Sherman Alexie on Greg Oden

[Fez Hammersticks]

Writer Sherman Alexie, noted Seattle SuperSonics fan, explains:
I've been working on a poem about how, even after six years, it feels like my late father is still dying, that he dies for me every day. It's how grief works, I guess.

In this poem, I also liken it to the every day death of the Sonics. I feel their loss constantly. And then, seeing that Oden is down for the season (and likely done as an everyday player for good), I first thought, "Well, I'm glad I don't have to feel the kind of pain that Blazers fans are feeling today. I don't have to feel the pain of every Sonics loss or injury anymore."

But then, I thought, no, I miss the losses as much as the victories. I miss the pain as much as the joy. I miss the losing streaks as much as I miss the wins. Hell, I miss Luke Ridnour. And so, I think, my grief for my father -- my ever-present grief -- is so important because he never goes away. I don't forget him. I keep him alive that way. And so, I think, my grief for my Sonics -- my ever-present grief -- is so important because they never go away. I keep the team alive that way.

Ah, my father, the Sonics, basketball in general, all intertwined. So, I guess, if I could console Blazers fans, I would tell them their Oden-grief is valuable, that it is about hope and love, that it is about keeping memory -- their love for basketball -- alive.

 

[Shooter]

So, I guess, if I could console Blazers fans, I would tell them their Oden-grief is valuable, that it is about hope and love, that it is about keeping memory -- their love for basketball -- alive.

What a load of crap.

I don't need the pain of Oden's injury to remind me that I love basketball. I knew that already.

 

[Kaydow]

Interesting perspective. I guess if we lost out Blazers we might feel that way too.

A lot of people writing that Oden is done . . .

 

[Ed O]

I think it's insane to state he's "likely done as an everyday player for good". Oden is 21 and this injury is a freak one, but seemingly not THAT serious.

Oden will be back.

Ed O.

 

[BBert]

Oden's injury is the equivalent of a broken bone. It isn't career ending and shouldn't be career altering. After a season of healing that is.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

It's not nearly as severe as his MF but this isn't just a broken bone.

This is the second (non-contact) major injury he's suffered and has been constantly injured since he graduated HS.

Does anyone remember how McDyess used to be before he broke his patella? He went from Amare Stoudemire to Kevin Love when he finally healed up and 100% healthy.

He'll be back and I hope he comes back stronger than McDyess did.

 

[RoyToy]

It's not nearly as severe as his MF but this isn't just a broken bone.

This is the second (non-contact) major injury he's suffered and has been constantly injured since he graduated HS.

Does anyone remember how McDyess used to be before he broke his patella? He went from Amare Stoudemire to Kevin Love when he finally healed up and 100% healthy.

He'll be back and I hope he comes back stronger than McDyess did.

McDyess ruptured his patella tendon I believe. Oden did not. HUGE difference, and great news for us.

edit - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_McDyess

Indeed he did.

 

[PapaG]

Denial isnt just a river in Egypt.

Oden will not be an MVP-caliber player. EVER. The sooner people realize this, the better it gets for GO in Portland once he recovers from this latest injury. Can he be a dominant rebounder? YES. Can he be a dominant defender? YES. Can he be a 28 ppg scorer? NO EFFING WAY.

Lower expectations = a more realistic fanbase in terms of GO.

 

[RoyToy]

He can certainly average close to 20. He was averaging 15.6 in his last 7 games, averaging only like 25min a game.

Make no mistake about it. Oden, if he stays healthy, will be a dominant force in this league.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Denial isnt just a river in Egypt.

Oden will not be an MVP-caliber player. EVER. The sooner people realize this, the better it gets for GO in Portland once he recovers from this latest injury. Can he be a dominant rebounder? YES. Can he be a dominant defender? YES. Can he be a 28 ppg scorer? NO EFFING WAY.

Lower expectations = a more realistic fanbase in terms of GO.

Who is saying they expect him to average 28 points?

 

[RoyToy]

Who is saying they expect him to average 28 points?

Good question.

 

[PapaG]

Who is saying they expect him to average 28 points?

