He is what he is...
I need to take 15 minutes to clear up a few things about Greg Oden.
Everybody on Ohio State's campus says that Oden needs to work more on his offensive game.
Yes, Dorothy, he is a freshman center. That happens.
So let's clear out all the crap. Let's stop pretending that Oden isn't the serial hotness because he is. I know what he looks like. I know he looks older than he is, he needs refinement, whatever. He doesn't play with fire, or something. He needs to act excited to be there, he needs to do this, he needs that. That's weak.
Oden's not immature. He doesn't get T-d up or lose control of his emotions in big games. That's why his numbers are so great; he doesn't sulk for ten minute stretches, as college players are known to do (*cough* Josh McRoberts, Joakim Noah).
It isn't his fault that Thad Motta hasn't implemented an offensive scheme that doesn't rely solely on one-on-one basketball. Ohio State played the same way last year with Terrence Dials. They got owned in the tournament. They've lost most of their starters and shouldn't be where they're at.
Stupid remark #1:
"They look stagnant on offense, and that's because of Oden."
They're number one.
Yeah, I know the argument is contrived and occurs by default. Sue me, but don't sue Greg Oden, because it's not his fault. How many Buckeye fans thought they would sweep Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois and IU this year? Do you think they would be there if everyone was jacking up threes? At least Oden can rebound a miss.
Remark #2:
"Oden got used by Noah and was a non-factor against Wisconsin."
He's got redemption against the Badgers this week, and he did have six blocks in that game. Florida was his fourth game of his career, and the first time he was facing a legit team. He's not as clueless now.
Here's what I do know. Greg put up 19 and 9 against Minnesota in 21 minutes. That's a man's work. Oden's field goal percentage is 61 f****** percent. He shoots free throws with his wrong hand at a rate that's perfectly fine for an NBA center. He went 12 for 13 against Iowa. He has nothing left to prove in college.
The NBA's not fooled, folks. He's the number one pick for a reason. Nobody on earth thinks bust when they see Oden. They see Patrick Ewing, which, looking at how the Knicks are now, is a good thing.
*BEGIN OFF-TOPIC RANT*
Today I read an article about Bobby Knight, who complained that the NBA's age limit was the worst thing to happen to college basketball in a long period of time. His basic argument was that these kids had no reason to show up to second semester classes. He's not wrong.
Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are a blessing to watch, but shouldn't be in college uniforms this year. Neither should Bill Walker (is that guy attending second-semester classes out in Manhattan?), nor Brandon Wright, nor Spencer Hawes, nor Chase Budinger. Send 'em to the Big Show.
*END RANT*
And yet OSU fans, seemingly in denial of these obvious facts, seem content to judge Oden on his flaws. Whatever, kids. Save your expertise for football: you ain't got a clue about the hardwood. Memo to Buckeye fans: Who's the most successful pro athlete to come out of here in ten years? It might just be Michael Redd. My eyes, they tell me that when Greg Oden is in a Big 10 game, OSU's opponents become perimeter teams almost exclusively.
Opponent field goal percentage is .401. Opponent threes launched: 602.
Last night, Penn State took 53 shots-26 of which were threes. Last year, they attempted 17. Some guy named Cornley scored 18 points inside. This year, he got 7. Penn State fouled Greg Oden more than Shaq gets fouled on a given night. Five Penn State players had four fouls.
That's the Greg Oden experience. 17-14-3 last night. A one-handed man among boys; a giant among men. The #1 (or #2) pick. The serial hotness.
It's time Buckeye fans follow suit and represent.
Everybody on Ohio State's campus says that Oden needs to work more on his offensive game.
Yes, Dorothy, he is a freshman center. That happens.
So let's clear out all the crap. Let's stop pretending that Oden isn't the serial hotness because he is. I know what he looks like. I know he looks older than he is, he needs refinement, whatever. He doesn't play with fire, or something. He needs to act excited to be there, he needs to do this, he needs that. That's weak.
Oden's not immature. He doesn't get T-d up or lose control of his emotions in big games. That's why his numbers are so great; he doesn't sulk for ten minute stretches, as college players are known to do (*cough* Josh McRoberts, Joakim Noah).
It isn't his fault that Thad Motta hasn't implemented an offensive scheme that doesn't rely solely on one-on-one basketball. Ohio State played the same way last year with Terrence Dials. They got owned in the tournament. They've lost most of their starters and shouldn't be where they're at.
Stupid remark #1:
"They look stagnant on offense, and that's because of Oden."
They're number one.
Yeah, I know the argument is contrived and occurs by default. Sue me, but don't sue Greg Oden, because it's not his fault. How many Buckeye fans thought they would sweep Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois and IU this year? Do you think they would be there if everyone was jacking up threes? At least Oden can rebound a miss.
Remark #2:
"Oden got used by Noah and was a non-factor against Wisconsin."
He's got redemption against the Badgers this week, and he did have six blocks in that game. Florida was his fourth game of his career, and the first time he was facing a legit team. He's not as clueless now.
Here's what I do know. Greg put up 19 and 9 against Minnesota in 21 minutes. That's a man's work. Oden's field goal percentage is 61 f****** percent. He shoots free throws with his wrong hand at a rate that's perfectly fine for an NBA center. He went 12 for 13 against Iowa. He has nothing left to prove in college.
The NBA's not fooled, folks. He's the number one pick for a reason. Nobody on earth thinks bust when they see Oden. They see Patrick Ewing, which, looking at how the Knicks are now, is a good thing.
*BEGIN OFF-TOPIC RANT*
Today I read an article about Bobby Knight, who complained that the NBA's age limit was the worst thing to happen to college basketball in a long period of time. His basic argument was that these kids had no reason to show up to second semester classes. He's not wrong.
Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are a blessing to watch, but shouldn't be in college uniforms this year. Neither should Bill Walker (is that guy attending second-semester classes out in Manhattan?), nor Brandon Wright, nor Spencer Hawes, nor Chase Budinger. Send 'em to the Big Show.
*END RANT*
And yet OSU fans, seemingly in denial of these obvious facts, seem content to judge Oden on his flaws. Whatever, kids. Save your expertise for football: you ain't got a clue about the hardwood. Memo to Buckeye fans: Who's the most successful pro athlete to come out of here in ten years? It might just be Michael Redd. My eyes, they tell me that when Greg Oden is in a Big 10 game, OSU's opponents become perimeter teams almost exclusively.
Opponent field goal percentage is .401. Opponent threes launched: 602.
Last night, Penn State took 53 shots-26 of which were threes. Last year, they attempted 17. Some guy named Cornley scored 18 points inside. This year, he got 7. Penn State fouled Greg Oden more than Shaq gets fouled on a given night. Five Penn State players had four fouls.
That's the Greg Oden experience. 17-14-3 last night. A one-handed man among boys; a giant among men. The #1 (or #2) pick. The serial hotness.
It's time Buckeye fans follow suit and represent.
posted by mike at 3:56 PM
4 Comments:
This is what I like to call, "Michael laying the smack down."
i thought for sure i had lost all my readers, when much to my dismay, i find one reader left.
how's life?
I hate school. Other than that, life is excellent.
Michael, you should call the Jim Rome show and enter the Smack Off. Yes, I still check your blog for new posts.
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