Yay! You can tell Greg hasn't even come close to what he is going to be by the end of the year, but he is still gettin' 8, 8, 1 and 2 which isn't bad at all, specially considering his 21mpg.
Rudy is ranked 4th and Oden 5th among rookies. Oden has the highest PER (18.32) of any rookie playing over 15 MPG - and Batum is 2nd (17.97 - just edginig out Mayo at 17.95). Man, this is an impressive rookie class - quality at the top (Rose, Mayo, Rudy and Oden), very deep with several rookie centers getting PT and making significant contributions (Oden, Gasol, Lopez). And Bayless - who will be a good NBA player - is currently the 40th ranked rookie in this class. BNM
#4, #5, #22 and #40... not bad.... I think near the end we will see all four of them in the top 20.... And hopefully Batum in the top 10.
The crazy thing is: if KP doesn't swoop in they might have gotten Hill at 54 or wherever and had both.
It is time to accept that Oden already is a defensive anchor for Portland. Before he came back - Portland was #30 in the league in defensive efficiency, giving 100 points per game (a lot given their slow pace). Since he has come they are up to #14 in defensive efficiency in the league (for the entire year). They gave just 88 points per game during the games he is in. If we adjust these 88 PPG to Portland's pace - you will see that during the games Oden was in - Portland was the 7th best defensive team (efficiency wise) in the league... Without Oden - Portland is last in the league in defensive efficiency, with him, they are 7th best - and they are just getting to know how to play with him and to his strengths. I know it is hard to appreciate the impact Oden has since his numbers are so "modest" - but once you really look at the team-game - you see that Portland is still scoring at the same offensive efficiency they did all year with him (his offense, while it is still raw - is not a detraction for Portland) - but his defensive impact is already magnificent.
