The Greg Oden effect

I've been saying this for months as Greg Oden's debut neared: Don't look to his scoring average to see the true effect the 7-foot rookie center would have on the Blazers this year. In fact, don't look to his rebound average either -- though that would certainly help. And don't even look at his block averages, though it has been spectacular in the last three games.

Look at where other teams are getting their shots.

That is where I've felt Oden will have the greatest impact this season. And we're already seeing that effect taking shape.

You may remember the defensive stat I harped on more than any other last season: The number of layups and dunks the Blazers gave up. Portland gave up 1,161 of the 2,983 field goals made against them last season off layups or dunks -- an average of 14.2 per game, and 39 percent of the shots made against them. It's an atrocious defensive stat -- more than 28 points per game were scored against Portland at point-blank range.

And it was looking just as ugly earlier this season: In the first seven games, with Oden either playing injured or sidelined with his foot injury, the Blazers were giving up even more of those easy baskets than last year: 14.7 per game. But that stat has changed dramatically since Oden returned to the lineup. Teams have attempted nearly eight fewer layups or dunks, and converted better than five fewer.

In other words, Oden is consistently scaring teams away from the basket -- something the Blazers simply couldn't do before, even with 7-foot-1 center Joel Przybilla, himself a strong defensive center, in the lineup. But with Oden, the Blazers have posted their best two defensive performances around the basket during the last two games, and averaged nearly a full block more against layups and dunks with Oden in the lineup.

That's a lot of improvement with the addition of one player, but exactly what I had hoped to see. The Blazers are giving up 10 fewer points off easy baskets with Oden back in the lineup, and that can make a huge difference between a win and a loss.

Below is a complete breakdown of Opponents' shot attempts this season: