Subscribe Feed (RSS)Blazersedge.com’s Ben Golliver has a great analysis of Oden’s touches last night against Houston. And came up with some rather incredible numbers. Pay him back by clicking on this link and going there right away.
Then tell me you think Oden’s teammates are mindful of feeding the post. Look folks, this stuff is Pavlovian. Feed the big dog and he’ll respond and ring the bell. But if they keep ignoring him, the way they did a lot last season, he’s going to go find a place to take a nap.
This is a funny sort of team. Most teams recognize the value of a good low-post player and get him the ball. Sure, Oden’s not polished yet, but isn’t there an obligation to help him grow? A commitment to that, in fact? Doesn’t look like it. If they don’t look for him with a 6-6 guy on him, I’m not sure when they will.
Check this out:
Oden set more than 10 screens during last night’s contest and didn’t receive a single successful pass for his efforts (one errant pass led to a loose ball foul in the second half, otherwise nothing). Setting screens is tough work. Grabbing rebounds is tough work. Running the floor is tough work. It takes a rare mentality to do all of that and rarely touch the ball. It takes an even rarer mentality to possess offensive skills and still possess that selfless mentality.
Tags: Blazersedge.com, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers
I seem to remember (though I could be wrong) that GO was doubled every time he touched the ball anywhere near the post. 6-6 defender or no, Oden can’t play 2 on 1, at least not yet.
He was doubled twice, that’s it.
the reverse is true as well. the other guys have been conditioned that if they give the ball to greg, the odds of a turnover/offensive foul is about 50% these days. they want to win now. its up to the coach to set the expectation…although he also has a strong incentive to win now.
Well, that wasn’t many times. And when it happens, you pass out again, then repost. Rinse, repeat.
I thought that was fundamental: pass out of the post, re-post, with hopefully even deeper position. I’d love to see him become someone who could make a post move off of two or three dribbles, and dunk on opponents ala Shaq (and, I hate Shaq for what he did to Portland).
Amazing, the 2009/2010 version of GO looks VERY similar to the 2008/2009 version. Let’s see….2 points, 7 turnovers and 5 and we ask why they don’t get him the ball even more??
12 rebounds and 5 (official) blocks too idiot. I grow tired of you trolls…go back to your mother’s basement.
You are in denial dude.
I’ve been posting my thoughts on GO in here for nearly a year and guess what? I’ve been pretty much dead on accurate with my characterization of his game. He’s not nearly as good as some think he is and he certainly hasn’t earned the right yet to have his teammates consistently look for him on the offensive end.
…oh yeah and you forgot to point out the 5 fouls he picked up last night while defending that 6′6″ monster that Houston turned loose on him.
What!!?? You don’t believe that Chuck Hayes should start in the all-star game either!!?? What!? (Peter Vescey style)
Every post player got into foul trouble last night. Every post play had lots of turn overs.
It wasn’t just Oden, Houston, is a peskey team.
Here I thought you just have an agenda…now after reading your responses it is clear you are dumb as a stump Franklin.
Yes that was a personal attack
2 pts, 7 turnovers, and 5 fouls against against a 6′6″ “big man”. Enough said.
keep on trollin bucko, eventually you might get a bite. I didn’t mention the 5 fouls because I was assuming the “5″ in your original comment was in regards to that. Besides that, anybody who watched that game should know that there were some really ticky-tack fouls being called on both sides. Oden might have had 3 or 4 fouls, but regardless he still didn’t foul out and finished the end of the game playing with 5. You’re a troll, you’ve been a troll for nearly a year, and now it’s time to stop trying to get a rise out of people. If you want to criticize, fine, but don’t single out Oden. Try talking about the entire team for a change. Try picking out something else for a while instead of your constant Oden-bashing rant. We get it. You think he was a bad pick, you think that when fans of the team show optimism, they’re idiots. That’s really, really old buddy. It goes for you, for bumpity, and any other troll that just want’s to start fights in an online forum. Real big my friend, real big…
You can lose your cool as much as you want but the fact is that Oden just keeps proving me right. I can’t think of another center on any team in the league that would be held to 2 pts, 7 turnovers, and 5 fouls against Chuck Hayes. Sorry but it is what it is.
