Eggers: Blazer C Greg Oden Progress Report
Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune with some details on Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, who continues to rehabilitate from knee surgery, courtesy of Blazers Acting GM Chad Buchanan.
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"I’d prefer not to talk about specifics," Buchanan says politely.
Oden continues his daily rehab workouts as prescribed by Steadman at the Blazers’ practice facility with Jensen and strength/conditioning coaches Bob Medina and Todd Forcier. Shooting, jumping, limited running. No three-on-three drills. No scrimmage sessions.
...
"We haven’t stopped" with Oden’s rehab, Buchanan says. "We’ve slowed it down. We’re being very cautious until he is completely ready to be back out there and play."
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Last week, Buchanan said that Oden was "taking the next step" in his rehabilitation process but that there were "definitely some challenges ahead for Greg."
Without much (if any) media fanfare, Oden hosted a holiday event back in December.
Here's a write-up from BDA Sports, the agency that represents him.
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On Sunday, December 18, Greg Oden and the Oregon Mentors hosted the 4th annual Team Oden Holiday Party at the Bagdad Theatre in Portland. 300 youth and their mentors were invited to take part in activities including games, an old-fashioned photo booth, and to watch a screening of "Home Alone." Oden was in attendance to greet the kids, pass out special gift bags, and join in on watching the holiday favorite.
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A picture from the event was posted on his Facebook.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
5 months ago
Ben Golliver
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So, no change then.
He basically continues to be Greg Oden.
A displaced Sonics fan that has somehow emerged as a Blazers fan (and loves it).
by anitachampionship on Jan 12, 2012 9:54 AM PST reply actions
Hardly an update..
WHY have they slowed down Greg’s rehab? WHY are they being so cautious? WHAT challenges besides continuing to rehab from microfracture are there ahead for Greg?
Those are the big questions. Quite frankly, they’re really the only thing that matters right now in the never ending Oden injury saga. I’d rather they say nothing then keep giving “updates” like this. What are they hiding? Why are they hiding it? Anyone have any speculation? Maybe he has the same meniscus problem B-Roy had? Just a guess by someone who knows very little about knee injuries, but what the heck else could they be hiding?
It is frustrating for sure
The organization is clearly hiding something about Oden. Considering that Oden’s agents have not protested anything, or Oden himself has not said he is ready to go shows an indication that he has not healed as fast as hoped, or that he is suffering from another injury.
All of his injuries he has had in past past have been ligament damage or tendons. He does not have a history of meniscus problems in the past. My guess that this set back Buchanan is describing with Oden is the result of some of those tendons and or ligament not being completely healed.
Not exactly
Microfracture helps repair articular cartilage, which is the tissue that covers the ends of bones. Articular cartilage isn’t the same thing as the meniscus, which is the cartilage/disc that cushions the joint between the bones.
Well, anticular cartilage is a lot more similar both in it's makeup and how it gets injured to meniscus
than it is to ligaments or tendons.
Glad Kerry Eggers wrote about his efforts
It was unclear to me if any one was trying to find out what the setback was. It is probably true that every reporter has been trying to find out what’s going on, but by not writing about the inability to get answers it left me wondering if anyone was asking the questions.
The only thing left to ask, which Kerry Eggers may have asked, is if they can explain why they won’t describe the medical issue. What is the logic of not talking about it? I’d love to know if they would answer that question to explain why they are stonewalling.
If they stonewall on why they are stonewalling, then there is nothing anyone can learn until someone talks.
Not a whole lot to go one
But still nice to hear something, even if it’s really nothing.
by Batumshakalaka on Jan 12, 2012 10:03 AM PST reply actions
I guess secretly?
I guess almost secretly to myself? I’ve remained optimistic that I’d see Oden in a Blazer Uniform again. I’ve known all along of the scenario, that he signs the qualifyer and then leaves after this season. BUT somehow? I guess I kept a little flame of hope that Oden really wanted to be a Blazer. That he would at any pace, eventually get healthy and want to play for this team. But that hope is fading fast. With the cryptic and secretive way both parties are handling communication? I can only think the relationship between Oden and The Blazers is simply not good. If you really believed that Oden could become healthy and wanted to be a Blazer long-term? I think you’d talk about him. There almost seems to be an obvious unwritten rule…Oden does not speak, The Blazers don’t speak. And that just makes me think it’s over…which it probably was a long time ago, but I had allowed myself just the glimmer of a dream.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
If we keep in the top 4 of the conference,
and he manages to come back strong this year, there’s no real reason for him to leave. if he can gel with this new team by the playoffs and gets into form, our chances of making some noise in the playoffs get even higher. I’m not too worried about us without him, but that’d be an amazing bonus if it finally works out for Oden.
