Greg Oden Talks Rehab, Summer, Extension, DirecTV
by Ben Golliver on Apr 7, 2010 11:17 AM PDT
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PrintDuring yesterday's edition of 95.5FM's Wheels at Work, an upbeat Greg Oden discussed a number of topics, including his current rehab schedule, whether he has broached the issue of contract negotiation talks with his agent and his summer workout plans. His updates, however, weren't uniformly positive.
Here's a link to the show's page where you can grab the audio. Here's a partial transcript. Questions are paraphrased. Answers are word for word.
No, no, no. I stayed home and watched it at home. It was too many people. I was trying to stay off my leg. I didn't want to trip over anybody.
You're in Indiana right now. Will you be back in Portland for the playoffs?
Yeah, yeah, I'll definitely back for the playoffs. I think they're going to try to get me to travel with the team and go to those playoff games. I'm pretty excited for it. I'm ready to be back on a plane and be with the guys.
What are you working on right now with your knee?
Right now, in Indiana, they are actually giving me some time to relax my knee. Mostly I just have it kicked up, icing it every chance I get. Basically just relax and staying off of it, and letting it heal until it gets really strong.
Have you talked with your agent about contract extension negotiations this summer?
We haven't really talked about it yet. There is that chance. With me being injured, I really don't know. That's something we definitely have to talk it over but we really haven't got to it yet.
Can you reassure Blazers fans you want to be in Portland long term?
Oh, I would definitely love to. That's not even a question. But it's definitely a business. Whatever fits, whatever I can do, I'll do it. I would definitely love to be here still in Portland. Excited about that.
Where do you see this team in 3 years?
I would like to see us winning a championship. Definitely being one of those championship contending teams. Three years from now, you can't really tell what's going to happen but I would definitely like to be with the Blazers. I want us holding that trophy around.
You were playing well before you got hurt this year
Around the time I did get hurt, I was playing pretty well. I had a couple of 20 point games and a couple of big rebound games. I felt like I was playing really well. I started getting myself and my body into the groove of things. A lot more comfortable out there. Definitely when I get back and get all the way healthy I feel like I can get back to that.
What do you want to add to your game?
I was talking about that yesterday with my uncle. He was giving me some little pointers. You know, Greg, If you can get that little nice jumpshot close to the rim. Not as far as LaMarcus's but get a nice touch jumpshot around the rim. That's something that would definitely help your game. That's something I want -- a nice touch jumpshot around the basket.
Which team would you prefer the Blazers face in the first round?
I think we match up a lot better with the Lakers. The past couple of years us being able to definitely beat them at home. I feel like that would be a team that we match up pretty well with, and we play really well against at home. That would be something I would like to see.
Are you able to work on the court now with your knee?
I'm not really doing too much on the court right now. As you know right now I'm at home resting it. A little bit ago I was on the court, just shooting jump shots, not really jumping though. I was standing straight up. I was able to get on my tippy-toes. A couple of weeks ago when I was back in Portland, when I was there, I was just shooting jump shots, shooting hook shots, just getting on the court at night, being on there for 30 minutes, touching the ball, being able to do some things.
Will you be in Ohio again this summer?
I think I'm actually going to head back to Indiana this time. I did go to Columbus last year because I had planned on taking classes. This summer I think I really need to put a lot of effort into getting my knee back. This summer I will be in Indiana, I will be staying at my mom's house, getting home cooked meals, having her take care of me. Yeah, I think I'm gonna be home.
Will you work out with Bill Bayno as extensively as you did last summer?
Um, I know I will see him a couple of times. I don't know if it will be as many times as I did last year. This summer I will be doing a lot of different things to help my body, and get my body back. I don't know when I'm going to be able to do the things that me and Bayno were doing last year. I plan on seeing him, and definitely working a lot with him, and Coach Medina and Coach Canales. I definitely see those guys a lot over the summertime. But it won't be as much as it was last year.
You attend the Blazers games and watch in the back right?
Yeah, yeah, exactly. After awhile I have to put my foot up just so I can let it, just, air out I guess. It gets really uncomfortable holding it down and having it bent for long periods of time.
Are you watching game film when you're at home?