The people who expected the offense to run through him, and who thought GO was a Shaq-like player. Now that he is injured, I expect the "experts" here to distance themselves from this take.

If you didn't think it, why are you responding? Some posters here thought GO was the person to run the offense through, ala Shaq.

 

[Natebishop3]

The people who expected the offense to run through him, and who thought GO was a Shaq-like player. Now that he is injured, I expect the "experts" here to distance themselves from this take.

If you didn't think it, why are you responding? Some posters here thought GO was the person to run the offense through, ala Shaq.

The offense could run through Oden without him averaging 28 ppg. Simple fact, when Oden gets the ball in decent position, the defense collapses and someone is open. He doesn't have to attempt a shot or move with the ball. Just his presence in the post creates problems for a defense.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think it's insane to state he's "likely done as an everyday player for good".

That was the part that REALLY pissed me off. You are not a doctor, Mr. Alexie.

And having read a story in the New Yorker about his father dying, I'm starting to think he thinks he's Hamlet.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Oden's injury is the equivalent of a broken bone. It isn't career ending and shouldn't be career altering. After a season of healing that is.

But don't you remember how Jordan broke a bone in his second year and was never the same again?

 

[maxiep]

It's not nearly as severe as his MF but this isn't just a broken bone.

This is the second (non-contact) major injury he's suffered and has been constantly injured since he graduated HS.

Does anyone remember how McDyess used to be before he broke his patella? He went from Amare Stoudemire to Kevin Love when he finally healed up and 100% healthy.

He'll be back and I hope he comes back stronger than McDyess did.

Fez, McDyess ruptured his patella tendon. GO did no such thing. He just broke the patella. If you've ever broken a bone, you know it grows back stronger than it was before. Tendon injuries on the flip side rob you of a step or your jumping ability.

Edit: RoyToy beat me to it.

 

[maxiep]

The people who expected the offense to run through him, and who thought GO was a Shaq-like player. Now that he is injured, I expect the "experts" here to distance themselves from this take.

If you didn't think it, why are you responding? Some posters here thought GO was the person to run the offense through, ala Shaq.

I don't recall ANY single poster saying that GO should have the offense run through him and he should average 28 ppg. Not one. I could be wrong, but I don't recall a single poster saying it. We have Roy and Aldridge. I've seen a lot of people saying we should run P&Rs with him and he should average 16 points, but nothing like you're describing.

Hold me to this statement: Next season GO will be 100% and back to the player he was before the fracture. Just like his wrist is 100%, so shall his patella be.

 

[maxiep]

He can certainly average close to 20. He was averaging 15.6 in his last 7 games, averaging only like 25min a game.

Make no mistake about it. Oden, if he stays healthy, will be a dominant force in this league.

This. Repped.

 

[LittleAlex]

Denial isnt just a river in Egypt.

Oden will not be an MVP-caliber player. EVER. The sooner people realize this, the better it gets for GO in Portland once he recovers from this latest injury. Can he be a dominant rebounder? YES. Can he be a dominant defender? YES. Can he be a 28 ppg scorer? NO EFFING WAY.

Lower expectations = a more realistic fanbase in terms of GO.

MVP caliber player does not equal top scorer in the league.

Ben Wallace was considered an MVP canidate and I don't think he averaged more then 10 points a game that year.

I am record as saying I think Oden will be the second coming of Nate Thurmond. He averaged 15pts and 15 rebounds per game. They didn't track blocks back then so no one can be sure but he was considered a great defender.

Oh yeah, he is also in the Hall of Fame.

If Oden averaged 15/15 and 3 blocks on a championship team I would say he could be an MVP canidate.


I do think he should get the ball in the post more for the same reasons other folks have said. He gets double teamed and has proven to be a willing passer. He gets to the line more then anyone on the team not named Roy. How could that possibly be bad?

It couldn't. Though it is pretty awesome that you waited 2 whole days to shit on Oden. Well done.

Feel free to stop watching the Blazers any time you like.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm confused from all the doom-and-gloomers saying he'd done.

