About Greg Oden and his injury . . .
I’ll start by saying one thing right away — after all these years of covering athletics, I never question a player’s injuries. If he says he’s hurting, I always believe that he is. I’ve seen too many times when people thought a player was slow recovering, or even faking something — to find out later there was a serious injury that went undiscovered or misdiagnosed.
It’s been many, many years since the days of the open warfare between Bill Walton and the Trail Blazers’ medical staff. But I find it ironic that these days whenever there seems to be mystery about an injury nobody questions the doctors but they feel free to doubt the player.
There are some factors at work here with Oden’s knee injury that some people may not have considered. The foremost is that the Blazers’ medical staff is having a bit of an unlucky season.
Martell Webster was originally thought to be out for six to eight weeks. Then he was actually thought to be healed and was given the green light to return to action. He played five minutes and now is out for the remainder of the regular season.
Steve Blake had a shoulder injury, was given permission to return to action but suffered a setback and then had to miss more games.
There is no possible way of knowing whether these players were too eager to return, were being pressured to return quicker than they should have, or if there was some mistake in evaluating the extent of their healing. On the whole, everyone must understand that this isn’t always an exact science and all people heal differently. Treating athletes who perform at a high physical level isn’t easy.
But I would also understand that there may be an extra degree of caution with Oden after what’s gone on previously. I would figure that care will be taken so that when Oden returns to action, he does so without any fear of an immediate re-injury.
If you’re a fan and you’re frustrated, imagine how the doctors and the players feel. There are no easy answers. And patience is the only remedy.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | March 4, 2009
Bill Walton, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Martell Webster, Portland Trail Blazers, Steve Blake
Terrific insight Dwight.
“patience is the only remedy”
Just wanted to say it again. Doesn’t seem like anyone has it these days.
Hey What about Andrew Bynum ???
No one talks about his TWO knee injurys the last two years. and look at his contract !! Ever since he got paid he hasn’t played.
Get surgery Greg, we need you fixed not just able to handle the pain to play this season.
I agree with you, especially concerning the psychological issue because I think it’s likely that GO was playing with fear, even if it was subconscious–microfracture surgery is major surgery and his career hangs in the balance. Only time will put the fear away.
It’s also common for an athlete who has come back too soon from an injury to injure some other part of his body. Our bodies have evolved an ability to compensate for an injured part, i.e., a part that hurts when used, whether we mean to do it or not, and this puts an unnatural stain on the healthy parts.
“Manning up” may not be in an athlete’s own best interest. As you say, there’s a lot of variation in people.
Another thoughtful post, thanks.
NOBODY has the right to question Greg Oden. The kid played his only season at Ohio State with one hand, he busted his ass to get back from Micro Fracture surgery, he played through pain in the first game of the season against LA when he had a foot sprain when he probably shouldn’t have and played on this knee for six minutes after he hurt it. He’s got so many people in his ear telling him what he should and should not do. He’s only 21 years old and has tremedous pressure on him. LET HIM HEAL!! He’ll come back and help the team when his body allows him to. Charlie, great comments man.
Dwight, this is a wise outlook and I’m glad you threw it out there for us ‘impatient’ Blazer fans to digest. Patience really is the correct approach, sometimes we let our enthusiasm and emotions have more control then they should.
Get better big fella!! And tell Cricket to discount those darn O-phones so I can get one…
This town is filled with unhappy people, just ask BusinessWeek. These people (and the happy bandwagon fans) are chomping at the bit for a chance to cry wolf. Oden has become a scapegoat for their crying. It’s true that he is prone to injury, but it is also true that he has worked extremely hard in the past (and present) to get back on the court. He’ll be back when he’s ready, not when the fans want him to be ready.
The reason people question Oden is that even when he is on the court he shows a real lack of desire. He is not animated and seems to go through the motions too often. His footwork on offense and defense have yet to improve. Also, he refuses to stick his arms straight up, rather he sticks them out and is constantly called for the fouls. He seems to consistent energy on the court. He only exerts himself in short spurts and takes plays off; not a good habit to develop. One last thing is that he seems to be the most mentally unstable player on the Blazers. A few years ago the Blazers made Martell travel with a sports psychologist the get his mind on track. It worked out great for him as he had his best season last year, and even though he is hurt this year he is still a part of the team and always seems to have a smile on his face. I believe that this sort of things would be great for Oden. He is weak psychologically, but through interactions with a trained sports psychologist he can get through this.
Lastly, Oden has great potential because he is an amazing athlete for his size. Hopefully through proper coaching, a great medical staff and discussions with a sports psychologist he can reach his potential.
Greg “I dont want to play” Oden, is milking this for all its worth….
People need to get off Oden’s back. The guy has a knee problem. Get over it. GO is not a quitter and those who say that he is are clueless. Thanks for addressing these comments, Dwight.
Bob I don’t know if you saw that I had responded to an earlier post of yours referring to that comment. I was shocked and so I went and read the entire article, here is what the end of that says just to have a little clarity,
I still believe as I look in his eyes that he’s a guy who cares very much what people think of him — even more than most professional athletes. And if that needs to be motivation, so be it. Because even as Oden was born to play basketball, he knows people are starting to wonder how badly he wants to play.
“I want it badly,” he said Sunday.