I don't have the game film. Not out here. I do watch the games. But, you know, my mom has DirecTV. And out here I can't get the games. A lot of times I try to get on the computer, get the text messages to my phone, the score updates, I'm asking some people, calling some people who are actually watching the game, you know, what's going on. It's difficult out here, my friends are like, the games are so late out here, plus DirecTV doesn't get those channels, it's tough. I'll find a way to watch it.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
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Home cooked meals and little training...
sounds like Oden is coming into camp out of shape again. That didn’t work well last time, I hope I’m wrong.
one comment that Ben left out
Greg said that he was watching his teammates play and how quickly they were moving, and he said he would like to get himself ready to move with that same kind of quickness. The WaW boys didn’t follow up on this, but it would seem to indicate that Oden won’t be as heavy in the future than he has been in the past
There’s no doubt that at this point of the year (April) that Greg’s knee can’t handle as much on-court time as it did last summer. Keep in mind that a couple of months, what Greg thinks he’ll be doing as of now may be different, depending on what the Blazers have planned for him, and how far his rehab has progressed
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
not sure what to read into that interview
I listened to the Greg Oden interview yesterday and I am fluctuating between trying not to read too much into his responses and missing obvious warning signs that do warrant more attention. I was definitely encouraged by Oden’s desire to remain in Portland and his understanding the difficulty in renegotiating his contract. The areas that concerned me more was the questions begging Greg to explain how much work and effort he is putting into his game and the lack of any definitive answers.
ie., the area of his game he wants to improve was a shot near the basket that his uncle tipped him off to. he doesn’t watch games on television or study game tape. His answers about what he is learning from vet big men Juwon and Marcus was also vague. His summer improvement plans with Bayno were also vague.
I just felt like there were so many opportunities for Greg to demonstrate the areas he is putting in serious effort to improve his game, his basketball intelligence, or the overall betterment of the team’s development. Again, I don’t want to get overly down on Greg as this may be his temperament as he does have a laid back demeanor. I would be very interested to hear other thoughts and if anyone else got this “vibe” from the audio. Specifically thoughts from Blazersedge on some of the underlying issues that were approached in this audio.
by brittquinn on Apr 7, 2010 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
There's only so much you can do to improve off the court...
and he’s already had more time to sit and watch (entirely two of his three seasons in the league) than most players have in their whole careers. I don’t think it’s so much being lackadaisical as it is acknowledging a career that has been more rehabbing than playing.
the area of his game he wants to improve was a shot near the basket that his uncle tipped him off to
This is an area where I’ve been concerned abot, in the past. If Greg wants to take face up jumpers from around 5-10 feet of the rim, that’s something that the defense should be more than happy to give him. (Like Charles Barkley says, the Blazers need a low-post threat, not another jump-shooter!) If Greg can get that killer instinct and take the ball hard at the rim every time he touches it (like Shaq, back in the day) he’ll create foul trouble for the opponent and points for himself from the FT line. I don’t want to see GO “settle” for being a Pat Ewing or David Robinson kind of offensive center, Portland needs him to be a beast!
Perhaps Greg’s uncle is a closet L*ker’s fan?
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I think more importantly, is Footwork.
He was improved a little bit last year, but I think this should be the focus.
Vulcans need to find Olajuwan. i would love to see Greg with a quick drop step or a little bit of Dream Shake.
Like what you like, enjoy what you enjoy,
don't be afraid to make slurping sounds,
and don't take crap from anybody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-5q8MaSSU
maybe hakeem could work with roy too?
oh man, that would be great.
ummm
a 5 foot jumper would make Greg devastating. Right now they know he has to have his back to the basket. Owning a shot would make his defender have to watch for him to face up. I dont want him shooting outside the key but having a jumper is a MUST
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 7, 2010 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
you can have the jump shot that he may make 60% of the time
and I’ll take the dunks and FTs that he’ll make 75-80% of the time
and we’ll see which style of play strikes more fear in his opponents and wins Portland more games
Owning a shot would make his defenderhave to watch for him to face uplook forward to watching him face up
Fixed it for ya
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
It's easier to guard a 1 dimensional player.
Camp out in the paint. Boom. Done.
Think of how many turnovers Greg had as a result of trying with all his might to get into the paint. Double dribbles, shuffling of the feet, getting stripped, etc.
If he’s able to square up, shoot an 6-8 footer with consistency, that creates more opportunities to dominate in the post.
Just my 2 cents, though.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
once he starts settling for jumpers
he’ll never go back to banging again. You’ll basically have a better defensive version of Kevin Duckworth
that’s not what I thought we were getting when Greg was drafted #1
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
If Dwight Howard
developed that shot, he’d be as unstoppable on the offensive end as he is on the defensive end.
Seriously, Greg wouldn’t shot a jump-shot every time he got the ball. I think it’s just another move for him to have. If he did have it another dimension to his game would open up. He could face-up and attack the basket from how many angles.
And it’s a five-foot jumper. That’s not really a jumper from that distance, it’s more like a toss. I think if he used a jumper every-once in a while he’d be more devastating. But I kind of agree with you. He should work on his post-moves and footwork for a few years before he starts devoting time to a jumper.
