Summer League Game 2 - Observations

Greg Oden's second game was quite a bit better than his first. 13 points, five boards, four blocks and "only" nine fouls. Oden is obviously tired and out of shape but still managed a few ohmygosh moments, including a ferocious dunk over Pops Mensah-Bonsu where he drew is first NBA "T" for hanging on the rim. I think it was worth it.

Some other points from day 2.

• I know that many of the players are trying to earn their way onto rosters, but I have no idea about the refs. Are they training them to be the next generation of officials? All I know is, the third quarter of the Portland/Dallas game was unwatchable because of all the fouls. There was a segment of about four minutes where there was a foul at every end of the floor...and I don't think I'm exaggerating either.
• LaMarcus Aldridge has been dynamite in the two games. He runs well, has a great outside shot and just looks tougher all the way around. He's definitely the leader of the summer league team and appears to be responding to the role. I loved his first move of the game yesterday. He caught the ball on the block and swung the ball through about an inch from Mensah-Bonsu's nose. Powered his way into the paint and knocked Mensah-Bonsu off balance and then rose up for about a four foot fadeaway. Unfortunately, he missed the shot, but it was a great move and great shot that just didn't go. I get the feeling the Aldridge is just scratching the surface of his abilities
• The Blazers offense reminds me of the Mo Cheeks coached/Damon Stoudamire run teams of a few years back. So many high screens, so little action for anyone else. Aldridge and Oden are great screeners and Sergio Rodriguez is quick, but I'd like to see Portland do more of the high low action with Aldridge high looking for Oden low. It's unstoppable. If this is the offense that McMillan plans on running, they're better of with Brandon Roy at the point because he makes things happen with good decision making.
• I know they only got like a week or so to practice, but I think Portland's coaching staff could have come up with a more imaginative offense. The high screen every time down the floor often wastes a ton of time and Sergio makes a good decision with the pass about 1 out of every 3 trips down the floor. He cannot be counted on to run a team for 35 minutes a night.
• Martell Webster, despite the tough looking new 'do, is terrible. One of the worst ballhandler's I've ever seen. Literally has no left hand whatsoever. There was one particularly bad segment in the third quarter when he got the ball on the left hand wing, nearly lost it, bounced away from his defender (sort of), dribbled left and shot a disasterous fadeaway that led to a quick Mavs dunk the other way. Moments later he came off a high screen dribbling left, the post defender showed and Martell instantly lost the ball trying to spin away. The turnover led to another Mavs bucket. He really needs to step up or he could find himself in the "D" league again trying to earn a spot back in Portland or the NBA.
• Portland's guard play in general has been terrible. Bad offense, bad defense and bad passing. As I said, Sergio's success to failure ratio is not good and Martell is just so limited on both ends of the floor. Taurean Green has played admirably as the back-up and has not been clearly outplayed by Sergio. The other wings have not impressed me very much. Having Brandon Roy would help considerably...as would the addition of Travis Outlaw.
• I think Jarrett Jack should be feeling a lot better about his standing in Portland's rotation after the first two days. For some reason, Portland fan's love Sergio...for no real reason. Fans are dumb sometimes.
• Oden and Aldridge are definitely twin towers. Once they figure out how to work together and how to best complement each other...look out. They're both long and I think they're both very committed to basketball, winning and excellence. Those three things alone will take them far in this league.
• Oden is raw offensively. He'll rely on brute force and strength for much of his points early in his career. He's more Shaq than Tim Duncan in that regard. I'm hopeful that his post moves develop and he learns some counters to defensive positioning. He had a couple of ferocious dunks yesterday but probably the most impressive move was when he caught the ball no the left block, took a dribble to the middle, faked like he was going to spin towards the baseline and then finished a pretty left-handed jump hook. That the move was against Nick Fazekas is not lost on me but still, it was a very promising move.