When was the last time someone said "Oh no! Oden's broken wrist still hasn't healed!! The only thing he does that resembles Shaq is shot-put free throws at a 45% clip!" When was the last time anyone brought up the broken wrist affecting his play at all? Or Roy's "talus bone" issue? Or saw how much Webster's foot injury affected his athleticism?

Yes, the injury sucks. Yes, someone needs to help Greg figure out how to take care of his body. Yes, I'm more bummed out about this season now, though I'm sure a winning streak would help.

Our team regressed a bit Saturday night. Whether that's b/c of the PapaG/Fez-style opinion that he's probably done as a "pillar" of the team (whether offensively, defensively or reliability-wise) or my belief that it's just another year (or two) that our team won't be taught and practice how to utilize best a potentially dominant big man, I no longer feel the optimism about my win or playoff predictions. And that makes me sad.

To me, it seems that there's not a lot of hope for the immediate (10 month) future. Unless we can recycle the non-Roy/LMA/Oden players into something Gasol-like, I'm having a hard time thinking we'll make it out of the first round, and a hard time thinking we'll be bad enough to get a difference-maker in the draft.

 

[PapaG]

MVP caliber player does not equal top scorer in the league.

Ben Wallace was considered an MVP canidate and I don't think he averaged more then 10 points a game that year.

I am record as saying I think Oden will be the second coming of Nate Thurmond. He averaged 15pts and 15 rebounds per game. They didn't track blocks back then so no one can be sure but he was considered a great defender.

Oh yeah, he is also in the Hall of Fame.

If Oden averaged 15/15 and 3 blocks on a championship team I would say he could be an MVP canidate.


I do think he should get the ball in the post more for the same reasons other folks have said. He gets double teamed and has proven to be a willing passer. He gets to the line more then anyone on the team not named Roy. How could that possibly be bad?

It couldn't. Though it is pretty awesome that you waited 2 whole days to shit on Oden. Well done.
Feel free to stop watching the Blazers any time you like.

How did I "shit" on Oden? I have always felt that the expectations placed on him were unrealistic. I felt that last year, I felt it three days ago prior to the injury, and I feel it today. If anything, I'm being consistent. People need to appreciate what they have/had in Oden, and not rip apart the rest of the team based on their own unrealistic expectations for him.

Please point out where I shat on Oden. I'll wait.

 

[PapaG]

I

Our team regressed a bit Saturday night. Whether that's b/c of the PapaG/Fez-style opinion that he's probably done as a "pillar" of the team (whether offensively, defensively or reliability-wise) or my belief that it's just another year (or two) that our team won't be taught and practice how to utilize best a potentially dominant big man, I no longer feel the optimism about my win or playoff predictions. And that makes me sad.

Now hold on a second. Oden can still be a pillar. I just don't see him as THE franchise. I never did, and his injury problems have always played a role in my opinion. A bigger role, however, are what my own eyes have shown me. Defense and rebounding - he could be a defensive player of the year someday. That's good enough for me. Then again, I have lower expectations for Oden than many posters here.

 

[Idog1976]

The people who expected the offense to run through him, and who thought GO was a Shaq-like player. Now that he is injured, I expect the "experts" here to distance themselves from this take.

If you didn't think it, why are you responding? Some posters here thought GO was the person to run the offense through, ala Shaq.

The experts here like you Papag? I've read you spout off and call down "experts" all summer long into the fall and now winter approaches. Are you doctor Jack Ramsay? Maybe you are the ghost of Red Auerbach stuck in the internet? If not why don't you take YOUR equally uninformed and equally IGNORANT posts and GTFO and take your FAIL with you.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I didn't (and don't) mean to misrepresent you. I understand what you just posted. But it seems to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that your opinion about his standing as The Franchise was either confirmed or at least boosted by the injury happening.

My non-medical take is more optimistic. While it is really sad that this happened, I feel that this injury is one more on par with Jordan's injury in his 2nd year than, say, McDyess'. I don't feel like his ceiling was lowered by this particular injury.

Obviously, this one won't be settled for a long time. But I was just stating that while I understand why some would have one opinion on the matter, I was putting out a take that I hadn't seen yet.

