U...S...Aaaaaahhhhh forget it.

by Dave on Aug 11, 2007 12:36 AM PDT in News Comment 7 comments

Taking every opportunity to mention new co-beat writer Joe Freeman's name here (he seems really good so far) we'll let you know that he's reported that Greg Oden will not participate in Team USA workouts this summer so he can recover and be ready for the start of the Trailblazers' season. Freeman also reports the team is pleased. I think this is the right decision as well. There have been too many nagging things in the last few months and it's better for him to just get those out of the way. The NBA season is going to be loooooooong for him. Also he's 19. If he's any kind of good center there will be at least two more opportunities for him to play in the Olympics even if he doesn't make it in 2008.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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I totally agree Dave

Oden needs his rest. He probably feels like he's gotten maybe two weeks to himself since March Madness began.

I can't even imagine what this all must be like for him especially seeing his house and such an inside look at his life. He looks like a regular joe who is ok with that.

We have plenty of time to see him on Olympic teams and more importantly championship teams. His health like that of LMA and Roy is paramount.

October, October, October October, Octo...... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin)

by Idog1976 on Aug 11, 2007 1:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was pleased when I read this...

...but do you think he'll be invited to scrimmage with the team, as LaMarcus and Channing Frye have? If so, that wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

by Anthony Stine on Aug 11, 2007 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Concur

It's just another distraction. With the caliber of players that will be at full strength on that team, any kind of competitive scrimmage or qualifier with Team USA could potentially:

a) injure him
b) sap his energy
c) lower his confidence

Frye and LMA have at least a year under their belt and stand to gain more than they lose. That's not true of Oden. Not at this juncture.

Like it or not, Rip City is Back

by sohrab19 on Aug 11, 2007 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't agree more

We want Oden healthy and prepared for the long season ahead. If he's not 100% he has about 2 months to get there until pre-season. 2012 is his year, plus then he'll actually get to be on the team, hopefully as the starter.

by drawingjeremy on Aug 11, 2007 11:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Even this non-Blazer fan

and Portland resident who asks nothing more of the local team than that they keep me entertained, is gladdened by this news.

And, yes, until now I admit that I have been somewhat entertained by the coming-out party for "Greg Oden: The Celebrity"; the cleverly-staged MAX ride to Pioneer Square; the goofball interviews; the cover shoots for the Willy Week and Portland Monthly.

Yet, in our media-saturated culture, Oden had been edging perilously close to overexposure. By now, pretty much anyone living in Portland that reads a paper or magazine, watches TV, or listens to the radio knows - and likes - "Greg Oden: The Celebrity."

But those of us who are hoop-lovers are also yearning to see "Greg Oden: The Ballplayer" who, until now, has remained frustratingly underexposed. Other than his spellbinding performance in the NCAA finals in which he singlehandedly demolished the NBA-ready Florida frontcourt, we've got to witness very little of that "second-coming" player we've been hearing about since he was in junior high. Other than the finals, the few college games I did see him play last year left me less than overwhelmed. Yeah, I know about the bum wrist - and the breathing problems that limited his summer league play - so I'm not still not really sure what this kid is capable of on the court. Was that performance in the NCAA finals a taste of things to come or merely the game of a lifetime?

The hoops fan in me is still eager to learn the answer to that question. I look forward to seeing what "Greg Oden: The Ballplayer" can do on an NBA floor when fully healthy, with no excuses.

by knickfan on Aug 11, 2007 12:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

just for the sake of argument

could it be at all possible that the blazers behind the scene dont wont greg to face the best competiion in the world before he is 100 percent healthy..i think its the right move also...mr oden hasnt been healthy since his senior year in high school..imagine the press if he has a sub par tryout ..it could motivate or destroy his confidence..lets go to training camp with superstar on his chest

if it can be conceived it can be achieved

by lyfefindsaway on Aug 12, 2007 5:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs