Are you upset that Greg is going back to Ohio this Summer?

[Rastapopoulos]

Apparently Greg is going back to Summer School at Ohio State. Also apparently Nate is a little cheesed-off at this and wanted him to stay in Portland, or at least give assurances that he would come back and work on his game.

 

[Wheels]

no sir. (or ma'am lol)

 

[OddEnormous]

Maybe he'll go back and find the old Greg again? Loosen up a little.

Might be good for him to clear his head a little. He was just told he was a piece of shit for the last 9 months.

Just staying in Portland, in a gym, around a bunch of coaches might not do him any good. He can still come back mid summer and get an early start.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I doubt no more than 5% of all NBA players stay in their NBA city rather than going home.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

No, because he's going to school and he's going to work out there. Lots of players that left college early do this and I have no problem with it. Considering Townsend went to Spain last year to work with Sergio for weeks I'm positive one of the coaches can go to Ohio to work with Greg.

 

[Wheels]

"Hey Boss.. I am putting in a request to take some vacation time this summer"

"Of course you can take a vacation.. but here is where you have to go..."

Yeah not gonna fly.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I doubt no more than 5% of all NBA players stay in their NBA city rather than going home.

Only if you don't count the players that don't make their new city their home, like Blake. Certainly more much more than 5% do that.

 

[andalusian]

Not at all. He knows what he needs to do to get better - I am sure he will pop into Portland once or twice during the summer - and coaches will go his way - so it's not a big deal.

The kid obviously worked hard to come back from some nasty injuries - can't ignore that.

Let's face it - the transgressions we have had from Greg during his recovery year were that:

1. He played unauthorized basketball

and

2. Spent too much time lifting weight.

Does not sound like a problem with motivation to me.

Kid wants to get his education, deserves time with his family like everyone else. I am certain he will do what is needed to be in better shape for next year.

 

[SodaPopinski]

I personally don't have a problem with the premise of taking time off, going home, trying to get your degree, etc.

The problem, though, is that if Greg comes back and he's not in shape or he hasn't improved his footwork, the perception is going to be that he could have helped himself by staying in Portland.

So, if he wants to leave, he has to understand that as a professional he's opening himself up to the potential for criticism.

-Pop

 

[andalusian]

I personally don't have a problem with the premise of taking time off, going home, trying to get your degree, etc.

The problem, though, is that if Greg comes back and he's not in shape or he hasn't improved his footwork, the perception is going to be that he could have helped himself by staying in Portland.

So, if he wants to leave, he has to understand that as a professional he's opening himself up to the potential for criticism.

This is a fair assessment of the situation. Greg has been around for long enough that he should know it - and I suspect he will be just fine. If he is not - he will deserve all the criticism coming his way.

 

[alex42083]

I personally don't have a problem with the premise of taking time off, going home, trying to get your degree, etc.

The problem, though, is that if Greg comes back and he's not in shape or he hasn't improved his footwork, the perception is going to be that he could have helped himself by staying in Portland.

So, if he wants to leave, he has to understand that as a professional he's opening himself up to the potential for criticism.

-Pop

No doubt. The franchise has already told the public how important this offseason is for him, and how much he needs to make some strides next season.
G.O. was the No. 1 pick, considered a once-in-a-decade big man, and had a rally thrown for him. He needs to get in serious shape and needs to leave no doubt that he should be the starting center next season.

If he can do that at home, though, that's fine.

 

[garden of oden]

well the big question is who is going to be his coach this summer? he needs the practice, conditioning and footwork. if not he's primed to be the next Olowokandi. i dont care if it's in portland, columbus, OH or Antarctica.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Only if you don't count the players that don't make their new city their home, like Blake. Certainly more much more than 5% do that.

Definately.

 

[SodaPopinski]

well the big question is who is going to be his coach this summer? he needs the practice, conditioning and footwork. if not he's primed to be the next Olowokandi. i dont care if it's in portland, columbus, OH or Antarctica.

Barrett was on The Game this morning saying that Bill Bayno will go out there to work with Oden, as will Bobby Medina. Also Nate was on Courtside last night saying that he plans to visit Oden at least a couple times this summer.

