I also heard that Greg was seen out and about without his Blazers lapel pin the other day. Really makes me wonder.
You think? Joel's passion for the game has never been questioned in the past. He is a vet who has paid his dues and deserves to be with his family. You don't see the differnce between Joel's situation and Greg's situation?
You have to pay dues to be with your family while rehabbing from injury? A multi-millionaire athlete with a house in Portland can't fly his family in to live with him during his rehab process? I'm sure Joel's passion for the game was questioned by Milwaukee and Atlanta fans during his first injury-riddled seasons. If you want to get angry at Greg for not being here, despite having permission from the team, and so he can be near his family, then you should probably get angry at Joel since it is for the same exact reasons - especially considering his unfortunate shower episode away from Portland.
So the answer is you don't see a difference in Joel's situation and Greg's sitaution . . . personally, I see a big difference. I've never heard Joel's passion questioned, but I didn't follow him in his early years . I do know Joel wasn't the first draft pick who the team promoted as one of the big three and the face of the franchise. Who has been critized both locally and nationally about issues such as injury and his passion for the game. I'm not mad at Greg and I'm not mad at Joel. I would of liked the young kid here watching the games, supporting the team and knowing that he is committed to basketball and more importantly as a Blazer fan that he is committed to the Blazers. Maybe he is, but the impression could lead some to think otherwise. You keep wanting to bring Joel into this. Joel and Oden and their value (potential value) to this team are so much different. Joel's not here . . . maybe it means he isn't into the team as much as I thought, but whatever, it Joel. Let's get back to talking about one of the faces of the franchise and who many beleive is our only true shot at a title. Sounds like your not concerned he isn't with his team. I can see that . . . but my perspective is it is another concern regarding one of the Blazer's big three.
People thought Greg wasn't committed to the Blazers because he didn't want to stay in Portland during the off-season and instead wanted to do workouts in Ohio, so he could be close to home. Then he came into camp in great shape and confident, and all was forgotten. Just because their value is different doesn't mean you should judge their exact same acts different. People get upset at Greg being in Indianapolis because he's injured again, let's be honest. Joel's value to Portland, up until the Camby extension, was still pretty significant and there still was nary a peep about him not being in town. I have no problem with either player being out of town, and with their families. Maybe it is hard for them to be around the team and not able to contribute in any manner, and being home helps ease that while they continue to recover. All I care about is what helps them come into next season in the best possible way, and if they feel it will help them to be with their families now good for them. Greg is playing for a contract extension next year, and to prove his doubters wrong - adding what I consider inane concerns like "hey, rehabbing at home just like Joel but it is only bad if Greg does it" is just another way to vent frustration at him being injured, IMO.
While Batum was injured, he claimed he studied a lot of game film. Here's hoping Greg (at least) is doing the same.
Man, if posters wanted to vent about Oden being injured, they don't need to fall back on Oden not being here for the playoffs. There is all kinds of material to vent that frustration. I get that youa ren't concerned about Oden not being with his team during the playoffs. I don't know why you can't accept that some psoters are genuinely concerned taht he isn't here as a relection of his passion for the game. You have to label it as hidden aggression about his injuries. Personally if I was upset about his injuries I would say so. Why would I be here saying that it could be a relection of his pasison for the game or passion for his team when it really is abaout his injuries. That is like me accusing you of justifying why you aren't concerned about him not being with the team as a hidden agenda of being a homer Blazer fan . . . kind of cheapens your thoughts, huh. I don't think you have some hidden agenda or are masking some deep internal thoughts with optomistic view of Oden. I think you should take someof us posters at face value rather than thinking we are using lack ofpassion discussion to vent hidden frustration of Oden's injury . . . what's the point of discussing this if you don't believe what we are typing are our real thoughts? Just disregard all thoughts about the topic as hidden anger about Oden's injuries ???? I'm out.
I've seen a few videos of Joel at the PF working out and rehabbing. He's been here for the last month and has been at the home games.
Mike Barrett intimated during the last game that Greg gets depressed being around the team during the playoffs and not being able to contribute by playing. I don't know if that's true, but I do think that we've seen in the past that Greg can be kind of a moody guy. Part of me says that I'd love to see him on the side lines rooting for the team and soaking up the playoff atmosphere, but I know that the reality is that it's pretty uncomfortable for a 7' guy recovering from a knee injury to try to sit folded up for a couple of hours at a time. I guess bottom line, all I care about is having him healthy and in a mood to do some business by next fall. If some of mama's home cooking helps with that...who am I to question the Blazers coaching staff and Greg?
