Kerry Eggers: The Latest on Greg Oden

I don't think Oden's return timetable has anything to do with the wishes and wants of Rich Cho. If it does, then maybe the whining I've read here about the medical staff's incompetence actually has some merit.

 

http://www.clubblazers.com/blazers-discussion/greg-questionable-for-training-camp-t3561.html

 

Sorry, you could be correct. I was sort-of taking the underlying assumption that Cho was just not "trumping" the medical staff's wishes to have Oden rest that knee as long as possible and have him go out and play in FanFest or in the pre-season.

I sort of picture this business relationship where the medical staff are the ultra conservatives that would prefer Oden never play and that he just rest indefinitely. So picture the Bones telling Cptn Kirk that Spock really shouldn't go down there and face the mighty Romulans with his hurt shoulder, and Spock saying he can fight through the pain. But Cptn is the decision maker who has to make that final call that weighs in the conservative doctor with the willing fighter and decide what is best for the Enterprise (or TV in this case). So I'm implying that Cho is going along with the doctor's ultra-conservative orders to not playing him until the last possible minute.

 

Mike Barret is a Blazer Blow horn.....

Might as well listen to something Jason Quick says than Mike Barret

 

ignore it. it is tired bs.

 

Well, if MB said it........

 

And any break is going to effect the surrounding muscles. They'll take time to get back the strength as well as the knee healing I would assume.

 

Riddle: Is Oden LESS likely to get injured by making his comeback 12 months after the operation instead of 11 months? After all, what's a month?

Or is he MORE likely to get injured by coming in a month after his teammates have been there, and he has to frantically catch up to their being in playing shape and knowing the plays?

Is it possible that meeting the deadline of the starting date of camp might actually DECREASE the chance of injury this season?

Is it possible that management should ignore the fact that some hermit, in some cave in Tibet, might have an irrational fear, a tiny shred of worry that there might be a 1% chance that Oden might not be ready, that he might be only 95% ready, so he should be held out another 6 months so the hermit feels comfortable??

 

Blake Griffin had a similar injury and he's STILL not ready to play...not surprised that Oden isn't either (I heard that little nugget on courtside--puts things into perspective though).

 

Really? If true, that's a bit shocking as well.

 

Ya, they mentioned he is NOT cleared to play yet, and he injured it in their first pre season game!

 

Clearly Blake Griffin is a bust of monumental proportions.

 

At least Clipper fans don't have to watch a player taken after him explode into the games best player.

 

Technically you're approaching this with a flawed "hindsight" view.

Through this same point in time as Blake Griffin has been injured along with the players taken after him, here are Durant's numbers:
Durant: 20.3 pts, 4.4 reb, 2.4 asst, 1.0 stl, PER of 15.8

At this same point in their NBA careers, here are two players taken over Blake Griffin.
Tyreke Evans: 20.1 pts, 5.3 reb, 5.5 asst, 1.5 stl, PER of 18.2
Steph Curry: 17.5 pts, 4.5 reb, 5.9 asst, 1.9 stl, PER of 16.3

Steph is actually pretty close in skillsets to Durant as well. So could end up in the same realm there.

 

If folks want to dwell on the past then have at it. Move forward.

 

Evans and Curry are nice starters to have as part of a core but they are not close to being a centerpiece of a succesful franchise like Durant is showing.

 

Whhhaaaaaaaat?

 

So far? Definitely. Especially if he only plays in 1/3 of his available games in his first three years.