Greg Oden Watch

[RexBoyWonder]

Cavs game grade : B-

Played a season high 14 minutes (7 straight to start both halfs) finished in the paint nicely afew times but also missed a few bunnies, only fouled twice and had 2 huge blocks.

Starting to see some progress no?

[twix2500]

I think this is the first time Miami has directly made a move because of Indy. With Bynum taking his stint with Indy seriously, Miami is altering their lineup to combat Bynum as Indy second unit. It appears Miami is preparing their team to counter when Bynum come into the game, to expose his lack of quickness and conditioning by playing high tempo small ball.

[shanedude]

Some observations:

1.Great hands. His offense is limited to being a good catch and finisher. No confidence in his post game.

2.Plays too close up to who he's defending and gets blown by like it ain't no thang. Needs to give some guys a cushion.

3. 2 steals and 2 blocks in 14 minutes!.

I think starting Greg, even in these limited minutes is going to be great for him.

[AlexCRO]

Cavs game grade : B-

Played a season high 14 minutes (7 straight to start both halfs) finished in the paint nicely afew times but also missed a few bunnies, only fouled twice and had 2 huge blocks.

Starting to see some progress no?

the progress is real, i was watching some of his highlights vs other teams this season before the cleveland game and he is way better, but with that sad i certainly think he can get better, he still doesnt have his legs under him...

[Jaxon]

I think this is the first time Miami has directly made a move because of Indy. With Bynum taking his stint with Indy seriously, Miami is altering their lineup to combat Bynum as Indy second unit. It appears Miami is preparing their team to counter when Bynum come into the game, to expose his lack of quickness and conditioning by playing high tempo small ball.

Incorrect. Oden was moved into the starting line-up because it became clear it was no longer feasible to continue starting Battier at the 4 and Bosh at the 5, and Oden is the best traditional center on the team. Miami is not concerned with what Indiana does.

[LBJ-ITALY]

I like what I'm seeing from Oden! Keep it going big man and you will be fine...

[AlexCRO]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/20229/heat-reaction-grading-heat-cavaliers-2

" Fat bastard " gave Oden a grade C... OMFG... go eat a donut or something you are trippin fatty

[Dupas]

Get a starter C next year = not even fair for league

[heater4life]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/20229/heat-reaction-grading-heat-cavaliers-2

" Fat bastard " gave Oden a grade C... OMFG... go eat a donut or something you are trippin fatty

Yes, "Oden hurt the cause" according to fatty. Yet he shot 50%, had to 2 blocked shots that lead to fast break points, a steal deflection that lead to another pair of point, and overall had a plus 8 when he was on the floor.

Hes a heat hater wrapped in lard.

[TMIMITW]

Oden progression and move to the starting line up has Pat Riley all over it. Once he is consistant and regular expect the bench to be bolstered by ray, beasley birdman, batty, and cole. I predict there will be times that the big three wont even be on the floor once the rhythm gets flowing

[GetMoney]

Oden progression and move to the starting line up has Pat Riley all over it. Once he is consistant and regular expect the bench to be bolstered by ray, beasley birdman, batty, and cole. I predict there will be times that the big three wont even be on the floor once the rhythm gets flowing

i predict the +/- of that lineup to average -10

[MBash721]

Oden goes up against Portland tomorrow.... that will be interesting for him.... I wonder how the crowd would react to him if the game was in Portland

[BaffLer]

Oden goes up against Portland tomorrow.... that will be interesting for him.... I wonder how the crowd would react to him if the game was in Portland

I'm fairly certain Oden would receive a warm reception from Portland. I'm sure deep down Oden would have loved to give more to the Trailblazers' organization but due to his injuries it stopped that from happening. Oden was the 1st pick for them and he seems like a really nice guy and is definitely hard worker. A LOT of people who aren't Heat fans still root for Oden to get healthy and when he is on the court putting in work it puts a smile on everyone's face because of how far he's come.

[RJM]

Agreed. Oden didn't leave. They cut him. Let's make sure that's clear and on the record. I wish they had never drafted him. Their luck with big men has been atrocious. Walton, Bowie, Sabonis, and then Oden. Ridiculous.

