Oden: "I’m preparing myself right now to be an [NBA] all-star."

Not sure what you are driving at here? Are you saying his bones hold up better in contract years?

 

I am confused by the quote.

"Changing my lifestyle"

Ok, so he is changing how he was before. Fine. Though curious, besides the known very poor eating habits that I have long complained about, is there anything else about his lifestyle that he is refering to? Drinking? Partying? Sleeping around? Poor sleep habits. Not regularly working out? What?

"Being around people I know and grew up with".

Wouldn't those be the same people that helped form who you became, how you ate, the extent to which you overdid drinking, partying and sex?

 

Not really, he only takes 9% of his shots as jump-shots and connects at an eFG% of .357 - D-Howard takes 17% of his shots as jump-shots and he connects at .325...

For a center, especially a low-post center, he is fine.

 

I'm just saying hearing this kind of talk about "maturing" and focusing is coming in a contract year ... my own little snarky way of saying there might be more of a financial incentive than a purely character driven motive here.

 

These are just words for now, but I'm glad to hear GO admitting he needs to change and mature. He is never going to be Kevin "eat, drink and breath basketball" Durant, but a commitment to maturing is a good thing. (No more stories of drinking, partying and penis pictures this year please).

I suspect we will see a different GO this year.

 

I don't call injured players "busts". "Could've beens", "Should've beens", "Star-crossed", but not "busts". It's a semantic argument.

 

Neither Shaq nor Dwight can shoot. When you have a certain size and bulk it doesn't matter. One other thing--GO can shoot free throws.

 

I can appreciate the distinction. Like I said originally, at least Oden has the possibility to stay healthy and be a major player, if he was devoid of talent there'd be absolutely no hope.

 

I think other than the wording, we're on the same page. At least GO isn't Thabeet.

 

It doesn't matter if he matures or not. If he stays healthy he will earn a huge contract. If he doesn't stay healthy, his potential contract will likely take a hit. It doesn't matter one bit if his "focusing" is coming in a contract year, unless you feel that his "focusing" can help him stay injury-free.

 

Agent talk. Contract. Year.

But it'd be awesome if he did become one this season.

 

Again, being a contract year has nothing to do with his injuries. Please explain how being a contract year matters in Oden's case.

 

He's taking steroids and HGH

 

I just hope Greg can stay healthy. His talent is undeniable. I just love the guy as a person too.

 

I'm getting excited about the possibility of a healthy G.O. this season.

 

Or the opposite.

Perhaps his friends in Portland are the negative influences? (I'm referring to his non-teammate friends.)

 

The BIG Greg Oden photos were from before he played here... just sayin'...

 

Greg lived with friends from home his first year in the league. I know because he lived 4 blocks from me. Also of note is that Raef LaFrentz lived basically across the street from Oden.

 

Not true. He lived 4 blocks from PapaG.

Wait! ............ D'oh!

Ahh, nevermind.

 

Oh snap!