The 2012-13 NBA season: a dynasty begins.
Dwight
was working on a 10-15 ft jumper so that when he turns and faces the defender it makes his drop step spin to the base line or his step through running hook that much more lethal and harder to defend.
Personally I think Greg should work on the the drop step spin to the baseline and the step through running hook before he works on a 10 to 15 ft jumper.
Just think of the move he put on Zach Randolph with that viscious dunk, he could do that much more often if … he could those two.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
Right now, short shots and fts are all he can work on
we don’t want him pivoting and working on footwork until the knee is strong and stable.
Come on you gotta listen unto me,
lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be. ~Johnny Cash
by HurraKane212 on Apr 7, 2010 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Jumper
Both Joel and Greg can’t and I don’t think have ever hit a jump shot. Camby and Howard can and it has added a dimension, but cost us on the rebounding side a lot .
by doomsdaymachine on Apr 7, 2010 3:37 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
This is not true. Greg did hit a jumper earlier in the season, about 10 ft out. It surprised the Mikes as I recall.
Amazingly it didn’t look awkward. He only tried it once, but it was fun to see.
Having had to rehab from multiple joint surgeries myself...
I can say that you never know from one instance to the next how your body is going to respond.
I know that with my shoulder it can be doing great for a few days and then all of a sudden something starts acting up and its a process to even do things that I wouldn’t have considered strenuous a couple weeks ago. In my experience, rehab is a two-steps forward, one-step back process which cannot be given a time line. I’m not saying that my experiences are definitive of what everyone experiences and I’ve never had to deal with knee injuries, just hip and shoulder, but I would imagine that any healing process is not at all a linear proposition and so Greg can’t really give specific answers to those questions because if he did and he was wrong then he’d be criticized for that too.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
I tend to agree with you
Both with hesitation but “raised eyebrow”.
Obviously I’m an outsider looking in, but I was wondering why he wasn’t watching game tape as well. As a basketball fan aren’t you going to spend that down time raising the BBIQ?
I think back to kobe and his one hand being busted way back when. What did he do? He learned to use the other hand and became a better player. Other players have spent time studying the stars and their tells. Couldn’t Oden stay around and sit with the coaches soaking up their thoughts and strategy? If I can’t play, I’d want to learn all about the coaching because I believe that would make me a better player.
Again, I"m an outsider looking in. That’s what I’d want to do, but maybe there’s a reason players don’t do that? Maybe there’s only so much you can absorb? Maybe greg doesn’t care? Maybe no one has thought to do something like that or provide that option? Maybe contracts forbid that just like actors are forbidden to move a chair on the set and the stage hands need to come in and move the props.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Maybe he just wants us to think he’s taking it easy this time around. Watch him come back and dominate the entire league…
Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
by Andrew Tolliver on Apr 7, 2010 11:38 AM PDT reply actions
he can't watch the games?
thats BS. I live in NY and have watched every game for the last 3 years. somebody needs to set him with with blazercastHQ already. jeez. i
you'd think the Blazers could set him up with their video streams
so even if he can’t watch the west coast games live, he could download the video steam and watch it later
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
games
Yeah, that seems really odd that he doesn’t watch the games when he could with no effort.
by Great Big Head on Apr 7, 2010 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
As an east coast Blazers Fan – DirecTv League Pass is solid, plus then you can watch online as well for free when you are out of town. Its a good deal – Greg, pony up the cash.
by bunk moreland on Apr 7, 2010 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
maybe he can't afford it
did you ever think of that possibility? :-)
Then the entire arena froze as a primal, bloodthirsty shriek echoed through the seats and rafters. Beer vendors dropped their glasses, fans cowered, whistles fell out of refs' mouths, Coach Nate fell backwards into his seat, Monty Williams grew hair, watched it turn grey, and then sobbed as it fell out again all in an instant, and the Suns' blue and orange road uniforms suddenly included a conspicuous amount of yellow. B-Rex had arrived. And he was angry.
TOTALLY! I laughed when he said he could not watch the games.
He is fricking Greg Oden. “My mom only has DirecTV”. DUDE. I live in San Diego & have not missed a game for years. Install a 2nd cable line/service. Switch your mom from DirecTV. Yes, Greg, there might be a $150 penalty for terminating the DirecTV contract early. I think you can handle paying for that $150 fee & then buying NBA league pass for 3 easy installments of $49.
We all know what K*be did in Colorado to that girl. Dear Lord, please let whatever team that plays the LA Clankers beat them to oblivion. Amen.
No Doubt. LOL
Greg’s like, “yeah, money’s kind of tight right now…I still get my bro’s hand me downs”.