[Bourne85]

I personally see oden more on a negative than a positive. Our offense looks like ass with him on the floor, and his defense is suspect, fouls too much. I don't think he is the answer to our C problem.

This team needs a quick versatile center, maybe okafer or someone like David lee even though he is more of a PF. The best fit would be Sanders from the bucks. This team just isn't built to have a slow 7 footer clogging up the paint. Sorry to sound negative but he just doesn't fit the "system" here.

[RSCD3_]

I personally see oden more on a negative than a positive. Our offense looks like ass with him on the floor, and his defense is suspect, fouls too much. I don't think he is the answer to our C problem.

This team needs a quick versatile center, maybe okafer or someone like David lee even though he is more of a PF. The best fit would be Sanders from the bucks. This team just isn't built to have a slow 7 footer clogging up the paint. Sorry to sound negative but he just doesn't fit the "system" here.

Okafor is not a quick center and he is coming off of a neck surgery he will also be worth a lot based on name alone

david lee is a sieve on defense terrible at helping which our "system" requires if he was our center roy hibbert would become wilt chamberlain.

By the way when we play Indiana, we will drop our bigs back on the pick and roll like I saw during the previous indy games this year.

oden might not be the best thing since sliced bread but he is a better option than what the market is for back up biugs. Im grateful we have have him and I am hoping he can help us not just now but down the road

[heatlespeatles]

Should have picked up slow ass Hamed Haddadi like I said, better than nothing.

[KingDavid]

I personally see oden more on a negative than a positive. Our offense looks like ass with him on the floor, and his defense is suspect, fouls too much. I don't think he is the answer to our C problem.

This team needs a quick versatile center, maybe okafer or someone like David lee even though he is more of a PF. The best fit would be Sanders from the bucks. This team just isn't built to have a slow 7 footer clogging up the paint. Sorry to sound negative but he just doesn't fit the "system" here.

the stats dont agree with you. Oden defensively is a nightmare for teams because they cant go inside. Yes, id expect someone who, before a couple months ago, hasnt played in a professional game in four years to be rusty and a bit foul prone. That will smooth out with time as it has been thus far. Hes not a center that can hang with fast athletic centers, yet he does great against big traditional ones. Hes still not in nba shape as you can see by the rate he gets winded. Youre judging him negatively way too soon and you seem a bit biased as well since you didnt mention any positives about Oden. What kills us are points in the paint and rebounds. When hes in the game he boxes out and gets boards and puts his teammates in position to get boards. He also deters players from driving inside and gets a good amount of blocks. Hes not someone you can float off of eother because he has great hands and can finish. He is not in game shape yet but his potential supercedes everyone we've had at the 5 since shaq and zo.

Youre blaming the wrong player/person for our shortcomings

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[PaulieWal]

I personally see oden more on a negative than a positive. Our offense looks like ass with him on the floor, and his defense is suspect, fouls too much. I don't think he is the answer to our C problem.

This team needs a quick versatile center, maybe okafer or someone like David lee even though he is more of a PF. The best fit would be Sanders from the bucks. This team just isn't built to have a slow 7 footer clogging up the paint. Sorry to sound negative but he just doesn't fit the "system" here.

That's not even remotely close to being true. Yes, he throws the offense off a little but he has been pretty good overall. Except for the last 2-3 games he has played where he hasn't been that great he has been good overall. Tom Haberstroh said that Miami's two big lineups with Bosh & Bird/Oden have been killer and have done really well on the season with their +/-. People were expecting too much from Oden but he is going to be a positive for us. Yes, he isn't going to be playing 30 minutes a game and he still makes a lot of mistakes but guess what? There is no way with him playing even 15 minutes a game Hibbert is going to go off for 22/12 like he did last year. Hibbert feasts on an undersized Bosh and West on Battier. Those 15 minutes that Oden is on Hibbert and Bosh on West subsequently are going to be huge.

[Bourne85]

Well I hope you guys are right, I am pulling for the guy. I just don't think he fits our team, but it is, what it is.