Oden, Inexperience, Injury, and Starting (not ankle related)

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 2:52 PM PDT

How about those trolls eh? About ready for a serious D&D campaign to clear out that darn horde infestation...

Responding to a comment in a post, I readdressed a thought I've had before. There have been comments that Oden is injury prone and/or fears. Others have come back that the injuries are not the same or reoccuring and sometimes you're just freaking unlucky. That said, watching Greg play I do have a concern that I think is legitimate.

I've gone through phases where I've been in really good shape and really bad shape. When I'm in bad shape and attempt to push myself to do things I can't do, I've often become hurt. My reflexes aren't as fast, my foot placement isn't exactly great, and I end up tripping or spraining myself and then... i'm out again a few weeks. it was frustrating as these instances usually happened as I was getting into that great shape again. Sometimes I'd push myself too hard and then tweak something for a few days.

Watching Oden on the floor, I saw a guy who didn't have his feet exactly where they needed to go. I saw a guy that wasn't able to make smooth clean moves, and I saw a guy that was honestly a bit clumsy in what he was doing. My concern here is something along the lines of what happened last night. I'm concerned that he's being pushed too fast when he's really just not in shape for this. He looked like that gangly teenager that hasn't found his new balance or rhythm. My fear is that the result will be continued injuries.

Even though Oden greatly helps our offense, should nate put Pryz in so that Oden can find his balance and comfort level and NOT face the freaking elite centers right now when he's not ready? Will this help keep Oden healthy? Are my concerns unfounded or have others found this to be true as well in a personal or sports related setting?

Oden is clearly raw and clearly needs time to develop. How best should he be developed? Trial by fire or slowly ease him into it?

Thoughts?

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Comments

change the title of this post,

you have no new information on Oden and this got everybody’s hopes up

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

by TheOdenator on Oct 29, 2008 2:54 PM PDT reply actions

i didn't read it like that at all.

or he probably would’ve put ODEN OUT FOR SEASON or something.

don’t be so grumpy, we’re all sick over this.

group hug.

"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 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

no i didn't think

it was purposeful, i just wanted to point out how someone else might read the title

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

by TheOdenator on Oct 29, 2008 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

changed.

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

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions

sorry i didn't mean to be a dick

I am just really high strung right now

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

by TheOdenator on Oct 29, 2008 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Understandable

I liked my title, but I figured the add on would help. I see where you’re coming from for sure.

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

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

thank you for your shining example of magnanimity

Would that others be as magnanimous.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

by fisheyes on Oct 29, 2008 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought Greg needed to...

…slow down…or at least calm down. It was amazing how neither Oden nor Bynum could really move each other an inch in the post. Przybilla is an elite post defender, but Oden could not be moved. On offense, he could have easily done as well as Przybilla by not trying at all in scoring.

I’m just trying to look at the bright side. There were areas where a fully healthy Oden would be a massive improvement over Przybilla. I think that’s true whether the opposing center is elite or not, except in the obvious area of experience.

by poster on Oct 29, 2008 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

I honestly think that Oden can be an improvement too

My main concern, though, is that he’s not positioning himself correctly and at the elite level he could hurt himself until he finds himself.

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

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't disagree..

I’m just not sure that I agree completely either. I could see the decision you put forth as being the correct one, though I can definitely see the benefits of him starting (team performance, personal experience).

To me, I see conspiracy theory all over our initial schedule, the league trying to get the most bang out of Oden as possible. So I wonder, if short of injury, we’d be able to move him the back-up spot.

by Gelvalst on Oct 29, 2008 3:04 PM PDT reply actions

I don't know that it was a conspiracy

the schedule was definitely planned that way on purpose.

I’m concerned that being out of game shape will cause him to do dumb things and hurt himself. I KNOW he’s better starting, but if sloppy play due to that slow reaction, out of position, or whatever causes him to be hurt… then he doesn’t do us any good. I was really hoping for other non-professional coaches to supply some input on this or other athletes out there.

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

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Greg was never

“light on his feet”, but did look extra sluggish in preseason. If the foot is alright, I wonder if a month off to do conditioning and light practice wouldn’t be in order.

by Engineering Problem on Oct 29, 2008 3:05 PM PDT reply actions

In hindsight

I wonder if the blazers shouldn’t have done that with him about a month earlier than they did. Not a criticism, but more a “oh yeah, we should keep that in mind if it happens again.”

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

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah and massively change his diet

Oden needs to get on the Channing Frye diet. Lightness and quickness is what he should strive for. He is at least 25 pounds too heavy.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

by fisheyes on Oct 29, 2008 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions

RatB...

our whole team looked like that.

Should they all come off the bench?

First game jitters for the young Blazers, that is all.

"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 3:08 PM PDT reply actions

The difference is

that I’ve noticed this from oden in Preseason too. The difference is that the regular season is more intense and he went up against a good center that he couldn’t overpower.

My commentary isn’t so much on his play. Unless you’re blind you can see how he’s playing. My commentary is whether playing with so little experience will cause further injury and should we bring him into the game a little more slowly.

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

by ratbastird on Oct 29, 2008 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Ok

I think that it might be better if Oden comes off the bench now. He looks to nervous and thats why he might be getting hurt. He is a rookie and can handle coming of the bench. Then he might get angry that we babying him and say that he wants to go full throttle, then he will start to dominate.

by RipCity on Oct 29, 2008 3:31 PM PDT reply actions

once again...

I think they need to bring him back slower. He is injured again because he stepped on D fish’s foot. Could of happened to any player on any given night. This was a mix of bad luck, ( particularly bad, considering the hopes that over half of the NBA fans everywhere have for this guy ) and him being slightly clumsy, a little overweight, and not fleet-flooted as he used to be. Falls are the number 1 cause of trauma in the country, and there’s a reason that in the USA our rate of trauma and falls are increasing…it’s because the population is getting heavier, alot heavier. Ergo the likelihood of falling even for an NBA player goes up significantly when they are heavier and not as athletic.

I think starting Joel would be a smart move. It would take some of the pressure off Greg, decrease his minutes, and hopefully let him get his conditioning back so he has a decreased chance of incidental injuries like this one.

by oden is GOD OF WAR on Oct 29, 2008 9:35 PM PDT reply actions

yeah but the funny thing is

D Fish said Oden did NOT step on his foot. And the replay seems to show Oden didn’t step on D Fish’s foot. I think Oden’s ankle just buckled because he fell awkwardly with someone else’s weight on him. I think Oden has ankle issues because his upper body is so huge. I would be happy if he shed about 30 pounds.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

by fisheyes on Oct 29, 2008 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions