Kerry Eggers: The Latest on Greg Oden

[Nikolokolus]

http://portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=128435740812447600

Despite rumor to the contrary, Greg Oden will not join his Trail Blazers teammates in informal scrimmage sessions this week at the club’s Tualatin training facility.

General Manager Rich Cho said Sunday that the 7-foot center is running and coming along well in rehab from December microfracture surgery, but not yet playing basketball.

“We’re going to ease him into it ... maybe do some two-on-two or three-on-three, instead of up-and down five-on-five,” Cho said. “I’m hoping he’ll be cleared to do that in the next couple of weeks.”

That would seem to put in doubt Oden’s availability through the preseason. Training camp opens on Sept. 27, with the first exhibition game Oct. 5 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“We’re being cautious,” Cho said. “The longer you wait for the bone to heal, the better.”

Oden is in Vancouver, British Columbia, with strength/conditioning coach Bobby Medina for a few days, working with a physical training specialist there on “a lot of core stuff,” Cho said.

Not sure if that’s just regular procedure or something to worry about, but it seems clear that Oden’s goal of being ready for the start of the regular season is in jeopardy.

Good times.

 

[oldguy]

What the hell? He broke is kneecap last winter. The article says he had microfracture surgery?

Go Blazers

 

[e_blazer]

Not sure if that’s just regular procedure or something to worry about, but it seems clear that Oden’s goal of being ready for the start of the regular season is in jeopardy.

In other words, pure speculation on Egger's part.

 

[Blazinaway]

What the hell? He broke is kneecap last winter. The article says he had microfracture surgery?

Go Blazers

Yeah, I sure hope that was a misprint or mishap on the quote!

MK

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

If they have some scientific evidence that "the longer you wait for the bone to heal, the better", then I am fine with waiting for a couple months beyond the start of the season.

 

[Shooter]

Wonderful. Oden was injured 10 months ago but he's still not ready to scrimmage.

Is there some kind of statute of limitations on how long Blazer fans should be allowed to suffer? I think we reached our limit a long time ago . . .

 

[Blazinaway]

If they have some scientific evidence that "the longer you wait for the bone to heal, the better", then I am fine with waiting for a couple months beyond the start of the season.

usually a bone break is a lot better than a tendon tear or rupture as it heals faster and the bone is often stronger than before, buy then again this is oden we are talking about, incredibly frustrating

 

[HailBlazers]

sure hope that was a misprint or mishap on the quote!

Definitely a Misprint. That being said I'm glad their not rushing him back, it should relieve some of the pressure. With Camby around I'm not worried.

I think we reached our limit a long time ago . . .

Life's not fair my friend, and I feel more sorry for G.O. than Blazer fans. He's the one carrying all the weight.

 

[BGrantFan]

I think Oden should be held out for the entire season. It will (A) lower the price of his contract next summer, and (B) make his bones extraextra strong for 2011-12.

 

[Draco]

If they have some scientific evidence that "the longer you wait for the bone to heal, the better", then I am fine with waiting for a couple months beyond the start of the season.

I don't understand this. When I broke my arm it was good enough to rip the cast off in 4 weeks. Yes Oden had a more extensive break which would require a longer time to heal, yet still any bone breaks should be fully healed in a few months. The bone just will not be getting any stronger after that point. Other parts of Odens legs could still be weak, his muscles had to be stationary while the bone healed, which causes atrophy, and that can take many months to return to form. Plus we are talking about returning to the form of a fit NBA athlete. If he was extra slow and cautious with recovery or a bit lazy at times, it could add extensive time to his rehab.

As with the articles micro-fracture error, I believe there is a misrepresentation of the situation with this quote, it is probably an informal general response meaning the team is being cautious and taking their time with Oden’s injury in general. I doubt there is a doctor telling the team Oden’s bone is still healing.

