Tuesday Practice Report
by Ben Golliver on Mar 3, 2009 1:39 PM PST
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Good news: Greg's knee does not appear to be swollen. He was shooting free throws after practice and receiving some coaching from Maurice Lucas.
Short post today because I spent most of practice twiddling with a new lens for my camera.
- Update: More from practice as seen by Ryan White.
- The big story today was obviously Greg's health. When questioned about it, Nate urged patience and made it clear that as a coach he's not necessarily preparing for Greg's return next week because Greg will need to be evaluated again at that time before he can get cleared to play. So between now and that evaluation, Nate is simply focused on getting the most out of Channing Frye in those minutes and maintaining as much team-wide carryover as possible from the win against San Antonio.
- When asked about Jarret Jack's return, Nate smiled and acknowledged that the players know he's coming back to Portland for the first time since he was traded on draft day. Given Jack's boisterous personality I'm sure there are a lot of guys that are eager to see him. Nate, as you might have guessed, is not focused on Jack's return so much as he is the danger that Indiana poses for the Blazers, given their recent success in the head to head matchups and their free-wheeling offense.
- Nate also told a funny story about bowling at the Season Ticket Holder event last night. He was mock-complaining because he was put in a bowling group with 3 people that bowl 3 times a week in a league, so he was at a huge disadvantage. He said he felt like one of the Blazers rookies facing off against more experienced competition. Nate also said he was glad that the television footage of him bowling showed him nailing a strike because the 8 frames before that were too ugly for tv.
- The following are Greg's thoughts from today. About 10 minutes after the rest of the gym cleared, Greg took questions for 2 minutes prior to leaving for another engagement. I'd describe his mood with the media today as melancholic, although I saw him smiling a few times during his chats with Coach Lucas. Greg was quite forceful and convincing when he repeated "I'm pushing" to get back. The questions below are paraphrased; Greg's answers are transcribed.
When do you think you'll be back?
I gotta heal myself before I can get out there and play. Right now I'm not ready. We gonna give it a week or so and hopefully I can get out there soon.
Does it bother you when people question your commitment?
It does, but I'm out here working, doing everything I'm supposed to do. What else can I do? I'm trying to do more. I'm trying to be around more. But still, it's like I never do enough.
How does it feel when you run? Is it sharp pain?
Yeah, it is. It's really... I gotta talk more with the doctors but you know right now I feel fine. But when I go out there and run that's when it hurts.
Is that because of the bone chip?
I'd have to talk to them some more.
How tough is this injury?
It's very tough. Especially [because] the team is getting down the stretch, we're in that race to make the playoffs. I definitely want to be a part of that and try to help these guys win. I'm pushing to get back. I'm pushing. There's really nothing that I can do about it except give it time and do what I'm supposed to do.
When does it hurt? Can you cut on it?
I've tried. It doesn't feel good off this leg, pushing off with my left. I wouldn't say [that it hurts when I do] anything, [because] there's a couple of things I can do where it's just sore a little bit. And I can definitely make it through that [pain wise]. But [it hurts doing] the big stuff, like running and stopping, I can't stop off my leg."
Do you feel like it's improving?
The swelling went down so it's definitely getting better. [After that], then it kind of stayed the same [pain wise].
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
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Where are his knee pads?
Can’t Paul get him some? I have some from High School that I’d be willing to give him.
My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.
They should have Knee-Pad night..
When Oden first returns they should hand out knee-pads to all the fans at the game. It would be funny if everyone in the stands was wearing Knee-pads. That would get some funny national coverage.
"Every time Troutlaw touches the ball, I pop an anti-anxiety pill."
-1
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
-1
Again. Wait, do these all cancel each other out???
Damn…
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
Only if
You multiplying them together, otherwise I would say no since we are adding them up.
"Do or Do not there is no Try"
Yoda
Can we attach complex numbers to comments?
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Mar 3, 2009 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
He types even when he has a hangnail
We’ve got a lot of manly posters here @ BE.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Then can I give you some advice?
Ditch the school girl outfit. It detracts from the image.
hakkaa päälle !
Picture is a little creepy Ben.
But that’s the media for ya!
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
yeah
It took me a bit to figure out what was going on there.
Awkward.
Give the man his "M"!!!
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Mar 3, 2009 2:31 PM PST up reply actions
yeah i hear ya. i went back and forth on whether to include it and then decided that, given all the talk about greg, especially the negative talk, it would probably be good to put it out there.
How do we really know that's Greg's knee?
for I can tell, that is Ben’s knee with poor lighting.
you need to take some responsibility for that negativity, Ben!
with your fawning JQ posts.
lol i think many people have been far more negative about this situation than JQ. he’s earned every word of praise from me 5 times over, not that he needs them.
by Ben Golliver on Mar 3, 2009 11:13 PM PST up reply actions
Someone close to Greg needs to tell him....
