All this draft talk and Greg vs Durant crap..... thought I'd take a look back. Fun read! http://www.basketballforum.com/portland-trail-blazers/364251-greg-oden-workout-thread.html
Interesting nugget from Chad Ford in that thread Funny how I don't remember those reports much in the lead up to the draft that year, I think most people and maybe even the Blazers brass too was so drunk on the euphoria that we were going to have first crack at the most exciting, "sure fire" center prospect since Hakeem or Shaq that maybe corners were cut in the evaluation process? Either way it's a sobering reminder that there really is no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to sports. But who knows, maybe we'll even get a little bit of luck this year ...
From Chad Ford: Quote: Oden stumbles in Portland posted: Friday, June 22, 2007 Here's the latest I'm hearing from around the league ... • Greg Oden's workout in Portland didn't go great. He was nervous, got winded, missed some lay-ups -- you get the picture. Kevin Durant must be licking his chops. Durant comes in on Friday and everyone expects him to look great. So did Oden blow his chance to be the No. 1 pick? Hardly. There's very little Oden or Durant could do in a workout to change the scouting report the Blazers have already compiled. Any team would be foolish to scrap a year's worth of scouting reports based on one workout. At this point the Blazers are looking much more closely at character than basketball in these visits. What they want to know is how each player would fit with Nate McMillan and the team. In that regard, Oden passed with flying colors. He's a great guy -- a team-first player who cares about winning. If character really is the final factor, I think that puts Oden over the top. I've been stating there's a 99 percent chance that the Blazers take Oden. I lowered it to 90 percent once Oden's health issues arose -- by the way, Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard says the team doctors have no serious concerns about Oden's injuries. Maybe the subpar workout drops the odds to 85 percent. All of the evidence I continue to get out of Portland points to Oden -- including their shopping for a late lottery pick to draft a small forward.
literally couldn't finish watching the Thunder game. Hurt so bad. Easily the most frustrated I have ever felt since Greg being drafted. This will be my last post on the topic other then to say I hope the Thunder get swept....... don't care by who!
I couldn't watch the game either. Was at a sports bar watching the kings game with a buddy, after that was done, teh Thunder game was going on, I told him I had to go. Went back home, time was running out, I had to change the channel.
i just can't revisit these topics. watching durant on the podium tonight on SC with the WC Champs hat was too much after about 15 seconds. Go Celtics or Heat i don't give a fuck who, just don't let OKC win it all.
Basketball is pretty much dead to me at the moment. If/when OKC wins the title, will they also beat Portland's record as youngest title team?
I remember wanting Durant really bad at first. Then when we landed the #1 pick I swayed to Oden because of all the media hype and such around him. I was easily impressionable in my early 20's.