Basketball is a brutal sport, people are bashing Oden for his injury troubles but a major portion of the players in the league have had major extensive injury problems or permanent athletic limitations as the result of injuries. Blake Griffin hasn’t played a game. McGrady is a shell of his former self. McDyess was one of the top PF’s in the game before injuries. Kevin Garnett is a diminished player from his final years in Minnesota and first year in Boston. Andrew Bynum, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming, Grant Hill, Manu Ginobili……..

 

[Mediocre Man]

Choo choo

 

[soona]

They edited the Tribune article - now it reads:

"General Manager Rich Cho said Sunday that the 7-foot center is running and coming along well in rehab from December knee surgery, but not yet playing basketball."

I actually went right to the article when I read the first post, thinking the OP had posted an article from last year, and it was already edited. (Of course, it wouldn't be Cho in last years' article, but I haven't had my coffee.)

 

[hasoos]

Here is the way I look at it folks. When you haven't played ball for almost a year, is it really smart to start 5 on 5 against NBA level players right off the bat? That sounds like a great way to pull or tear a ligament to me. Ease him into playing, let his muscles get back into game shape before throwing him into 5 on 5. The biggest chance for injury when returning to the gymn comes from pushing his muscles too hard, too fast. It could have nothing to do with his knee cap. It could have everything to do with getting in game shape first so he doesn't hurt himself in 5 on 5.

 

[Natebishop3]

Oden needs to be living off calcium supplements and a gallon of milk per day.

 

[hasoos]

Oden needs to be living off calcium supplements and a gallon of milk per day.

Don't forget the vitamin D!

 

[HailBlazers]

Ease him into playing, let his muscles get back into game shape before throwing him into 5 on 5.

No Doubt, sounds like what they are planning on doing. I hope he eases into the regular season as well. No need to make him start.

 

[hasoos]

No Doubt, sounds like what they are planning on doing. I hope he eases into the regular season as well. No need to make him start.

I could just imagine how happy everybody on this board would be if they pushed him too hard and he didn't even play a minute of the season before tearing a ligament. The Blazers staff is doing the right thing. Phoenix had to really ease Stoudmire back into things after his second knee injury. Players always want to come back too fast. It's up to the staff to hold them back and make sure they don't push it too hard.

 

[Idog1976]

I could just imagine how happy everybody on this board would be if they pushed him too hard and he didn't even play a minute of the season before tearing a ligament. The Blazers staff is doing the right thing. Phoenix had to really ease Stoudmire back into things after his second knee injury. Players always want to come back too fast. It's up to the staff to hold them back and make sure they don't push it too hard.

I agree with your take on the situation, but I'm in the die hard camp so of course I do.

 

[axs88]

Choo choo

Should I know what you mean with that? I have noticed you posting that a few times.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

So I'm sort-of changing my tune on this now.

I was talking with a medical specialist and she said that the patella is the connecting "bridge" so to speak between the massive muscles in the thigh and the lower leg, along with the tendons to the knee and leg. So she was saying that if you're big (like 7'0 meaning you aren't 300lb and have stout legs) and you're carrying a lot of weight like 250+lbs, then factor in being very athletic in the way of running down court and planting your foot and turning that large amount of forward inertia into a vertical leap to block a shot, and you're going to be dealing with unimaginable amounts of stress to a patella bone.

So given her description, I can see where guys like a younger Shaq and a modern day Oden who have incredible true 7'0 size along with unreal quickness and athleticism, you would run into a case where guys like that put huge amounts of stress on their patella in the course of normal scrimmage and 5-on-5 full court games. So I can see being overly protective of the break and making absolutely sure that a break like that has gone the absolute maximum amount of time you can before you have him going full-speed on that again and putting all of that pressure back on that bone.

So I'm happy that Cho is going the conservative route here and just waiting until either pre-season or even game one until they put him out there at full-speed on that knee to run down the court and plant on the leg.

 

[BGrantFan]

So I'm happy that Cho is going the conservative route here and just waiting until either pre-season or even game one until they put him out there at full-speed on that knee to run down the court and plant on the leg.

I don't think Oden's return timetable has anything to do with the wishes and wants of Rich Cho. If it does, then maybe the whining I've read here about the medical staff's incompetence actually has some merit.

