No Update On Greg

by Ben. on Oct 29, 2008 2:08 PM PDT

Just got back from the Practice Facility. There was no update on Greg as of 2PM. More information is expected after 5PM tonight, according to a team employee.

------------------------------

Update: According to 95.5, an announcement will be coming at 3:30 PM.

Update 2: Obviously 95.5 was fronting, there's not been an announcement yet. We'll let you know once there is.

------------------------------

Obviously, Greg was not at practice. I was a little bit late-arriving but I also did not see KP or Tom Penn at practice today.

As for Coach Nate and the players, the attitude seemed to be business as usual, as much as that was possible. The mood was actually not as somber as I was expecting. The players were very serious but didn't seem "down." There wasn't any joking but that is to be expected the day after a disappointing loss to a major conference rival.

Brandon noted that "I haven't beaten [the Spurs] since I was a pro." He was focused on looking towards that game and was very clear, repeatedly, that he was not "looking for any excuses" about last night's performance. When asked if he thought Batum should have started or if Outlaw starting threw him off his game, Brandon said "Nicolas or not, I didn't do anything to help the team." Brandon also said he hadn't spent a ton of time thinking about Greg. "We were so disappointed after the game," and "it really hasn't sunk in that Greg wasn't there."

Remember a few weeks back when Greg said that he was tired of answering questions about his health? I got the impression that Brandon is also tired of answering questions about Greg's health. I don't mean that in a negative way. Just matter-of-factly. Greg's health is clearly something that Brandon cannot control.

Brandon concluded by saying, "I'm ready to go with or without [Greg]."

Channing was the only other player to talk extensively to the media. He stated that the team "has worked too hard" to let one bad game get them down. He pointed out that they had a hard practice today and pointed over to where Jerryd Bayless was riding a treadmill, emphasizing that they were still working to improve even after the difficult practice. Channing also seemed resigned to the fact that the team needs to be ready to play with or without Greg.

Wish I had more information for you. My suggestion is to continually reload Blazers.com tonight for news regarding Greg...

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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BAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH

humbug

We haven't done anything yet... but don't blink.

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 2:09 PM PDT 0 recs

dang

all i have been doing for the last hour is refreshing the Center Court Blog, and a search on Google News, I guess I can get back to work for a bit…

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Oct 29, 2008 2:10 PM PDT 0 recs

we are on the same page

I just logged in to check if there was an update on Greg. His MRI was this morning right?

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life,(of the Blazers), (of KP's madness), of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity." - Albert Einstein

by BlazerandBeaverBELIEVER on Oct 29, 2008 2:11 PM PDT 0 recs

noon

honor terry porter

by Ben. on Oct 29, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

the suspense is killing me.

seriously, I think I need to go vomit.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Oct 29, 2008 2:12 PM PDT 0 recs

I'm with you

I don’t even care what the results are at this point, I just want the waiting to be over…..all of the speculation is really getting to me

by SalemORguy on Oct 29, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

I wasn't nervous last night but

now I feel like we’ve been waiting too long. I’m getting nervous. I hope we’re all just overreacting.

by EazyRider on Oct 29, 2008 2:14 PM PDT 0 recs

I'm feeling the same way

Oh, no! I’m joining the Chicken Littles!!!

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Oct 29, 2008 2:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

I read that Nate said he was going with the same starting lineup on Friday

Is that the same lineup sans Oden? Or should we hope for a miracle?

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Oct 29, 2008 2:15 PM PDT 0 recs

it was unclear whether he was referring to greg or travis. my impression was travis.

honor terry porter

by Ben. on Oct 29, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

i think the quote I heard was

“We haven’t made any changes to the starting lineup”, which could easily be followed by an implied “yet”, especially since the next game is over 48 hours away

Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.

by douglast on Oct 29, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Trout should not start.

What, exactly, does Trout bring to the table for the first unit over Rudy or even Batum?

Sure, the line up looks a little small with Rudy/Roy at the wings… but does that make them a worse defensive team? Does it make them a worse rebounding team? Bottom line, Rudy is a better rebounder and defender than Trout – and he’s approximately 10,000 times better at moving the ball and spacing the offense and generally not being dumb.

I would rather give Batum a shot than Trout. It baffles me that Nate would let Batum practice with the first unit for a week and a half and then throw Trout out there with no experience being incorporated into the offense with that unit. I find it baffling. I’m baffled. He looked about as comfortable out there as I would.

