Portychat

brink wrote:
> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have gone
> 4-2 and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another impressive road
> win over a resurgent Miami team.
>
> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal,

The first 5 games from the previous season records was the toughest in
NBA history. 2-3 there was pretty good.

so if
> they can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the
> schedule finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a
> great push down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable seed.
>
> I didn't see tonight's game,

It was all about RUUUU-DY last night.


> how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look
> tonight? Gimpy, rusty, spry?

Very Rusty, Nervous and not up to nba game speed mentally.

> I was shocked they brought him back so early.

Was not early. The report on the foot sprain was 2 to 4 weeks and it
had been just over 2 weeks.
Nate is going to play him 15 to 20 min off the bench for awhile.
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Terraholm wrote:
> brink wrote:
>> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have gone
>> 4-2 and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another impressive road
>> win over a resurgent Miami team.
>>
>> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal,
>
> The first 5 games from the previous season records was the toughest in
> NBA history. 2-3 there was pretty good.
>
> so if
>> they can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the
>> schedule finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a
>> great push down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable
>> seed.
>>
>> I didn't see tonight's game,
>
> It was all about RUUUU-DY last night.
>
>
>> how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look tonight? Gimpy, rusty, spry?
>
> Very Rusty, Nervous and not up to nba game speed mentally.
>
>> I was shocked they brought him back so early.
>
> Was not early. The report on the foot sprain was 2 to 4 weeks and it
> had been just over 2 weeks.
> Nate is going to play him 15 to 20 min off the bench for awhile.

We're gonna have to start charging you guys rent. The economy's in the
tank, y'know.....
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"brink" <brinknospam.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6o20hlF18dc4U1@mid.individual.net...
> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have gone 4-2
> and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another impressive road win
> over a resurgent Miami team.
>
> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal, so if they
> can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the schedule
> finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a great push
> down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable seed.
>
> I didn't see tonight's game, how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look tonight?
> Gimpy, rusty, spry? I was shocked they brought him back so early.
>

He had 2 pts, 2 rebs & 1 blk in his first 2 minutes with the pts coming off
a nice put back dunk. After that he pretty much plugged up the middle, got
another blk (he had a 3rd, but the play was negated due to an offensive foul
by the Heat player before putting up the shot) & went 1-2 from the FT line.

I think Nate is doing the right thing bringing him off the bence for 12-15
mins a game for a while, both to get him in playing shape & to take some of
the pressure off him. All he has to do is be a denfensive presence in the
paint, rebound & get an occasional putback. Anything else is gravy.

Go Blazers !
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"Chainsaw" <none.TakeThisOut@all.net> wrote in message
news:kpYSk.10434$Ws1.2207@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
> Terraholm wrote:
>> brink wrote:
>>> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have gone
>>> 4-2 and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another impressive road
>>> win over a resurgent Miami team.
>>>
>>> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal,
>>
>> The first 5 games from the previous season records was the toughest in
>> NBA history. 2-3 there was pretty good.
>>
>> so if
>>> they can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the
>>> schedule finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a
>>> great push down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable
>>> seed.
>>>
>>> I didn't see tonight's game,
>>
>> It was all about RUUUU-DY last night.
>>
>>
>>> how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look tonight? Gimpy, rusty, spry?
>>
>> Very Rusty, Nervous and not up to nba game speed mentally.
>>
>>> I was shocked they brought him back so early.
>>
>> Was not early. The report on the foot sprain was 2 to 4 weeks and it had
>> been just over 2 weeks.
>> Nate is going to play him 15 to 20 min off the bench for awhile.
>
> We're gonna have to start charging you guys rent. The economy's in the
> tank, y'know.....
>

Check's in the mail. : )

Go Blazers !
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"Swillabrew" <dontspam.DeleteThis@any.net> wrote in message
news:yaudnXAGNPoEwYHUnZ2dnUVZ_tXinZ2d@scnresearch.com...
> "brink" <brinknospam.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:6o20hlF18dc4U1@mid.individual.net...
>> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have gone
>> 4-2 and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another impressive road
>> win over a resurgent Miami team.
>>
>> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal, so if
>> they can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the
>> schedule finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a
>> great push down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable
>> seed.
>>
>> I didn't see tonight's game, how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look tonight?
>> Gimpy, rusty, spry? I was shocked they brought him back so early.
>>
>
> He had 2 pts, 2 rebs & 1 blk in his first 2 minutes with the pts coming
> off a nice put back dunk. After that he pretty much plugged up the
> middle, got another blk (he had a 3rd, but the play was negated due to an
> offensive foul by the Heat player before putting up the shot) & went 1-2
> from the FT line.
>
> I think Nate is doing the right thing bringing him off the bence for 12-15
> mins a game for a while, both to get him in playing shape & to take some
> of the pressure off him. All he has to do is be a denfensive presence in
> the paint, rebound & get an occasional putback. Anything else is gravy.

