Go Time for GO

by Steve Weinman on Aug 7, 2008 12:00 AM EDT in NBA Articles

Greg Oden continues on his way back. This is good.

Good for the Blazers, and good for basketball.

As reported by The Oregonian's Jason Quick:

The rehabilitation of Greg Oden and his right knee is officially over.
Now, it's all about basketball.
So on Monday, the Blazers' 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick who missed all of last season because of a knee injury, began the latest and most significant step in his comeback. He practiced for the first time in full-contract drills, going up against teammate Channing Frye for 45 minutes at the Blazers' practice facility in Tualatin.

There is still a long way to go, but getting back to hoopin' it up is no doubt an important step for the big man.

Quick also reported that Oden had his share of troubles with Frye and looked definitively out of game shape. But that's to be expected for a guy who just missed an entire season. With the rest of the summer and training camp to address physical issues, if Oden doesn't suffer any setbacks with his knee, he should be able to get himself into reasonable shape for NBA competition this fall. No, he won't be playing 40 minutes a night for 82 games this season, but there is no reason for him to be doing so as a rookie big man in the first place.

That he's playing basketball at all will be a huge boost for this Blazers team, and it will mark a new beginning to his development as a professional basketball player.

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For moments, it was awe-inspiring. Early in the workout, Oden took a long stride and ripped at the rim with such ferocity that the shot clock mounted on the backboard shook for more than five seconds punctuating one of his dunks.

“I’ve got tingles,” assistant general manager Tom Penn said from his courtside seat. [/quote]

Oregonian has great Blazers coverage. There’s also a fun Nate-Oden article there that’s worth checking out. Let’s just say Nate tried to play ball with Oden and things didn’t go so well …

[quote]On one occasion Frye bee-lined toward the basket and was met by an outstretched Oden. The collision resulted in the 6-11, 245-pound Frye barreling backward while Oden held his ground. “That’s a big boy, man,” Frye said, smiling and shaking his head.

by Who on Aug 7, 2008 6:07 AM EDT reply actions