That’s not to say Trout didn’t play well at times – he did what he does. He hit jump shots. He needs to do that off the bench and quit screwing up everyone else’s rhythm/mojo/whatever.

First option starting, Rudy. Second option, Batum. Third option, Webster in a protective boot. But Nate, for the love of god, don’t put Trout in that position again. The effect on the other starters is palpable.

Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.

by KP Corleone on Oct 29, 2008 2:36 PM PDT up 2 recs

The 4th Quarter Unit

The only guy who started the game that doesn’t finish it is Blake.

Outlaw/Roy/LMA have a lot of experience playing together. Those three played together more than anyone else has. I really don’t think Outlaw fits the starting lineup, but I don’t think it is such a drastic change that the players aren’t used to.

Our 4th quarter lineup this year is Oden/LMA/Outlaw/Roy/Rudy. Blake is the only difference between that lineup and the starting lineup, so I don’t think changing the SF spot is such a tactical error that makes the whole ship sink.

I agree that Batum or Rudy should be starting though. Just don’t think it is a real big deal as far as last night went.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Oct 29, 2008 2:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

Good point about the 4th quarter. I'll blame the omission on emotional trauma.

Those three guys have played together a ton. Not sure what was so different. They just seemed tremendously out of sync.

Not that you can place all the blame or even most of the blame for that on Trout (LMA, I’m looking at you), but I found myself thinking he was like the awkward guy in a pickup game who is somehow ALWAYS exactly where you’re trying to drive. His spacing and movement just seemed way way off, especially early in the game.

Also, is it just me, or could LaMarcus/Pryz/my little sister do a better job D-ing up Kobe than Trout was doing? He’s not even in a basic defensive stance half the time. Can’t someone at least teach him the old slide-slide-pivot thing? Can’t he put his feet wider than shoulder-width apart?

He does some things you would laugh at a fifth grade rec leaguer for. But when you’re in the NBA… not so funny.

I feel like Nate should strap him into the contraption out of Clockwork Orange that holds his eyes open, and force him to watch the Better Basketball video series over and over and over.

Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.

by KP Corleone on Oct 29, 2008 3:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's a tough thing

I’m not really an Outlaw fan (at least, not a fan of his game) but I really like him and he has an amazing athletic body to work with.

Even in the 4th quarter unit, I’d prefer someone like Martell step up and take over, or that we show we have enough offense to not need Travis’s one on one play.

Or, for Travis to suddenly learn to do what he doesn’t do.

Outlaw is a frustrating player, that’s for sure. Especially for a 6th year dude.

I guess I just don’t think the Batum/Outlaw switcharoo made that much of a difference with how rattled and weak LMA and Roy looked.

by Mortimer on Oct 29, 2008 3:52 PM PDT up 0 recs

Rudy is not a better defender

then Travis, that is just plain wrong, he might look better because he goes for steals, but he is not a better defender, and we saw that highlighted last night.

I think the reason why they went with Trout was because they thought that since Batum’s offense isn’t up to speed yet, and his defense was not needed (He would have been guarding Vlad) that they should go with an offensive player, and they did.

Travis played in the offense for the first quarter, and the team scored almost 0 points. This game was one where we needed to take advantage of 1 on 1 match-ups (because our offense was being shut down by their defense) and that is exactly what Travis did. He was guilty of throwing some lazy passes but he was not the problem last night, and Batum would not have been the solution.

The problem was our starters, they played horribly. They were disjunct, and everyone was throwing lazy passes.

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Oct 29, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

judging from

Trout vs Kobe yesterday and Rudy vs Kobe in 2 olympic games…i’ll take Rudy over Trout. I think a lot of the fanbase for trout only see the highlights and the box scores and get excited over his performances…but when you look at the things that don’t show up on the box score, travis ends up not looking so impressive.

by Philthyanimal on Oct 29, 2008 4:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

I so happy you posted this

you are smart, and your sentiments pretty much are exactly the same as mine in this regard. You make me look really smart! :)

loved this part :

First option starting, Rudy. Second option, Batum. Third option, Webster in a protective boot. But Nate, for the love of god, don’t put Trout in that position again. The effect on the other starters is palpable

Sophia

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcreaft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians. [speech at GOP Presidential Convention 1992] Rev. Pat Robertson

by BlazerFan1 on Oct 29, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

+1

Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.

