SB Nation User Blog: GreatOden'sRaven

My 5 things

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:30:55 -0000

Since I'm in no mood to rehash the entering and twisting of the dagger that was placed in my heart at approx 10pm last night, I thought I would make a list of 5 things the NBA needs to do to make me love it just that much more.

1. Axe "The Reggie Miller Foul".

- You all know this call. Its my least favorite rule in the book. Pump fake, defender jumps, shooter jumps into defender in air and flails. No ACTUAL attempt to shoot happens. I hate this rule. I despise this rule. If this rule were a person it would be Adolph Hitler in a Laker jersey having Starbucks coffee with Clay Bennett using money stolen from a homeless veteran selling handmade trinkets which he would then donate to a dying kids charity. According to the real rule book, this is an offensive foul. The offensive player is entering the defenders space (which goes up from his feet straight up into the ceiling), causing contact and somehow is rewarded. This is commonly called in the key as well. Get in close, dive INTO your defender and flail. 2 shots. And a loss of self respect.

2. Ease up on the Superstar calls.

- Look, I get it. You want to see the stars succeed. They are your bread and butter and make the bucks for the teams and the leagues. What drives me insane though is that they play by different rules. Its one thing to let a star get away with a questionable offensive goaltend for a slam or give him the benefit of the doubt on a dunk in the lane when the defender was millimeters from the circle in the key. But seriously, its gotten out of hand. Oh Mr. Stern, its about the game not the players. I can't fault his success, but the slope this road goes on is getting awfully icy.

3. Update the Arena Music.

- There are some classics out there, songs that when I hear them remind me of the Blazers, but c'mon guys. At least throw in ONE song that has been a top 40 since 1985. Just ONE. Please. I love Billy Idol. At least I did. But I was 6 years old. Update your music. Sometimes after a great run, I get stoked, I'm ready to dance (not Comet Guy dance but you know, get down) and then I get the same song they played earlier after we made one dunk. Mony Mony aint cuttin it. Update time. Timbaland makes lots of great beats where no one needs to know the words. Look into it fellas.

4. Show Some Loyalty.

- I understand the need to make money. I understand that the career of an NBA player is undoubtedly short. I understand that sometimes you are traded, sometimes you just dont fit, and sometimes the city you are in isn't good for your off the court life (NYC/LA/MIA don't work for party animals) but I miss the days when a player retired with the team he was drafted by. Now there are a ton of guys who change teams who are role players, but I am talking about stars (yes you LeBron) who for whatever reason leave their teams to go elsewhere for greener pastures. Your team loves you, you are loved in the community and can make just as much money where you are than anywhere else, yet you leave. I pray this doesnt happen to Roy, LMA or Oden. There just isn't any loyalty anymore. (Side note: I do not begrudge a player leaving at the tail of his career to try and win a title. Winning is SUPPOSED to be the reason to play, not money. Just move on with class and show respect to the place you played your whole career.)

5. Stop the Portuguese National Soccer Team-esque Flopping.

- If Oden or Shaq or Howard or Eddy Curry with a cheesesteak in hand, was charging at me, I get the idea of maybe going down a little bit before the body contact occured. I want children someday. Yet flopping occurs about as often as a european player gets on the floor. Some Americans are even worse (Derek Fisher should hang his head in shame) yet the NBA looks the other way. This isn't soccer, stop falling down. Remember? "Contact" sport? Well, in a perfect world (my world) not only would flopping not generate a call, it would be a foul FOR flopping. And a technical for guys who toboggon themselves across the floor like its ice on Greenland in mid January (again DFish, I am strongly nodding in your direction). Real charges should be taken when a player is out of control or run you over. If you start to fall while there is air between your sweat soaked jersey and their elbow, shoulder and/or face, the foul is on you my friend. And hopefully so is their stench.

Honorable Mention of things that drive me insane: Being 6"11 and laying it up in traffic. Getting 14 seconds on the clock after someone intentionally throws the ball off another players foot. Getting a timeout on the ground when it should be a jumpball. Guys that kick out their leg when they shoot and fall down and demand a call. Players who slap instead of punch (if your gonna throw it, mean it. Your getting suspended anyways and I enjoy a good punch). The inordinate amount of attention NY gets as a basketball Mecca when it is roughly the 100th best place to play in HS or College and the Knicks haven't won a title in 20 years. Peter Vecsey, Sam Smith and Stephen A Smith (his initials are in the wrong order). Kobe and Vanessa Bryant.