Like what you like, enjoy what you enjoy,
don't be afraid to make slurping sounds,
and don't take crap from anybody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-5q8MaSSU
DirectTV has the league pass in HD. There's no reason he can't get that
no games would be blacked out there. He could even record them and watch them in the morning. It’s as easy as one phone call.
I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich
I also live in New York, but ...
League Past costs like $180. Where is he going to get that kind of money?
Agreed thats BS, and hard to believe
I’m not a member of the Blazers, nor do I know them personally, but even though I move frequently all over the country, I rarely, rarely, miss a game. Just stream it online and send it through an HDMI to your massive TV, Greg. Very dissapointing to hear that our ‘franchise’ center and number one draft pick, that the team and fan base hang all their hopes on for winning a championship in the future, doesn’t even watch his team play on tv. Shame on you Greg.
It's Brandon Roy's world and we're only renting space We don’t like him—we’re only on his side so he doesn’t dunk on us in front of our co-workers, wives, girlfriends, mistresses and children.
-Correction It’s B Rex’s world and Brandon’s just keeping it warm until The Coming
by OhOhOden
by SandyTrailBlazer on Apr 7, 2010 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions
This upsets me about Greg. There are certain guys in the league who are so
committed their teammates and the game they would be in person or at least watching every single game.
He seems to not even care.
He’s probably waiting for Bayno and the team to help schedule out the summer…so I wouldn’t read to much into this other than the team hasn’t discussed the summer plans for all players.
It’s probably a good thing he gets rest 2 out of 3 months and go hard the last month before training.
All I know about my summer is that it will involves junking…the specifics of the junk, I do not know.
fiftytwo
It's just like LAST season
Ohhh noooo Greg is gonna be doing school all summer?!?! Why?!?
Plans change, plans ain’t set in stone yet, and it’s early.
M—
#52
i heard that greg is gonna eat this summer and be fat!
what will we do! :)
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 7, 2010 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Mmmmmmm.....
Me and Big Greg be lovin’ us some popcorn shrimps!
Ball Don't Lie
by bothteamsplayedhard on Apr 7, 2010 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
That part didn't bother me
As of course you don’t really know. Still… the disconnect (however you want to phrase it, but that’s how I interpret it) of Greg from the team is eyebrow raising to me. It just seems like he should be a little more involved. I say this as a layman who realizes that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. If someone wants to explain, that would be fine.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Some body needs to tell Greg...
that he can always post in the game day threads here at BEdge.
"I'm a man, but I can change.....if I have to......I guess." - Red Green
by antediluvian on Apr 7, 2010 11:46 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
That would be tight,
Like what you like, enjoy what you enjoy,
don't be afraid to make slurping sounds,
and don't take crap from anybody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-5q8MaSSU
Blazer fans would tear him apart
we’re not exactly friendly on here at times. (bust, injury prone, no heart… blah blah blah)
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
what if...
he’s all ready here…
Like what you like, enjoy what you enjoy,
don't be afraid to make slurping sounds,
and don't take crap from anybody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-5q8MaSSU
Hopefully not
because ya’ll blazer fans are pricks about sometimes about Greg.
Probably not, because of the huge fiasco Portland (media mostly) put him through last year.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
Come on Greg
I know you can afford to buy your Mom a subscription to NBA League Pass and watch the games!
Just always try to remember
Greg doesn’t prepare for these (not fully), and doesn’t always consider if he says “yeah, I’ll meet Bayno a few times I think”, that the “I think” or the “few times” part of the sentence can set us off and make us worry.
He DOES need someone to add the NBA League Pass package to his mom’s DirecTV account! I have DirecTV before, I know Dave has it (at least HAD it), and they offer League Pass. Silly Greg!
If he gives me his mom’s login and password, I can add League Pass for him and maybe even get his mom HBO.
Morty
#52
but if Morty visits the Oden household
he still wouldn’t get any of Greg’s spaghetti!
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
From what I've heard of Greg, he really pinches a penny and so does his mom.
I think he might jump at the chance to get free LP from you. Shoot him a message on his Facebook page, he’ll be eternally grateful!
#52
the fact that he still doesnt know what to improve on with his game
or that the person suggesting a face up jumper is his uncle is concerning. He has a nice touch, yet he never took a free-throw length jumper in any of the 80 games he has played in. funny that hasnt developed yet
so glad to hear that he will be eating home cooked meals in indiana all summer with his feet up. sounds great. yes, there is only so much he can do, but it just adds to the knock on Oden that he doesnt have the same drive as really great players. might be false and me reading into meaningless conversation, but watching Durant go for 45 last night makes me want to hear nothing but “I will be at the gym for 8 hours a day ALL SUMMER” from Mr. Oden, no matter how unrealistic that is
not trying to knock the kid over little things, we are all human. But the more I see and hear from him, the less convinced I am that he will ever help deliver anything during his career. but hey, he is still young.
