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C Greg Oden (All B1G, All-American, Defensive Player of the Year, Butler Assistant Coach)

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USAToday

Oden immersed in learning process for first-place Blazers

Fourteen games into his NBA career, Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden is still searching for his groove as he faces the defending champion Boston Celtics for the first time Friday night.
Oden seemed uncomfortable garnering attention in the company of his teammates before Wednesday's victory at the Washington Wizards. Perhaps it's because the 7-foot rookie is averaging just 8.0 points for a first-place team, although his 7.8 rebounds per game is second among the Blazers.
But he brightened when talking about his right knee, which required microfracture surgery and forced him to miss the 2007-08 season.

"Feels good," he said. "Extremely good. And not just the knee. I don't feel any pain in my body at all."
Consistency, Oden says, remains his primary goal and against Washington he posted his sixth double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds). Three times he conjured visions of his lone year at Ohio State with powerful dunks, kicking his legs for emphasis. But another 7-foot rookie center, Washington's JaVale McGee, blocked his shot in the first half, and 6-7 Caron Butler blocked a layup attempt.

Continued.............
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Ive watched pretty much every game this yr, being a Blazers fan, I got extremely lucky that we drafted an OSU great.. made being a Blazers fan even better.. from what ive seen so far Greg has had the following issues

1)Lack of explosiveness off the floor. Greg just simply isnt getting off the floor like he did prior to the microfracture surgery. Greg from high school, Ohio St., and summer league 2007 could run down the floor, take off from the top of the paint, and throw down a two handed thunder jam routinely. That isnt happening right now, he's getting his dunks, but they are not big explosive dunks, they are just getting over the rim dunks. He even missed two easy ones vs NY cause he couldnt get elevation.

What's sad to see is that he's getting blocked frequently by PFs and C's he should and will (down the road) be bulldozing under the hoop and posterizing.

2)Lack of confidence. When Greg doesnt get off fast, he disappears for the rest of the game, and usually ends up sitting the fourth quarter in favor of Pryzbilla. Against the Knicks he missed two dunks early, and then basically decided he didnt want the ball anymore on the offensive end.

For as outgoing a personality as Oden has, I still think he feels akward about himself at times and certainly doubts himself. I wish he'd get that confidence and attitude to dominate, hopefully it comes down the road..

3)He's carrying too much weight up top.. maybe he'll work it off as the season moves along and he gets his conditioning up, but what made Greg a #1 draft pick was the idea that he was an athletic bigman.. a guy with great agility for a 7 footer.. Right now he just looks like a 7 footer who just wants to get by on brute strenght and girth.

4)I see he's getting alot of crap from the media about having ZERO offensive game.. I think this is a little harsh because ive seen him in HS and in college have more of an offensive arsenal than he's showing right now. Once again, I think his lack of offensive repotoire is more to do with being unsure of himself, his lack of explosion off the floor, and just getting used to the NBA game... I know he has more game than he's presently showing

5)Greg has played clumsy. He drops so many passes that hit him right in the hands, he gets stripped constantly, and he's just not moving like the guy we saw at Ohio St.

I know he's better on offense and even on defense than he's showing right now. But it will probably take at least another 40-50 games for him to show this. I think as soon as he recovers fully from the microfracture, his game will improve immensly. Greg's game is built on explosion off the floor, agiliy on defense, and brute strength... right now he's averaging 8 PPG, 7 RPG, and 1.5 BPG basically just on the brute strength element..

Hopefully, he can avoid injuries and get the other two elements back.. if he does I think he can be a 18 PPG, 10 RPG, 3 BPG player, which is all the Blazers need down the road to hoist numerous trophies
 
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Buckeyecty4;1347851; said:
5)Greg has played clumsy. He drops so many passes that hit him right in the hands, he gets stripped constantly, and he's just not moving like the guy we saw at Ohio St.
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Agree with your entire post, especially this. I can't remember seeing a big man, especially one of his size and strength, get the ball slapped out of his hands so easily. Seems like he either gets stripped or blocked everytime he goes up for a dunk under the basket.
 
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5 fouls in 14 minutes at Boston, so far. Celts lead by 24 in the 3rd.

School is in session for the big man on this day, but what is he, 21? Tough night, but he'll learn from this matchup versus KG and Company.
 
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Jake;1347963; said:
5 fouls in 14 minutes at Boston, so far. Celts lead by 24 in the 3rd.

School is in session for the big man on this day, but what is he, 21? Tough night, but he'll learn from this matchup versus KG and Company.
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Tough to work on conditioning when you can only play 15 minutes due to foul trouble. I love Greg, but his performance tonight was dreadful. How many times did he let Kendrick Perkins beat him down the court in those 14 minutes?

At least Brandon Roy douched on Paul Pierce throughout the game. They were talking A LOT back and forth, but Roy continually showed him up. Doesn't show on the scoreboard, but Brandon Roy could only do so much tonight.
 
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CentralMOBuck;1348075; said:
Anyone else think Oden's commercial for ESPN: The Magazine is funny? It's the one where he's talking about using a big man for marketing.
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People can say what they want about ESPN, but they have the best commercials. I love their commercials. When Greg is just staring into the camera with that look.. :slappy:

The one with Drew Brees blocking the entrance to ESPN with the float is hilarious as well. :lol:
 
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I want Greg to do extremely well in the NBA...not because he's a Buckeye...but because he just comes off as an amazing person and his playful child on the inside just oozes out of him which is rare in alot of bigtime athletes these days.
 
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