What are yours? (they can probably be shorter than my rants, unless you LOVE to type)

More Blazer Talk

GreatOden'sRaven — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:19:36 -0000

Fanpost again because its far too long. Not as interesting as yesterday. Insiders so I dont link, and of course because who wants to read about other teams.

Apparently we need to keep up the winning. The analysts aren't sure about us just quite yet.

JOHN HOLLINGER:

j dubb (pdx): with the blazers off to such a great start, shouldn't B Roy be getting more hype as an MVP candidate? #'s 21-6-5, leading 2nd youngest team to wests 2nd best record...pretty impressive.

John Hollinger: (4:09 PM ET ) Can't go there yet, sorry. Or have you not watched what LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade have been doing in the early going? It's gonna take way more than 21-6-5 to get into that discussion.

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Chris: Denver, CO: Where do you rank the Nuggets among the west's elite?

John Hollinger: (4:15 PM ET ) I think they're a low 50-win team; the question we're still trying to answer is where that puts them in the hierarchy. We haven't seen the best of Utah and San Antonio yet, and we're not totally certain how seriously to take this amazing 20-game start from the Blazers. I'd say somewhere between 3rd and 5th, basically, but that can change a lot by April.

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Eric, Eugene: The Blazers have been near the top of your power rankings all year. Think they'll stay there, or will they fall closer to your 41-41 prediction? Given the toughness of their schedule, you'd assume they'd actually IMPROVE as the season goes on.

John Hollinger: (4:17 PM ET ) The Blazers are probably going to blow away my prediction. I don't know if they're quite as good as their Power Ranking, because a few guys are playing well above their historic #s (Blake, Przybilla, Batum), but they're almost certainly going to be a top-five seed.

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Will J (Portland, OR): John, what do you think Portland's biggest weakness is (other than youth of course)?

John Hollinger: (4:35 PM ET ) I could point to a couple, but the lack of easy baskets is probably the biggest. they're getting more than than last year, but this is still primarily a jump-shooting team. Not sure how that will fly come spring ...

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Jake( Boise, Idaho): Give us your prediction Blazers or Celtics on Friday?

John Hollinger: (4:57 PM ET ) Home teams win over 60% of the time in the NBA and the Cs have a slightly better power ranking, plus we have to consider the possibility that the past 20 games are a non-representative sample of Portland's talents. So I'll take Boston, but with the Blazers making a game out of it.

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SORTA RELEVANT

Dean (DC): Is Conley just going through typical young player struggles, or are you starting to revise down expectations?

John Hollinger: (4:46 PM ET ) Revising down, yes. I've been very unimpressed and very disappointed thus far.

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CHAD FORD:

Tim (Portland, OR): Hey Chad! How good is Portland? This place will be mayhem after they beat the Celtics tomorrow!

Chad Ford: I'm not sure they're that good, but good. I pegged them as a sixth seed in the pre-season and that seems about right. Maybe fifth seed. They have a great coach, first of all. I'm not sure why Nate McMillan doesn't get more love. Second, they are so loaded with talent at every position. The only knock on them is their youth. But even that seems to be a positive because the Blazers don't seem to understand that young teams can't consistently win in the NBA. If Pritchard can make a move by the trade deadline to bring in a very good veteran, they could be dangerous in the post season this year. If not, the future of the West is clearly between the Blazers, Lakers and maybe the Hornets.

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JR (Chicago, IL): There were rumors recently about Portland having interest in Conley. Would Conley be a good long-term fit for the Blazers?

Chad Ford: I'm not sure. Brandon Roy is so good with the ball in his hands, I'm not sure they need a guy like Conley. He honestly is having the same problem in Memphis. Mayo is so good with the ball that Conley can be a bit irrelevant because he can't shoot. I love Conley as a player, but I'm not sold he's the right guy for Portland, especially with the way Rudy Fernandez is developing.

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Some Blazer answers

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:57:37 -0000

On David Thorpe chat today.

Too long for FanPost and its an insider article so no linking.

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Poops (PDX): More suprising start? Denver, Portland, Dallas?

David Thorpe: Portland, as Denver looked this good on paper the minute the trade went down.

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KP (Portland): I don't want to toot my own horn but...Wouldn't you say I have had the best drafts out of any GM over the past few years.

David Thorpe: Toot away.

Dan (lincoln, NE): I really like your rookie rankings but Batum is way to low (below Koufos).

David Thorpe: Perhaps. But he's asked to do so little. I'll re-evaluate again this week.

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Will J (Portland, OR): Is Rudy Fernandez in your top 3 for 6th man of the year?

David Thorpe: Sorry-server took a timeout. I don't follow that award. Ask Mo Brooks!

