Greg Oden goes down vs Rockets

[picc84]

Blazers/Rockets game, he contested a Brooks layup and looked like he messed something up on his knee.

Bad news.

[mogrovejo]

The saddening silence in the arena is impressive. Here's hoping it's not as serious as it seems.

[pauls931]

No feed. Did he come down on someone's foot?

[Allanon]

Dang, I just switched over; that sucks man. They're bring out the "air cast" whatever that is.

[picc84]

No feed. Did he come down on someone's foot?

Nope. Went up for a block and seemed like it happened in midair.

[Allanon]

Looks like his knee.

[Lars]

It didnt look like contact, just an awkward landing. Being stretchered off the court.

[picc84]

Whoops. Its actually his knee. Worse news than I thought.

[mogrovejo]

No feed. Did he come down on someone's foot?

Nope. At most he banged knees with Brooks, but that doesn't seem to be the reason. The good news is that it's his left knee, not the right one (where he had the microfracture).

[Fpoonsie]

Wow.

[IronMexican]

That really fucking sucks. Was it a freak accident?

[The Franchise]

It looked like when he planted to go up for the block is when it went out. I hope he's OK.

[Def Rowe]

I just tuned into the game, couldn't tell who was the guy on the stretcher at first.

I ain't laughing about any injuries to any players. Just looking for a piece of wood to knock on.

[lil_penny]

Fuck! I'm out of the service area so I'm unable to watch this game tonight..... the bad new just keeps comming for this team as of late.... man I hope its not too serious

[pauls931]

Hope he does well, it's not like Portland hasn't been through enough already.

[JJ Hickson]

tlong? Where have you been?






I need to know if this is an issue.

[DPG21920]

Non-Issue.

[baseline bum]

Crap. I had such high hopes for Oden entering the league.

[Darthkiller]

Rudy is injured as well , getting MRI tonight.

[DPG21920]

My fantasy team is f'd. Oden and Lou Williams and Barbosa.

[Allanon]

1) It wasn't any freak accident with another player, just him coming down on his own...maybe lost track of how high up he was.

2) He didn't look like he was in any pain when he was on the stretcher, could be just a knee tweak.

[flamingdts]

They did cover his eyes. It didn't look good.

[Pistons < Spurs]

My fantasy team is f'd. Oden and Lou Williams and Barbosa.

Me too...

Oden, Blake, Yi, Rip, Speights and T-Mac

[DPG21920]

It sucks because I really like Oden. He was having a really good year. I truly hope this is nothing serious. Not just because fantasy :lol

[DPG21920]

Me too...

Oden, Blake, Yi, Rip, Speights and T-Mac

I have Bynum on my team as well. Hope it is not an omen.

[pauls931]

Guess they'll do the xray thing and report back soon, then MRI during the next day or two? I need to find a replay since it's hard to tell from the descriptions here if it's just a tweak or worse.

[Kobe™]

Trade him ASAP^^ @ DPG

[Reeko_Htown]

poor guy

[TheProfessor]

Could have just been me, but part of his knee looked concave when I saw it, and Oden was writhing on the ground. But he looked fine after the commercial break, no visible pain then.

[DPG21920]

Trade him ASAP^^ @ DPG

No way. I love Bynum too much to trade him.

[noob cake]

My fantasy team is f'd. Oden and Lou Williams and Barbosa.

I have Barbosa, Williams, Oden, and Paul....

fml, but I'm first still though! Williams, Barbosa have already been dropped. Hopefully Oden wasn't badly injured, don't really want to drop him.

[mogrovejo]

Yeah, the knee-cap looked out of place. Maybe it's only a dislocated knee-cap with minor associated trauma.

[Lars]

@johnhollinger (http://twitter.com/johnhollinger) Irony: Blazers are having 70s night tonight with throwback unis. I don't think they planned on having star center get injured as part of it. 5 minutes ago (http://twitter.com/johnhollinger/status/6389538147)
ouch

[iggypop123]

only vid avialable. doesnt show him from the begining to see what happneed mid air but shows his pain.

stYZMOvFGcA

[TheProfessor]

Yeah, the knee-cap looked out of place. Maybe it's only a dislocated knee-cap with minor associated trauma.
Yeah, I'm going to guess dislocated patella. That would explain how it looked initially.

[iggypop123]

you guys are right in that vid that knee cap dont like right. or it was just the angle

[MiamiHeat]

the guy is fragile.

bust.