Ball handling and dribbling are my strongest weaknesses."—David Thompson
by Benson on Apr 7, 2010 12:03 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
he has spent 2 season of his career working his butt off in rehab
i don’t question his work ethic
Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
batum>oden>durant
by thomasikehara on Apr 7, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
thats fine
I dont think there is a problem with Greg doing what needs to be done for rehab. I think whatever the Blazers ask, Greg will do.
The thing that bothers me is that I have never gotten the sense that Greg has the fire to go the extra mile such as watching game film on his own, working hard to develop his game outside of dunks and wierd looking hook shots, and trying to soak in as much as possible. But I could be completely wrong, and none of that matters if we could just keep him on the court
Ball handling and dribbling are my strongest weaknesses."—David Thompson
mental toughness
I am not sure why, but I don’t get the sense that he has a champion’s mentality either. I have the same question for our other stars also, Roy, Aldridge, Batum. We’ll see.
champion's mentality?
that comes with getting older and tougher.
They said Rasheed didn’t have it, and KG, and until last year they said Kobe didn’t have it without Shaq.
Players are losers until they are winners
Peyton Manning was surrounded by people questioning his toughness, determination, ability to win the big game etc… until he did. Then he had a winners mentality, showed good leadership and was a great teammate… until he lost the (last) big game. Now people are back to questioning his abilities. This seems to happen consistently, with people retroactively saying players have/ do not have the will to win or champion’s mentality as you put it.
Aut disce, aut discede; manet sors tertia, caedi
by Occam's Blazer on Apr 7, 2010 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions
+1
I think your senses are keen…..This guy is not committed (by his own accord) and has not matured much in 3 years…..He should be mentally involved as much as possible…You can learn a lot from simple observation, and if you envision yourself as an NBA basketball player, you need to continue to channel your focus in that direction at all possible angles….Greg is a boy in a man’s body….And (IMO) needs a role model and some tough love to get him in a better frame of mind…That’s if you want to be an NBA player, and I’m not sure Greg has that full committment…the extra mile (as you say)
Yup.
He’s had some problems to overcome, but it shouldnt take 82 games over multiple seasons to not pickup some of the dumb fouls he picks up. Mainly the slapping down at ball and hip checks. That shows a lack of concentration and learning.
KD has the drive and has had it since before the draft.
Greg is a big boy now, I know I am guilty of coddling him as well, don’t think it’s doing any good anymore. Coddling too much does no good in the long run.
Blazer Pride.
by loyal_blazer on Apr 8, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't see it as concerning at all.
He’s got to work on his core game before adding hooks and jump shots. Rebounding, moving his feet, defense, and put backs. Anything more than that is being over zealous.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
Free throws
Always gotta work on your free throws as a big man.
moving his feet...
yes.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Yup
And I will give you a rec for having the same thoughts as me…The funny thing is, that even though it’s still speculative, the Greg doubters have history to back up their opinion.
Sometimes gut feelings are quite accurate especiallly if they have some qualified background to help support their theory.
If a statistical analysis were made on Oden’s chance of success in the NBA, he would have a very flat bell curve ….and his path today is landing all the dots in outer edges, which continues to flaten out the curve….
Oak city has caught the Blazers and possibly passed them….why? They have Durant and we have Greg…this is a fact that no one can question. 3 years is enough patience for any fan to endure. Reality is here and hope is fading with every game not played…..sadly, it appears that Oden is not just physically uninvolved, but mentally as well.
*clap*
well said my friend.
Blazer Pride.
by loyal_blazer on Apr 8, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
the injuries are the concern
there is no doubt that when Greg is on the court, he is a player who positively impacts the game in favor of the Blazers. And sure, there is precedent for players getting injured and having injury-plagued careers.
On the other hand, there are also players like Zydrunas Ilgauskus and Nene who had horrible injury concerns early in their career, and have come back to be healthy, productive players. In the first four years of his career, Bynum has consistently had injury troubles. We have no idea whether these will hamper him long-term. The key thread with all of these guys is that their teams stuck with them, even when people criticized them because they were seen as too serious an injury risk. The reason Denver stuck with Nene and LA is sticking with Bynum is simple: big guys who impact the game like Greg can are gold. The risk of him having an injury plagued career is difficult to swallow, but the risk of letting him go is unbelievable (unless you can get another young big in return). I guess this is just a long way of saying there are cases where teams stick through early injuries to big men, and are rewarded for that. There is history on the side of the optimists as well.
these concerns in the comments remind me of last year when he took classes at OSU during the summer
and he turned out fine during the beginning of this season
Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
batum>oden>durant
I don't think he actually took those classes
he was going to, but his rehab schedule with Bayno took precedence
he might’ve taken one Sociality class, I’m not sure if he finished it though
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Seriously!
