Derrick Rose is so fast with the ball. He reminds me a lot of Jason Kidd when he drives the ball from one end to the other end. So fast with the ball.
Pau Gasol was dominating the 1st quarter. I don't like the dude but he fits the Lakers' offense perfectly. Good shooter, good passer, can play in the high post, can get up and down the court and finish on the break, has good bball IQ, etc... The Lakers' skill and length is extremely frustrating for the opposition. They move the ball extremely well and pass over the top of everybody. As of now, I can't see any team beating them in a 7-game series. No team has fewer weaknesses. The Celtics are the only team that has a chance because of their hacking, lockdown defense.
Oden is a real deal! BTW, it is such a difficult thing to pass the ball to a traditional center. Not just Yao and the rockets, Oden and the Blazers have a similar problem.
You may be right but doesn't that seem a bit premature? Injury risk alone would prevent me from writing that in stone.
I'm not sold on Oden yet but it's hard to question D. Rose. Kid plays like he's been in the league for 5 years. Very special talent.
One thing is for sure: The Lakers announcers are massively annoying. I'm not just saying that because I don't like the Lakers, either. Their announcers are genuinely annoying. I was listening to the Celtics announcers earlier and they are actually just as bad. It makes you appreciate Worrell and Bullard. I think Worrell is kind of an old fuddy duddy and is kind of out of touch at times, but at least he doesn't get on your nerves.
Oden is looking pretty good. When he gets the ball close, he's trying to rip the screws out. His legs seem fresh. Maybe I miss something, american big guys are taught to finish strong and at the rim, but the internagional guys finesse a lot.
I think that is spot on, lee. Foreign big men generally play more of a finesse game compared to American bigs (Okur, Dirk, Gasol, Yao, etc...). One thing I notice about Oden is that he seems flat-footed and has poor footwork. I also don't see him every being a good mid-range shooter. If he can become dominant in the paint and stay healthy, he'll be an impact player. Otherwise, the Blazers may regret passing on Durant in a few years.
Unreal. Did anybody see those last two plays in the Warriors game? Up by 5 with about 15 seconds left, the Warriors had possession at their end of the court. Roy steals an inbound pass and lays it in. The Warriors throw it in again and it bounces off a Warrior. Now 11 seconds and Blazer ball, down by 3.
Oden looks incredibly gangly and clumsy out there, yet he is still effective. If he just improves his footwork to average, he could be a franchise player. The main thing he needs right now is game experience. His mobility has markedly improved game to game. So has his endurance. We'll see where he levels off.
Outlaw gets fouled with about 5 seconds left. He makes the first and tries to miss the 2nd. He accidentally makes it and the Blazers would be down by 1 but he steps over the line two quick and they take away the 2nd point. Then Rudy almost steals another inbound pass and they call a foul on him. It looked like it should have been called on Jackson. Rudy gets a tech and now the Warriors are up by 3 with 2 FTs coming. Crazy finish.
I agree. Jackson fouled him twice. Tough loss for the Blazers but not too much sympathy after what they pulled on us.
