Giving up on Greg

Illgauskas anounces his retirement and the money quote is as follows:

"Ilgauskas was on the brink of forced retirement 11 years ago after five foot surgeries had mentally drained him. But he vowed to give it one more chance after a radical reconstructive surgery. As a result, he was able to reach two NBA Finals and two All-Star Games and retire after 13 seasons."

Five foot surgeries over 3 seasons. Sure he played 91 games in those 3 seasons while Oden's netted 82 games over 4. But yet, Big-Z still went on to play 9 more years. Could Greg do that? Sure eh could, but he could also go the path of Darius. In my opinion, I don't see Greg as the kind of person who is just doing it for the money. I think he really wants to play. Therefore I'd bet dollars to donuts that Greg eventually has a long successful career.

I hope this topic hasn't been broached before. /end{sarcasm}

8 months ago NWfan 9 comments 0 recs |

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100% Agree

I am not giving up on Greg or Brandon.
#52
#7

by musicdaniel on Sep 30, 2011 3:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Have to agree too.

The questions are how, where, and for what price?

Big Z became a force based off his intelligence and toughness. He has soft hands. Greg has shown flashes of very high basketball IQ, especially when it comes to passing, but his offensive move is dunking. That’s it. Big Z got some dunks, but he played off the ball more. I love Greg, and I hope he plays here and kicks butt and dunks on people, but nothing is certain.

"Brandon Roy has done this before."

by sabonis11 on Sep 30, 2011 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

Greg is no Sabonis, but he's no Kwame Brown either!

I understand your hesitation. There’s been no sign of Greg as an outside shooter or a lefty layup kind of guy, but if you’re worried about his hands and his versatility, I say, “welaaaax”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhnvYmgRPv0

"You can pretty much flip a coin to see which Portland team will show up: the dark-horse world-beaters or the mixed-up eggbeaters" - Dave

by conspirator5 on Sep 30, 2011 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

It's risk and reward to me, and the reward is so huge Paul Allen has to take the risk.

IMO, the Blazers are headed for a long disastrous spell of boring mediocrity without Oden. It won’t be fun. Between 1993 and 1998 the Blazers lost in the first round of the playoffs 6 straight times and two coaches lost their jobs. In the last 11 years the Blazers failed to make the playoffs 5 straight years, and lost in the first round 6 more times. Once you get into the middle of the pack, just making or missing the playoffs every year, it is very hard to get out of that pack.

Without some unlikely lopsided trade and perhaps an even less likely fluke draft pick, Oden is probably the only way out of mediocrity and a chance to become a serious contender without completely tanking for several years to get high draft picks. So Paul has to take the risk and do whatever is necessary to resign him to a long term deal when the lockout ends.

My concern about Greg is less his future health and more what you have taken for granted.

In my opinion, I don’t see Greg as the kind of person who is just doing it for the money. I think he really wants to play.

He wants to play, but I wonder how dedicated he is to learning basketball skills (of which he has very few) and becoming a more talented force in the game. He has the physical ability (or at least he did prior to his injuries), but does he really have the determination and drive to become great? He has always appeared very immature to me. Hopefully, two years without playing has changed that.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 30, 2011 4:31 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

I'm still trying to figure out if the hip surgery messed up his knees, or if the cartilage in his knees is just weak. Either way, it doesn't look good.

I hope you are right though. I love watching this team when he is playing. It’s just great having him out there. The other team plays scared in the paint.

by BRoyInThe4th on Sep 30, 2011 10:24 PM PDT reply actions

I would still like to know what lead up to Greg's last Micro Fracture Surgery

All results were that Greg was on track last November and was visiting a doctor in California to get the ok to begin running on his knee. He tweeted out looking for places and things to do in LA while he was there visiting the knee specialists. Paul Allen tweeted him back asking him if he was referring to a place to eat. Two days later it was announced that he needed micro fracture surgery again this time on his other knee. What happened between those 2 days or were our team trainers and doctors lying to the media. Greg is often seen in Vegas and the club scene in Portland. Not to say the guy cant have fun but would hope that it didn’t cost him another surgery with a wild night out on the town in LA. I have faith in his ability but we have every right to question his heart and diligence to rehab when his pockets are lined with Blazer cap space and Paul Allen money and ticket holders who were told Greg would be back and reupped their Season tickets.

by TheOdenator52 on Sep 30, 2011 11:14 PM PDT reply actions

MF isn’t designed to repair some sort of traumatic knee injury. It helps resolve a degenerative condition. It’s not like he blew out his knee at some nightclub… he didn’t really blow out his knee at all.

i keep dancing on my own.

by atomiccafe on Oct 2, 2011 7:28 AM PDT up reply actions