Joseph Freeman Is Going to Surgery Again
The Morning Oregonian, the local poor excuse for a newspaper, had an article past Joe Freeman on the Blazers progress at midseason, with the game against the Milwaukee Bucks being their 41st of the flavour.
They had four pictures spread beyond the front end folio, including Nicolas Batum as the surprise
and a picture of Greg Oden. That picture was labeled, "The Disappointment."
Harsh.
Uncalled for.
Inaccurate.
That was equally far as I made it into the article because I consider it a cheap shot. Oden is still an NBA rookie and a basketball neophyte.
He is in his beginning yr playing after microfracture surgery, a surgery that established All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire took over a year later returning to the flooring to go right from.
And with all that, he is averaging eight points and seven rebounds in only 22 minutes a game. Those are some pretty nice numbers, but they don't tell the whole story. He has had a huge, game-irresolute impact on the Blazers.
Concluding year, they were a poor rebounding team. This year they win the boxing of the boards by almost five rebounds per night. That change can exist laid at the feet of Mr. Oden.
It is not just the boards he gets, it is the fashion he draws opponents and allows other Blazers to get rebounds that went to the opponents last year.
It would exist easy to signal to his 24-signal, fifteen-rebound night against the Bucks and make hay with it, but that is merely one game. He has had bigger impacts on games where he has scored less.
More chiefly, he has besides showed continual progress. He is getting better nigh putting the brawl on the floor before taking his showtime steps, thus reducing the traveling calls against him.
He is showing some hook shots and has even shown some nifty upwards and under, finger-roll blazon moves. His offensive game is developing nicely.
Additionally, he is showing much improved lateral motility and quickness. There were moments against the Bucks where he was defenseless confronting wing players on defense. He did non brand any steals, but he did a great job of controlling the space and forcing them to pass off.
His quickness is starting to really modify the nature of the game for Portland, allowing them to stay closer to the opposing iii-point threats, a real weakness early in the season.
Just Freeman doesn't seem to run across any of that. His depression-accident against Oden would be enough reason to abolish my Oregonian subscription had I wasted money on one previously. I guess you can tell my depression opinion of the rag and extrapolate how likely it is I would have a subscription to cancel...not very.
Meanwhile, this was most far more than than just Oden having an outstanding, dominating game. He had help on the inside from LaMarcus Aldridge, who seemingly scored at will, including a half-dozen-7 offset half.
He had help on the wings from Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw. It was peculiarly gratifying to see Outlaw accept another spectacular night. He is a game-changer when he is on.
Outlaw is i of the well-nigh maligned Blazers at a lot of team sites. Calls for him to exist traded are matched or exceeded simply by calls for Steve Blake and/or Sergio Rodriguez. The fans simply do not encompass how valuable Outlaw is to the Blazers.
He is so talented athletically that he is one of the few guys outside of Brandon Roy who can create offense for himself off the dribble.
He can elevate so high that double teams are irrelevant as he simply rises above them. Rising is what he does best, such as rising to the occasion in the fourth quarter of close games when teams are able to put the clamps on Roy.
Against Milwaukee, he did not often demand to. The Blazers completely controlled the boards, winning the battle by a full of 58-30. The extra possessions permit them pound the ball inside to Oden and Aldridge, which created open looks for everyone else.
All night, the Bucks were simply overpowered, staying in the game due to 12 first-half Blazer turnovers and far superior gratis throw shooting.
Once Portland stopped turning the ball over, they took control of the game and nigh of the second half was spent with a double-digit lead, though the Bucks made a few runs to become inside virtually eight points before Portland took control over again.
Overall, a very entertaining game, but I always take something to complain about, so here goes.
LaMarcus Aldridge had a tremendous game. He shot 8-13 from the field (i of them an end-of-quarter halfcourt boost, so really he shot 66 percent on reasonable shots), and 6-6 from the line. He dialed up another 9 rebounds. He played defense. '
He just didn't play for the final 9:16.
Office of that was considering Oden was controlling the inside and his post-upwardly game wasn't needed. Part was because the out-manned, foul-plagued Bucks were playing small-ball. Just every bit a huge Aldridge fan, it was difficult to scout.
Fortunately, the Blazers franchise provides diversions.
And wins, 102-85.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/113244-can-greg-oden-make-joe-freeman-shut-up
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