I’d have to say both statements are true.

Oden fell and broke his left kneecap on Saturday night, playing against the Houston Rockets. Since he was drafted in 2007 by the Portland Trailblazers, the 7-foot center has suffered more injuries than some 10-year veterans.

Greg Oden suffered another injury on Saturday, and will be out for the season.

Many have compared Oden to the infamous Sam Bowie,  who was selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft. Bowie, a big man himself, suffered numerous injuries while at Portland and never developed into the great player many expected him to be.

According to ESPN.com, Brandon Roy said that Oden apologized and bowed his head as he was wheeled off the court. Apparently he felt as though he had let them down.

The injuries that Oden has sustained since he had first entered the league are not his fault. Though he  missed his rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee, and sat out numerous games last season due to minor injuries, Oden was performing really well this season. He had finally found his game after losing weight and regaining confidence. Then, he was stopped short yet again because of another injury.

Greg Oden is one of the most genuine players in the NBA. He’s not arrogant or self-serving. He’s a team player, and works hard on and off the court. It would be great to see him finish a season intact, because his numbers would be outstanding.

Unfortunately for Portland, injuries have gotten in the way — and not just for Oden. The team is so shorthanded this season that coach Nate McMillan has had to participate in practice.

It’s a sad story, really. And my heart goes out to Oden.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Greg Oden Is Done For The Season

Anthony finished the game with 41 points — 19 of which were scored in the fourth quarter. His big finish allowed the Nuggets to outscore the Blazers in the fourth 35-27 to win by a final score of 97-94. Anthony shot 11-of-21 from the field and 18-of-19 from the line. He also had six rebounds three assists and one steal.

Chauncey Billups was also big for the Nuggets, scoring 22 points, dishing out six assists and pulling down four rebounds. The Blazers were led by Brandon Roy’s 30 points, while Rudy Fernandez chipped in 22 points off the bench.

The Nuggets next play the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, while the Blazers travel to Houston to play the Rockets on Saturday.

Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Carmelo Anthony Carries Nuggets to 2-0 Start

While the negotiations between Aldridge and the Blazers weren’t always smooth, both sides have to be happy that a deal was struck. For Portland, they have one of the better young bigmen in the NBA locked in for his prime.

Last season, Aldridge averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and one block per game. He shot 48.4% from the field and 78.1% from the free throw line. The 24-year-old from the University of Texas is an above average shooter who is learning to improve his play closer to the bucket.

Earlier in the offseason, the Blazers signed Brandon Roy to a contract worth about $80 million. The team now has a core of young players it can build around. The playoffs appear to be a certainty this year — the question is whether the Blazers can get out of the first round.

LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland Trail Blazers (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

LaMarcus Aldridge Signs Extension

Photo by Amanda Edwards / Getty Images for Nike

The Trainer 1 is an innovative new lightweight training shoe that combines Nike’s training heritage with the latest innovation and design technology. So I hear. I’m just the messenger. I haven’t actually tried these shoes yet. But Adrian Peterson has and he likes them:

“The Nike Trainer 1s are extremely comfortable and the flexibility is awesome. I’ve already started wearing them for my training drills and for weight room workouts. It’s an amazing performance shoe that will give me an edge on the playing field.”

Of course, AD’s getting paid to say that but I’ll take his word for it. Anyway, as part of the launch event in Southern California today, the aforementioned Nike athletes led more than 50 local SoCal youth from all sports in a comprehensive training workout. Hopefully, they got some free shoes to take home. If not, they certainly got some great memories. For those who want to check out the shoes for themselves, the Nike Trainer 1 will be available in the U.S. beginning July 1 with a suggested retail price of 90 bucks.

Source: NikeMedia.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Nike Debuts Trainer 1 Shoe