This probably isn’t going to be the most popular opinion in Rip City right now, but Joel Przybilla should continue to be Portland’s man in the middle.
It goes beyond what he was able to do against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night when he with finished 14 points and 9 rebounds. Instead, it’s about continuing to provide Greg Oden with a certain modicum of easiness after the hectic history of his oh so brief career. The truth is Oden fits into the second unit as smoothly as Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez and a fastbreak. Besides, how many players in this league spit the old cliché: it’s not if you start, but if you are on the floor to finish the game that counts.
And right now, that is what Oden is doing best – finishing. One more of those power dunks and this is bound to be the result…..
It’s only a matter of time.
The truth is, Portland has the best of both worlds with Przybilla tag-teaming with Oden. They combined for 24 points, 6 blocks and 19 rebounds against the Bulls. What could be better right now for the Blazers? Przybilla is cleaning up the garbage. Oden is finding his groove and might actually be enjoying himself. Better yet for Nate McMillan, the wins are mounting.
That’s hard to argue with.
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Another busy week over at HOOPSWORLD…..will James Posey’s championship experience pay off in New Orleans this season? I dove into the discussion thanks to some thoughts from Posey who turned down returning to Boston for a change to win with the Hornets.
Will he be the difference maker for New Orleans?
beyond the beat 