[Smooth Criminal]

:bang

[pauls931]

yup knee definitely looked funny. So what the heck is a dislocated knee cap? I can guess the obvious, but I've never heard of it in bball at least put that way.

[lil_penny]

thanks for posting the vid iggy, damn that looks horrible..... i feel so bad for the guy i hope its nothing too serious, although it looks to be.

[iggypop123]

yup knee definitely looked funny. So what the heck is a dislocated knee cap? I can guess the obvious, but I've never heard of it in bball at least put that way.

see andrew bynum.

[mogrovejo]

A dislocated kneecap can be a fairly minor injury or a quite serious one. It can be 4 weeks or season-ending (or, if the patellar tendon was affected and ruptured, even worse).

IIRC, Bynum didn't have surgery and only after some months of treatment they decided to cut down some spurs on his patella that were creating inflamation, right?

[Donkeybong]

my prayers are with him

[Kobe™]

Longer Video:
aqxbHAqsHmQ

[Smooth Criminal]

yup knee definitely looked funny. So what the heck is a dislocated knee cap? I can guess the obvious, but I've never heard of it in bball at least put that way.

Isn't that what happened to Bynum in 08?

[iggypop123]

the people in the background make a serious situation funny
"this nigga gets hurt every " - "well then retire"

[pauls931]

damn he dropped like a rock instantly after hitting the ground.

[JJ Hickson]

Longer Video:
aqxbHAqsHmQ



:lmao @ that video. Not the injury but the domestic dispute.

[TheProfessor]

A dislocated kneecap can be a fairly minor injury or a quite serious one. It can be 4 weeks or season-ending (or, if the patellar tendon was affected and ruptured, even worse).
Yeesh. Have to lean towards the latter just based on his reaction and how it looked. What a nightmare for Oden.

[Donkeybong]

bunch of trash in that video. telling his kid to shut the fuck up. That kid is going to have some issues.

[Muser]

Damn this sucks..:(

[LnGrrrR]

That's what happens when you're a 60 year old starting center in this league...

[Kobe™]

Lol I was like WTF are you guys talking about, then I muted my i-Tunes and turned up the YouTube video - Yikes.

[urunobili]

GWS Greg

[Lars]

Hollinger: Courtside photog just showed me close-up of Oden kneecap twisted way off to right side. Looks like either a dislocated kneecap or torn quad

[djohn2oo8]

Holy shit, that dispute was hilarious

[lil_penny]

damn hella domestic disturbance lol

[ffadicted]

Wow, this blows for Portland. Hope it's not season ending

And that video = fucking sad sad sad sad (the people in it I mean)

[Pistons < Spurs]

WojYahooNBA

Prior to MRI, Port front office official tells league source they believe it's a dislocated knee for Oden, but waiting on test results.

[Jloyola]

This sucks.... i hope Oden is Ok, i was looking forward to the Bynum vs Oden battles....

plus i have Oden on my fantasy team too... i just traded for him

Suprise there hasn't been any Sam Bowie references... only people are smiling right now are
owners of the Thunder..

[Pistons < Spurs]

WojYahooNBA

Oden is getting MRI done now.

[Lars]

How serious is a dislocated knee?

[Lars]

Hollinger: No date for surgery yet. Repeat, Oden, fractured left patella, likely out for year.

[Muser]

Looks like Oden will be put into the "If only..." pile.

[Muser]

Hollinger: No date for surgery yet. Repeat, Oden, fractured left patella, likely out for year.

:wow

:depressed

[Pistons < Spurs]

WojYahooNBA

Blazers PR is now reporting it's far worse than they originally feared: Fractured left patella for Oden. That could be a season-ender.

[Donkeybong]

Hollinger: No date for surgery yet. Repeat, Oden, fractured left patella, likely out for year.

wow, that's a shame.

[Leetonidas]

Yeah, Oden is done for the season. That's it for Portland.

[Pistons < Spurs]

At the 7:45 mark of the first quarter of tonight's Blazers vs. Rockets game, Blazers center Greg Oden injured his left knee while contesting a runner by Rockets guard Aaron Brooks. Oden came to the ground clutching his left knee and was writhing in pain.

Immediately Rockets training staff came to Oden's attention and, soon after, Blazers staff, including Blazers' team doctor, Doctor Roberts, came to his side. A towel was used to cushion his head against the court floor. The Rose Garden crowd briefly chanted "Oden! Oden!" in support but then came to a quiet hush as Oden continued to lay on the ground.

The Blazers took a full timeout and a stretcher was called in to transport Oden off the court. Joel Przybilla replaced Oden in the game.

