The Greg Oden Watch "OFFICIAL" Thread...

[KingSpeed]

Oden is not going to make any impact on any of these teams. HCP- He never did 10/10 for us. He won't do it for anyone else. Oden doesn't have much experience playing basketball, college or pro. You can't compare Grant Hill who had a solid college career and an All Star level NBA career before getting all those injuries. Oden averaged 15/9 one year in college. A horrible summer league and then 82 games of what, 9/7? If he couldn't play in summer league this year, it's because he simply can't play. And I've never been sure he even likes playing basketball. He's just trying to make more money and I don't blame him for that. Gets yours while you can, Greg, and then it's off to dentistry school!

 

[PapaG]

It sucks he couldn't make it here. Some of it was our fault, some of it was his, but most of it was his own body betraying him. A smart team will insist he plays at 250 or below and gets him into top flight condition.

As long as he doesn't smoke PDX regularly, I'll be happy for him if he makes a comeback.

How is that going to happen. Keep him from drinking beer and eating like shit? His knees are shot. He's a bust. A bigger bust than Sam Bowie. At least Sam tried to stay in shape and rehabilitate himself. Oden was goofing off at Oba and Blue Hour for much of his time in 'rehab'.

I wish I could say I hope he does well, but he completely failed as a Blazer, and that's on him.

 

[PapaG]

He's going to be fine. We should have never waived him.

Nobody signed him last season, if you didn't notice.

 

[PapaG]

It was just as much the Front Office's decision (or more so) for Greg to not come back as it was his. POR doesn't even have interest in him this time around and we do/could have a spot for him.

You must have missed his comments prior to the Blazers waiving his fat lazy ass.

 

[BBert]

Healthy Oden is a beast, there is no disputing that. I expect that he is going to make Blazers fans sick to their stomachs. What should have been....

 

[dviss1]

How is that going to happen. Keep him from drinking beer and eating like shit? His knees are shot. He's a bust. A bigger bust than Sam Bowie. At least Sam tried to stay in shape and rehabilitate himself. Oden was goofing off at Oba and Blue Hour for much of his time in 'rehab'.

I wish I could say I hope he does well, but he completely failed as a Blazer, and that's on him.

Repp'd!

 

[jlprk]

I can't BELIEVE we're about to be humiliated watching him BEAST all over the league.

The guy didn't take things seriously early in career. He was all over town partying and drinking, and while I know many posters said "well, he's just a young guy, blahblahblah, the results show that the "I'm a young guy" approach didn't work. That's on him.

If only we had listened to that paragon of morality, Canzano.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I find this thread incredibly illuminating.

 

[Draco]

You can't compare Grant Hill who had a solid college career and an All Star level NBA career before getting all those injuries. Oden averaged 15/9 one year in college.

Oden was a beast in college. He had his way with Noah and Horford in the title game, who've both become exceptional NBA big men. Oden would've won the title if he had the teammates those Gators had. People forget how quick and athletic Oden was, he measured as fast as PG's in the agility drills which centers just never do. It obviously didn't work out with the Blazers but it was never a question of Oden's talent, only his health. Oden was an elite basketball player in college and one of the best prospects to enter the NBA.

Obviously the safe bet is to say Oden won't amount to much in the NBA, but if I were another team I'd love to get the chance of signing him. You just never see opportunities to acquire big men with that kind of talent. Players with hardly any basketball skill such as DeAndre Jordan and Javalee McGee get 8 figures in the NBA. Those guys are never going to be a main piece helping a team get the title. Oden probably won't either, but he has the talent to put it all together for one brief season like Walton did.

 

[BigGameDamian]

If Oden can stay healthy he will probably be an all star next year because fans will vote him in.

 

[BigGameDamian]

[video=youtube;gpuAeIEXoAc]

 

[Public Defender]

Oden was an outstanding talent coming out of Ohio State. He was dominant in the NCAA tournament like few players have ever been. With little talent to support him (Mike Conley was about it), he helped the Buckeyes go toe-to-toe with a Florida team that was one of the most talented in a decade. When the Blazers got the #1 pick in that draft, I agreed with choosing Oden, even though I really liked what I saw out of Durant at Texas.

