Mystery still clouds Oden's Blazer status

Unreal. Fucking fickle fans. It's not like Oden has done this on purpose. As long as he's a Blazer, he has my full support.

 

Thank you! Agreed 100%.

BNM

 

Fickle fans BS! If he bolts plays well somewhere else and walks off with 20+million bucks I have a problem with that! If he gets healthy and plays for Ptown and becomes a contributing player than I'm behind him. If he medically retires like Roy? No problem! BUT....... If he's just hanging out waiting to bolt for some other team than sorry, he's a jerk off!

 

You're right Maxiep, Greg hasn't done this to himself, but he has rehabed slower than any player I've ever seen and he's had a handful of setbacks that most players don't run into.

 

No, that just makes him a free agent.

 

Well maybe that's because his body just isn't made for the rigors of basketball? I'm sorry, but I will never understand the argument to make injuries into some kind of moral bankruptcy issue with Greg ... Maybe with some players, but I just don't think that's what's happening here.

 

That's a good one! HAHA!

That said...... Come on People!!! This isn't some traveling vet player like Camby on his 5th team, this is our once in a generation first round draft pick center that hasn't even played one full year for us, not ONE!! Ya think Dwight, Kobe, Shaq, Jordan, Bird, Magic would have left their teams this way? No way!!!!

I'm just saying he needs to give back "IF HE CAN" to the franchise that gave up KD for him! Is that so strange to say? The Rose Garden is sold out every night to fans that have been waiting for this guy for years. Honor it! Shit that's all I'm saying k?

 

Ptown fans have been more than welcoming to Greg with all his physical problems and more than that "supportive" and I think they expected him to return that sentiment with his loyality to this franchise! Had Greg been on the Wizards, Celtics, Bulls or Lakers he'd be getting boos nightly on the sideline and they probably would have forced him into a medical retirement or cut him outright.

The blazers have been very good to this guy. He needs to step up!

 

If his injuries are legit, and they probably are, I agree 100%. Tanking, however, IS an ethical issue. If Oden could play and is just saying "F U" to the team and its fans, then he deserves to be despised.

I see the current reaction as a product of people no longer trusting the Blazers. The team's obsession with secrecy is wearing thin, and loyal fans don't appreciate being treated like mushrooms. Yes, the Blazers have a "right" to behave this way - but that doesn't mean it is a good idea.

 

Exactly!!

 

I don't see Greg's situation being at all similar to those HOFers you name. Those guys all had fantastic careers and enjoyed almost nothing but continuous success. Greg's situation is more like Kwame Brown's (or maybe Grant Hill is a better comparison?) It's been setback after disappointment after setback since he's been here. So not only has he had to contend with the inevitable depression that comes from being almost chronically injured, but he's supposed to bear the weight of an entire fanbases' broken dreams too?

I get that high expectations come with the territory as the number one pick, but expecting him to be some kind of "franchise savior" or live up to his draft position, that's just too much to much to ask in my opinion. If Greg wants to stay and if he can finally get healthy then awesome. If on the other hand he wants a change of scenery and a fresh start I won't begrudge him that; It's his life, it's his career and just because Portland drafted him that doesn't make him an indentured servant for "life."

 

I guess I haven't seen any evidence so far that he's "tanking" or "sandbagging" aside from idle speculation on the part of some reporters and some posters around here.

 

Exactly. If Oden EVER has an NBA career, it better be in Portland. We've paid him millions for the last 5 years, and kept believing in him when no one else would. If he leaves us, he's an ungrateful punk.

 

He never will have a career. His problem is sensitivity to pain. That isn't going to change.

He will regret it all his life if he doesn't try basketball with a different training staff before retiring. He should switch teams. Don't worry, there will be no comeback. Have some class and don't boo him.

P.S. Why do you think Hedo had such a good game last night? He was booed heavily the last time he was here, so he was psyched up to take the pressure again.

 

My worry is that he might be sandbagging because of the contract renegotiation. I'm not saying he deserved the full QO, but I have to wonder if it isn't a bit of a standoff and he's just waiting to bolt.

For me, I just wish him the best. I can see the writing on the wall.

 

What has me bugged about this whole Oden mystery thing is Oden has shown little passion for the game and the organization during his time in Ptd.

I remember the whole Oden v Durant debate and most agreed that Durant had the personality that he eats, sleeps and breaths for basketball while Oden ponders being a dentist.

Maybe his injuries are ones that can't be overcome. Maybe he is giving 100% with rehab and coming back. Maybe he is loyal or thankful for all the Blazer organization has done for him.

But is it all a mystery because Oden doesn't say much and has outwardly shown very little passion since being in Ptd . . . and each year that mystery called Greg Oden becomes more frustrating because no one is really saying what is going on with Oden and he no longer gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to many.

 

I don't expect Greg to be a saviour at all at this point , but I do expect him to be loyal to the only franchise that has carried him this long and been so supportive for 4 years. He owes that at the least because he's been paid damn well to sit in a hot tub.

As for comparisons to Grant Hill or Kwame Brown? Grant was an allstar in Detroit for years before he started getting injured and Kwame atleast played a few years before he fizzed out. Greg has done neither!

 

When he played, he was at least as passionate as Wallace is now. He was fighting everyone under the basket for possession, putting him in constant foul trouble. He avoids criticism off the court, but on the court he was very passionate.

He would have been a great, great center.

 

How many functions have oden gone to supporting the community? How many signing parties has he done? The few times I see him, he's itching for the locker at home games. He disconnected himself from the fans and city. And still you see kids and adults supporting him and wearing his number. Any other city and fan base would want his head. Pressure in portland?! Fucking please. If he was in l.a. Or new York; they would be after his head.

Our fan base, city and team has done nothing to support him. If he can play yet chooses to leave and play somewhere else; he is a piece of shit and I wish him the worst. And I hope the other team is suckered into giving him a 4 year albatross contract that is untradeable too.

 

But if he gives it a go and gives it a shot in pdx, then I will cheer him on. Even if he asks to leave this summer. Him not playing is chicken shit.