Monday Links

by Dave on Nov 19, 2007 1:10 AM PST in News

Jason Quick makes the report official that the Blazers are asking Greg Oden to stop doing his Oden minutes, asking for a little more Bill Bixby and a little less Incredible Hulk.

I apologize for missing this over the weekend but Brian Hendrickson has an excellent visual breakdown of the fourth quarter in Philly. I really like this kind of work.

Mike Barrett tries to explain what's going on on the hardwood and in people's heads.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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That's great

that they are concentrating on Oden's core. That will be huge in avoiding injuries. Amare and Nash would be out a lot more than anybody has seen them without devotion to strengthening the core (Nash's back problem is pretty severe, if I remember, and look how strong he is still going at his age. I've heard tell he can stand in place on top of an exercise ball). It will also help him be the type of "muscle" he wants to be in games; remember Magliore? It wasn't just his size, but also his core strength which allowed him to claim the paint (Joel said it was strongest core he had ever played against, and Jamaal was nigh immovable).

The University of College, where I'm majoring in Words with a minor in International Numbers!

by supremepuntiff on Nov 19, 2007 2:21 AM PST reply actions

Regarding Quick's article:

Duh! What was Medino thinking?! Just because Bobby has a wrestler's build doesn't mean all the Blazer's should too. And Jensen, where was he?

Thank god someone in that orginization had their eyes open (Nate).

by TwoDeep on Nov 19, 2007 10:35 AM PST reply actions

Hendrickson's breakdown:

That's fascinating. Wonder if the coaches use like tools?

by TwoDeep on Nov 19, 2007 10:42 AM PST reply actions

Oden is a Freak of Nature

His body can be whatever we want it to be. He does not have a build or possess the physical potential we can easily conceive of, as he is so far beyond normal levels of natural athleticism.

So this quick weight gain and muscle building can't be viewed through the lense of how it "works" for a normal person. Oden's 7.9% body fat for a 7 footer who eats a lot and (before now) didn't work out all THAT much is evidence enough that his body is just naturally a freak of nature.

I'm guessing he got so big, so fast, so buff so quickly that it kinda took everyone by surprise. I'm all for him cooling it a bit, and trusting in our trainers and experts. It's nice to know that Oden can easily get that big and strong should we see that that kind of size will be to his advantage; I'd also be surprised if he doesn't retain every bit of his athleticism and quickness no matter how big he gets (as long as it's muscle).

No matter what, this isn't a bad thing. Oden is not normal, and is born to be a physical specimen that puts other specimens to shame.

Also, his frame can carry a lot. But, yes, while coming back from the knee injury anything that risks pressure on the knee isn't necessary. Work that core, make him the immoveable force that he will become, and create those good habits that somehow evaded Shaq all these years.

We are so damn lucky to have a honest to goodness perfect freak like Oden, and he'll be whatever type of center we need. I expect a combination of massive strength, ala Shaq, with explosive athleticism and quickness, ala Young Shaq.

Oden is too humble and team oriented to get cocky fat like someone we know whose name rhymes with Faq. He won't let us down!

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Nov 19, 2007 2:03 PM PST reply actions

Superman?

I supposed it would be fun to believe that Oden is a "honest to goodess perfect freak of nature" and he can be whatever he wants to be. I wonder then, how did he sustain that serious knee injury in the first place? Or break his wrist? Or look so old or always seeming to have a cold etc.

He's human Mortimer.

Interesting that Medina said Kemp and Jermaine O'Neil also added muscle very readily just like Oden. Is it an ominous sign that they both ended up being injury prone? I think Oden needs to be careful.

by TwoDeep on Nov 19, 2007 5:34 PM PST up reply actions