We shall see....
…but since “How” Oden as a marketable Blazer asset is handled is a choice of the franchise? It seems to me like The Blazers are NOT handling Oden like a player they expect back anytime soon and/or expect to be a Blazer asset for the concievable long term future. You just kind of feel a growing gulf between The Blazers and Oden.
The only hope I have left? Is the hope that I’m wrong.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
I look at the silence as a way
to take pressure off Oden. Maybe they are just trying to get all the talk away from him so he can be more confident in coming back eventually rather then thinking everyone hates him.
yeah, sometimes he seems a little separated from the rest of the team,
but i’m sure it feels uncomfortable trying to get involved in a team that’s changed so drastically since the last time he played. I feel like if the blazers weren’t considering oden as an asset, then they would’ve made a move for a starting center by now (something I think we should be doing even if we think oden can come back).
Very good news
The chemistry on this team seems to be very good right now and it would be nice to keep it that way. In the past when Oden has played it seemed like the team had to make adjustments for him instead of him just blending in and making the team better. As far as winning more games went it did not matter if he played or not they won the same amount of games. After being out for over two years, he can take all the time he wants to they may be better off without him anyway.
if we can get Greg on the court we want Greg on the court
the adjustments you reference are an indicator of how much he changes things. This team’s ceiling skyrockets with Oden or Camby coming off the bench
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Jan 12, 2012 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
I short term maybe, but long term I disagree.
We need a big to help Camby with rebounding, put backs, shot blocking and defense. If we get him back this year I don’t thing Nate would call any plays for him, Other then to keep opponents honest with a threat down low.
Therefore, IMO we are not better off without him as he is already on the roster and be a help/
hg
Blazers holding Oden back so they can sign a cheap extension for him later?
Blazers holding Oden back because they are worried about another possible injury?
Blazers holding Oden back because they are saving him for the latter part of the season?
Blazers holding Oden back because Oden does not want to rush back in until He is in shape and 100 percent healthy.
So in other words nothing's changed
And we didn’t expect anything to have changed here in the second week of January. For me, that means I don’t have any reason to change my perspective on the situation. There’s still as much reason to hope he comes back sometime this season, just as there’s as much reason to be pessimistic about his return—depending on how you’re inclined to see it.
If this article is posted in the 2nd half of March, when we have expectations of significant progress, that would change how I see things.
ok where the update?
did i miss it or something?
by cavejunctionblazer on Jan 12, 2012 10:40 AM PST reply actions
and with one fell swoop
AK offers the answer that literally applies to every question ever posed on BE. I’m tempted to re-use this comment until it has reached meme-hood.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Jan 12, 2012 11:39 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Slowing pace of rehabilitation is consistent with previous reports, and in fact represents new information
Ligaments heal from two to six weeks when surgery is not involved. The Blazers probably have Oden on a six week healing cycle, after which they will start to develop strength and endurance up to game levels. That phase could take 3-4 weeks.
We are 4 weeks into a likely 10-week process -putting Oden back on the court sometime in early March at the latest.
Best guess scenario.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 12, 2012 10:53 AM PST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Thank you.
For not being a doctor, your inductive power on these issues seems incredible.
Of course, I know nothing about medicine, so maybe you’re totally full of it, and have me completely buffaloed ;)
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
not a doctor
But am an occupational health specialst with multiple graduate degrees. It’s my business to keep people healthy in the workplace.
Certified Industrial Hygienist (which isn’t anything like what it souds like)…
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 12, 2012 4:17 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
As long as the Blazers are paying Gregs bills,
he has no privacy rights from them.
If I were Chad, I wouldn’t want to comment at all. What can he possibly say, that we havent already heard more than once already ?
just win baby !
by FrenchieFan on Jan 12, 2012 12:01 PM PST up reply actions
I was referring to the information that is released to the public.
Chad may have his hands tied in what he tells the press.
I have this fantasy...