 

[santeesioux]

95.5FM, 12:30pm, Mike Barratt says he has reconfirmed with the people close to Greg Oden's health and no one seems concerned and still think Greg will be 100% ready for Fall training camp.

Mike said that Rich Cho is doing his due diligence in having all the leading specialist in the nation look at Greg's legs to confirm the health of Greg's legs and make sure he is 100% healthy before he can go to fall training camp.

http://www.clubblazers.com/blazers-discussion/greg-questionable-for-training-camp-t3561.html

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

I don't think Oden's return timetable has anything to do with the wishes and wants of Rich Cho. If it does, then maybe the whining I've read here about the medical staff's incompetence actually has some merit.

Sorry, you could be correct. I was sort-of taking the underlying assumption that Cho was just not "trumping" the medical staff's wishes to have Oden rest that knee as long as possible and have him go out and play in FanFest or in the pre-season.

I sort of picture this business relationship where the medical staff are the ultra conservatives that would prefer Oden never play and that he just rest indefinitely. So picture the Bones telling Cptn Kirk that Spock really shouldn't go down there and face the mighty Romulans with his hurt shoulder, and Spock saying he can fight through the pain. But Cptn is the decision maker who has to make that final call that weighs in the conservative doctor with the willing fighter and decide what is best for the Enterprise (or TV in this case). So I'm implying that Cho is going along with the doctor's ultra-conservative orders to not playing him until the last possible minute.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Mike Barret is a Blazer Blow horn.....

Might as well listen to something Jason Quick says than Mike Barret

 

[Masbee]

Should I know what you mean with that? I have noticed you posting that a few times.

ignore it. it is tired bs.

 

[Mediocre Man]

http://www.clubblazers.com/blazers-discussion/greg-questionable-for-training-camp-t3561.html

Well, if MB said it........

 

[mgb]

So I'm sort-of changing my tune on this now.

I was talking with a medical specialist and she said that the patella is the connecting "bridge" so to speak between the massive muscles in the thigh and the lower leg, along with the tendons to the knee and leg. So she was saying that if you're big (like 7'0 meaning you aren't 300lb and have stout legs) and you're carrying a lot of weight like 250+lbs, then factor in being very athletic in the way of running down court and planting your foot and turning that large amount of forward inertia into a vertical leap to block a shot, and you're going to be dealing with unimaginable amounts of stress to a patella bone.

So given her description, I can see where guys like a younger Shaq and a modern day Oden who have incredible true 7'0 size along with unreal quickness and athleticism, you would run into a case where guys like that put huge amounts of stress on their patella in the course of normal scrimmage and 5-on-5 full court games. So I can see being overly protective of the break and making absolutely sure that a break like that has gone the absolute maximum amount of time you can before you have him going full-speed on that again and putting all of that pressure back on that bone.

So I'm happy that Cho is going the conservative route here and just waiting until either pre-season or even game one until they put him out there at full-speed on that knee to run down the court and plant on the leg.

And any break is going to effect the surrounding muscles. They'll take time to get back the strength as well as the knee healing I would assume.

 

[jlprk]

Riddle: Is Oden LESS likely to get injured by making his comeback 12 months after the operation instead of 11 months? After all, what's a month?

Or is he MORE likely to get injured by coming in a month after his teammates have been there, and he has to frantically catch up to their being in playing shape and knowing the plays?

Is it possible that meeting the deadline of the starting date of camp might actually DECREASE the chance of injury this season?

Is it possible that management should ignore the fact that some hermit, in some cave in Tibet, might have an irrational fear, a tiny shred of worry that there might be a 1% chance that Oden might not be ready, that he might be only 95% ready, so he should be held out another 6 months so the hermit feels comfortable??

 

[Driew]

Blake Griffin had a similar injury and he's STILL not ready to play...not surprised that Oden isn't either (I heard that little nugget on courtside--puts things into perspective though).

 

[Shooter]

Blake Griffin had a similar injury and he's STILL not ready to play...

Really? If true, that's a bit shocking as well.