Pay the $160 for your mother, for the love of the game, man!
"Oh, and Ted, give my love to the Princesses. Ted2: Who? Ted: You'll see." - Ted Theodore Logan.
Greg makes 100x as much as a normal person.
So for him, it costs like $1.60. Which, to be fair, is a lot of money.
Disclaimer: everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazersedge.
they really need to send him game film
and i dont know, hire someone to hang out with him all summer and rehab him.. i HOPE thats what they have in mind. we sent someone to freaking spain for sergio, lets send someone to INDIANA for the cornerstone center huh blazers?
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 7, 2010 12:23 PM PDT reply actions
By prove, you mean working out when everyone tells you not to?
…or watching game film of games that you’re not even involved in?
I’m not sure I get it.
to sum it what, whats frustrates me and probably a number of you
are that the responses sound bush league.
A millionaire cannot get League Pass? A millionaire with injury problems does not have a personal chef keeping him as healthy as his diet allows? So many difficult tough obstacles to overcome! Guess we’ll just lay around in our slippers! He sounded guilty when stating he was staying in Indiana, maybe he should be. If mama has to work, keep her on your salary and fly her out to where your millions are being made and do the best in your pwoer to protect those millions.
Everyone in the organization and Greg believe that the all of these injuries are freak occurences(they are not). This is a recipe of the same and more disaster to follow if they don’t get him the best therapy money can buy. The 100 side die landed on your # 3x in 5 rolls? Hindsight is 20/20 and when we look back on the work the Blazers and Greg should have been doing to prevent his NEXT major injury, history is going to make a lot of people look very STUPID.
Blazer Pride.
Double Agreed
The guy’s a millionaire. Millionaires are supposed to work hard for their money, right? The employers of millionaires are supposed to make sure their millionaires are working hard, right?
Weird!
Miller > Turkeyglue
You aren’t a loyal blazer
"If we win a title, I promise not to hate on anyone associated with the Blazers for 1 full season" - jksnake99
"...black on black. my favorite!" - portlandgiirl91
What requires loyalty?
Blind faith to a ship that is sinking? How about trying to tell someone there’s a leak?
No, how about we all just sit there and let it sink the whole damn boat! Then I would be loyal!
Thanks for your input Fajunga…..just sit back and watch it all happen.
Blazer Pride.
by loyal_blazer on Apr 8, 2010 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Everyone in the organization and Greg believe that the all of these injuries are freak occurences(they are not).
I assume that you’ve based this statement on both your vast repository of medical knowledge honed over decades of being a doctor and your personal, thorough evaluation of Greg’s physiology?
Ha.
"One of the bright spots of the young season has been rookie point guard Jonny Flynn, whose name sounds like he should be the lead character in a Broadway Musical. "What are you doing here, Jonny Flynn?" "Why I'm here to court trouble, and woo a girl, and build the most fantastical contraption the world has ever seen!" -- Dave, Game 7 Blazers versus Timberwolves preview
by BlazersOrBust on Apr 8, 2010 5:23 AM PDT up reply actions
These types of responses are ignorant.
This comes from researching the work of other experts. Some of the most cutting edge guys in the world will tell you injuries are not coincidental. They normally are the end product of an underlying physical alignment issue that finally decided to go “pop” one day.
Anyone who thinks injuries are a coincedence, particularly ones that happen multiple times in the same region of the body is not clued in. Especially if you account for his documented “one leg longer than the other.”
Be brash now about it, but you will also not be accountable for your statements when he gets injured again. Believe me, there are plenty who talked the same way you did, when I was saying the same things, before he went down without getting touched the last time. Thats a LOT of compensating stress to put on a knee for it to crack in half without contact.
OPEN YOUR EYES
There are many being cured of many health problems including cancer.
Blazer Pride.
by loyal_blazer on Apr 8, 2010 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
What's ignorant is stating as fact
that Greg’s injuries are not freak occurrences. If you or anyone else wants to think that “researching the work of other experts” somehow qualifies them to pass a better judgment on Greg’s injuries than the judgment provided by a training staff with decades of experience and by Greg himself, feel free, but I will scoff at anyone who does so.
"One of the bright spots of the young season has been rookie point guard Jonny Flynn, whose name sounds like he should be the lead character in a Broadway Musical. "What are you doing here, Jonny Flynn?" "Why I'm here to court trouble, and woo a girl, and build the most fantastical contraption the world has ever seen!" -- Dave, Game 7 Blazers versus Timberwolves preview
by BlazersOrBust on Apr 8, 2010 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions
!@#$ IT...
