It all boils down to Kevin Durant. Oden had the unfortunate fate of being the number one pick in a very strong draft. He will always be measured to Durant, and as of now it's not even a comparison. Greg had a lot of expectations heaped on him, and that's not his fault, but unless he starts to produce he will go down in history as the second biggest mistake in Blazers history. That's just fact.
He's cleared to play? by whom? by the Blazer-doctors that cleared him to play the last couple of times?... Greg has already had some very upsetting injuries, don't you think it's about time he realised he needs to listen to his body and come back only when he feels 100%. If he believes it's possible, I believe it's possible and not re-signing him after this year - even if he doesn't come back at all this year - would be more foolish, IMO, then drafting him over Durant. Part of Greg's injury problem, I think, is mental. He has to be confident in his body and in himself, to get to know his body and himself and learn how to play smarter, more controlled, more composed basketball. Be confident enough that he doesn't try to do too much, and then - he could really be a beast. I think part 1 is waiting till he's completely healthy, 100%. Part 2 is giving him limited minutes, not "until he's healthy", until you have no choice but to play him more minutes. Give him the Jeff Pendergraph role and let him grow.
Well, I'd probably be paranoid too if I seriously hurt myself every time I stepped onto a basketball court.
regarding the OP quotes from Greg, I don't want to see him on the court until he's healthy & confident about his health either and have said as much many times. Considering his injury saga since entering the league, him playing mostly free from concern is goal worth shooting for. Without him the team is easily good enough to be in the playoffs, with him healthy they are good enough to contend. The playoffs are 5 months away. Dude has been working out with weights, trainers, and on the court for months now, so when he finally resumes actual NBA PT it's not like he'll be starting from scratch. While frustration from fans is somewhat understandable it makes me really happy that this apparently is playing no part in his decision making... those same fans will be trash talking Laker fans following his first dunk. My reading of the tea leaves from all the various reports is that he'll be back within a month... looking forward to it! STOMP
if everything thats happened thus far in his career was the same, do you think things would be more enjoyable in say NY? Maybe Atlanta would be the perfect spot as (generally speaking) they don't really even care about hoops he's doing the right thing just smiling at the critics and handling his business as best he knows how STOMP