Sounds a little like the plan with Bynum, although Drew's minutes aren't so
limited... he's playing more like 30 MPG. But right now the offense isn't
running through him hardly at all, his primary responsibility is defense
(which he's doing GREAT) and the offensive game is mostly gravy.

They both have a lot of pressure on them, Greg because he was a super-hyped
#1 and Drew because he just signed a huge extension with the team many
people call the favorites to win it all.

I'm hoping by the next LA/Porty meeting, they're both up the challenge more
than they were opening night.

brink
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Chainsaw wrote:
> Terraholm wrote:
>> brink wrote:
>>> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have
>>> gone 4-2 and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another
>>> impressive road win over a resurgent Miami team.
>>>
>>> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal,
>>
>> The first 5 games from the previous season records was the toughest in
>> NBA history. 2-3 there was pretty good.
>>
>> so if
>>> they can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the
>>> schedule finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a
>>> great push down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable
>>> seed.
>>>
>>> I didn't see tonight's game,
>>
>> It was all about RUUUU-DY last night.
>>
>>
>>> how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look tonight? Gimpy, rusty, spry?
>>
>> Very Rusty, Nervous and not up to nba game speed mentally.
>>
>>> I was shocked they brought him back so early.
>>
>> Was not early. The report on the foot sprain was 2 to 4 weeks and it
>> had been just over 2 weeks.
>> Nate is going to play him 15 to 20 min off the bench for awhile.
>
> We're gonna have to start charging you guys rent. The economy's in the
> tank, y'know.....

Half of asbnll just sent me $5. ;-)
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"brink" <brinknospam.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6o3j5lF1meljU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Swillabrew" <dontspam.DeleteThis@any.net> wrote in message
> news:yaudnXAGNPoEwYHUnZ2dnUVZ_tXinZ2d@scnresearch.com...
>> "brink" <brinknospam.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:6o20hlF18dc4U1@mid.individual.net...
>>> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have gone
>>> 4-2 and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another impressive road
>>> win over a resurgent Miami team.
>>>
>>> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal, so if
>>> they can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the
>>> schedule finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a
>>> great push down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable
>>> seed.
>>>
>>> I didn't see tonight's game, how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look
>>> tonight? Gimpy, rusty, spry? I was shocked they brought him back so
>>> early.
>>>
>>
>> He had 2 pts, 2 rebs & 1 blk in his first 2 minutes with the pts coming
>> off a nice put back dunk. After that he pretty much plugged up the
>> middle, got another blk (he had a 3rd, but the play was negated due to an
>> offensive foul by the Heat player before putting up the shot) & went 1-2
>> from the FT line.
>>
>> I think Nate is doing the right thing bringing him off the bence for
>> 12-15 mins a game for a while, both to get him in playing shape & to take
>> some of the pressure off him. All he has to do is be a denfensive
>> presence in the paint, rebound & get an occasional putback. Anything
>> else is gravy.
>
> Sounds a little like the plan with Bynum, although Drew's minutes aren't
> so limited... he's playing more like 30 MPG. But right now the offense
> isn't running through him hardly at all, his primary responsibility is
> defense (which he's doing GREAT) and the offensive game is mostly gravy.
>
> They both have a lot of pressure on them, Greg because he was a
> super-hyped #1 and Drew because he just signed a huge extension with the
> team many people call the favorites to win it all.
>
> I'm hoping by the next LA/Porty meeting, they're both up the challenge
> more than they were opening night.
>
> brink

I can see Bynum becoming more important to the Lakers offense as he
progresses, but I don't think Oden will ever be a focal point of ours. I do
share your hope that they will both be more entertaining to watch the next
time they meet, especially GO.

Go Blazers !
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Swillabrew wrote:
>
> I can see Bynum becoming more important to the Lakers offense as he
> progresses, but I don't think Oden will ever be a focal point of
> ours. I do share your hope that they will both be more entertaining
> to watch the next time they meet, especially GO.