"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Nicolas Batum

NorrisHopper30: "someone injure pubert jones"

by rockingharder on Oct 29, 2008 3:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

getting worried

If the news was good, they would rush to tell us I think. Waiting until 5 could mean they are looking for 2nd/3rd opinions on the imaging and/or huddling up to craft a disappointing press release.

sorry for the rampant speculation, just can’t help myself.

Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.

by douglast on Oct 29, 2008 2:16 PM PDT 0 recs

I hope the are waiting so they can announce it during the local portion of The Game.

Brett Pill - Lord of the double.

by malarky on Oct 29, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

I totally agree with you.

if it was good, they would have already told us.

be prepared for more No GO.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Oct 29, 2008 2:20 PM PDT up 0 recs

Or they could be waiting

because they don’t want to rush the doctors’ analysis or come out with an announcement that has to be rescinded.

WWKPD?
Ambassador to the Miami Heat

by Magnum on Oct 29, 2008 2:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

that's my optimistic side talking

what i posted way my realistic side. but I also could be trying to set myself up for a bad scenario so I can be pleasantly surprised.

Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.

by douglast on Oct 29, 2008 2:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

I was going to say the same thing.

by CaptainSexyJacob on Oct 29, 2008 3:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

Preparing for the worst

I’ve already settled in my mind to think Oden will be out for an extending period of time. No news is bad news to me.

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO

by blzrfan on Oct 29, 2008 2:20 PM PDT 0 recs

should have kept steven hill.

i suspect that after we hear the news. Lamarcus will be playing backup center – at least for a few weeks.

when i get sad, i stop being sad & become awesome again. true story.

by Net Ranger on Oct 29, 2008 2:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

We can still sign Hill

after Greg is medically retired (=

by pualo on Oct 29, 2008 3:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Any chairs thrown?

If the players/coaches were just “going through the motions” at practice following last night’s game, I’m going to have to vote “upset” in the poll below a few hundred times…

by two4larue on Oct 29, 2008 2:20 PM PDT 0 recs

players were very serious. all drenched in sweat. they got a serious workout for sure.

honor terry porter

by Ben. on Oct 29, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

But you remember the practice I'm talking about

Nate challenged them last year to get tough, no ball out-of-bounds, a couple of players had to be separated, Blake threw a chair, etc…the practice that birthed the 13 game win streak?

I realize Nate can’t play “that” card after every lopsided loss…but why wait until the W-L record is 5-12 (again) before challenging a team that was so clearly unprepared to play physical b-ball last night ?

by two4larue on Oct 29, 2008 3:42 PM PDT up 0 recs

Panic!!!

the longer the wait on the news, that means they are compiling how to “say” it correctly to the audience.

I’m jumping off the bridge not because of what it means for our wins/loss but the mentalitly of Greg.

I’m not helping so I’ll just jump!!!

by broyposse on Oct 29, 2008 2:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Yeah, long-term this wouldn't kill the team

But imagine the impact on Greg Oden if he were to miss a big portion—or all—of the season. That would be unreal.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on Oct 29, 2008 2:23 PM PDT 0 recs

I really agree with that!

Greg so badly wanted to get back on the floor and play.

If this is a major setback, it’s Greg that I feel so sorry for. Not the Blazers brass who will likely have more season ticket refund requests or not even really we fans. We have an excellent team and can win with or without Greg. It will just be more difficult.

Thanks for the update Ben. I haven’t gotten a thing done today other than to check for the MRI report. Now maybe I can go back to normal stuff for awhile.

I also agree with the posts above that the longer the news is delayed, the more ominous it probably is. But I’m wrong a lot and maybe this will be one of those times.

by TwoDeep on Oct 29, 2008 2:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Me too

I worry about Greg’s psyche.

He’s a sensitive lad, and the weight of the whole franchise is on his shoulders. He knows people worry more about his health than anyone else in the league, and all because of a stupid foot he landed on he’s back in injury trouble again.

I know our team has a sports psychologist for all of the players, and I know Oden is a smart kid who will get through this once he gets a healthy stretch in. If he is out for more than a few weeks, I worry about how tentative he’d become because he is so scared about getting himself hurt again.

