I'm too lazy to post before and after photos, but does it look to anyone else like Oden over the past few weeks has gotten a lot slimmer, quicker and more explosive?
He's not slimmer, but his footwork is 100% better than earlier in the year. He's learned to spin without picking up his pivot foot. Plus his hook shot is looking like a thing of beauty all of a sudden.
Yes, I believe he's lost some weight. He does look a little quicker to me, as well. His play of late is quite encouraging. I think he's starting to get some confidence and achieve a certain comfort level. That sweeping hook shot he made last night was a thing of beauty.
He's not only lost weight, but he's dressing better, and he's done something with his hair. Now all he needs is to do something with that dreadful boyfriend of his. barfo
Yes, he's gradually recovering from microfracture surgery... that's one of the side effects. But I don't think he's close to how explosive and conditioned he'll be in a year. When I watch him, he still has to pace himself quite a bit and his footwork has improved but still needs a lot of work. His teammates are starting to learn how to find him which is good.
I've consistently said that I thought by the end of the season he'd be putting up 14-18 points, 9-12 boards and 2-3 blocks a night in 30-35 minutes. For some reason, I've just really noticed a real difference in him the past few weeks.
He has definitely started to get some of his quickness, footwork and agility back. The best example of this is he ability to reduce his fouling. If you go back a few weeks, a large portion of the fouls he was getting were a result of him trying to move his feet to stay in front of a guard on a pick-and-roll. In the last few games, he is still trying to cut off the guard, but now he is starting to get his quickness back, and actually cut off the guard instead of just bumping him. This increased quickness is cutting down his fouling, which is allowing him to play a lot more, which allows him to start putting up some big numbers. That said, I think he still has quite a ways to go before he has all of his explosiveness back. But, it is coming.
FWIW, the Clippers announcers last night were talking about how improved he is just over the course of the season.
Do my eyes deceive me, or has Oden been able to stay healthy for quite a while now? That's the best news of all.
More game and practice time tends to help you loose weight. More time with coaches (M. Lucas) helps footwork. More game in NBA helps with speed of NBA. Probably doing much better with diet and sleep habits etc. Better attitude as you preform well is contagious. The KID is going to be a great, great player.
It's no coincidence that Oden has improved his play since Lucas has been back. Among other things, Lucas's sickness played a part in Oden's slow start.
No Doubt. All you hear about Bynum his how great his footwork his, then they zoom in on none other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar jabbering in his ear after every play.
I am actually surprised that Bill Walton hasn't been brought in to work with Oden as well. Unless they just think he is too nutzo to be of any use.
Me, too. Walton is one of the smartest centers to ever play the game, and I'm sure he could help Oden immensely.
