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

However, it now seems like Oden is starting to figure it all out. On Monday night against the Chicago Bulls, the Portland Trail Blazers starting center had a dominant outing. In only 27 minutes, Oden poured in 24 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots, while hitting 7-of-8 shots from the field and 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

Though he’s playing his best basketball of his NBA career this season, there are two areas where he is still struggling: turnovers and fouls. In slightly more than 24 minutes, he’s averaging four fouls and nearly two turnovers. To truly become an elite player, he’ll have to lower both of those numbers.

The Blazers, who beat the Bulls by a final score of 122-98, are currently a very good team. If Oden lives up to the hype and becomes a dominant player? The Blazers could be a great team.

Greg Oden - Portland Trail Blazers (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Greg Oden Living Up to the Hype?

Greg Oden - Portland Trail Blazers (Image: Zuma Press)

After missing his entire would-be rookie season due to microfracture surgery, Oden was able to make his NBA debut last year. While he showed promise at times, most honest fans of the Portland Trail Blazers would say they were disappointing. Yes, he was a good backup center but the Blazers and the rest of the basketball world were expecting stardom — not solid play.

Going into his second season, we’ll get a really good read on what type of player Oden will be on the professional level. Is he going to take the next step and become a star? Is he simply going to prove to be an above average NBA bigman? We’ll find out soon enough.

We aren’t the only ones looking as his second season as pivotal. Oden himself knows the importance.

Said Oden, in an interview with the Indianapolis Star: “This is going to be a big year. Everybody comes in and has that first year, that get-used-to-the-league year. But you have to break out in your second year. You have to, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Post from: EveryJoe

Greg Oden Ready for Pivotal Season

I might be jumping the gun a bit with Blake Griffin. The guy is a beast, an overall talent that is sure to make an impact in the NBA. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft was told late last month to rest his strained right shoulder for three to four weeks. Though he’s losing out on practice time, the L.A. Clippers don’t believe the injury will inhibit Griffin once the season starts.

Tyler Hansbrough on the other hand, isn’t so lucky. He’s been spotted wearing  a large black walking boot to protect a right shin injury that could keep him sidelined at the start of training camp. Hansbrough was the Indiana Pacers‘ top pick in the draft, and the team hopes that he will recover in the next two months. The injury was sustained sometime in the spring, while Hansbrough was leading North Carolina to the NCAA championship.

Injuries can be potentionally harmful for any rookie’s development as a player. Griffin has the capability of coming back strong from his shoulder injury. But Hansbrough has much more to prove, especially since many analysts predict that he will have a hard time transitioning to the NBA.

Hansbrough Highlights:

Griffin Highlights:

Videos: Youtube

Post from: EveryJoe

Top NBA Rookies Already Have Injuries

Greg Oden has a Sinus Infection (Image: Newscom)

The injury-prone rookie center missed the entire 2007-08 season due to microfracture surgery. This year, he’s been injured multiple times. In 61 games, he was able to average 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.13 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game.

The number one overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft is official listed as probable for Saturday’s playoff opener for the Blazers against the Houston Rockets. The best-of-seven series will open in Portland.

The Blazers especially need Oden’s sinuses to clear up because they are going to need him to help defend Houston’s All-Star center Yao Ming. Oden comes off the bench but the minutes he could potentially play against Yao would be very valuable.

Post from: EveryJoe

Oden Might Miss Game with Sinus Infection

OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies
In college, everyone thought OJ Mayo was a ballhogging moron. But on the NBA level, he has proven that sentiment to be wrong. He’s been a very smart scorer who doesn’t overly force the action. Playing in Memphis hurts his chances.

Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers
Greg Oden was one of the most hyped rookies of the past 20 years coming into this season. But after getting hurt early on and not doing much since getting healthy, Oden still has a lot to prove before he could win the Rookie of the Year award. That said, if he gets on a dominant streak, he still has a chance.

Michael Beasley, Miami Heat
The Heat have made sure that Michael Beasley only gets to play when he’s defending. For that reason, his minutes have been somewhat sporadic. When he plays, Beasley has been pretty darn good. He can score from many spots on the court and can also rebound better than his size would indicate.

Photo credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

NBA Rookie of the Year Candidates and Odds

Oden didn’t exactly know all of the words to the tune and would not have made it to the next round of American Idol with his performance. We can only hope he performs much better on the court this season.

Take a look at this video of Oden belting out the tunes while rocking an Obama ‘08 t-shirt.

Post from: EveryJoe

Greg Oden sings karaoke to ‘N Sync – Video

“We are absolutely thrilled to align with Greg because he strongly shares the same values of community involvement and commitment to our youth,” said McDonald’s Owner/Operator and Co-Op President, Doug Wacker. “We can’t think of a better local ‘larger than life’ person who is such a positive role model for so many kids, to lend a hand to families who stay at the local Ronald McDonald Houses,” said Wacker.(KGW.com)

Greg Oden is Lovin’ It! He and McDonalds have announced a two-year partnership on Wednesday. Oden will help support the local Ronald McDonald’s houses in the Oregon area as well as visiting some outreach programs supported in the community by McDonalds.

Oden is going to be a star in the league. Remembering his first game played at Ohio State against Cleveland State, he didn’t start but came off the bench. And when he did, he received a standing ovation. He is a charismatic gentleman that will be a definite positive role model for young kids. PLEASE tell me there will be commercials in the future.

[Image via Newscom]

Post from: EveryJoe

Greg Oden Is Busy

Said coach Nate McMillan to the paper, “I know he is excited to be moving again, but as I talked to him about it, he said ‘Coach, I promise I wasn’t running hard …’. And I was like — ‘I really don’t care’.”

“In a couple of years he will understand how stupid that was. I understand it, because I’ve done it. You are a pro, you want to walk into a building like that and feel good about yourself, you know, play with some guys. You don’t move hard, you know, just shoot some jump shots … yeah, I’ve done it. But we just have to remind him, especially in his situation, where he is coming off an injury. That … that, you just can’t do that.”

I really hope that Greg Oden wasn’t just playing in pick-up games, but was instead hustling chumps. He shows up, all limpy from microfracture surgery and looking like an old man, slow plays for a couple of games, then ends up winning some money with his white friend from Indiana who has a good jump shot and an annoying girlfriend.

Post from: EveryJoe

Blazers Don’t Want Oden Playing Basketball