Whats Next for Greg Oden and the Blazers?
In light of Saturday night’s events, you really have to feel for Greg Oden. Fran Blinebury of NBA.com points out that by the conclusion of this season, Oden will have played in just 82 of a possible 246 games to begin his career. That’s exactly one full season of games out of three. While I’m not trying to say that injuries to athletes who are unlikable should be cheered, the fact that Oden seems to be a great kid makes it that much more heartbreaking. If you don’t believe me, check out Oden’s “audition” for the hosting gig at the 2008 ESPY Awards. Looking at the small picture, the news is devastating. Just last week, Oden had 20 rebounds and 13 points in a home loss to the Heat. At the time of the injury, Oden was shooting 60 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line for the season—both outstanding numbers for a center. In a league with so few legitimate centers, Oden gave the Blazers an advantage over most of the teams in the league at a very important position.