 

[Idog1976]

I don't recall ANY single poster saying that GO should have the offense run through him and he should average 28 ppg. Not one. I could be wrong, but I don't recall a single poster saying it. We have Roy and Aldridge. I've seen a lot of people saying we should run P&Rs with him and he should average 16 points, but nothing like you're describing.

Hold me to this statement: Next season GO will be 100% and back to the player he was before the fracture. Just like his wrist is 100%, so shall his patella be.

I will hold you to that, I will also hold myself to that as it is my belief. In the meantime, Roy and LMA should take this season off to work on their games and lets pull an extended New Jersey and then seize John Wall at #1.

 

[Minstrel]

I will hold you to that, I will also hold myself to that as it is my belief. In the meantime, Roy and LMA should take this season off to work on their games and lets pull an extended New Jersey and then seize John Wall at #1.

I assume you're not serious, but I'm pretty sure that such a blatant act of trying not to compete in good faith would bring penalties from the league...like a loss of the team's first round pick this year and into the future. And I'd agree with league penalties in that situation. If you want to trade your players away in some ill-conceived "blow it all up and start over" plan, that's fine...but holding out healthy players to try to get a top pick is pretty unethical manipulation, IMO.

 

[PapaG]

I didn't (and don't) mean to misrepresent you. I understand what you just posted. But it seems to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that your opinion about his standing as The Franchise was either confirmed or at least boosted by the injury happening.
My non-medical take is more optimistic. While it is really sad that this happened, I feel that this injury is one more on par with Jordan's injury in his 2nd year than, say, McDyess'. I don't feel like his ceiling was lowered by this particular injury.

Obviously, this one won't be settled for a long time. But I was just stating that while I understand why some would have one opinion on the matter, I was putting out a take that I hadn't seen yet.

I think that's a fair assessment. That said, I never saw him as The Franchise, at least offensively, so the latest injury is basically just some reinforcement. The team still needs a healthy Greg Oden to have any chance at a championship, so that opinion hasn't changed either.

 

[Idog1976]

I assume you're not serious, but I'm pretty sure that such a blatant act of trying not to compete in good faith would bring penalties from the league...like a loss of the team's first round pick this year and into the future. And I'd agree with league penalties in that situation. If you want to trade your players away in some ill-conceived "blow it all up and start over" plan, that's fine...but holding out healthy players to try to get a top pick is pretty unethical manipulation, IMO.

Wasn't serious. But as snakebit as we are, two minor injuries (not anything serious) to LMA and Roy would be a mercy killing to this season and a possible chance to reload for next year.

I'm pretty sure teams tank constantly and aren't called to task. I question New Jersey's lack of game this year right when they are trying to move. I also think boston tanked to get Oden, Cleveland clearly tanked to get LeBron and so forth and they were no where near as injury riddled as we are.

Roy and LMA are the only things between us and a HIGH lottery pick. As it is, much like teh D Miles situation we got all shaft and nothing to show for it (no injured player exceptions for any of our three rotation players and a likeli cruddy lottery pick/no pick). There is zero chance we advance this year and would just be chum for the Lakers or whoever we get stuck with our #8 seed if we even get that.

 

[Minstrel]

I'm pretty sure teams tank constantly and aren't called to task. I question New Jersey's lack of game this year right when they are trying to move. I also think boston tanked to get Oden, Cleveland clearly tanked to get LeBron and so forth and they were no where near as injury riddled as we are.

Tanked by holding healthy, important players out? I don't think they did. They did trade away talent to get worse. If Portland wants to try to dump Roy and/or Aldridge in trades to get worse, the league probably wouldn't have anything to say about that. But turning a mild case of plantar fasciitis into a season-ending injury would probably draw league scrutiny.

 

[Further]

Tanked by holding healthy, important players out? I don't think they did. They did trade away talent to get worse. If Portland wants to try to dump Roy and/or Aldridge in trades to get worse, the league probably wouldn't have anything to say about that. But turning a mild case of plantar fasciitis into a season-ending injury would probably draw league scrutiny.

If I remember correctly, when the Celts "tanked", Pierce was vocally pissed cause he was healthy and being held out of games.