Big z is the only name that comes to mind. There are quiet a few centers that have missed a ton of games there first three or four seasons and are or were good centers. Only problem is none of them are in the same catagory as oden injury wise. The thing that really bothers me isnt the injuries he already has, all of those he should recover fine from. His knee cap will have healed stronger and there are tons of examples of coming back from microfracture surgery. The thing im worried about is why he keeps getting injuried. Is there something structurely wrong with his body? All we can do is wait and speculate untill the team doctors or his own come out and tell the team, then i would hope that information somehow gets leaked to us on what his diagnosis for the future is. Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
I thought he can't be traded unless he approves the trade. But any trade would take away his bird rights. I doubt he would approve any deal this season.
Rep'd. VERY solid post. I tend to think we have a full 50/50 chance of seeing Oden play for us next season. I mean, I get the idea of a "new beginning"..., but I like to think of "unfinished business" here. I may be no longer fully on his bandwagon, but I like giving him one more chance.
I think the whole issue is that none of us know what will happen. will he play this year? will he re-sign? Can he play? Thats what bugs me. Let us know, one way or the other. We all wear big boy pants (although thats not always evident with this message board)
I remember the days when calling him "injury-prone" was worthy of being flamed and branded as a troll. Where is the category for 'those who think he should be the centerpiece of the offense'? That was a large faction of interweb fans for more than a few years. Someone out there must still be clinging to that hope.
I have been trying to come up with an explanation for the Blazer's silence. Let me offer the following scenarios. A. PA has lost interest in the team, and the front office is so rudderless that nobody knows or cares what is happening or how the fans are feeling. B. His injuries are legit, he can't play, but the team is in denial. C. He can't play, but he is stringing the team along with false promises. D. He can't play, but the team is keeping him on contract in lieu of him sueing the team for medical malpractice. E. He is refusing to play, but the team keeps throwing money at him in the pathetic/desperate hope he will change his mind. The problem with "E", is that it assumes he hates Portland so bad he is willing to sacrifice millions just to go elsewhere. Any other ideas?
I think he is healing from this current batch of injuries and wants to still make his mark in the NBA- be it here or somewhere else. He just wants to play. I have no problem giving him the benefit of the doubt. And I hope he finds some NBA success.
I'm in camp number one; he's my favorite Blazer (note Blazer, not PLAYER) and I truly think we may get something out of him yet on the court. I think those people who's feelings are hurt because he's been injured are immature, IMO.
And I could care less about the Blazer silence. They pay him, not me...if they want to be all clandestine, then so be it. Sure I'd like to know, but I don't think I deserve to know.
I'd say the most likely answer is that the situation is pretty much what Chad Buchanan said back prior to the start of the season: Oden's tests revealed damage to a ligament that hadn't been discovered before and they were concerned that it made the knee susceptible to injury. My conjecture is that they didn't know for sure whether rehab would allow for it to heal sufficiently so that he could play this year, but wanted to give it a shot before deciding on another surgery to fix the ligament. They're probably in the midst of the rehab period and waiting to see the results. It's only been a bit over a month since the announcement. I know that fans want quick answers, but these things can take time.
Even if Oden wanted to contribute to the team this season, it is too late for him to do so. If he was cleared for full practice tomorrow, it would be weeks before he was in game shape, and months before he could knock off enough rust to actually contribute.
Sure, the Blazers are a private business and can be as secretive as the want. That still begs the question of *why* they would handle it that way. When Zach was rehabbing from MF surgery, the team went out of their way to make sure everyone knew how hard he was working and how well it was going. That's the response I would *expect* from a team....not this.
I don't give one little shit about oden. Sure it'd be great to have him if he can do it. If he can't I don't give a duke. I'll watch the team we have and be fine. My son and I will root for the blazers no matter. Oden was never shaq he was an injured freshman that lost in the finals, that's all.