Give him a max contract.. how could we not, Greg has been nothing but honest and cool about the whole thing…
then again.. I’d like to see 1/4 of his earnings for the past few years….
but.. hey. I love the cat (but i did want my runt )
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Head Czar of Amerika <--- Mortimer said so so there!!!
After watching Camby's passing skills
This is something they should most certainly be working on with GO durning this down time. He should be hitting cutters, throwing backdoor passes, lobs ect ect. Get him used to being a willing and able passing big man. Who cares if he has a mid range jumper…..
2-4 the who
If I were a Blazer player, especially Greg Oden, I would never, ever
utter another word in front of a microphone or any kind of media hack so that “fans” wouldn’t have the opportunity to parse every word, dissect every sentence, evaluate the timbre of my vocalizations, read negative intent between the lines, make assumptions about my attitude, come to conclusions about my character. It never fails to amaze me how many Blazer fans think they are Noam Chomsky.
#52
by annthefan on Apr 7, 2010 1:33 PM PDT reply actions 11 recs
I see no problem whatsoever with Greg going home
He realizes he is not going to make it back this year and wants to get back to his roots. Not a bad idea in my opinion. As always, no matter where he decides to finish up his preparation for next year, he will be judged on the results. He knows that, and we should know it too. Patience people!
21+52=
He needs to take lessons from Miller.
Hopefully he grows a huge chip on his giant shoulders.
by Nick Van Excellent on Apr 7, 2010 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Your right
We should let Greg ride off into the sunset (and take that contract extension with him)…I think Mom will get him on the right path, so no worries
Ann, You are a great fan and appear to be a very compassionate person (very nice qualities for sure)…optimism is a virture of good thinking and value and pessimism is an affliction that tries one’s patience (sorry to say I have this)
Reality will fall somewhere in the future, but after 3 years the future is today…My opinion, of course
However , some of us folks
do read between the lines…the media has an agenda, I don’t…(IMO) Management has essentially put Oden on hold….By this, I mean, they must have concerns about his future on this team….His injuries are no one’s fault., but with the firing of Penn and KP’s status in question, PA has sent a message….It’s a business.
Oden is an NBA player under contract…..what he does under that contract will be subject to scrutiny from the owner, through the media and out to the fan. It comes with the territory.
What news have we had about Oden? Certainly not anything from playing. Fans want to hear from him and the media (in this case) provided the link…It is always subject to tons of speculation and personal evaluation.
You play each game day by day and reality replaces speculation in a hurry. The future is always ahead of reality and skepticsim will always follow Greg until he can live up to his potential…that’s just the way it is…..
Annthefan, old friend, what do we have to judge people by but the combination of their words and actions?
Without action, I have only his words.
I want to believe Greg so much, and I do. And then he says he isn’t doing much but icing his knee. What am I to do?
Please tell me.
No Evil Vulcans! Only the good, albeit emotionless, kind.
by Y5k on Apr 9, 2010 1:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Icing and trying to stay off the knee ?
Not my favorite Greg imagery. Combined with mom’s cooking – sounds like tubby time.
Maybe a nutritionist could help mom.
I always love (not) the “business” comments, after all look how much I make for being a fan.
"You be realistic," Oden said. "I’m going to stay happy. All right?"
Three years into the League
and I don’t think he understands how much commitment it takes to be a star in the NBA.
by LicketyBrindleDowntheMiddle on Apr 7, 2010 2:33 PM PDT reply actions
'Sitting' shows a lack of effort?
Au contraire: “they are actually giving me some time to relax my knee”
This tells us how the medical staff is viewing his progress. I had a hope back when that he would be coming back to the court about now, in a best-case scenario. Not. Gonna. Happen.
He pushed hard on the rehab but something did not heal fast enough and they are probably TELLING him to ease off for a bit. His body may ultimately set the pace but I am confident that the Blazer medical staff is calling the shots on the workout program.
