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Lakers Play Some Defense In First Game And Oden Gets Hurt

The Lakers look much different than last year. They did two things that people would not expect to see them do. They actually played some good defense. They rotated well and they were able to leave players like Prizbilla and Oden open for a second but still get back on defense. They also defended the pick and roll very well.

The second thing they did that most people wouldn’t expect is they played at a faster pace. They have gotten rid of the crappy triangle offense and they are running. It is only one game but they did look very good last night.

On the Portland side Rudy Fernandez was doing his thing. He is going to help them out a lot this season. He had 16 points off the bench in 29 minutes.

The bad news for Portland besides the fact that they got blew out is that Greg Oden injured his food. I am sure Portland fans cried themselves to sleep last night but to me it look like a simple injury that could have him out for maybe a few games.

Bynum And Oden Impress In Preseason Debuts

Lakers fans were anxious to get their first look at Andrew Bynum in months just as Blazers fans were anxious to get their first look at Greg Oden. Both players looked good. Bynum came off the Lakers bench to score 15 points and grab 8 rebounds. He had several short jumpers which is great to see. Although he played well, he did have four turnovers, so he still has a way to go.

Oden looked a bit heavy but you would expect that since he hasn’t played much the last year. He was able to score 13 points, grab 5 rebounds, and pick up 2 blocks. Most of his points came on dunks so he still has to develop an offensive game but he will help the Blazers out a lot on defense.

Portland Playing Well

The Blazers have taken the entire NBA by surprise in the last few weeks they have won 10 straight games. This is a shock to most people because Greg Oden is out for the entire season. They have overcome the lost of Oden and they have been following the lead of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Even though the Blazers are knocking off every challenger, it is early in the season and in the end I do not think they will make the playoffs. A lot of teams like Utah and Houston are playing bad but they will get back on track and the Blazers be on the outside looking in.

Greg Oden Out For Season

Greg Oden’s knee injury is a lot worse than everyone thought. He is expected to be out for the entire season after undergoing micro-fracture surgery. It is a devastating blow to the franchise due to the fact that they once selected Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan. Bowie’s career was held back by injuries.

Since the Blazers choose Oden over Durant this injury probably has the Blazers organizations and blazers fans feeling deja vu.

Legit Summer League Players

A lot of people bash the NBA summer league because their is always a player or two that kills and gets peoples hope up thinking they will do it in the regular season, but they don’t. Darius Miles had a few great summer leagues in the past but he hasn’t been much of a player when he has played. Qyntel Woods got his money in the summer leagues a while back and he isn’t in the league anymore.

This year has some guys that won’t do anything in the regular season like Marcus Banks and Von Wafer but their are a few guys that I see taking their summer league game straight into the regular season.

One of those guys is Louis Williams of the 76ers. He is a Iverson type player because he is an undersized scorer. Sitting behind Iverson for a year and a half taught him a lot and now he looks ready to play some real minutes. He probably won’t start but he could be a solid sixth man and a person that plays a ton of crunch time minutes next season.

LaMarcus Aldridge is another player that should take his summer league game into the regular season. He no longer has to sit behind Zach Randolph and wait to get minutes, the PF spot is all his. With his minutes likely to hit the 35 to 40 range next season expect him to average a double-double.

Rany Foye is another guy that can’t wait for the season to start. Things were weird with the Wolves last season because the brought in Foye and signed Mike James a year after drafting Rashad McCants and they already had Troy Hudson and Jaric. With James gone, Rashad coming off a injury season, Hudson being washed up, and Jaric just being trash, Foye will be ready to take advantage of his increase in playing time by averaging at least 16ppg.

Oden And Durant Not Looking So Great In Summer League Play

Both Greg Oden and Kevin Durant have played two summer league games and they have both failed to impress. Oden has been hacking, missing easy shots, and getting shots blocked. Durant has been missing shots, getting shots blocked, and not getting involved in anything outside of shooting.

It is not a surprise to see Oden playing the way he is because he doesn’t really have a great offensive game. Defensively he is working hard to hange shots and block shots.

I am a bit surprised at how Durant is playing. He seems to be nervous and lacking confidence. He is missing shots he would normally hit and he has not been getting many rebounds. I am sure before the end of the summer league that he will have a good 20 and 10 game but right now he needs to stop thinking and start playing.

Zach Randolph Highlights

Draft Night Trades

A couple of trades actually went down yesterday although KG was not one of the guys to be moved. The Sonics traded Ray Allen and the number 35 pick Glen Davis to Boston for Delonte West, Wally S., and the number 5 pick Jeff Green. By making this move the Sonics say that they want to keep Rashard Lewis and have a big lineup with Green at the two, Durant at the 3, and Lewis at the 4.

Overall I think the Sonics should have kept Ray Allen, he is 32 but he has gotten better the last few years. He is the best shooter in the NBA and would have teamed up great with Durant. The biggest reason I don’t understand the trade is because the Sonics made it seem like they were picked Durant to replace Lewis, but now they want to keep Lewis. They would have been better off keeping having a line of Ridnour, Allen, Durant, Lewis, and Wilcox.

The Knicks traded Channing Frye & Steve Francis to Portland for Zach Randolph, Dan Dikau, and Fred Jones. Some people like the trade for Portland because they are getting rid of a guy that has had some problems. Others say they did not get much for Randolph and they should have kept him to play next to Oden. On the Knick side some are happy and others think he is too similar to Eddy Curry.

I think the Blazers should have kept him to play along side Greg Oden he averaged 23 and 10 which is not something a ton of players do. With this trade the Knicks add some offensive player and rebounder that is known for being a bad defender, although many in the NBA are. It also gives them a more solid lineup. We know now that Curry is the center, Randolph is the PF, Jefferies is the SF, Crawford is the SG, and Marbury is the PG. No more mixing and matching lineups, no more starting mediocre forwards, or starting two point guards for the Knicks.

The Blazers plan to buyout Francis, the deal for him was more for cap relief. Frye will also be a solid edition but I think they should have kept Randolph.

The Warriors traded Jason Richardson the Bobcats for Brendan Wright and Jamareo Davidson. I don’t think it was a good deal for either team. I Warriors are already a very thin team, during the playoffs they stuck with a 8 man rotation. Now the traded Richardson for two rookies that might not be able to contribute right away. It also hurts them in the backcourt once Baron Davis takes his annual trip to the injured list. They will be stuck with Monta Ellis trying to carry the load.

For the Bobcats I think it was a bad move because Adam Morrison is supposed to be their SG of the future. If they keep Wallace and he play SF, then Richardson will start at the SG, and Felton at the PG, leaving Morrison on the bench. Michael Jordan said he wanted a go to scorer and he feels that is what he go in Richardson. I don’t see that with Richardson because he is a bad ball handler. In Golden State he had Arenas and Davis getting him the ball in perfect position. In Charlotte they will ask him to create and that will only lead to a ton of turnovers.

Greg Oden Will Be The First Pick In The Draft

It came out yesterday that the Blazers plan to take Greg Oden in the draft. A lot of people were mad saying it takes away from the mystery of the draft but we all had to know that they would pick Oden.

With that information coming out yesterday I made the easiest $10 of my life. A guy I know bet me $10 that the Blazers would take Durant.

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