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Clark (Durham, NC): Who do you think wins the Northwest division now? Portland, Utah, or Denver?

David Thorpe: Leaning to Denver.

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Greg Oden (Portland,Or): I really feel comfortable being a catch and finish guy. However I want to solidify my #1 draft spot. How can Improve my game? Face up series? or keep it Shaqly?

David Thorpe: Keep it Shaqly (now that's a great name for a sitcom!!).

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Jake (Tampa,Fl): Rudy Fernandez is the truth! Do you see him becoming a better pro than Manu Ginobili?

David Thorpe: No, but I think Manu is a top 5 shooting guard on the planet.

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Mike (Boston, MA): With all the talk about Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez, is it possible that Nick Batum is the Blazer rookie with the most upside potential? He's 19 and he's already the best defender on the team. And he's got much better offensive skills than Scottie Pippen did early in his career.

David Thorpe: No, it's not possible that he has the most potential. He's nice though.

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The Enlightened (Logicville): A wiser man than myself once said that people find their stance, then formulate an argument to prove it. This is happening with Greg Oden. No matter how many average/below-average performances he gives, and no matter how little evidence exists of his dominance (you say NCAA title game, I say five points at home against Northwestern), he still is given the benefit of the doubt as to becoming the next Russell/Kareem/Shaq/Brando/John Lennon rolled into one. *Could* happen, but sorry -- not enough there to count on it.

David Thorpe: You just proved their point. When you have dominant games in an NCAA title game, and in state title games and AAU title games, etc., people assume you are going to learn to do it again and again.

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Don (Oregon): Will Jerryd Bayless ever be successful in Portland?

David Thorpe: Sure. It's early.

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LOT of Blazer talk on the chatboard today.

Greg Oden up to #5 in David Thorpe's Rookie Rankings on ESPN

GreatOden'sRaven — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:42:27 -0000

Greg Oden up to #5 in David Thorpe's Rookie Rankings on ESPN

David Thorpe's Analysis
December 02, 2008

Want another reason to be bullish on the Blazers? Try this: Oden is hitting only 37 percent of his close shots that are not dunks. And we know he's going to be a better finisher than that.

It's true that teams will be better prepared to defend him after they study him more, but the same is also true in reverse -- as Oden begins to anticipate what's going to happen as he catches the ball, he'll be better at countering the defensive actions he's about to face. The game starts to slow down for players once they can "see" what's going to happen before it does.

SIDE NOTE: RUDY is #4

Comparable team to Blazers

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:35:59 -0000

Don't come to my door with pitchforks and torches, but the Blazers in many ways resemble the Lakers.

One of the drawbacks to living in LA (or Orange County in my case now) is that we are surrounded by Laker fans. Now when said Laker fans are your friends (i know i know) you get stuck watching games sometimes. Its better than suffering thru yet another reality show on VH1 with the missus.

As I was watching the game, I started to draw some parallels with their team and ours. Now I am not suggesting that we switch to the triangle offense or anything but it would be interesting for Nate to look how the players on their team are used and how we could follow suit. Many of our players have similar skills and in my opinion we could help fashion our team after there's. I hate them more than anyone, but their record speaks for itself.

PG- Blake and Fisher. Both are solid, wily veterans. Can hit the outside shot. Don't make mistakes, and play solid defense with occasional lapses. Neither would be considered star material but they keep the team together.

SG- Roy and Bryant. The star players on said teams. Both have the ability to take over a game, both are the undisputed leaders of the team, and both are the heart and soul of their teams. Their numbers this year are strikingly similar and they are the one player on either team who can create scores on their own at will.

SF - Webster and Radmanovic. Skilled 3 point shooters, who when on the floor run to a spot along the 3 point line during offensive possesions. Both are large for their position (with Radmanovic being a bit taller at 6'10") but are used primarily to spread the floor. Both are adequate rebounders when in the correct mindset but mostly settle for jumpers.

PF - Aldridge and Gasol. Second best players on teams. Both are finesse big men who focus more on skill than brute strength. Aldridge has a better game from outside 10 feet but Gasol has a better back to the basket game at this point. These players are solid down the stretch (these first few games for Aldridge notwithstanding) yet defer to their #1 player at the buzzer. Both have had a somewhat unusual time working within the confines of having a large space eating big man in their area.

C- Oden and Bynum. Young, talented centers who have yet to reach their potential. Both excel at rebounding and defense and have limited offensive moves. Over time both have the ability to become allstars but at the moment are forced into third banana roles until their offense comes around.

BENCH:

Rodriguez - Farmar. Young, talented, out of control. Both show glimpses of starting PG play followed by bonehead plays. Both getting better year to year.