Don’t blame Greg or piss on his “effort” when there is a logical explanation sitting right there in the interview.
by Sashland on Apr 7, 2010 2:56 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
yeah
you may be right. From what I remember, Greg was all pumped up to try to get healthy by playoff time – sounds like he has taken a complete 180 and it was probably because something in his knee was not liking the training ‘ramp-up’. Glad that the Blazer medical staff has laid down the law. Get that knee healed Greg!
by blazerbeliever on Apr 7, 2010 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Besides, I have insider view on the rehab...
whacked my kneecap with a steel post putting in some fencing about 9 weeks ago (I am a dedicated fan but refused to do it a second time to keep up with Joel) – it still is painful to a push (no longer painful just to touch) but it does still complain going up stairs and that’s my warning sign to not strain and re-injure it. Sure, I can even lightly jog a bit, but the thought of hoops, cutting, jumping (OK, like Andre~), and hard first steps do not fit what my body and brain are saying. I’m guessing it will still be somewhat sore a couple of months from now and I wasn’t totally off my feet and fighting muscle weakening. {looked like an old, old man, or a young kid, doing that ‘one step at a time’ stair routine}
Sometimes you just need to sit, ice it, and give it a rest.
Be well Greg, we’re looking forward to your return.
just to emphasize
I really didn’t mean to read too much into this interview and/or overly dissect his responses with the same fervor one usually reserves for political debates. I should have stated that I really appreciate players putting themselves out there for interviews and increase a fan’s access to them. My initial comments had less to do with specific criticism of Oden (why is he home? why doesn’t he have League Pass? why didn’t he provide a detailed list of ways he wants to improve? etc), but more a combination of both his comments and the vibe he gave which together made me concerned about Oden’s ceiling as a basketball player and ultimately as a key part of the team’s success.
I listened to the interview and was trying to decipher his demeanor and how much that really correlates and/or affects his actions on the court. I totally respect his demonstrated efforts in recovering from his last injury…
Again, I don’t want to nitpick Greg especially en lieu of his willingness to do the weekly show, I just maybe overestimated how the show would boost my confidence in his game development. I want to see Oden back, healthy, and I look forward to watching him play and dissecting his game rather than his radio and tv appearances… Maybe it is one big ball of fan frustration. I am often accused of being overly analytical.
I'm not critical of his rehab effort, but,
not watching all the team games and no game tapes?
That’s on both Greg and Staff.
I’d be happy to donate a used VCR to go along with the League Pass gift…
I just don't get the tapes thing
He’s not playing. There is no analog on the team for him to watch/study. Watching Camby play is no more valuable than watching Shaq play.
He has probably watched hundreds if not thousands of basketball games in his life, and would probably learn as much by watching some ESPN Classics of Hakeem. People who have no idea what he does outside a few sound bites should not pretend to know what’s best for him.
who said he's not watching all the team games?
When he’s in Portland, he’s at every game watching in the back.
He’s out visiting his mom who doens’t have the game, not that big of a deal.
#52
Yep. He was in Ptown last week. The team is on a mini road trip so he
had an opportunity to go home for a few days. He should be suspended for not sitting in the Blazer practice facility, all alone, icing his leg.
#52
funny...
but he could be watching the game tapes while getting iced.
I just don’t get how watching games tapes wouldn’t be useful on so many levels.
Seriously though, if anything, maybe Greg feels he needs spiritual healing as well,
and who could do better than mom?
that's a fair point,
he could certainly going a lot worse places to a lot worse influences.
He must have a good relationship with mom… not always the case.
"You be realistic," Oden said. "I’m going to stay happy. All right?"
I think his mom told him
“you have to stay here this summer before you get your digital camera back”
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Apr 7, 2010 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wasn't Batum saying when he couldn't play
that all he did was watch film and study people’s go-to moves and he feels like it helped him immensely?
by Knobby on Apr 7, 2010 5:29 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
100% agree. Batum shut down Dirk because he studied the heck out of his films while injured.
Greg should have every film and spend his off-time dribbling and doing other ball handling skills. Stand in the paint and pass to people.
Get really good at that.
No Evil Vulcans! Only the good, albeit emotionless, kind.
by Y5k on Apr 7, 2010 6:41 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Hell, practice throwing lobs to cutters.
Anything but get fat and lazy.
No Evil Vulcans! Only the good, albeit emotionless, kind.
by Y5k on Apr 7, 2010 6:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
If Greg comes into preseason stinking, it's a coaching/management fail.
No Evil Vulcans! Only the good, albeit emotionless, kind.
by Y5k on Apr 7, 2010 6:43 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Batum cares a helluva lot more about basketball than Oden
Some guys love the game and can’t get enough of it, some play the game because it makes them a lot of money and it’s fun.
Batum is the first type of guy, Oden is the second IMO
i dont get the last paragraph
doesnt he care half as much as i do? how can he with his millions not get the games. i know he could online if he cared. the blazers should be making him announce games from a lazyboy on the sidelines.
I'm still bothered that he's in Indiana. Why is he not in Portland with our trainers and staff
every day rehabbing? I just don’t understand this. As someone pointed out above, why isn’t he studying game film so that when he gets back he’s at least better from a mental and scheme standpoint.
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