That at some random home game in March, without any prior hype or press release, Greg Oden is introduced during the starting line-ups.
by superfly05 on Jan 12, 2012 11:59 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I think this may be a sign that this is a failed microfracture surgery. It has been my worst fear because they did describe this as
a defect like a golf club taking a divot out of the cartilage. When the defect is big the surgery doesn’t work as well and this makes me think of Chris Webber. Why don’t they at least comment on how he has healed?
I googled "failed microfracture"
and it seems that if the MF had truly failed, he would be in a crap ton of pain right now. We’ve had reports that he is running fluidly, so that seems unlikely. However, I’m not an expert, so take that for what it’s worth.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
"I’d prefer not to talk about specifics,"
This right here is the problem. The team has payed Greg a ton of money, and the fans foot that bill, in large part. Why does this organization guard progress reports on Oden like the Pentagon protects items of national security. What is to be lost or gained by informing the public. Are they afraid to generate more false hope than already exists? We love our Big Mystery! Fill us in!
They have to be managing uncertainty
Uncertainty means an an ambiguous diagnosis. Ambiguous diagnosis means indefinite recovery schedule.
Refusing to comment substantially equals limited media scrutiny. Limited media scrutiny enables plausible deniability. However – in spite of appearances, Oden is not old enough to have been on the grassy knoll…
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 12, 2012 4:27 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Ha!
This mean that Greg is, in all likelihood, dead or being held captive, right? They found a good doppelganger..
The Real Greg Oden Lives!!!
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 12, 2012 5:20 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I love Greg
Hey 10 games from him is better than no games the whole season " if " he can spell camby this season on the playoffs we can really make a run at the chip baby
by Rosecity503 on Jan 12, 2012 2:36 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I haven't stopped caring about Greg, but any thing he could give us this year would be gravy.
The team has gone on without him as far as replacement goes and playing well, so Greg is not as important in winning as he once was, but his input would be great as a back-up to Camby for the rest of the year, then go on from there next year.
Greg as a person, still is trying to come back from terrible injuries, I care whether or not he makes it even if he doesn’t make a big impact.
hg
Do you guys think the blazers will try and resign him or not?
by Rosecity503 on Jan 12, 2012 3:05 PM PST via mobile reply actions
yeah
but I think it’ll be a much lower number than everyone expects.
I think they’ll keep him out for the year with this non-news on slow recovery, lower his value on the open market and sign him to something like 12 mil for 3 years.
Or I’m wrong and he’ll be back before playoff time
Greg is telling that girl "Hey, don't touch the knee!"
Someone her size can really damage it.
Porter, Drexler, Kersey, Williams, Duckworth. The greatest starting 5 ever.
Since Oden has barely played and he is still really young,
I like to think that Portland just drafted him in the last draft and just forget that all this ever happened. Think about it. In two weeks he turns only 24. 7-foot tall big man out of Ohio State. With the #1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft the Portland Trail Blazers select: GREG ODEN!
by TheShougPanther5 on Jan 12, 2012 7:13 PM PST via mobile reply actions
If ligament injury
How does he manage to do that while rehabbing from surgery?
That he signed for so little tells me the most and yet very little at the same time.
by doomsdaymachine on Jan 12, 2012 7:30 PM PST reply actions
Update -
to bring up to date, as by adding new information or making corrections.
Not sure Chad knows the meaning…
am I the only one wondering why
this team doesn’t go out and get a center? Last year Lamarcus said it himself “no offense to Camby or nothin but if Greg was here Dirk would have had to guard me” So are we going to get a legitimate center after the deadline? Or are we going to let C’s guard LMA come playoff time?. If you think Camby and KT is the center answer your kidding yourselves Camby is probably the worst player in the league on back to backs and KT is really a big PF.
We still don't know about Greg
If he makes it back he will help, if not we can make do until next year as we are planning on trying to get Joel Freeland over.
Sometimes, a team has to make due with what they have since there is not a line of quality centers out there that will play for what the Blazers had to offer.
hg
He is basically saying that they are scared to push Oden to hard because he is injury prone.
I hate this for Greg Oden, I don’t think he will play this year. I just hope that he signs a contract with Portland this summer and not go some where else….I think with him signing that 1.5 million contract is a show of good faith that he will sign again with Portland.
Kenneth Lewis Moore
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