I haven't talked about Oden on this board. On my previous board, I defended him against the many trolls that this board doesn't have. When Blazer fans there ranked the most important Blazers, they said Roy, Aldridge, and maybe Pritchard. I said 1) Paul Allen, 2) Oden, and 3) McMillan. But finally my Oden support is becoming tepid. With Oden, every excuse in the book has been used to avoid basketball. Before his true injury, he already showed a pattern of escapism. Before his first Summer League, he couldn't make it for some workouts. In Summer League, he caught a cold so he couldn't play full minutes. Then he had the tonsils and stopped playing. After a couple of weeks, the normal time to recover from a tonsillectomy (I had one in the 1st grade) he just didn't feel like playing in the US tryouts, a crucial learning experience. Then came the exhibition season and he was totally out of shape. Then he tried to play and he was always out of breath, dragging his tired body around the court. Then he got injured in the first game because he was out of shape from not playing all summer. On and on. All along, Pritchard said he'd be better later if he didn't play now. Then later, it was obvious Oden couldn't play now because he hadn't played before. Pritchard's draft choices reflect upon him, so it's in his self-interest to praise any players he decided to acquire. Most GMs are tougher on their employees. Then an injury came not during activity, but from sitting on the couch. Early this season, I vaguely remember that he didn't want to be seen standing at a football game or some sport so he left and hid. Now he's too shy to go to Blazer games and claims his leg hurts too much to appear in public for even 5 minutes. You'd think the guy could show up at games next to the team for some minimum time. I think he's shy, unaggressive, and will never grow up until the lax Pritchard gets his own head straight on this issue so he can straighten out Oden's attendance. I still think he will eventually be a top center. But not requiring even minimum attendance to watch tapes and practices only delays his development. If we have to pay much to sign him it will be a hard decision.
Re: Why is Oden in Indiana? These are guesses and assumptions. Joel has topped out to his ceiling and has nothing to learn. In contrast, Oden has a famously low basketball IQ holding him back. He needs to absorb information like a sponge. He should be embarrassed by his terrible reputation outside of Oregon as a lazy unmotivated Benoit Benjamin. Unlike my last board, this one doesn't have real trolls from other teams, so many here don't know of his reputation around the league. As for Minstrel's comparison to Sheed, I don't care about nonbasketball behavior either. I was a Sheed defender. He didn't lack interest like Oden. The fiery guy was MOTIVATED and energetic.
I really don't even want to think about Greg right now, sure he probably is the linchpin for any championship aspirations this team might have in future seasons, but for now I just want to focus on what the actual team we have is doing on the court; we'll have all summer to fret about Oden's health, conditioning, psychology and commitment.
And I don't care whether he's considered a "good teammate," since I'm not on the team. His teammates can care, obviously, and that's fine. (Do any of us know whether they actually are upset by this? I think it would be pretty silly if they weren't bothered by this and fans were bothered on their behalf.) I made the comparison before to Kobe Bryant. Leaving aside questions of whether he committed rape, if Bryant had been a Blazer and a big part of four championships, would you really care that he hasn't been a "good teammate" in terms of hanging out with the guys, slapping their backs and generally fostering camaraderie? Because, by all accounts, Bryant keeps pretty strictly to himself outside of practices and games and has generally kept himself aloof from teammates. If that would matter to you, then you and I simply disagree at a fundamental level that probably can't be reconciled. My view is that I have no relationship with any of these guys beyond watching them play basketball. All I care about, regarding them, is their basketball performance. "Good teammate" is only relevant insofar as they play within a team concept on the floor. Whether they exhibit the requisite "team spirit" and foster good personal relationships with their teammates is 100% irrelevant to me. It may (or may not) be relevant to a player's teammates...but the final product is all I care about.
Does anyone know for sure if he is still in Indiana? I heard some reports that he is here for the playoffs and talking to teammates in the locker room.
Everyone knows for sure. Pritchard told Kerry Eggers that Oden is in Indiana. http://sportstwo.com/showthread.php?p=2319410#post2319410 Where did you hear your reports which contradict Pritchard?
This is the answer. Greg is a VERY sensitive and emotional person. He is also an odd duck. He's just weird man! He's an Aquarius for godsake! He will kick ass just like last year, only moreso. Just watch. My only concern with Greg has been his injuries. Talent Size Defense People need to get over their inordinate nit picking of Greg's every move. This reminds me of Martell chatter circa 2007. We didn't get Paul, Jordan or Durant. Get the fuck over it guys!
As much as I like Greg, I think that you need to look at it as anything he gives you is a bonus at this point. Maybe if he plays 70+ games next year and has a good season (13 and 10 or better) I would change that opinion, but for now, I think that we shouldn't count on Oden to be any type of pillar or foundation for our team.