Oden had microfracture surgery on his right knee that caused him to miss the 2007-2008 season. Again, the injury tonight was suffered on his left knee.

As of now (7:31PM), Oden is in the Blazers locker room. Further information should be available shortly.

Update (7:52PM): Brian T. Smith of The Columbian just told me that, according to two sources close to the situation, Greg Oden has been taken to the Rebound Clinic and will undergo an MRI on his left knee. Here's a link to Smith's blog. Give it a click in appreciation of that information.

Update (8:14PM): Joe Freeman of The Oregonian has posted an update that includes another picture of Oden taken by Bruce Ely.

Update (8:17PM): Jeff Green of the Oklahoma City "Thunder" passes along his well wishes.

Can everyone say a prayer for my boy Greg Oden and hope he has a speedy recovery please THANK YOU

John Hollinger tweets...

Courtside photog just showed me close-up of Oden kneecap twisted way off to right side. Looks like either a dislocated kneecap or torn quad

I've seen similar pictures. I don't want to speculate but it did look gruesome.

Update (8:23pm): The Blazers have informed the media assembled in the Rose Garden that an MRI revealed that Greg Oden suffered a fractured left patella and is "likely out for the season." Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard will address the media after the game.http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/12/5/1187457/breaking-news-greg-oden-leaves

[iggypop123]

wow dislocated would have been desirable. sad story, too bad espn is doing crazy CF coverage they dont even bother offering updates

[ffadicted]

Hollinger: No date for surgery yet. Repeat, Oden, fractured left patella, likely out for year.

The Thunder must be really glad right now that Portland made that pick lol

Terrible news for Oden and the Blazers :(

[HarlemHeat37]

Oden out for the year..right when he's starting to play well..

What a blow to Portland and to the league in general..

He seems like a good guy too, fucking sucks..also a lot of class shown by some idiots in this thread, as usual..

[iggypop123]

his knee def aint right. i am not posting the link cause its nasty so be warned dont click on link unless you want to see the knee

http://media.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/photo/greg-odenjpg-b860a6ea32e477ae.jpg

[Lars]

Rockets trainers on the floor before the Blazers LOL

[Muser]

Oh shit, that looks freakin nasty.

[ffadicted]

his knee def aint right. i am not posting the link cause its nasty so be warned dont click on link unless you want to see the knee

http://media.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/photo/greg-odenjpg-b860a6ea32e477ae.jpg

:wow:wow

[pauls931]

Damn, poor fella. Seems like drafting a center witjh a high pick is about the riskiest thing you can do in the NBA.

[Leetonidas]

Honestly, you gotta feel bad for the dude. Poor kid man, he was really coming into his own. Why can't this shit happen to Kevin Garnett or some other cock sucker?

[KSeal]

Ugh, that fucking sucks. Poor guy.

[Chomag]

Damn, Well gotta admit he lasted alot longer then I thought he would.

[duncan228]

Damn. Wish him the best.

[CubanMustGo]

Talk about a team that has no luck:


The Blazers have been beset by injuries. Starting forward Nicolas Batum needed shoulder surgery just before the opener. Fellow forward Travis Outlaw fractured his foot in mid-November and required surgery.

Forward Rudy Fernandez was out of Saturday night's game with sciatic pain and set to undergo an MRI. It was uncertain if he would be with the team on an upcoming four-game road trip starting with the Knicks on Monday.

Even coach Nate McMillan was set to undergo surgery Monday after rupturing his right Achilles' tendon during practice.

The coach was participating in practice because the team is so short-handed. He will miss the team's upcoming road trip, replaced by assistant coach Dean Demopoulos,

[iggypop123]

dont they have a lot of those first rounders in europe? cant they just call in a guy to play?

[ynh]

Sucks.. I'm not a Portland fan but I live in Indy and have been rooting for him and all indianapolis players to do great.. I hate to see this happen. Great guy if you ever met him.

[mogrovejo]

^^Add Patrick Mills with a fracture foot and Pendergraph with hip surgery. And Maurice Lucas (coach) and Paul Allen (owner) both have cancer.

Weird.

[slick'81]

oden just seems snake bit what a tough blow for a young player who was starting to turn the corner

[picc84]

Thats completely fucked up.

He's a good kid. You know he feels like he's letting everyone down. Probably feels worse for the city and org. than for himself.

[DPG21920]

I want to murder parents that act like that around kids. Great parenting.

[redzero]

lol at the happy music on NBA.com's first half preview of the game.