I’m not losing my cool man, I’m just calling a spade a spade. You don’t have any input about this team if it’s not about Oden, and you haven’t for nearly a year. Is Oden a work in progress? Absolutely. But when you make comments like “the fact is that Oden just keeps proving me right,” that’s called circular reasoning and all you’re doing is proving to yourself how right you are and no matter what anybody says…you’re always right. There’s no need to be the righteous nay-sayer here. Everybody watches the same game, everybody knows Oden is raw, everybody knew Oden was raw when he was drafted and even more so after having to have surgery. The truth of the matter is that Oden has a long way to go, and everybody just needs to give him time to get there. I get it, you get it, we all get it. All I’m saying is, stop with the trolling and the attempts at soliciting angry responses from people you don’t know. It’s childish and I’m sure there are more than a few people out there who are tired of the same old song and dance on every single Oden article.
I was wondering if you were going to return again. Do you only post on Greg Oden comments? Actually I think I remember you posting on a few (like 2) last year that weren’t about Greg.
Just one more question. Do you rant on Greg because you have unfulfilled high expectations of him or because you don’t want to hold your breath and buy into the hype surrounding him?
Greg Oden is a BUST…. end of story…even his teamates know it…
This is the kind of idiotic commentary I’m talking about.
If this is how we are going to use Oden, I sure wish we’d have gone with Durant.
This is what I don’t understand. The Blazers had the most efficient offense in the NBA last year, where does Durant help? On the other hand, do you think Durant completely shuts down the paint defensively like Oden does?
Where is the need for Durant on this team?
I know what you meant, but I just got a laugh out of trying to picture a scoring-oriented small forward trying to shut down the paint defensively! One of the few small forwards I know who could shut down a team defense in his prime was Scott Pippen.
That’s a valid complaint against the coaching staff. Why draft a player only to mis-manage his talents and use only half of what he can do?
The team doesn’t need two Joel Pryzbillas (no offense to Joel). It’s hard to understand how a team can not look for the easy buckets or high percentage shots Oden provides. But it is only one game.
Good call Dwight. I had the same thoughts about Portland not finding Oden. The guy is a monster, and when he gets deep position its free throws or easy dunks (ok, he young so there will be some turnovers in there, too).
I think the trick is still the rest of the Blazers worried about their own role in the O. Click back to Nate apparently needing to reassure Roy and Aldridge that the offense would go through them (http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/10/inside_the_blazers_roy_adlridg.html). At the end of the day, it probably will and that is good (54 wins and all that). But watching Roy and Aldrige last night it looked like they were focused on trying to make SURE they got their shots.
And by the way, while I’m griping about our two best players, when is Alderige going to develop a drop step to the baseline? Watching that guy try to bull his way across the key every time (and Scola easily draw the offensive foul last night – shoot after three consecutive dribbles and shoulder bashes in the same direction, my little brother could’ve drawn that charge), or turn and settle for the fall away is ok, but a baseline drop step turn this guy into an All-Star threat, who can turn BOTH ways. Someone hire Kevin McHale to teach foot work for an afternoon.
Pavlov is the dog here?
Why would this current group get Oden the ball in scoring position any more than they got it to Joel the last several years? Joel has also done the dirty work down low, kept his mouth shut, and given up self-aggrandizement for the benefit of the team; yet, the accolades flow to those players whom the marketing experts feel will sell more merchandise.
This is less a basketball team and more a clique for post-adolescent men-children who don’t seems to get it. In the fourth quarter especially last night, watching Brandon effectively stop the flow of what, at times, had been great ball movement was discouraging to say the least. Does he even watch the tapes of these games? How can he not see that his hogging the ball hurts the team? Can’t Nate see it? At what point will someone say, “Brandon, you have to change your act?”
I have always liked and championed Steve Blake for his toughness and court sense, but last night Andre Miller was clearly better. He has another gear that Blake does not yet have, and when Nate pulled him the final quarter, it was like watching the air go out of a balloon.
This is an incredible group of people who have unlimited championship potential. I really hope Nate is on the way out soon.
Bowie
slurpy
It’s. Only. One. Game.
Killjoy
Nate McMillan is a horrible coach. According to Miller he coaches the whole game from the bench, every part. He’s coaching the guys to not get the ball to Greg. Are you stupid nate? Or just ignorant? If LaMarcus is not going to go to the low block, we need someone who will. It’s such garbage that nate said he wants greg to only focus on defense. How stupid. Yeah only focus on half the game, we’ll play 4 on 5 on the other side of the court. Just pathetic coaching. I’ve said it before, nate mcmillan is a lifetime loser who has never won anything. He’s going to make these Blazers losers as long as he’s here.
You know what my cry has always been? Hire Jim O’Brien, I cry! Hire Jim O’Brien!
His way or the highway. The interesting thing is, I have no doubt he carries this attitude to the office when he meets with officials like Kevin Prithcard. People may not think it, but I believe the two butt heads a lot on many things. Players. Style of play etc. Which is why I believe Nate has not signed a contract extension. But It would not surprise me at all to hear that Nate blows up, throws fits or even threatens when he is given contstructive criticism or advice on players and lineups.
If Nate is ever released it won’t be due to wins and losses. It will be due to philosophical differences.
KP: Hey Nate, do you think you might throw it in to Greg every once in a while? Nate: Are you questioning my coaching ability? KP: No, not at all Nate. But maybe a pass here or there every once in awhile Nate: Do you want to coach this team? KP: No Nate just some helpful advice is to get the big mand going. Nate: I’ll tell you what you can do with that helpful advice. This is my team. I’m the coach and I will coach it the way I see fit. Got it? KP: Yes, Nate.
The team has outgrown the coach
Yah they will get wins, they have the talent to do that. However come playoff time and we have no low post, we will get bounced…again
However, as long as Nate is the coach and he only sees Oden as a defensive stopper, then we will never win a ring
I agree they have outgrown him. The big thing though is Nate and Brandon are close. And as long as Brandon carries a relationship with him that is second to any other relationship that he has ever carried with any other coach. Nate probably won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
But I think Roy needs to be challenged. He needs someone above who isn’t afraid to get into his head and tell the way it’s going to be. And to challenge him as a player. I don’t know how well Nate is doing this.
should say second to none
You really stirred up the crazies with this post Dwight, nice work. I imagine they will start going to Greg once he earns it. They just aren’t there yet.
“they will start going to Greg once he earns it”
That is exactly what I’ve said. You can’t expect them to want to increase GO’s touches when he had 7 turnovers in the limited touches he had. It simply won’t happen.
That’s true. They will go to Greg when has earned it and proven it. But if you can give Travis 10+ shots a game to see if he’s on (we all know he can be spotty) then shouldn’t they give Greg at least 5 shots a game, to let him prove it and earn it?
They should try to find him more…but the guy did have 7 turnovers. AT least 3 of them were of him trying to back Hayes down and either getting the ball swatted(which he still can’t seem to go up and not lower the ball) or travelling.
There are some tendencies on this team that are unlikely to ever change as long as Nate remains. This is still a very young team. They need to be coached to change their ways. They are not getting coached to change their style of play. They are still playing like it is last season. No one on this team looks to pass to the open guy. They don’t have the ball and player movement for passing to Oden or any one flashing open in the lane. This is why it would be so beneficial to have Miller start and play 30 a night. Miller is not entrenched/brain washed in Nate’s “right way” of playing. When Miller was in there was better ball and player movement. Better energy and pace. They even ran a bit there for a bit in the second quarter. I dunno. I just keep seeing this and saying this more and more. The tendencies of this still young team are never going to change unless Nate forces himself to change first and then coaches up his team on the need for change. I am having an ever increasing difficulty ever seeing that happening.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Nate to figure this stuff out. He’s a great guy and needs to move on.
I’m going to catch hell for saying this, but Brandon Roy is a ball hog. He literally never passes to anyone but Steve Blake.
