<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">PORTLAND, Ore. - Because he can't play after having microfracture surgery on his right knee, Greg Oden is treating his NBA rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers like a redshirt season.</font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">He's at all the practices and he's making all the roadtrips, but the No. 1 draft pick's contribution has been limited to lifting weights and trying to strengthen his surgically repaired knee.</font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">Monday night held special importance for the 7-foot Oden because it allowed him to study Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard up close and personal. Oden said Howard is one of the players he's tried to pattern his game after.</font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">"I've watched a lot of Dwight, and he was one of the guys that I looked up to when I was in college and high school," said Oden, 19. "Seeing him first hand will be so big for me. This will be a huge scouting night for me."</font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">Oden is walking again, but still isn't allowed to put too much pressure on his right leg. Instead, he's worked hard on strengthening his upper body -- something he couldn't do as a freshman at Ohio State because he was recovering from a broken wrist. He's noticeably bigger, having added some 29 pounds while keeping his body fat index at 8 percent. Oden hopes to play next season at 290 pounds.</font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">Portland coach Nate McMillan has insisted Oden travel with the team so that he can get used to the NBA road grind now. Oden said being around the team has eased the frustration of not playing this season.</font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">"(McMillan) just wants me to see how the NBA life works, and get used to the schedule," Oden said. "When I'm playing it's going to be tough to adjust. To go on road trips without playing, I get to see everything first hand that I need to do.</font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">"It's tough because I want to be out there. All I've known in my life is playing ball and I'm not doing that. I'll do everything I can so that when I'm OK, I can help this franchise."</div></font></p> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman, serif">Source: Florida Today</font></p>
