..but it’s really disappointing for a Blazer fan (on a national scale no less) was that negative about one of our star players after a big loss.

It’s not like a lot of fans have been yelling “ODEN HAS ARRIVED!!”. Everyone here has been, at best, cautiously optimistic.

The negativity may have been technically correct, but overblown and really unnecessary.

But in Henry’s defense, the ESPN.com editors didn’t help him by making the sub-headline or whatever it’s called say “…there could be cause for concern.”

His own people characterized his analysis as there being a reason to be concerned about Oden’s contribution to the team. Maybe that doesn’t capture the essence of his thoughts, but it’s the first thing people read who are linking in from the ESPN/nba page.

Was there a Blazers Edge Infiltration fanpost a second ago, or is it just really late here on the East?

I just had a hard time understanding the tone of the post. If he wanted to emphasize how much room Oden has to grow, the post would have read different. Different words. Or, I could have misread his point. It happens.

      If he means that GO will get better, then Yes.
If he means his stats will be better, then Yes.
If Henrys says he’s awkward & out of shape, then
he hasn’t “Arrived”.
     What has arrived is a BEAST, a MAN-CHILD, a
BIG HORSE that we can ride to championships.
I think the arrival part is getting the start of his career
off with not only good statistical showings, but the
secret part that “has arrived”, is the pure physical dominant
force the Blazers have in the paint. No more intimidation
by the K-Mart’s, the Boozer’s, etc. Oh they will still score,
dunk and even swat GO sometimes, but the BEAST has
been ARRIVED. Domination of the paint, increased foul
trouble for the opponent, lower FG ’s for opponents, better
FG and rebounding for the Blazers.
               IT’S G.O. TIME !!!

      COINCAST SUCKS !!!! GO BLAZERS !!!!!!!!!!

I don’t think he really said anything wrong. He was just trying to explain why Oden looks rusty using stats and stuff. I have to agree with rmcdougall, it does seem like politics. People are making a mountain out of a molehill.

Why just about a week ago, Sergio’s agent was looking for a trade. Look how quickly that blew over.

1 – I always read the site, just joined today. I am happy that Oden is a Blazer because you guys (Blazers fans) are the best bloggers out there and I love reading your different takes on him.

2 – As a Pacers fan I would love to thank you for Jarret Jack. He plays so hrd and aggressive I love it. How do you guys feel about Bayless for Rush/Jack now? Any opinions? Thanks

I think that

1.) People aren’t really reading it because they’re sensitive to critic
2.) People ARE reading it but are pulling away very different meaning.

I find the different interpretations fascinating.

I read it as:

Oden put up big numbers. Some might say he’s arrived because big numbers are shiny. They are shiny but he’s also looking raw out there. Big lug hulk smash minus grace. So, he hasn’t arrived yet because we all know that the hulk wasn’t just big and strong as a 500 foot giant, but he was also nimble as an alley cat and we’re not seeing that yet. When we see that, then we’ll see the real Oden minus the rust.

Also, he’s not flowing with his team yet. He’s new.

In other words, he’ll arrive and you’ll see the “real” oden when that rust is gone in a few more weeks and his team figures out how to play with him without staring in awe and pretty bouncing backboards.

That was my take.

Different people are going to take different things away from the article. I thought he was a little harsh on Greg at times, but thats ok. I’d rather have that than the babying we saw earlier this season. What I got from it was we haven’t seen nuthin yet, he effected the game negatively (based off +/-) but I think mos’t would disagree. I think he did have a possitive effect on the game. Sure we didn’t win, LMA is having trouble, etc. But these are the things we have to get out of the way now for the greatness to come later. I know I’m lovin’ it.

I have to smile because we are all Blazer fans and I think we are just getting a little distracted by semantics and personal definition. I personally think it’s too early to define Oden as “arrived”, just as it was too early to define Oden as a bust a 2 weeks ago. I agree with Henry Abbot personally on that issue.
I smile because the reaction many fans have is so emotional and genuine. I’m not sure this happens in any other city or with any other team. It’s like the tide and the rip tide. Fans that are upset at the mere idea that Oden hasn’t arrived yet simply have a different personal definition of “arrrived” and I think that’s okay, even if my definition is different. I think a lot of fans have been rabid to see Oden. The desire to see him on the court and succesful has been building for over a year and the “false” start with the foot sprain in game one just made it worse. So you have a collective sigh of relief when Oden starts posting double doubles, and for many fans their personal definition is that Oden has arrived. So Henry Abbot, or anyone for that matter, points out that Oden still has a ways to go, is still developing and by their personal definition of “arrival” in the context of expectation, Oden hasn’t arrived and it creates a minor uprising. I smile because we are all on the same side here. It’s been such a long road for most fans to see Oden as a functioning Blazer that I think we are all a little thin skinned about criticism real or imagined.

Maybe the clearer definition is that Oden has arrived as a player in the N.B.A. with the caveat that we haven’t seen anything yet? I do expect a game in the future, that Oden simply dominates from wire to wire, or a battle against an established superstar counterpart that Oden get’s the better of, and then maybe that would be the moment that I say “The Mr. Greg Oden” has arrived. For now by my personal definition Oden’s playing in the N.B.A. and playing very well considering, and IMO that’s something to smile about.

Henry is just responding to all of the media hype…they are the ones that were saying “He is a failure”, then quickly saying “No is isn’t! He has arrived”.

As fans, we are more patient because most of do not get paid for ‘breaking the story’…and we have a great moderator in Dave that helps us to remember to be patient.

but to me, he HAS ARRIVED! But in the since that I have been waiting to see him play as a PTB since the lottery. This guy is raw but is still a force,. Who else could play as rusty as he is still and be as big of a factor as he is. We have something special, and we have no idea what this kid could become. To me he has unlimited potential.

to ensure that the guilty parties eat their share of the crow?