As long as Roy is on the floor, Oden will never see the ball.
I agree completely. Roy is a great talent who hasn’t learned the team game.
Agreed.
Roy is a great player and a great leader, but he won’t fulfill his potential until he learns to take full advantage of his driving ability by passing out of the pick-and-roll. He could be a devastating pick-and-roll player, with Oden, Aldridge, Fernandez, or just about anybody on the team. Instead, Roy almost always takes the shot. I admired how well Drexler ran the pick and roll back in the early 90s. He was a great finisher – better than Roy – but he gave his teammates a lot of easy baskets by hitting them with passes at the rim. Roy can be even better at that because he has something that Drexler never did – a consistent outside shot. The Roy-Oden combo should be a killer, but right now it’s just not happening.
One of my favorite all-time players, Wally Szczerbiak, is still a free agent. How would you like HIM to back up at 3/2? Imagine how he can be another pure shooter to offer Odin more room in the post.
The trolls here who are ba
It is going to be really, really hard to get past the first round of the playoffs, much less win it all, unless we put Greg on the fast track.
First, you have to have a third threat to win big with Brandon and LaMarcus. Neither are dominant enough to do it as a duo, even though Roy is a legit superstar and franchise player.
But second, you can’t have your third person in the Win Big Trio be a ballhandler, or really even a shooting guard or small forward, because they will somehow be encroaching on Brandon’s “space”, just like a Durant would. And power forward is already “taken” by LaMarcus.
Third, having a dominant big man, who is at least a consistent threat to score so he demands D, is a time tested method for winning Championships, to the point that it rarely happens without that precondition.
That is why Pritchard wisely drafted Oden, and is why we all have to count on him in this incarnation of the Portland Trailblazers.
Without rebuilding, it is our only chance.
I am convinced Oden has the talent to be a dominant all around center, generally speaking. But he needs to screw up a bunch of times without worrying about it — not to get shut out, or yanked off the floor. When you are learning, you have to be able to screw up, even when you are super talented.
I’m not on the fire Nate bandwagon, but Nate has it wrong if he thinks Oden should just be a defensive guy. I find his manner of speaking about Oden — that we flat out DON’T WANT OR NEED his offense, and that he should focus on defense INSTEAD of offense — to be mildly offensive. You are really selling the guy short and screwing with his self image.
And the “win now” thing? We just need to win enough to get to the playoffs, though it would be nice to win more. But we absolutely need Greg to be 100% integrated to win in the playoffs, even if costs us a few regular season games to get there.
It is going to be really, really hard to get past the first round of the playoffs, much less win it all, unless we put Greg on the fast track.
First, you have to have a third threat to win big with Brandon and LaMarcus. Neither are dominant enough to do it as a duo, even though Roy is a legit superstar and franchise player.
But second, you can’t have your third person in the Win Big Trio be a ballhandler, or really even a shooting guard or small forward, because they will somehow be encroaching on Brandon’s “space”, just like a Durant would. And power forward is already “taken” by LaMarcus.
Third, having a dominant big man, who is at least a consistent threat to score so he demands D, is a time tested method for winning Championships, to the point that it rarely happens without that precondition.
That is why Pritchard wisely drafted Oden, and is why we all have to count on him in this incarnation of the Portland Trailblazers.
Without rebuilding, it is our only chance.
I am convinced Oden has the talent to be a dominant all around center, generally speaking. But he needs to screw up a bunch of times without worrying about it — not to get shut out, or yanked off the floor. When you are learning, you have to be able to screw up, even when you are super talented.
I’m not on the fire Nate bandwagon, but Nate has it wrong if he thinks Oden should just be a defensive guy. I find his manner of speaking about Oden — that we flat out DON’T WANT OR NEED his offense, and that he should focus on defense INSTEAD of offense — to be mildly offensive. You are really selling the guy short and screwing with his self image.
And the “win now” thing? We just need to win enough to get to the playoffs, though it would be nice to win more. But we absolutely need Greg to be 100% integrated to win in the playoffs, even if costs us a few regular season games to get there.