Coherent Thoughts on Oden
Uncategorized September 13th. 2007, 5:43pm
Anyone else just absolutely floored by the Greg Oden injury news? Besides the obvious - David Stern surely weeps somewhere; TV execs are shitting themselves and looking to replace all of Portland’s games with Seattle games; Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard will be setting up a cot in his local church for the next six months, praying Oden heals - here’s something to ponder: Will the Blazers be bad enough to put themselves in contention for another No. 1 pick?
Last year, the Blazers were one of the worst teams in the league with Zach Randolph and his nightly double-double. With that trustee of modern chemistry in New York, here’s the current starting frontline for Portland: SF Martell Webster (21 in December), PF LaMarcus Aldridge (22), and C Joel Przybilla (27). Don’t look up their stats - neither has ever had a double-figure scoring season. The backcourt consists of SG Brandon Roy and PG Steve Blake.
People - this may be the weakest starting linup in the NBA, and please spare me the potential/upside talk about Webster. A month ago, this team was playoff material, about to start something special, and Portland was pondering the thought of printing playoff tickets. Now, it’s definitely lottery-bound. With the first pick in the 2008 NBA draft, the Portland Trailblazers select … SF Michael Beasley from Kansas State.
20 Responses to “Coherent Thoughts on Oden”
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September 13th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Well, as a lifelong Blazer fan, I can only say the city of Portland is essentially shocked and really, really pissed off. The curse of his Airness could indeed be real. But we will not go lonely out into the cold, rainy night. Or, more precisely, the 280 nights. Look, Roy and Aldridge get to gel together and Webster has to impress, or else he will get traded, guaranteed. Now, the middle does suck, believe me, I have a feeling we will again be bottom five iin defense. Well, we’ll see if the team reaporting five weeks early actually brings Stumptown some good news. Oh, and TBL, thanks for riding Oden’s nuts, at least it gives hope that one day, I will actually see more Blazer jerseys in Portland than hippies and bums.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
This could be like the 97-98 Spurs. They were hot as hell for a few years, then had the tank year due to injuries. They then got Duncan. Imagine if they suck, get the #1 pick again, then pair that guy with a healthy Oden?
September 13th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Personally with that lineup D. Rose would be the best draft pick for them. As much as I despise Memphis, put some talent around this kid and he will top 5 point guard in the league in no time and Steve Blake should be a backup.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I think Conley will be the test case for freshman PGs. If he does well, then maybe you can consider Rose. But a small forward who just needs to score and defense might be the move.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
What about Mayo?
He was a better PG 4 years ago than Steve Blake is right now.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
And Mayo will let you know he’s better too
September 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Uh uh, culture, whether you agree or not, is the barometer for a player coming into the Blazers now. It sounds kinda gay, but my Blazer buds and fellow forumites call Kevin Pritchard’s tactics of rehabbing the roster “The Culture Club.” In all honesty, and I am not sure who will want to be traded/who is available, but the pick, unless it is top two, will probably be packaged with a same-ol same-ol Martell Webster for a known commodity at the three. My fellow fans and I, in some horrific, gut wrenching way may be better off for this.
September 13th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Umm, did I miss something, or is everyone here forgetting that Jarret Jack is their pg, not steve blake?
September 13th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
The Minnesota Timberwolves have something to say about your “weakest starting lineup” label for the Blazers.
And I know I say this every time, but that Oden picture does not get old.
As a fringe (I’m being very generous) NBA fan, this sucks quite a bit of interest out of next season, which is disappointing. But ultimately… absolutely floored that a 7 foot guy has a bad knee? Nope.
September 13th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
That is an interesting way to look at it. If the Blazers are horrible and get a lottery pick… AND if Oden returns next season healthy, they could be awesome by 2008 or 2009. But that’s two too many ifs for the Blazers at this point. And how good does Kevin Durant look to the Sonics and Oklahoma City — err, Seattle — right now?
September 13th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Valid point with Minny. But at least they have players who have experience in the pros.
In fact, I’ll take that bet with anyone - right this very second, regardless of what happens from now to the start of the season, the T-Wolves will win more games than Portland. Anyone?
September 13th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Two words.
Jarrett Jack.
September 13th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Yes, TBL, I will take that bet. Are you trying to tell me the vaunted duo of Jefferson and Foye (oh, and the venerable 3×2 maker Ricky Davis) is better than Jack/Blake, Aldridge and Roy? You are on crack, good sir. Shall we make it four bags of skittles, you crazy fuckers?
September 14th, 2007 at 1:06 am
On the bright side… they’ve gotten a lot better at microfracture surgery lately. Oden’s game is going to be based more around being athletic and huge. Amare’s game is all about explosion. So if Amare can come back, then there’s hope for Oden.
Jarrett Jack is an exciting pg with great size who can get to the basket, but he turned the ball over too much last year. We shall see.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:16 am
I understand the woah is me stuff. I do. But was Oden himself going to propel this team into the playoffs? Not a chance. The Blazers would have needed strong contributions from Jack, Conley, and especially Aldridge, to get there. I’m not buying they’ll be THAT bad. Just 35-win bad.
As for the “The Minnesota Timberwolves have something to say about your “weakest starting lineup†label for the Blazers” comment… Now introducing… your 2005 Boston Celtics!
September 14th, 2007 at 3:42 am
I thought the reason the TBs would contend this year was 1a. Oden 1b. A dynamic backcourt. Jack is a very good PG.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:30 am
Why would they sign Steve Blake if they had any confidence in Jack?
(Personally, I don’t think Blake is the answer.)
September 14th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Mike Beasley is a more athletic Chuck Barkley. I just hope he can avoid mad cow disease this season in Manhattan Kansas.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
“Why would they sign Steve Blake if they had any confidence in Jack?
(Personally, I don’t think Blake is the answer.)”
To have a backup pg? Because that’s all Blake is…he certainly isn’t any sort of longterm solution. Jack has shown promise, and he certainly has the speed to run an uptempo offense a la the Suns that would suit the young athleticism that Portland has right now. Blake is a slow douchebag that is lucky to even be in the NBA.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
How can you jump from Oden’s surgery to next year’s lottery. No exhibition games have even been played. If you’re looking at previous year abilities, I’d still say there have been much worse looking lineups than what the blazers have. When the hornets lost chris paul and peja and david west last year, they still almost made the playoffs because of rasual butler, jannero pargo, and tyson chandler. While Kevin McHale coaches the T’Wolves and the Blazers have Nate McMillan in charge of a bunch of young guys, I’d take most any lineup.