I haven't seen enough of Oden to form an opinion on him, but Bynum does have
the basic tools to become a good offensive player. He can make 12-foot
jumpers and the occasional hook shot, but his post game is still unrefined.
He seemed to be making progress developing his post game when he got hurt
last season. He is not a good finisher around the basket in traffic, though.
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Alson Wong wrote:
> Swillabrew wrote:
>>
>> I can see Bynum becoming more important to the Lakers offense as he
>> progresses, but I don't think Oden will ever be a focal point of
>> ours. I do share your hope that they will both be more entertaining
>> to watch the next time they meet, especially GO.
>
> I haven't seen enough of Oden to form an opinion on him, but Bynum does
> have the basic tools to become a good offensive player. He can make
> 12-foot jumpers and the occasional hook shot, but his post game is still
> unrefined. He seemed to be making progress developing his post game when
> he got hurt last season. He is not a good finisher around the basket in
> traffic, though.

Very accurate assessment, Doc. Hopefully as he matures he'll get more
forceful around the hoop.
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"Alson Wong" <rasvp DeleteThis @yahoo.com._b_l_o_c_k_> wrote in message
news:zN2Tk.15$qh4.3@newsfe04.iad...
> Swillabrew wrote:
>>
>> I can see Bynum becoming more important to the Lakers offense as he
>> progresses, but I don't think Oden will ever be a focal point of
>> ours. I do share your hope that they will both be more entertaining
>> to watch the next time they meet, especially GO.
>
> I haven't seen enough of Oden to form an opinion on him, but Bynum does
> have the basic tools to become a good offensive player. He can make
> 12-foot jumpers and the occasional hook shot, but his post game is still
> unrefined. He seemed to be making progress developing his post game when
> he got hurt last season. He is not a good finisher around the basket in
> traffic, though.

By January last year, just before his injury, his confidence was soaring and
he showed us what he's capable of offensively. I said he looked like a
Duncan-type player: not a high leaper but long arms/big hands designed for
rebounding and shot blocking, excellent footwork, good passer, a really nice
array of post moves and great touch around the rim. He doesn't have
Duncan's range or polish of course, but Drew is young and still has a crazy
amount of upside.

I know that sounds like hyperbole, to compare him to the best NBA player of
the last 10 years, but the way he was playing I really do think he has that
kind of potential. He doesn't play like Howard, Shaq, or Yao, that's for
sure.

brink
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Alson Wong wrote:
> Swillabrew wrote:
>>
>> I can see Bynum becoming more important to the Lakers offense as he
>> progresses, but I don't think Oden will ever be a focal point of
>> ours. I do share your hope that they will both be more entertaining
>> to watch the next time they meet, especially GO.
>
> I haven't seen enough of Oden to form an opinion on him, but Bynum does
> have the basic tools to become a good offensive player. He can make
> 12-foot jumpers and the occasional hook shot, but his post game is still
> unrefined. He seemed to be making progress developing his post game when
> he got hurt last season. He is not a good finisher around the basket in
> traffic, though.

ESPN's David Thorpe's take on Oden from the game (more positive than mine):

Portland rookie Greg Oden looked better, physically, than he did a few
weeks ago. I noticed that a few days ago in person, and I still feel
that way after seeing him on television.

He is about 7 to 10 pounds lighter. His early energy was good. This guy
has some agility, despite being so large and away from the game for so
long. In time, that agility will triple in impact on the game. I liked
his aggression from the post when the Heat doubled him, twice passing
out and getting the pass deflected, only to see him hustle to regain
possession.

As the game wore on, his bounce and reaction time suffered. It's
important to remember that there is so much going through his mind;
defensive responsibilities, awareness to help on finishers (he had two
power blocks), block-out duties, etc. As the game slows down for him,
he'll clear his head and get back to being a beast on the glass. That's
his natural instinct. He may have looked rough in the post Wednesday
night, but as he learns what NBA teams will do to stop him, he and his
teammates and coaches will come up with strategies to counter those actions.

He is a very cerebral player with a good feel for the game, so I expect
that learning curve to be both steep and fast.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2008/11/game_reaction_blazers_104_miam.html
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brink wrote:
> After getting waxed opening night by the Lakers, the Blazers have gone
> 4-2 and even got Greg Odom back tonight in yet another impressive road
> win over a resurgent Miami team.
>
> The Blazers' schedule to start the season is absolutely brutal, so if
> they can just hang around .500 until around mid-December when the
> schedule finally lightens up for them, they should be able to make a
> great push down the stretch for not just the playoffs but a favorable seed.
>
> I didn't see tonight's game, how did the 40-Year-Old Rookie look
> tonight? Gimpy, rusty, spry? I was shocked they brought him back so early.
>

2nd game did not look like a stranded fish on a beach....
24 min. 11 pts on 3-3 FG and 5-6 FTs, 11 rebs and 4 blocks.
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