Is it just me, or should Oden be in shape by now? Every damn article on Greg has someone saying he needs to get into shape. Christ, the guy has been working out all summer, you would think he would be.
We were sold on his hyper-athleticism, considering his size, by the front office when he was drafted. His pre-draft numbers validated those claims. On the other hand, it's an extension summer for Greg after next season, so it appears the front office is already starting negotiations by expecting him to defend more than the opposing center. Setting a baseline, one could say. Fun times ahead.
And even if he's not(which I wouldn't bet on), it's not like there isn't 3+ months until the season starts.
Sorry, but he played last season, has worked out all summer, and if he's not in shape now, he never will be.
Perfect basketball shape a bit different from normal people being in good shape. Considering he's trying to both lose weight and add muscle (muscle is heavier than fat), it's a bit absurd to say "Okay, either he's in shape RIGHT NOW or he never will be." On the last update, the team wanted him to drop 10 pounds over the off-season and he had dropped 5. If he's not in ideal shape by the time the season starts, I'll consider it a problem. Until then, I'll leave it to the people who actually know what they're doing, Oden and the trainers he's working with.
I doubt he's in his best basketball shape right now(who is in the off-season?), but I'm sure his overall fitness level is much better than it was at the end of the season, and that has pretty much already been reported. With 3+ months to go, I'm sure he'll be fine.
I think he is too. I just want to see them stop using that excuse. He should be in at least as good of shaoe as the other players there.
If you are a dyed-in-the-wool cynic, (you know, like me) you would wonder what the motivation is. The optimistic view: they are sending Oden a message that they are keeping an eye on the issue and they expect him to be working hard. The pessimistic view: they are laying the groundwork for another round of excuses.
I read awhile back that he is working on speed, quickness and lateral movement. Not necessarily things to be in shape. Although I recall him being winded in the playoffs. Maybe endurance too then
That'd be my guess. They're laying the groundwork for him to come out of the gate at full speed and not look back.
I think all that is being said is that at the end of the season they expected him to get into shape this summer, and that he is working on it right now. I don't think they're saying he's not in shape right now - just that it was a goal for this summer.
Denny are you a Blazers fan or just a Bulls fan or a Basketball fan? I'm a Blazers fanatic and a minor fan of other NBA teams. P.S. Oden will be a monster by no later then January.
He wants to see improvement in Oden... I call bullshit. It's gotta be taken out of context or something. There's no way. If anything, I would think the front office would want Oden to regress. It just doesn't make sense that he'd say something that weird. You can't believe everything you read on the internet.
