Is this an argument for starting Greg Oden? I love the fact we got Greg on this team and I hope he will prove everyone that doubted him as the #1 pick as wrong - but given his health history - this sounds like an argument to bring him from the bench...
With Blake having a career year, and Joel actually staying healthy. What are the odds of both of those things happening again?
After seeing the team struggle with teams like the Kings, Clippers, and Suns this preseason, I'd probably stick with last year's line-up as well for now. I am surprised that Oden isn't in the starting line-up, however. That sticks out to me. He's clearly been the most consistent player in the 4 exhibition games.
Also, Rudy didn't play in the 3rd quarter last night. Maybe having him out there would have helped that second unit some?
I haven't been able to see the games, but it sure does sounds extremely ... I dunno ... "stupid" springs to mind.
The best player doesn't have to start, but three of your better players are coming off the bench... I would have expected at least one of Miller/Webster/Oden to get the start.
This just in: Orlando has announced that Marcin Gortat has been named the starting center for the Magic. Dwight Howard will not start to strengthen the bench.
We have the slowest offensive pace in the League with a roster full of runners... Greg Oden is more than ready to start. Like Roy said, Greg is playing at too high of a level to not start. I've been on the anti-McMillan bandwagon since last season and I stand firmly on that bandwagon.
We'll have to move Greg into the starting lineup when we play them so we can hide him from Dwight then.
Hey Maxie, Nate's really a bonehead about this if true. Will he last the season if this is true and persists? I think PA will be calling him soon!
the real questions are who the fuck cares and why do you care? announcing the starting lineup right now is meaningless. preseason games mean nothing and as we saw last year, he can decide to change the lineup again before opening night. this is nothing to complain about at this point. if it actually happens, fine, bitch about it if you think it's a bad decision. but until that actually is the starting lineup, there's no reason to go crazy about it.
It was a retort to the post above it. But I suppose you could argue that if you wanted, and have a valid point. Until Greg proves he is healthy, they won't depend on him in the starting unit would be a valid argument. Seems very straight forward. But I still don't think it is the right thing to do to a player who has worked hard to try to right the ship.
So for those of you who want Miller and Oden in the starting lineup...since we've already seen Roy, LMA, and Miller present "subtle" complaints about touches and being a starter and all that jazz, what do you do when they are all in the lineup and nobody gets what they feel are enough shots? One big advantage we had last year was Roy did enough that he was respected by the league and got "the calls" which is a BS system to begin with, but it did work in our favor. I can understand perhaps bringing Oden in because he may actually get some calls this year, but Miller? Webster? Nah..I'd rather have a little firepower on the bench.
Likewise, what do you do when your stud C starts complaining because he did everything asked of him, outplayed his counterpart, and is still being sent to the bench? What do you do when your big free agent signing in a year you looked to for the past two years to add a big name in the offseason complains because you say he doesn't fit with the starting unit, or rather, two star players, when you knew what sort of player he was when you signed him to his deal? And that he was supposedly competing for a job he had no shot of winning? What do you do when players on the bench see this as well? What do you do when Travis Outlaw notices, in his contract season, that his role as primary scorer off the bench just went away, because Miller and Oden are now alongside him? That you tell him we want you on the bench for your firepower, but now, his firepower off the bench isn't needed, because you have Miller, Rudy, and Oden. In a contract year, he can get upset about that, and disrupt chemistry?
FWIW, tonight's starters at Utah: PG Blake SG Webster SF Batum or Udoka PF Aldridge C Przybilla No Roy or Rudy tonight. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/10/looking_for_defense_and_cohesi.html
This is partly because Blake and Pryz couldn't score by themselves in a whore house. This is not a good reason to hamstring the starting unit. Blake I get, but leaving Oden on the bench is absolutely unforgivable. What message are you sending to Oden with this bullshit. "Hey kid, I know you outplayed the other guy by a mile but level of play doesn't matter. Yeah, I know I said it did but haven't you learned by now not to trust a thing I say. I mean, I DID say we would run more this year."
