Why I’m optimistic about Greg Oden’s future

Comments

1. Lucas says

   April 3, 2009 at 1:52 pm

   I am not an Oden hater nor am I a pessimist; I hate it when people compare Oden to Bowie. BUT. Regarding those statistics, I think the thing that has people worried (including myself), is this:

   Dwight Howard (04/05): Games played/started: 82/82 (of 82); Minutes per game: 32.6

   Greg Oden (08/09): Games played/started: 53/39 (of 74); Minutes per game: 21.9

   When he’s healthy he can do some really good things, as your statistic indicates. But he’s not getting the minutes right now because he’s not starting (justifiably), and when he does come in to spell Joel, he commits way too many stupid fouls.

2. Dave says

   April 3, 2009 at 2:16 pm

   Lucas – I suspect Oden will figure it out. He’s a young rookie; other than the fouls, which is limiting his minutes, he’s doing quite well.
   And injuries are something I try not to think about . . .

3. Steve says

   April 7, 2009 at 6:49 am

   Hey Dave, how’s your Blazer prediction for the year doing? I figured 48 wins, which they have already with 6 games to go. Even though it would match my prediction, I hope they don’t lose all 6. 🙂

4. Dave says

   April 7, 2009 at 7:06 am

   Steve – I predicted 49-33 . . . though with 6 games left I imagine they’ll eclipse that.

5. torridjoe says

   April 11, 2009 at 6:22 pm

   Oden is a force when he’s on the floor, and last night he had a strong 24 minutes. The move he put on Bynum for the dunk was super sweet, and he powered over Gasol, too. Not chumps.

   But it’s so much more subtle than that. Did you see Roy hit open threes from the bottom wing last night? I mean, crazy open, make a sandwich and call home first kind of open. Why was he so open? Because Roy’s man was cheating on Oden, who was holding forth from the low block. Channing Frye would not be drawing that attention.