John Canzano
The excuses just keep coming and coming…… The Oden comedy is soon to become the ” boy who cried wolf ” story….
I think that is already your story, Bob.
Bob you may be right, I just was trying to be fair. I would rather pull for the kid and have him become successful, than be negative and contribute to Porland being #1 depressed/upset city.
Peace and joy to you……..
Carrie says:
March 4, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I think that is already your story, Bob
My story ?? Ha !! I am not the one making excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse for the worst #1 pick in history.
Bob,
How old are you? You are just a pot stir and every blog/forum has one.. Go back in your hole and stay there..
> My story ?? Ha !! I am not the one making excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse for the worst #1 pick in history.
I think that if he hopped around on one leg, he’d still be better than Kwame Brown. (Or LaRue Martin.) – Elgin.
It blows me away to see local ‘media’ folks like Dwight constantly digging up excuses for Oden. It makes you look shallow and silly Dwight.
Greg Oden is without a doubt one of the biggests busts this league has ever seen. The hype that was/is thrust upon Portland fans by the media and Blazer management was/is a disgrace. With all of the empty promises that have left our economy in tatters one would think that fans would have wised up to the media and management lies that continue to be heaped upon them about Greg Oden’s potential. The reality is that he has never shown the ability to stay healthy, regardless of what level he played at. Furthermore, he is proving to be weak minded/hearted as well.
A person has obviously never watched Bynum and the Lakers during the first half of the year or saw his injury happen if they’re writing stupid crap like this.
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**Hey What about Andrew Bynum ??? No one talks about his TWO knee injurys the last two years. and look at his contract !! Ever since he got paid he hasn’t played.**
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First years are usually rough for rookies…
I still remember how green Aldridge and Roy looked their rookie seasons…atleast they could lean on each other
The NBA is a whole new level and it takes awhile…just ask Jermaine O’neal
Martell had a stress fracture in his left foot in 2001 when he was a freshman at Seattle Prep. Then he injured it again in 2003 as a junior. Then another left foot stress fracture at the beginning of this season and finally another left foot stress fracture during his first game back from the third injury.
In his case you need to wonder whether his left foot is built for basketball. At all.
The Indianapolis Star sports writer that covered Oden for two years, as he is from there, basically confirmed to Canzano that Oden has no fire in his belly for basketball.
Greg’s lack of desire is obvious and the simpletons that try to explain it away look foolish.
Do you believe all journalists Franklin? Do you think that many journalists write with a bias in mind or do you believe that if it is printed than it must be true???
Do you remember just this season a journalist attacking Oden for no valid reason (Jason Quick I believe)?
I will clue you in on what is really happening here Franklin. Greg Oden is a subject that sells. If you don’t believe me look at this website alone. Anytime Dwight mentions his name the responses double in size…
Canzano wrote that piece knowing it would sell. It’s a topic that will keep the people coming back for more…including me and you
Reading anything else into it and your fooling yourself
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/dave_mcmenamin/03/04/030409.rookie/index.html
Please read dwight I think its a good evaluation
I don’t think Portland would be so quick to judge Oden as a bust, if we didn’t have the past daja vu of the Sam Bowie / Jordon experience.
If all you can complain about is Oden, then your not paying attention to the bigger picture. Yes, it would be great to have a big like Oden to come in and fill the hole in defence when Joe goes out, but we don’t. Lots of other team are in the same boat, however, you make adjustments in personel to fill the holes.
When Duncon went down, I can’t say that the Spurs seemed to suffer. They were still ( in San A.) able to kick our butts. It’s in these moments that the job seems to fall on LA.
Whats the point!! When he’s foul line extended, his shot is almost automatic. But around the hoop, there are many games he is on the floor for a good chunk of minutes, but you forget he’s there! If passed to inside, he would rather kick it out to anyone, regardless of how opened he may be. He’s always one step behind, the coming foul call is obvious, and in general, his defense is awful.
Maybe we should play him as ” THE WORLDS BIGGEST THREE GUARD”. Hes always there, regardless of where his man is,and he doesn’t have to worry about physical contact. It seems there is enough lazy play blame to go around. Rudy and Batum, put out more energy than seems possible. To bad that can’t catch on.
He’s young, he’s hurt, he’s largely still an unknown, so I think it’s far too early to call him a bust. I always suspected that he was going to have lots of injury problems, but I don’t know this for a fact. I just know that the freakish combination of size and athleticism that made drafting Oden such a no-brainer, also made him more prone to the kind of injuries such extreme dynamic forces exert on human physiology. Let’s wait to see what he plays like when he’s finally healthy.
As for getting Oden healthy, the Blazers ought to get the best trainer they can find, like the microfracture expert who brought Darius back–that guy is head of the NBA Strength Coaches Assn. and has already helped bring back Jason Kidd and Amare Stoudamire from microfracture surgery. Miles’ knee was worse than Oden’s, and now he’s back from the medical retirement the Blazers tried to force upon him.
Oden is still just 20 years old. It will take him another 2-3 years to just learn the game. He needs to be judged 2-3 years from now. The main problem the Blazers have is lack of effort. Everytime LA or anyone shoots the ball no one boxes out and goes after the rebounds at all. There defense is horrible. PLAY SOME DEFENSE.