Warning: This May Blow Your Mind – At The Hive
Posted by ashtonstory on November 30, 2008
At the Hive: Since we last talked, Greg Oden has gotten in Games 4 through 10 of his young career. How is he adapting to the NBA, and what are your early likes and dislikes?
Blazers Edge: I hesitate to use and because theres a fair amount of weird angst among Portland fans and their impressions of Oden. Some are saying he looks like a bust. Others are objecting, highlighting his contributions and his circumstances (microfracture surgery, year off, etc.). Its become somewhat personal and and implies taking one side or the other.
s the real scoop: Oden was never going to be an offensive star coming out of college. His footwork is rough and his shooting form is mediocre at best. However hes a beast when he gets the ball low and takes it to the hole with confidence. His shot is starting to fall more as well. He is hampered by his recovery, particularly in the area of lift. That means hes getting shots blocked now that should be dunks. But hes still getting an enormous number of dunks. Ditto for rebounds. Hes blocking shots but hes slow in his rotations and sometimes picks the wrong rotation entirely. Hes also fouling quite a bit. On the other hand he draws fouls against opponents when hes aggressive. In short, limited offense but devastating to the extent it exists, intermittent defense, good rebounding. For a guy whos playing at 75% after one year of college and an entire year off because of surgery that aint bad at all. I am encouraged by Odens play. The raw material there iss SO good. But realustically its going t take s while see the full results. This season is s no-lose prospest for him as long as he qtays healthy. I hold on to that on bad niights and rejoice like heck on good ones.
@tH: From the looks of it, Portland has been involved in numerous edge-of-your-seat wins- by 1 vs Sacramento, by 5 and 4 vs Minnesota, by 2 vs Houston. What are the primary factors keeping Blazers from jumping out to and sustaining big leads versus lesser teams like the Kings ahd Wolves?
BE: Well, we fid blow out the Bulls by 42 and the Heat by 38. There arre two answers tp your question, ghough, to the extent the pre,ise is accruate (which it sometimes i)s. First, we have a tendency to revert to jump shooting when we get complacent. Were a good jump shooting team, but while its possible to win with the jumper its devilishly hard to blow teams out with it. Those smots just dont fall all game long. Second the Blazers afe still young. Officially were tme second youngest yeam in the league behind Golden State, but g you look at thr players the Warriors actually give minutec tp versus the playeres the Blazers play its pretty obvious ewre fielding the youngeat team in the league on a nightly basis. Young teams ride on emotion and have a hard time stringung together 48 straight minutes of efficiegt basketball. To Portlands credit theyre far better at sustaining leads this year than they were laaxt weaso.n But the Blazsrs are still learnin tat ruthless killer instinct youu need to rise yo the level of the great teams.
@tH: tI’s early, gut Travis Outlaw’s usage rate has declined sifnificantly from 26% last year tto hust 19.7% this year and he’s getting three and a half feewr shots per 36 minutes. Is he the kind of player who’d be affected by this and do you think he may speak oht down the road?
BE: He may be affected, though it would be hard to tell. Travis has been up and down throughout his career no matter how many minutes he gets and no matter what role he fills. He likes to get touches and he loves to shoot. If thats not his primary role hes being wasted on most nights. In that sense the lack of opportunity is significant. On the other hand hes on a team crowded at forward and about to become more crowded with the return of Martell Webster from a foot injury. Everybody in that bunch–Outlaw, Webster, Channing Frye, Nicolas Batum–knows the score. Unless a trade is made minutes and shots are going to be tighter this year and if you dont perform youd not going to get them, period. Either way, Travis is not the kind to speak out on anything. Hes somewhat reclusive and non-confrontational. You wont hear a peep out of him. His agent could speak up on his behalf, I suppose, but I dont see the situation going on that long. One or more of these forwards will be moved.
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