Greg Oden Looks “Absolutely Ripped Up”
Greg Oden (photo. Mannion)Oregon Live’s Trail Blazers blog has an item about Greg Oden looking like a monster as he rehabs from last year’s microfracture knee surgery:
“Greg’s free-throw shooting is very, very solid, and he’s developed a deadly jump hook, and can go with either hand. Greg is raring to go up and down, but probably won’t be cleared for full-speed scrimmaging until August. He’s in tremendous shape, and is absolutely ripped up. In one of his final workouts in Portland, in front of coaches, reportedly, jaws were hitting the floor, as he was repeatedly attempting to tear the rim off the backboard. He’s developed an impressive touch from the perimeter, and anything in the paint will be a dunk.”
After a couple years of hearing excuse after excuse (some totally understandable) when it comes to Oden, we can’t wait to see how he looks in the League. He and LaMarcus Aldridge could be a VERY good 1-2 punch on the block, making Brandon Roy’s life a lot easier.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Daily boy says:
???? Okay, but will he play on the rookie or Sophomore this year????
June 11th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
djKianoosh says:
any bball fan should be excited about Oden’s return/debut. do they have enough 3 point shooting? dont know enough about the blazers, but I would imagine that’s what they’ll need if he’s intending to be that dominant in the paint.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Austin Burton says:
If Martell Webster comes around, he gives the Blazers that three-point shooting.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Damon says:
and what about james jones?
yes,martell is still very young, the talent is there, and his jumper is the nicest one in the west(thanx ray allen trade)
June 11th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Joe says:
It will be his first year playing in the league, he will of course be a rookie. This is all good news for Blazer fans, and fans of basketball in general. I just wonder after all the Laker fans have said Oden will be a bust, he’s injury prone, his knee will be his downfall, Bynum will be way better, what do you think now that Bynum’s injury is taking longer and longer to heal? Is it going to ruin his career?
June 11th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
GEE...Shirley got a big ol' butt...Ohhh yeaaa! says:
Man that could be Alley-Oop city. With Roy being the Mayor.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
DaPro says:
I like Oden, he seems like a genuine dude. I think he will be similar to Russell in terms of defensive presence. Offensively he won’t be asked to carry the team and he doesn’t need to
Question-Joe and everyone else
Who would you rather have Bynum or Oden?
June 11th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Junio says:
@ DaPro
Easy Oden on that……More solid on defense.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
SayItAintSo says:
It’s not that easy. Bynum gives you something tangible…you know he can produce 10 and 10 in the L at the very least. You have absolutely no idea what Oden is capable of doing on an NBA floor. That question basically mirrors the idea of potential vs. proven contributor.
Rudy Gay (super athletic and showed flashes of absolute brillance, huge upside) vs. Brandon Roy (long college tenure, NBA ready and you know you’re getting someone that will be decent at the very least)
June 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
DaPro says:
With the two of them you’re basically going off of potential
Bynum was playing well but who knows if he could have sustained that for the entire season
I’d go Oden
June 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Joe says:
I’ll take Oden, I know he’s nowhere near a proven commodity, but I think he has far more potential than Bynum. Add that to the fact that they have now both had serious knee injuries, I’ll take the guy with (I believe) more upside.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Rico says:
Will this make Brandon Roy appear better than he really is?
June 11th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Stiletto says:
in Portland they’ll have the younger version of phonixs front court man in 2-3 years the blazers are a sure contender
June 11th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
chaos rob says:
if he i? as good as they say he looks that gives the L another legit center and makes the blazer a legit contender or at least very dangerous in the west. I can imagine oden going at it with bynum is both sare healthy and dwight howard. also oden can allow lamarcus to be the offensive post presence on that team
June 11th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
doc says:
Give me Oden over Bynum all day.He is a beast defense wise.And his O will come around.Noah and especially Horford had good rookie years and you seen what Oden did to them in that chip game.Wasnt it like 25 and 12.Horford couldnt stand it.He gonna be horsing cats in the league the same way.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
K Dizzle says:
I don’t remember “all” Laker fans sayin Oden was a bust, but something to chew on: Greg Oden and AB are both 20. Bynum doesn’t even turn 21 till damn near nov. They’ve both had major leg injuries, but Bynum has 3 years experience in the tough western conference already, averaged 13, 10 with 2 blks and shooting 64%!!! from the field. It’s good that GO is the new flavour, but I don’t think you can say he’s got a greater upside. Based on what? Summer workouts? I’ll take the 20 year old with experience and success
June 11th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Duke says:
Bynum was basically crap for 2 year. Kobe threw him under the bus as often as he could. Bynum showed what he’s capable of this year till he got injured.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Maybe if Oden didnt hurt his knee playin Dance Dance Revolution we would know how good he is!
I’d take Bynum right now cause he is NBA tested. Both knee injuries are scary though, luckily those guys are young and will likely be fine.
Both will be studs I think.
One thing is for sure- Oden is the better actor
“you need more dynamic? I’m a chamilion”
Hilarious.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
JHov says:
But isn’t one of Oden legs longer than the other? Isn’t that something that could cause more problems down the line? Give me a player who has already played in regular season games and has Kareem Abdul-Jabbar teaching him his low post moves!
June 11th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Tim says:
where’s the write up on michael curry being the new pistons coach…If they can trade Billups and Prince for Melo and Camby…that would be sick btw.
Stuckey
Hamilton
Carmelo
Sheed
Camby…
good luck east.
not gonna happen though.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Tim says:
Oden is gonna be scary btw
June 11th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Big Freeze says:
Damn, if Oden lives up to his billing, the Western Conference is going to get that much tougher. It’s a scary thought. Good thing Orlando plays in the East.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Kevin says:
Is there a team in the league with better potential for a future dynasty?
Chicago? Minnesota? Golden State?
Personally, I don’t think anyone matches them.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
ERIC says:
Yes Oden has much more hype, but how can you even compare a dislocated kneecap (something which is 100% recoverable) to microfracture surgery (something which is rarely near 100%).
Bynum has been in the league for 3 years, and they are both 20 years old.
It’s a good discussion until people start identifying “serious knee injuries” without noting the major difference in severity.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:09 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
A dislocated kneecap that was supposed to be healed in 6 weeks that has turned out to be 6 months and still cant put full weight on it might be as severe as player with microfracture surgery that has is ahead of schedule and balling at the local Y
June 12th, 2008 at 3:28 am
bill says:
Question: Does Oden have MORE hype and pressure now then when he was drafted?
Wonder if it was the same for David Robinson
*not injured but a year to wait.
I feel the issues identified about Oden for his rookie year (adjustment to NBA, 4 year learning curve) are still very apt but not mentioned NEARLY as much.
Cool to get excited anyway and love the update, thanks Dime
June 12th, 2008 at 6:21 am
jamesinva says:
thanks to all you guys giving props to oden and the blazers. its been tough being ablazer fan all these years. they just dont get any respect. its nice to finally read ppl are taking notice
June 12th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Bond says:
I’m looking forward to future Dwight/Oden dunkfest matchups.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:48 am
fallinup says:
Fear Portland next year….fear them. If they stay healthy, they will break out like New Orleans did.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
K Dizzle says:
Portland’s weakness is still at the point with all the studs out west
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
JInCT says:
Rudy!