He doesn’t wanna dissappoint, because he is a good kid.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Oct 29, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Ben Im sad

like, really sad. I am tired of talking about Greg’s health too. I think EVERYONE in Portland is. I was irritated to see the Oregonian with a huge splash on the front page “ODEN HURT” or something to that affect while I was walking to work. Conspiracy theory. Oregonian going broke, needs injured Blazers team to retain interest.

Sophia

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcreaft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians. [speech at GOP Presidential Convention 1992] Rev. Pat Robertson

by BlazerFan1 on Oct 29, 2008 2:24 PM PDT 0 recs

it’s not a happy situation for anyone…..

i wish i had a better answer than “wait for the announcement”….

honor terry porter

by Ben. on Oct 29, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

No conspiracy needed.

Just good old fashioned sensationalism. Last week it was the war of “Cars versus Bikes”! Whatever they can splash on the front page to sell papers.

by shralpster on Oct 29, 2008 2:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

I was joking

LOL trying to make light of the situation.

Sophia

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcreaft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians. [speech at GOP Presidential Convention 1992] Rev. Pat Robertson

by BlazerFan1 on Oct 29, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wow.

I can’t believe this is really happening. Not to this organization.

by Blazers on Oct 29, 2008 2:25 PM PDT 0 recs

and here I thought the Blazers were going to be the bright spot of my sports year

since the Seahawks and Mariners almost killed me

by hawkblogger on Oct 29, 2008 2:26 PM PDT 0 recs

at least the economy is strong and we're winning the war on terror...

by hawkblogger on Oct 29, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

What's next? President McCain?

by Blazers on Oct 29, 2008 2:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

and after that...

President Palin.

Woo doggy!! Let’s just go all the way to heck.

Heck, by the way, is where you go if you don’t believe in Gosh.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

by fisheyes on Oct 29, 2008 3:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

nice ..after 8 yrs of Palin

we can elect the Bush twins..

by LetsBlaze on Oct 29, 2008 3:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

oops, it looks like a comment I made did in fact go too far

Happy thoughts, don’t make a bad political joke again….

WWKPD?
Ambassador to the Miami Heat

by Magnum on Oct 29, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

ohhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm

meditative moment…sorry fo the politix

by LetsBlaze on Oct 29, 2008 3:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

yeah

and the war on nature is going well too.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

by fisheyes on Oct 29, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Pukes.

by Blazers on Oct 29, 2008 2:29 PM PDT 0 recs

you too?

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Oct 29, 2008 2:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

He better not be in Surgery!!!

i can’t work so i’m in total panic if you can’t tell from my previous post….

They better not come out and said he just finished surgery bla bla bla like last year!!!

someone calm me down!!!

by broyposse on Oct 29, 2008 2:30 PM PDT 0 recs

They're waiting this long

because they actually just turned Greg into a bionic man. Paul Allen just paid for 6 million dollar man type upgrades

WWKPD?
Ambassador to the Miami Heat

by Magnum on Oct 29, 2008 2:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

phew

now thats good news!

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Oct 29, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

The bad news is that,

with 34 years of inflation, now he’s the six billion dollar man.

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Oct 29, 2008 3:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Paul Allen can cover that

no worries, he’ll still have like 10 billion left

WWKPD?
Ambassador to the Miami Heat

by Magnum on Oct 29, 2008 3:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

Sportscenter said earlier that they expected news by 3pm PDT.

by Timmay! on Oct 29, 2008 2:34 PM PDT 0 recs

what's the worst case scenario?

a broken foot? out 3-4 months? at least we’re not talking about another knee reconstruction

by hawkblogger on Oct 29, 2008 2:34 PM PDT 0 recs

It sounds like it

Worst case scenario is another lost season. Even if he’s only out two more months, he likely wouldn’t be in game shape afterward until the season is winding down. If we snuck into the playoffs, it could get interesting…

by Timmay! on Oct 29, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

3:30 update i just heard.

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Oct 29, 2008 2:38 PM PDT 0 recs

wait and see what the results are

i got a feeling its a minor injury, 1-2 weeks max

anyway we can beat the old and creaky spurs without oden

by Yawnie on Oct 29, 2008 2:39 PM PDT 0 recs

Everyone post happy pictures to cheer each other up

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO

by blzrfan on Oct 29, 2008 2:39 PM PDT 0 recs

thank u

by Blazers on Oct 29, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO

by blzrfan on Oct 29, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

by shralpster on Oct 29, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Oct 29, 2008 2:41 PM PDT 0 recs