Oden

[Jeff White]

Is there any reason to worry that Oden's wrist won't heal completely?

On 3/1/07, Berry, Mark S <berrym at battelle.org> wrote:
>
> I watch every OSU game and have been to a few. I'm convinced Greg Oden
> will be a dominant franchise center in the NBA for a decade. A few
> points:
>
> --- The wrist. You can't understate this. He's playing the game with his
> off hand. He's shooting free throws left-handed (and hitting 64
> percent). He can't grip the ball with his right hand. The only shot he
> attempts with his right hand is an awkward jump hook that he pushes
> toward the basket -- and he's pretty damn effective with that. He also
> can't dribble with the right hand. The defense knows this. They know he
> can't face up and shoot or drive, so everything they do is designed to
> push him away from the basket. It makes him look awkward at times, but
> he's almost literally playing with one hand tied behind his back. Try
> that sometime. Yet he's still averaging 15 a game on 60 percent
> shooting.
>
> --- And even if this is all the offense he'll ever have (and that's a
> ridiculous conclusion), he'd be worth the first pick based entirely on
> his defense. He controls the game defensively. It's not just the blocked
> shots. He discourages any penetration and when someone does get into the
> paint, he alters or blocks the shot. He dictates how the opponent plays
> offensively. He's the best shot-blocker I've ever seen, and he uses
> those blocks to trigger fast breaks. As Simmons said, this is where the
> Russell comparisons come in. And they're legit.
>
> --- He's getting the Shaq treatment in college. It's like the officials
> have collectively decided to level the playing field by allowing
> opponents to grab, hold, push and otherwise manhandle the guy. And while
> that sounds like fun in a back seat, it's frustrating the hell out of
> Oden, Thad Matta, and, most importantly, me.
>
> --- Rebounding. He's averaging 10 a game. Why not more? A few reasons
> ... He doesn't play as many minutes as Durant (although his minutes are
> creeping up). He can't grab the ball with his right hand -- he loses two
> or three rebounds a game because of this. But most importantly, Ohio
> State lacks any other even average rebounder. Opponents figured out
> quickly that if they do whatever it takes to keep Oden off the glass --
> hold, push, assign two guys to him, whatever ... -- that no one else in
> scarlet and gray was going to hurt them on the boards. Their starting
> power forward, Ivan Harris, is undersized, soft and hangs around the
> perimeter the whole time.
>
> --- His teammates. Other than Mike Conley, it's like they've never
> played with a talented post player. This is even more frustrating than
> the slanted officiating. They simply can't/won't get him the ball. Some
> of it is coaching, some of it bad chemistry (a couple of the
> upperclassmen haven't taken well to the Conley-Oden-Cook show and
> lovefest in Columbus), and some of it is just dumb, dumb basketball.
>
> --- Oden vs. Durant. I still say it's a no-brainer. Even if Oden is just
> Patrick Ewing -- and I believe he'll be much better than Ewing -- how do
> you not take that player No. 1? Doesn't Durant have to be Michael Jordan
> to justify not taking Oden? Are we willing to bet on Durant being
> Michael Jordan? People get far too caught up in points, especially from
> swingmen like Durant (and he's a swingman -- not a power forward). Oden
> changes the game at both ends. If the Celts get the No. 2 pick, I'll be
> very happy with Durant. But the ONLY choice at No. 1 is Oden.
>
> Sorry for the novel, but you asked ...
>
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
> Behalf Of Kestas
> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 8:04 PM
> To: kelts
> Subject: Oden
>
> Mark (and other Oden watchers),
> what do you think of BSG's observations of Oden?
>
> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/blog/index?name=simmons
>
> _______________________________________________
> The Boston Celtics Mailing List
> celtics at igtc.com
> http://www.igtc.com/mailman/listinfo/celtics
>
> _______________________________________________
> The Boston Celtics Mailing List
> celtics at igtc.com
> http://www.igtc.com/mailman/listinfo/celtics
>