Oden's pre-draft measureables (in terms of jumping, quickness, speed) were equivalent to Dwight Howard's, despite Oden being larger. So Oden was just as athletic as Howard coming out of Ohio State. That's one of the reasons that he was considered one of the best center prospects ever. I suppose we'll have to see whether he fully regains that athleticism, but this last season doesn't tell us much...it's not until the second season after the surgery that the player is supposed to be fully recovered.
Coordination isn't a measured value. Howard has it; Oden didn't this year. Mike Mamula had one of the best NFL Combines in history; he sucked as a player because he wasn't coordinated.
Howard looked quite awkward as a rookie, too. Oden looked extremely coordinated in Ohio State. I don't think it's a native deficit, just an issue of lack of experience with NBA speed and his own instincts being betrayed by lacking the explosion he's counted on through his basketball life.
My only point is that Oden, while having (or he had) outstanding athleticism pre-injuries at the NBA pre-draft camp, is not at Dwight Howard's athletic level at present.
What the hell are you watching? They are too double teaming him. The thing is they disguise it. Rhondo sits down on the baseline at the edge of the key and waits there, just a few feet off of the post defender. Every single play. It is a soft double team but it is enough to keep Rhondo from having to be on his guy, and he cheats so he can try to get back. Keep trying to act like I am not watching the game. I have watched every one of them. You will note Howards production last night and a W. Coincidence? I think not. I will also point out that because he was getting the ball and attacking, all of Bostons bigs were in foul trouble, and they had to try and win with guys like Scalabrene on the floor. So, even when he wasn't double teamed he drew fouls. He may not have hit all his foul shots, but then again, most of Bostons bigs were in so deep of foul trouble they were not on the floor in crunch time. Note: 16 attempts from the floor. Note: 12 attempts at the line. Note; Add one to the W column.
That rarely happens. Rondo roves defensively (because Boston doesn't respect Alston's shot), he is not sitting and waiting to double-team Howard. Sometimes he ends up trying to harass Howard, but he's nothing like a dedicated double-teamer of Howard. By and large, the Celtics have been playing man defense with Perkins or Davis. And yes, Howard had a very nice game offensively yesterday. He's certainly capable of that, he simply hasn't been doing it a lot this playoffs.
Yeah, I just saw that and was about to post it. The video illustrates how awful he is going one on one in the low post. It has been like that all series. [video=youtube;enuJrnd-1b8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enuJrnd-1b8&feature=player_embedded[/video]
This is exactly correct. Rondo might be in the area and take a quick swipe at the ball, but there is no double team.
