SB Nation User Blog: 67

Oden an Enigma?

67 — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:20:18 -0000

Lots of talk about Oden and many points of view.....But only time will allow all the details of this man-child to emerge and give most a final conclusion about his play....

The future of Greg Oden is unknown as well as the future of this team....Parties on both sides of the fence, have already drawn some conclusions (I'm guilty)....

But one thing that is known for sure....comments on both sides have so very little history to support their arguments pertaining to his contribution to the NBA, the Blazer team and basketball, in general......

It really falls on his shoulders now.....tough for a young fella....but he has the full support of his teammates and coaching staff to help ease the pressure some...

When I look at his play, I still see a young, immature boy in a big mans body...An NBA basketball player's body......but a mindset that has yet to catch up...I think a year away from the game has hurt this guy emotionally a great deal (physically too, but this can be fixed)

So(IMO) in the longer term, I think it will depend on Oden's passion for the game.

As a former young person, my interests used to stray on a monthly basis and after being away from a certain activity for a period of time, it was always difficult to get re-focused and back to where it was before....sometimes I never looked back

This is not a reasonable comparison(kinda like comparing a watermelon to a peanut) but I didn't have nothing else to compare to, but life in general...

This where maturity comes in....and along with it, the passion for the game.....knowing what you have to do , but not always the easiest and the most fun....but as you do it more you sorta develop the sense that this is what I am....so I will be as good as I can be at it.....It puts some worth to what you do......and seems to go a long way to satisfying your goals

Oden has very little high level basketball experience ( 1 year of college and a few NBA games) not much to draw any definite conclusions about him...so the only fair conclusion may be his showing a lack of physical agility (almost looking awkward at times)...But this could still be rust and hard to conclude upon...

Bottom line...We all have seen Oden conrtibute... so it's not a question of that....it will always be measured in a scaled version and to what degree he contibutes....it is also on a timeline and we don't know what that timeline is...Only Greg knows that....and I think his passion for the game will be a key to getting him closer to reality and farther away from the concerns.....

Offense and Defense

67 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:02:06 -0000

everyone likes to see offense, but good defense will get you wins

People who generally make comments on players of this team, tend to context them and project their opinions by separating their play from the rest of the team. I suppose it is a natural thing to do when poor play sticks out from certain players and is most noticeable on offense...

examples 1.La is stuggling with his shot and doesn't get into the paint

2. Oden is too far out for an effective pick and role

3. Outlaw jacks up too many jump shots

4. Blake can't guard Parker or Nash or many other point guards

5. Fry is all outside shots, nothing else

and so on.......

But it is a team game and when you rely on individual play, you can't help but isolate them from the team....or the concept of team play...

So everyone will have an off night, and so you just forget about it, and move on...but when players get as many (or more)off nights as they do on, then it becomes more of an issue.....

I see these issues as more of a team problem than individual play...or at least it deserves having an attention to....

So the long/short of it....if your having a bad night shooting, what else could you do to contribute to the party = good hard hustling play, good defense, rebounding, etc.

bottom line ; you should never have a bad night, hustling, being aggressive or playing tough defense....

If the team (and this is a lot coaching) understands that good defense, will make you a team, and can raise offensive efficiency enormously. If they continue keep defense as an afterthought, then poor individual offensive play will always hurt the team. This is done because your offense can play off of good defense, by keeping the opposing teams on their heels....and you can rely on getting defensive stops to hold you through the offensive lapses.....

bottom line for this; although we have been trying to adjust new players into the offense, it shouldn't keep us from demanding that defense will always be what separates winning from losing. Not to mention it could get us away from more doubtful outcomes that may or may not be won at the end of the game....and once again, it is team defense and having a defensive plan for all opposing teams and players.....

It could be there, and not being executed....but it is not showing up for whatever reason......IMO, if you play good defense, the offense will take care of itself

Team Identity ?

67 — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:17:20 -0000

What is this teams identity and do we need one?

I think we need to develop a team identity so we can start to play to our strengths

Of course it's still in question what our identity may be, and it's possible the coaches and players are working towards that.....But right now we have a lot of weaknesses and I'd be pressed to figure out any one thing that could be considered a strength....

So IMO, working to a specific goal of what you want this team to be, should be part of the organizations levels to progress....

Right now our strengths could be ...talented players with depth...good combinations of IQ and athleticism, and of course, youth.... (not to mention KP and staff)

So without going into all the weaknesses (there are a lot, but they can be fixed) where do we go from here?

team Identity

1. do we want to be a fast break team?

2 do we need a couple of knock dead shooters?

3. do we need a penetrating point guard for half court offense?

4. do we need to get bigger and more physical?

5 do we need a coach with a different mindset?

6.do we need better defenders?

7.do we need more hustling,intense, players like Rudy or Batum?

8.do we need more emphasis on getting more fundamentally sound players?

9 do we need more quickness and speed?

It is still early, but getting to the next levels should be in the plans (and I'm sure it is),

Getting talented players is only the first step...now comes the hard work and tough decisions and every game played should be another evaluating step towards getting a team together .......with the idea on what do you want this team to be?....

The decision will be based on the idea that several players on this team are envisioned as being here forever...and with this in mind, you keep them and build around the gaps....but you have to know what type of team you wish to build to....(unless it's decided that a jack of all trades team is what we want?= LA and San Antone,Boston) ......guess this season would go a long way towards answering some of those questions

I for one, am getting tired of the slow, methodical, one dimensional approach...At some point we may need to go all in like Texas hold-em....We have a pretty good hand after the flop.......so lets get to the final table play with the big boys

Greg Oden sidebar

67 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:43:44 -0000

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/10/commentary_greg_odens_burden.html

Here is a link (I hope..... never done this before ) to Quick's interview with Greg Oden and others......it really hits home....and shows he is putting a lot of pressure on himself , that may be reflecting in his game play

This solidifies the nick name many have given him, in that he truly is a "Man Child"

The guy does not have a lot of high level basketball experience ....and will be a lot more of a work in progress player than most people think.....but if you read this article, then you can draw your own conclusions.