Is it just me or is Joel Przybilla one of the most underrated players in the NBA?
When most fans around the league think of Przybilla, they think a good rebounding, offensively challenged backup center. But what many people don't realize is that Przybilla is shooting 83% from the field. Last time I checked, that's not too bad. Sure he isn't popping 15-foot jumpers, but he knows his role, and if he outside of five feet, he isn't looking for his shot. Przybilla is great at setting picks and looking for the offensive boards. He is averaging over 16 rebounds per 48 minutes. I will take that kind of production from my center any day.
I went to the Chicago-Portland "game" (I put game in quotations, because it was more like a massacre than an actual game...seriously a sixth grade girls team could have put up a better fight than the Bulls that night), and sat next to a lady from Illinois who was in Portland on a business trip. She was not a sports fan, but knew the Bulls decently well. I didn't know she was a Bulls fan until halftime and when she told me, I responded by saying that if I would have known that, then I would have rubbed it in earlier (if anyone missed it, the Blazers won by 42).
Anyway, the reason why I got on this subject is because this lady asked me if number 10 was our star. I responded by yelling extremely stupidly, "Joel Przybilla...our star???" She just looked at me. After the shock wore off, I responded with a stern no. but after thinking about it, I guess he is kind of the Blazers unsung star.
He has graciously changed roles repeatedly with the Greg Oden saga continually reaching new highs and lows. It all started with Przybilla taking that infamous boat ride when he signed a new contract with the Trail Blazers a few summers ago to him being all but forgotten when Portland drafted Oden. Przybilla is now averaging over six points a game for only the third time in his career and is performing his new role as the other part of Portland's two-headed monster at center.
Joel Przybilla will never be a star in this league, and I think no one else knows that better than Przybilla himself. He is embracing his role and continually working hard to improve. If I were Nate McMillan, I would consider keeping Oden coming off the bench and continue to start Przybilla. He is the epitome of what the Blazers have become...great players who play with the best of the team in mind. And he is a huge reason for the success of Portland so far this season.
Keywords: Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla, Nate McMillan., Portland Trail Blazers