I was at the game when Oden went down with his last(?) knee injury. He had put together consecutive games of playing great defense and decent offense, and was showing signs of becoming the player the Blazers thought they'd drafted. It looked like the Big 3 of Roy, Oden, and Aldridge (in that order!) was really falling into place. When Oden fell and was lying in a twisted pile of pain on the Rose Garden floor, it was the quietest I'd ever heard that arena.

I do wish Greg well. And while I wish any success he winds up having could've been with Portland, I understand that sometimes, things don't work out. He's been through enough that a little success - enough to salvage a bit of his reputation and maybe even give him something of a legacy - would be fine by me.

 

[PapaG]

Oden was an outstanding talent coming out of Ohio State. He was dominant in the NCAA tournament like few players have ever been. With little talent to support him (Mike Conley was about it), he helped the Buckeyes go toe-to-toe with a Florida team that was one of the most talented in a decade. When the Blazers got the #1 pick in that draft, I agreed with choosing Oden, even though I really liked what I saw out of Durant at Texas.

I was at the game when Oden went down with his last(?) knee injury. He had put together consecutive games of playing great defense and decent offense, and was showing signs of becoming the player the Blazers thought they'd drafted. It looked like the Big 3 of Roy, Oden, and Aldridge (in that order!) was really falling into place. When Oden fell and was lying in a twisted pile of pain on the Rose Garden floor, it was the quietest I'd ever heard that arena.

I do wish Greg well. And while I wish any success he winds up having could've been with Portland, I understand that sometimes, things don't work out. He's been through enough that a little success - enough to salvage a bit of his reputation and maybe even give him something of a legacy - would be fine by me.

DaQuan Cook, too, who is still in the league. It's not like this was Danny Manning and a bunch of scrubs. Conley Jr. is in Team USA camp this year.

 

[MickZagger]

Haha, I can't believe some of you still have faith that this guy can put it together.

He's a flat out bum if I've ever seen one.

 

[NOVoodoo]

DaQuan Cook, too, who is still in the league. It's not like this was Danny Manning and a bunch of scrubs. Conley Jr. is in Team USA camp this year.

Hell, not to mention David Lighty, Othello Hunter, and Ivan Harris. That team was stacked.

Looking at Oden's statistics as a baseline are not the best way to look at his collegiate dominance though.

Not only do some of ya'll need to realize that he was only a freshman, but on the NCAA level, 15.7, 9.6 rpg, and 3.3 bpg is a ridiculous line when you consider that he played in the slow-paced, possession oriented Big 10. Those numbers translated to a 48 minute, fast paced game like the NBA would look a lot more like 20+/12+.

(EDIT: One of his "worst" statistical games was against Wisconsin, where he only had 11 pts, 5 rbs, and 4 blks. However, Ohio State won the game by scoring only 49 points, and Wisconsin was also the #2 team in the country at the team. Seeing how low scoring these games were and the quality of opponents he was playing during those "off nights" on paper, you can see how those were far from "off nights" in reality.)

People also forget that he had hurt his right wrist at the start of the season. Yeah, he only missed seven games, but when he came back, he couldn't shoot with his right hand. The guy had to learn how to play with his left, and guess what... he was still just as dominant as a lefty.

Not to mention, you have to understand that Greg Oden was one of those players that was so capable of dominating that teams would have to change their entire long-standing offense and defense schemes just to prepare for this one player. Teams that would normally play inside-out became jump shooting teams, teams that played match-up zones would put two or three bigs on Oden, etc., and he still controlled the game.

I've watched Big 10 basketball my whole life, and I don't think I've ever seen a player more dominant than Greg Oden in Big 10 play, and that's coming from someone who watches at least 50-60 Big 10 games a year, every year, starting in the late 90's.

 

[MickZagger]

Damaged goods.

When you have that many knee injuries and you've been overweight and out of game shape for 4 years its against all odds that he'll be able to even get on the court, much less produce. You guys think Meyers looks lost? Wait til Oden gets on the court on washed up legs.

 

[Draco]

I was at the game when Oden went down with his last(?) knee injury. He had put together consecutive games of playing great defense and decent offense, and was showing signs of becoming the player the Blazers thought they'd drafted. It looked like the Big 3 of Roy, Oden, and Aldridge (in that order!) was really falling into place. When Oden fell and was lying in a twisted pile of pain on the Rose Garden floor, it was the quietest I'd ever heard that arena.

I only go to a few games a year but I was also at that one. I'll never forget the sad groan of the crowd when the stretcher was brought out, pretty freaking rare to see in an NBA game. I also wish the best for Oden.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's funny: Greg's competition at this stage is likely to be another ex-Blazer: Marcus Camby. Practically all the same teams that are possibly interested in him are also looking at Camby (New Orleans being the exception).

I'd like to see Greg go to the Spurs. I think they'd use him sensibly. I don't actually think he'd sniff the floor much for Miami - they've gone away from any kind of pivot. I seriously hope he manages to have some semblance of a career. And when he's at his peak, he announces that he needs to pay back the fans of Portland and comes back to us to lead us to a championship!!!!!!!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What's really sad was that Greg was just starting to figure it out when he went down for the last time. Before then he was pretty much victimized by the refs.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Either there are no good restaurants in Indy or Spoelstra/Oden have very poor taste.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I am so unhappy about this.

Oden will probably come back and destroy the league, making us the laughing stock........AGAIN

 

[crandc]

I do realize it can take some folks a few years to mature mentally. He was what, 19, when he came to Portland? If he's finally grown up enough to take life seriously, great. He'll need it. But physically? The teams are signing him for 6 fouls against Dwight Howard. He's not going to dominate anyone. Frankly, this is less Grant Hill reviving a career than Brandon Roy signing with Minnesota, hoping against hope that he still has something left. And Roy had played the year before, was far more mature, and had enough years playing in the NBA to acquire veteran savvy. He still couldn't make it. His body just wasn't there. If you're 7' tall and have a pulse, someone in the NBA will give you a shot. I still think Oden should pursue dentistry.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't think any of us seriously believe he'll dominate. In fact, do any of us seriously think he'll last the season without injury/permanent retirement?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

If I had to guess, I'd say a few games And then "knee swelling"

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Knowing Blazer luck, he'll be pretty good and injury free for right more years. I do think he can offer a team done good effort first as a backup and then as a starter in a year or two. I'm feeling grumpy today but I bet he'll start 50 games in 2015.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Has anyone ever had that many microfracture surgeries with so few games played on their bodies? He had one after college and summer league. And then 2 more after playing a total of 82 NBA games. I think he's averaging one mf surgery for approx. every 35 games played.

 

[maxiep]

If Oden can stay healthy he will probably be an all star next year because fans will vote him in.

If GO can stay healthy, he'll be an all-star because he's an absolute beast.

He was an effective player for us, who never actually played a game as a Blazer in complete basketball condition. When he split his kneecap against Houston, he was still rounding into shape. We never saw the GO that he can be. If he ends up on the Heat, Riley will get him in great condition (I know it's Spoelstra, but Riley really runs the show). Brian Grant played at 15-20 lbs under what he was here, and it wasn't muscle loss.

Fuck, it still stings. I feel robbed--not just as a Blazer fan, but as a fan of the sport of basketball--that I never got to see what a Roy-GO-LA combination could do at 100% after gaining on-court chemistry. It would have been something to see.

 

[maxiep]

Oden was an outstanding talent coming out of Ohio State. He was dominant in the NCAA tournament like few players have ever been. With little talent to support him (Mike Conley was about it), he helped the Buckeyes go toe-to-toe with a Florida team that was one of the most talented in a decade. When the Blazers got the #1 pick in that draft, I agreed with choosing Oden, even though I really liked what I saw out of Durant at Texas.

I was at the game when Oden went down with his last(?) knee injury. He had put together consecutive games of playing great defense and decent offense, and was showing signs of becoming the player the Blazers thought they'd drafted. It looked like the Big 3 of Roy, Oden, and Aldridge (in that order!) was really falling into place. When Oden fell and was lying in a twisted pile of pain on the Rose Garden floor, it was the quietest I'd ever heard that arena.

I do wish Greg well. And while I wish any success he winds up having could've been with Portland, I understand that sometimes, things don't work out. He's been through enough that a little success - enough to salvage a bit of his reputation and maybe even give him something of a legacy - would be fine by me.

Repped.

 

[maxiep]

Haha, I can't believe some of you still have faith that this guy can put it together.

He's a flat out bum if I've ever seen one.

He's not Kwame Brown. His body betrayed him. He wasn't perfect, but he's hardly a bum (although if he joins the L*kers, he, of course, will immediately become a "bum" and much worse).