Oden: Key to success?
Tori Hill
Issue date: 9/29/09 Section: Sports
Today marks the first day of the 2009-2010 season for the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team. As any true Blazer fan would argue, the season began last year, the minute the Blazers walked off the Houston Rockets home court and headed back to Portland after being defeated in the fifth game of the series by Yao Ming and the Rockets.
It was the Blazers first appearance in the playoffs since 2003, and, although Blazer fans around the state had hoped to see a stronger finish, I can't help but get excited about the potential for the oncoming season.
With an ever-improving squad and major contributors such as LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, the Blazers have a shot at becoming a Western conference champion contender. The biggest question mark on the season will be: Can Greg Oden stay healthy long enough to make a name for himself on this emerging squad?
I don't think I'm alone in the disappointment I felt in watching the big, friendly giant make his debut in the NBA. I expected more and was surprised to see that he played timidly and inconsistently for the majority of the season.
According to last season's statistics, Oden was 63 percent from the free throw line and 56 percent from the field. As a center, how can he compete against guys like Shaq or Amare Stoudemire? Stoudemire was 83 percent from the charity stripe and 54 percent from the field last season, averaging 21 points per game and eight rebounds. Oden averaged eight points per game, and seven boards.
With the season fast approaching, I'm hoping to see Oden get much more aggressive on both ends of the court, providing proof for all the hype he received as the new offensive weapon for the Blazers after being drafted three years ago. I don't think I'll be disappointed.
Another exciting component to the pre-season will be the unguaranteed signing of Ime Udoka, in his efforts of making his way back on the squad. Udoka played for the Blazers through the 2006-2007 season and quickly became a Rip City favorite. Udoka will be with the Blazers through training camp, playing against Jarron Collins and two other relatively unknown players for the 15th spot on Portland's roster.
It was the Blazers first appearance in the playoffs since 2003, and, although Blazer fans around the state had hoped to see a stronger finish, I can't help but get excited about the potential for the oncoming season.
With an ever-improving squad and major contributors such as LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, the Blazers have a shot at becoming a Western conference champion contender. The biggest question mark on the season will be: Can Greg Oden stay healthy long enough to make a name for himself on this emerging squad?
I don't think I'm alone in the disappointment I felt in watching the big, friendly giant make his debut in the NBA. I expected more and was surprised to see that he played timidly and inconsistently for the majority of the season.
According to last season's statistics, Oden was 63 percent from the free throw line and 56 percent from the field. As a center, how can he compete against guys like Shaq or Amare Stoudemire? Stoudemire was 83 percent from the charity stripe and 54 percent from the field last season, averaging 21 points per game and eight rebounds. Oden averaged eight points per game, and seven boards.
With the season fast approaching, I'm hoping to see Oden get much more aggressive on both ends of the court, providing proof for all the hype he received as the new offensive weapon for the Blazers after being drafted three years ago. I don't think I'll be disappointed.
Another exciting component to the pre-season will be the unguaranteed signing of Ime Udoka, in his efforts of making his way back on the squad. Udoka played for the Blazers through the 2006-2007 season and quickly became a Rip City favorite. Udoka will be with the Blazers through training camp, playing against Jarron Collins and two other relatively unknown players for the 15th spot on Portland's roster.
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