game very nicely. I could see good things happening with that tandem. I believe starting Joel will shore-up the above issues....not to mention that it will take a LOT of pressure off Greg, helping him to become more comfortable out there, while also playing with a bit more aggression and without the fear of whistles.
Re: Time For Oden To Sit He's developing and very up and down. I take that back, he's not really developing anything other than gaining experience. Nate uses him like a 7'0" paper weight in our system. How are we supposed to develop Greg when he doesn't get the ball? He needs twice as many touches as he's getting. If he doesn't shoot a high percantage, so what! at least he's developing his offense.
Re: Time For Oden To Sit you, sir, need to have your brain checked. Oden needs to start. It's the only way he will ever develop.
Re: Time For Oden To Sit If you think taking Greg out of the starting lineup (losing his job essentially) will take pressure off of him that's pretty silly to be honest. All it will do is make a lot of national writers call him a bust and he'll put even more pressure on himself. The team gets behind because they concede mismatches to the other team and start out generally shooting jump-shots instead of establishing the low post. That isn't Greg's fault, that is a philosophy issue that is implemented by the coach. Just look in either the thread that Shooter or Kingspeed started, about five or six pages into each one. A poster has some amazing statistics about how Greg is efficient on the offensive end but gets so little help from his teammates. It is a damn shame that a guy who has the ability to draw fouls the way he does and who shoots a high percentage gets so few touches and plays ran for him in the game. The fact that we miss him when he is wide open under the basket is criminal and mind-boggling.
Re: Time For Oden To Sit EXACTLY.... The only reason Bayless is starting to look good is because he actually HAS the ball in his hands. Oden has to wait for a pass.
Re: Time For Oden To Sit Pressure? This ain't nuthin. Just wait until the playoffs start and the REAL national attention begins. I think bringing him off the bench now...then letting the team adjust to Joel starting and Greg coming off the bench.....will be ample time heading into the playoffs. It will be best for all for "this" season.
