Greg Oden is starting to pay dividends for the Portland Trailblazers. Last night, Oden had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks. This followed two 16- point efforts. Over this 3-game span, Oden is 20/25 from the field,16/19 from the free throw line, and has grabbed 23 rebounds. Not bad numbers from a player who played about 25 minutes in each game.

I think he has always had it but could not stay healthy or out of foul trouble.

If he could get his foul trouble under control, he would be dominant!

Thisis really good to see. He definately has a world of talent.

I hope, I like Oden. And I like the Blazers for some reason--I guess I'm just a big fan of Brandon Roy.

But I'm sure there are a lot of OSU fans who are thrilled about this...at least he might not be a bust like Mullins.

SQ_Crazies wrote: I hope, I like Oden. And I like the Blazers for some reason--I guess I'm just a big fan of Brandon Roy.

But I'm sure there are a lot of OSU fans who are thrilled about this...at least he might not be a bust like Mullins.

I know Mullins has been sent to the D-League, but it is a little early to pass judgment on him.

Way too early to label Mullins a bust. I don't think anyone thought he'd be an instant contributor.

As for Oden, it's great to see. He really seems like a genuine good guy, and it's hard to not root for a guy like that. He looks like he has slimmed down a little from last year which is helping him.

thedynasty, you'd be surprised how many people on JJ thought Mullens would be a good Pro right away.

Reality is that he should of stayed for another year or two.

Getting it? Not sure what that is supposed to me. But health has always been an issue, even at OSU. Then his knee. He hasn't really had a chance to "get it" before this year. On top of that, he was very raw even coming out of OSU. His offensive game needed quite a bit of work, and still does. What does have, is something you don't coach...he is a freak of an athlete for his size. He just needs to stay healthy and continue to work at the game and he will be fine. By all acounts, he is a great young man who works extremely hard. You can't help but not root for the guy.

Yeah I think he got it awhile ago--just needs to figure out how to stay healthy and he'll be a good player.

I'm labelling Mullins a bust RIGHT NOW because all we heard from OSU fans was how he'd contribute right away, and then when he got drafted by the Jazz it was even crazier. "In Sloan's system he'll develop even faster!" He didn't even make it half way through the year and he's in the D-League. He's a 1st round pick and he won't ever be a major contributor, so he's a bust. It's nothing against the young man I'm just telling it like it is. Anyone who watched him at OSU and SERIOUSLY thought he had what it takes to play in the pros had Scarlet and Gray blinders on--the objective fan knew he wasn't ready, and wondered if he really may ever be NBA material. Should have stayed and got his degree, he was a 4 year college player.

SQ_Crazies wrote:I'm labelling Mullins a bust RIGHT NOW because all we heard from OSU fans was how he'd contribute right away, and then when he got drafted by the Jazz it was even crazier. "In Sloan's system he'll develop even faster!" He didn't even make it half way through the year and he's in the D-League. He's a 1st round pick and he won't ever be a major contributor, so he's a bust. It's nothing against the young man I'm just telling it like it is. Anyone who watched him at OSU and SERIOUSLY thought he had what it takes to play in the pros had Scarlet and Gray blinders on--the objective fan knew he wasn't ready, and wondered if he really may ever be NBA material. Should have stayed and got his degree, he was a 4 year college player.

Do you know the difference between Koufos & Mullens?? That's an awful lot of ranting for not knowing what you're talking about.

centralbucksfan wrote: Getting it? Not sure what that is supposed to me.

If you had watched him play in the NBA, you would understand what he is getting.

He is learning what he can and cannot do offensively at this level and what he needs to work on. He is learning what constitutes a foul at this level and what he can get away with. He is learning that his freakish athleticism won't get him by on an every night basis. He is learning that he has to earn the trust of his teammates by giving it his all when he is on the floor.

To date, his lack of progress can be partially explained by his injuries, but there is a learning curve for most NBA players and Oden is in the middle of his.