-Pop

 

[The Sebastian Express]

It'd be nice if the Blazers would try to find a big man to work with him.

 

[maxiep]

I think everything I feel about Greg Oden and this topic can be summarized in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc&feature=PlayList&p=A2C58CDFF32FA25C&index=0&playnext=1

 

[Trader Ed]

I personally don't have a problem with the premise of taking time off, going home, trying to get your degree, etc.

The problem, though, is that if Greg comes back and he's not in shape or he hasn't improved his footwork, the perception is going to be that he could have helped himself by staying in Portland.

So, if he wants to leave, he has to understand that as a professional he's opening himself up to the potential for criticism.

-Pop

Perfectly said... I have no problem where he goes or how he does it just as long as he comes back in mental shape, cardio shape, has lost weight, gained explosivesness and worked on his post moves and footwork...

other than that enjoy school....

 

[oldmangrouch]

Oden is perfectly within his rights to do what he is doing.

And if he shows up next season and shows little to no improvement - the fans are perfectly within their rights to flay him for it.

 

[Wheels]

Oden is perfectly within his rights to do what he is doing.

And if he shows up next season and shows little to no improvement - the fans are perfectly within their rights to flay him for it.

exactly.. nicely said. "IF he comes back and shows little to no improvement" It doesnt do people any good to get into a frenzy over it right now.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I don't care what he does, where he goes or whatever as long as by next year he is...

1. In shape
2. Lost weight and is looking like his old college self
3. Greatly improved his footwork and all that.

 

[hasoos]

Besides, you know he is getting a lot of action at Ohio State. I bet there is a reason he is heading back there!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I voted for the "quick break" because I really think he needs to get his head straight and to do that he probably needs to get away from the microscope that living in Portland can be. But he's really setting himself up for massive criticism if he comes back next year and it appears (whether true or not) that he hasn't taken enough time to work on his game.

I'm with Mike Rice (from last night's Courtside), he's got fifty years to earn a degree but maybe 10+ to play hoops ... I hope this decision doesn't bite him and the team in the ass.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

"Hey Boss.. I am putting in a request to take some vacation time this summer"

"Of course you can take a vacation.. but here is where you have to go..."

Yeah not gonna fly.

"Hey Boss... I know you have millions invested in me and the future of the franchise is riding on me.. I also know that I have been really underperfoming and you guys have done just about everything I could ask for to help nurture me along .. but I don't really want to stick around and work on my game this off season, I'd rather go enroll in Dental school and chase tail around campus all summer. I'll work on basketball next year."

 

[B-Roy]

Where is the "Yes" answer? Just a simple "Yes" for me.

I'm not questioning his love of the game, but yes, I am upset that he's going to go to school instead of working on his real job.

 

[Ed O]

Why don't people make these polls public? Grrr...

Ed O.

 

[LittleAlex]

Oden is perfectly within his rights to do what he is doing.

And if he shows up next season and shows little to no improvement - the fans are perfectly within their rights to flay him for it.

This.

Oden needs to work on his game no matter where he is. If he chooses not to and shows up into camp with little to no improvement, then I will be livid.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I'd rather have him getting his balls waxed in Ohio than risking injury on a team preparing for a meaningless international tournament...

 

[donkiez]

I dont care where Greg goes in the offseason as long as he makes time to improve his game.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I fall into the category that as long as GO comes back improved, then all is forgotten.

But damn, you come to a city that throws you a huge welcome party, sit out a year with management being as cool as possibly can be, get paid for a year to rehab, come back the next year and by most accounts (excepts minstrels) you have a disappointing year . . . is a summer with the organization (to develop quicker and help this team reach a championship) too much to ask?

 

[Minstrel]

and by most accounts (excepts minstrels) you have a disappointing year

His fouls were disappointing because they limited his minutes. His play when he was on the court wasn't at all disappointing for a rookie center, especially one who had to sit out a year (18 PER, one of the top Rebound Rates in the game, good defense). I'm hardly the only one who's pointed this out.