Fernandez - Vujacic (i hate him so much). Excellent shooters, No concience. Not great at defense. Lots of running off screens. Confident. (Rudy will be WAY better in a year or two but their games are similar)

Batum - Ariza. Long, lanky athletic SF who play excellent defense, stay in front of their man, rebound, pass well, and dont push their capabilities. Neither has much of an offensive game but both get out and run.

Outlaw - Odom. Starter level talent but both have tendencies to slip up down the stretch. Excellent rebounders when they so choose, good shooters, and solid players. Odom has far better dribbling skills and Outlaw is a better shot blocker. Neither are great defenders.

Walton - RLEC. Overpaid and dont play.

Mihm - Pryzbilla. Similar games. Neither is offensively talented. Pryzbilla is starting level talent, while Mihm is 12th man off the bench. Not even close talentwise but similar style games. Great rebounders, good at dunks and layups, strong underneath.

Frye really has no equivalent. It would have been Brian Cook but he has gone away.

Yue, Powell - Diogu, Randolph. None get any run.

Because we are similarly styled teams, we should watch the plays they run, their isolations and maybe ask our players to fill the same roles in the offense and defense that theirs do. Cuz no matter how much we hate them. What they are doing is working.

Simmons has no faith in Greg

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:43:28 -0000

Some love him, some hate him, but Bill Simmons "The Sports Guy" is one of the most widely read sports columnists out there. He singlehandedly keeps page 2 on ESPN afloat, writes for ESPN magazine, has a podcast, and is both beloved and hated in the blogging community.

This morning he wrote a piece about Greg Oden. The jist of the article is that with great centers you can usually tell by first appearances how they will turn out. Bill was underwhelmed by Greg to say the least. He goes on to discuss how the league NEEDS Greg to be good because of his personality and his one of a kind talent, but just doesn't think his body will let him do it.

Here is the article: Story on Oden

What do you think?

I tend to agree that his body doesnt seem to be built for the long haul, but I truly believe that the kids work ethic and desire to be good will allow him to excel in the NBA. Many players with far less athleticism have become great. I think we should keep hopes high and continue to hope for the best, but at the least, Simmons DOES have a point.

Lil Wayne is an Idiot

GreatOden'sRaven — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:28:50 -0000

Lil Wayne is an Idiot

Lil Wayne has decided that he will write about sports, and today he thinks Greg Oden is a bust.
Odens kung fu is way stronger than yours Lil Wayne. Plus your music sucks.

A Heartfelt Thank You

GreatOden'sRaven — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:58:40 -0000

I would just like to share my thanks with Ben and Dave. This is truly a great site and certainly has been a wonderful diversion from real life in the doldrums of the offseason. You guys do a great job keeping the site updated (as a semi/parttime/sorta blogger, I know that one of the hardest things to do is come up with relevant and fresh information every day) and current with the goings on from both a fan perspective and from an organization standpoint. Dave, you have done a great job keeping the site focused while letting people express themselves in the context of the Blazers, and maintaining a very easy to use and professional site. I truly appreciate the insights you have added and the way in which you have caretaken the site. Ben you have been very good at making sure you have the most up to date information, breaking stories and doing great expose pieces on Blazer players and the organization. I am a member of various blogs on SBNation and BlazersEdge is by FAR and away the best blog out there. That is mainly due to your leadership. And of course Blazer fanatics. :)

Its likely to get real busy here again (ala draft time) as the season ramps up, but I feel like I owe you both a debt of gratitude for keeping Blazer talk and news first in foremost in our hearts during the dull parts of the offseason. Much appreciation from me and all other readers I am sure. Keep up the good work and I will keep on posting!

If anyone wishes to add more and point out the 100 other things they do that I forgot please feel free to add them.

THANKS GUYS!

A LITTLE love on ESPN

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:43:46 -0000

As I was reading this Marc Stein Article talking about the most anticipated games of the season, I was ecstatic to see that Marc is as excited as we are about the Blazers this year. We are mentioned numerous times and he seems to love the fact that Oden gets to match up against quite a few great centers. However all that was tempered by the fact that at every chance he gets, he mentions Odens health.. roller coaster of emotions. Yes we got mentioned.. ARRG stop bringing up the knee!

I'm a little sensitive on that topic.

However this brings up the fact that not only are going to be on national TV often (good times for those of us not in Portland) but we are a marquee attraction. Sounds like a good start to a season for me.

Deng to sign 6 year deal

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:33:19 -0000

Deng to sign 6 year deal

A little rich for our blood