"…you know you’re supposed to ignore the media. You’ve done a decent job of this, under the cirucmstances.
“Now…it’s time to take this ignore-the-media advice to the next level. Of course, be courteous and engaged; be like Brandon, not Rasheed. But at the same time….never, ever, ever, let the John Canzano’s of the world determine your sense of self worth. They don’t care about you; they care about creating attention and scratching out a penny-ante media living. They are powerless unless you help them. You are a beast. You are untouchable.”
by chnews on Mar 3, 2009 2:47 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Naw: I'd just tell him to consider the source
The guys who are saying GO should play thru his knee injury are just silly—couch potato tuff guys. Greg Oden played hurt in college, and both times he got injured this season, he stubbornly kept trying to play, dragging the injured extremity around the court.
GO shouldn’t have to answer any questions regarding his desire to play. The fact that he does answer those questions just shows his class.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Is there a time
that we will know what is happening with Martell’s appointment today?
acquire andre iguodala
thanks
We should be more worried about Martell than Greg. Centers often play 65 games a season, like Greg will this season… but missing a whole season is a struggle. Hopefully Martell can get back with less rust than Greg had.
acquire andre iguodala
It would just do Martell's psyche a lot of good to at least get in a few minutes this season
I can’t imagine his frustration after working hard all summer, playing great in the one preseason game, then…a lost season.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
WOW
The boot has not treated Martell’s foot very well.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
by mxpx5678 on Mar 3, 2009 2:57 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
he's from the Colony of Slippermen
there’s no who what why or when. – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
Nice.
The wife wondered what I was laughing at so hard, sitting in the office at the computer by myself.
Greg's comments....
Make me a little bit nervous. It has been how long now that he has been out, and there is still sharp pain. I like this guy as much as the next and I am still glad we took him over Durant especially in the long run, but the guy just has a hard time staying healthy and when he does get hurt it seems to take him much longer to get healthy. Obviously his size doesn’t help him in these kind of circumstances. I hope this injury will be the last one we talk about for a long time to come. We truly need you out there big guy get healthy and lets be a 100% about this before we send him back out there. As a former Blazer has said time and time again, THROW IT DOWN BIG MAN!!!!! Here’s to future success, health and good fortune.
When has it taken him a long time to get healthy? The microfracture takes a really long time, and the foot sprain he was back pretty quick.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
THROW IT DOWN BIG MAN!!!!!
I just had visions of Tom Tolbert and Bill Walton… yikes.
acquire andre iguodala
Thats why it is funny....
I don’t know why but I find myself laughing every time I hear Walton throw that out. I was just trying to lighten the mood with all the injury talk floating around. Anyways wouldn’t it be nice to see Greg throw one down at this point or sometime soon.
Kenny Vance had a terrific point earlier today
with Martell, people are ok with his injury. We understand it. His foot isn’t fine? Ok, get better Martell.
With Greg, people are assuming that it’s all a lie, that he really just needs to “tough it out” and get back on the court. Let the professionals do their jobs. We are fans, not doctors.
acquire andre iguodala
by Cablinasian on Mar 3, 2009 3:00 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
My gut feeling is
he’s not going to be productive when he returns. He was just starting to move his feet and control his foul problems when he went down. It will be back to trot mode when and if he returns. I think you just go with Pryz, LMA and Frye. Once again it’s about next season for Greg. I’ve invested too much in this guy emotionally as a fan and it’s time to let it go.
Ryan White's comment on OLive cracked me up
But if you absolutely must have some Oden porn, Ben’s got it at Blazers Edge
don't be hurt - Larry Flynt has touched a lot of people
’s lives in a positive way
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 3, 2009 8:39 PM PST up reply actions
I don't know about you
but if I was 21 again, I would have taken the shot so I could have played in the rookie, sophomore game at all-star weekend.
You're kidding, right?
The Rookie-Sophomore game? Fun is fun, but could a game possibly be more meaningless? I wouldn’t take an Asprin to play in that game.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
My point was that a pickup game at 24 Hour Fitness is more meaningful than the Rook-Soph game
Good luck with that hip implant. Sounds like you’re the type who can wear one of those out in 6 months.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
I think he was a jokin'
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 3, 2009 8:40 PM PST up reply actions
About the rook-soph game, the hip implant, or both?
I figured the former was probably a joke. But I guess I fell for the hip implant part. Come to think of it, what IS a hip implant?
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
thanks Ben
Well done as always – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
INJEREES R DUMM
"I saw him in the face"
by RoodiePhirnandizz on Mar 3, 2009 4:30 PM PST reply actions
same camera, new zoom lens. still learning how to use it.
by Ben Golliver on Mar 4, 2009 12:54 AM PST up reply actions
Doesn't sound good at all that the pain is still there but no swelling. That bone chip is going to need to come
out. Sounds like surgery is coming.
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