Here's a thought......don't start Oden !!

I see your point but it won't happen. Oden has just got to stop doing the little things that him in trouble. Mainly, don't stick you leg out on picks (he has been doing that all year) and lower his shoulder.

He is an aggressive shot blocker so he's going to pick up the occasional foul in the paint. The problem is the other fouls he gets add up and when he gets nailed with one in the paint it puts him trouble.

He just needs to learn to stay within himself.

The other thing I noticed is I think Matta leaves him a bit to long sometimes. All big men make stupid fouls when they're tired, Oden is no different. I think Matta may want to try to rotate him in and out and keep him fresh so fatigue isn't a reason as well. I know that's tough because he adds such a dynamic to the game the team.

The other thing is I think Oden is getting himself caught in no mans land to much. How many times have you seen him trying to guard someone 15 feet away from the basket? He shouldn't be doing it. Big guys aren't always going to hit that shot that Hibbert made just south of the 3 point line.

He has all the talent and potential to be one of the most dominating players in college and NBA basketball. But he is far from it. He has a lot of fine tuning to do. Where he chooses to do that is up to him. Just keep in mind, I would say he lost the battle against Hibbert. If he holds true to what he said, that when he goes to go to the NBA he wants to dominate, he is far from that at this point in his development.

It's going to be hard to turn down the money.

On the Florida game, Oden can't get in foul trouble 3 minutes in. If he does we're in trouble. Florida isn't a team that we're going to be able to control and beat without Oden in the game. Twig and Hunter can't match up well enough with their big men.