It's great to see he is coming around.

se-alum wrote:
Do you know the difference between Koufos & Mullens?? That's an awful lot of ranting for not knowing what you're talking about.

This.

Yeah my bad. And no, I don't know the difference because they were both overrated and may as well have been the same player. Anything I've said can be said for both of them--and both were tabbed as good NBA players by OSU fans, and by good I mean the consensus was that they'd contribute right away.

Wow leave it to SQ to try and spin his way out of looking like a moron there...

SQ_Crazies wrote:

I'm labelling Mullins a bust RIGHT NOW because all we heard from OSU fans was how he'd contribute right away, and then when he got drafted by the Jazz it was even crazier.

All we heard from OSU fans? I am not sure what site you were on, but I know on JJ most OSU fans were doing nothing but ripping on Mullens and talking about how overrated he was. Most have said the same you were saying..he'd be a bust.
And, I'd have to agree, its too early to call him a bust. Although I am not hopeful he will ever pan out to be much.

I don't recall ever reading that Koufos or Mullins would be instant successes in the NBA. Mullins would get pushed around in the WNBA.

He should be gettin it. I know hes tired of bein broke just hangin out, he got a lot of dreams but he can't get out. The first thing he needs to do it set himself some goals, think positive, everything is old, and work hard... never stop hustlin.. cuz they just love to see the black man strugglin.

As for Oden "Getting It", I do think there was something he had to "get". I think he put way too much pressure on himself immediately because he was the #1 pick and people were comparing him to NBA greats. I don't think it was until this year that he realized he can only be himself and can't try to live up to other peoples standards. It was pretty well known that Oden was down on himself for not living up to expectations and letting people down.

He now realizes that if he plays hard and does what he can do he'll be just fine.



As for Mullins, I was one who supported him. I never said he would be an immediate contributor, but I do think he will have some success in the NBA. He's still young and I'm sure that no one was counting on him to do much this year. But with a year or two of learning the game, adding some weight, and developing some toughness (I do question if he can develope this), I think he'll be a solid pro. He's just so fluid and athletic that even if he never fully gets it, he'll be able to contribute in some way.

Koufos has a chance to succeed because he has a great outside shot for his size. He's not incredibly tough, but he's shown...especially towards the end of his college career, that he can be an effective scorer.

I don't see Mullens being more than a career journeyman backup. He plays soft, has no touch around the rim, and is very lazy and lethargic with his play. Once he realized that he wasn't able to simply dominate with his size like he could in high school, he kind of gave up on the effort to try and harness his skills and become a great player. Could he still turn the corner? Maybe....but that's something you're born with not something that can be coached.

oden=a bust so far based upon expectations. i mean come on, "the next wilt". please.

mullens=never had a chance nba wise

ZeroCool wrote: oden=a bust so far based upon expectations. i mean come on, "the next wilt". please.

mullens=never had a chance nba wise

Who ever said Oden was going to be the next wilt?

Sounds like you're just making stuff up.

And as far as Oden being a bust, i can't see how you can say that, seeing as he's really in his 2nd season, and he's already averaging 11 Points and 9 rebounds, and only playing about 25 minutes a game. Which for a big man, not named Shaq is a pretty damn good start to your career.

Are you kidding me? Just like anyone that says that OSU fans claimed Doofous and Mullens would contribute right away are making things up? Maybe Oden wasn't tabbed as the next Wilt but he was tabbed as the next Bill Russell. He certainly is a bust when you consider expectations, but I'm still wary to call him a bust because injuries have held him back more than his play. I still think he'll be good but don't act like the expectations weren't THAT high.

SQ, I can attest to OSU fans hating Mullens. He didn't do ANYTHING for OSU.

Also, people were split on Koufus. They felt with another year he could have been a good big man. However, he's waaaay to soft to be anything special. He's basically going to be a Mehmet Okur 2.0 for Utah.