Bowie is not the most disappointing first-round pick in Blazer's history. LaRue Martin Martell Webster Bowie got us Buck Williams. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying. If you think Pryz doesn't get stripped more than Oden as of the last 3 months, you're crazy. I'll assume you didn't address your claim of Pryz's superior shotblocking because you saw you were wrong. Your blind hate for certain players seems to cloud your judgement. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Learn the game, then post.
And, we beat Boston without Roy. Does that mean we don't need Roy the next time we play the Celtics? Does that mean we could beat the Celtics in a 7-game series without Roy? Anybody who doesn't think Oden has had an impact is either a fool, or has a very short, selective memory. Ask yourself this: would you rather go into a 7-game series against any of the other top 8 teams in the West with, or without Oden? Last year, the Blazers three biggest weaknesses were: poor rebounding, weak interior defense and no low post offensive presence. When Oden is playing, nobody even mentions those three items as weaknesses. In fact, with Oden, they've become strengths. This year, the team's biggest weaknesses are poor perimeter defense and and relying too much on outside shooting when Oden is out of the line-up. Because rebounding, interior defense and low post scoring were such glaring weaknesses last season, nobody even talked about about the team's week perimeter defense. Has our perimeter defense gotten worse this year? No, if anything, with Batum it's gotten better. Yet, it's what most people bitch about here in every game thread. Why? Because with Oden correcting our other top three weaknesses, suddenly the poor perimeter defense stands out like a sore thumb (or, in this case, a sore knee). The team is at their best when they have Oden AND Przybilla taking turns manning the paint and this will be even more of a factor in the play-offs where the games slow down and the scoring decreases. Rebounding and defense win in the post season. Without Oden, we're much weaker in both those areas. In spite of the injuries, and not living up to everyone's expectations (so far), Oden has had a big impact in those two areas - and he's enough of an offensive threat to draw double teams when he gets the ball in the post. That opens things up even more for our jump shooters. I love what Joel brings to the team, but when was the last time you saw him draw a double team in the low post and kick out to a teammate for a wide open 3? BNM
I've never had "blind hate" for any Trail Blazer, and I certainly don't hate Oden. I keep saying (over and over) that I hope he lives up to his potential. In fact, I want every player on our team to be a superstar, every draft pick to pan out, and every trade to be brilliant.
You must not understand the concept of "blind hate." The list of grievances against Rasheed Wallace is so long that it would take an hour to recite them all. Any Blazer fan who "hates" Wallace has plenty of reasons for doing so, and it's certainly not because they are "blind."
When you blame every team failing on a player and refuse to credit that player with any of the team's success, it definitely qualifies as "blind." And that continued after he left the Blazers...he was definitely not responsible in any way for the Pistons winning a title, but he was the clear and only reason whenever they lost a playoff series.
Actually Oden has gotten a lot better about not getting stripped since his first month and a half of playing. The only time it ever gets 'stripped' now really is when they think he's been blocked but he's clearly been fouled but they don't call it. There are several examples where Greg gets hit across the head or across the wrists/forearm and no foul is called and he loses the ball. That isn't really getting stripped - that's getting pummeled with no referee assistance.
I think Oden has played very well. The problem has been that he just hasn't been able to play enough.
I wonder who this thread is directed toward, since I've yet to see a poster say that the team is worse with Oden on the court. Knowing that they are better is likely amplifying the frustration of him being out, if anything.
Oden draws a double team away from the ball in a lot of cases. Two guys try to keep him off the offensive glass. Often, they fail. This team misses Oden. Honestly I don't care if he starts or comes off the bench, but he does need to be in the game. If nothing else, him playing keeps Frye on the bench. Repped the post.
He doesn't get stripped because he doesn't catch the ball. Also, the next time you see Pryz back down a guy on the low post will be the first time. Hard to get stripped making a move in the paint when you hardly ever actually try and make a move in the paint. I love what Joel brings to the team, but low post scoring really isn't one of those things.
A) Bynum's not that great and neither JO or Bargnani are Hall of Famers. When we drafted him, we expected him to be a once in his generation hall of fame center. If all we get is JO, I'll be disappointed. B) He's not basically out of high school. The guy reached the fucking title game in college. C) Why does everyone act like he's a victim of foul trouble. The foul trouble is HIS fault. D) Check out David Robinson's rookie numbers after missing TWO YEARS of basketball. But Oden had surgery, right, so could I please have two thirds of what DRob had???
Now you're just making things up. I NEVER blamed every team failing on Wallace; how could I, when there were so many boneheads on the team in those years? And I certainly understand that Wallace was a very talented player who contributed to many Blazer victories over the years. The problem is, he also undermined the success of the team with his tantrums, his record-setting technical fouls, his ejections, his suspensions, his refusal to lift weights with the rest of the team, his attacks on Dunleavy, his lackadaisical play, his refusal to play in the paint, his lack of respect for the fans and the organization, and on and on. Wallace was a very talented player who was his own worst enemy, and who was a key part of a very dysfunctional team.
In addition to not having major knee surgery, Robinson also had four years of college ball and turned 24-years old five months before the start of his rookie year. Lets see how Oden is doing at 24 - 25 years old before we start comparing his numbers to the Admiral's rookie year. BNM