[The Gemini Method]

Tough to find any positives to say when something horrible befells a player with so much promise. I feel for Greg Oden and the anguish he is likely going through. Hopefully we will get to see a season in which both Bynum and Oden stay healthy and do battle.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Oden" "I'm obviously disappointed having worked so hard to get to where I was," said Greg Oden. " This is a setback, but I'll be back."

"It's in God's hands now. I want to thank the fans, my teammates and everyone in the Blazers family for all of their good thoughts."

[Xevious]

It's one thing after another... I feel sorry for him. What an unfortunate way to start a career for somebody with such high hopes riding on him. Hopefully he's able to rebound and have a complete season at some point.

[Scola]

Oden likely done with fractured patella
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=por) center Greg Oden (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3225) will likely miss the rest of the season after fracturing his left knee cap against Houston on Saturday night. Oden will undergo surgery, the Trail Blazers said.

The 7-foot center dropped to the floor clutching his left knee and grimacing after colliding with a driving Aaron Brooks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3192) midway through the first quarter.
He was almost immediately surrounded by trainers and physicians. The crowd at the Rose Garden stood and chanted "Oden! Oden!"
The game was stopped for some 7 minutes. Finally, Oden was gently moved to a stretcher and wheeled from the court. He underwent an MRI shortly thereafter. "I'm obviously disappointed having worked so hard to get to where I was. This is a setback but I'll be back. It's in God's hands now," the statement said. "I want to thank the fans, my teammates and everyone in the Blazers family for all of their good thoughts."

Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft out of Ohio State, has been plagued by injures for his entire NBA career.
The 7-footer missed rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. Last season, Oden sat out six games after injuring his right foot in the season opener against the Lakers, then missed 14 games after the All-Star break with a bone chip in his left knee. He finished the season averaging 8.9 points and 7 rebounds.
Oden lost weight during the offseason and was averaging 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds this season as a starter.

The Blazers have been beset by injuries. Starting forward Nicolas Batum (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3416) needed shoulder surgery just before the opener. Fellow forward Travis Outlaw (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2015) fractured his foot in mid-November and required surgery. Forward Rudy Fernandez (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3204) was out of Saturday night's game with sciatic pain and set to undergo an MRI. It was uncertain if he would be with the team on an upcoming four-game road trip starting with the Knicks on Monday.
Even coach Nate McMillan (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2679) was set to undergo surgery Monday after rupturing his right Achilles' tendon during practice. The coach was participating in practice because the team is so short-handed. He will miss the team's upcoming road trip, replaced by assistant coach Dean Demopoulos.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4717884

[Killakobe81]

The lack of quality big men is alarming in the NBA get well Oden Blazer fans, NBa fasn and fantsy junkies will miss you!

[DJB]

non issue

[mystargtr34]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/gallery#photoViewer=urn%3Anewsml%3Asports.yahoo%2C getty%3A20050301%3Anba%2Cphoto%2C37a2835ca1798bfad c77a0d55d4cab6a-getty-90041165cb013_rockets_blazers%3A1

Another angle

[noob cake]

Honestly, you gotta feel bad for the dude. Poor kid man, he was really coming into his own. Why can't this shit happen to Kevin Garnett or some other cock sucker?

:ihit

Agree

[sabar]

It sucks when players finally make it to the league and become injury-plagued glass-men. It sucks for the player, for the owners, for the league, and for the fans.

[FkLA]

Fuck poor guy. Isnt a patella injury the same thing that happened to Livingston? We know Livingston was never the same player after that so good luck to Oden in his recovery.

[sook]

it really isn't fair...Yao...Oden.

Man fuck, he was actually doing good even though i make fun of him all the time.

[duncan228]

Blazers’ Oden expected to miss rest of season (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-trailblazers-odeninjured&prov=ap&type=lgns)

Portland center Greg Oden will likely miss the rest of the season after fracturing his left knee cap Saturday night in the Trail Blazers’ victory over the Houston Rockets.

“He’s a strong kid,” said general manager Kevin Pritchard, visibly shaken by the latest injury to befall the 7-foot center. “He’s going to bounce back from this.”

Oden dropped to the floor clutching his left knee and grimacing after colliding with a driving Aaron Brooks midway through the first quarter.

Oden was almost immediately surrounded by trainers and physicians. The crowd at the Rose Garden stood and chanted “Oden! Oden!”

The game was stopped for some 7 minutes. Finally, Oden was gently moved to a stretcher and wheeled from the court. He underwent an MRI shortly thereafter.

The Blazers said Oden will need surgery. A timetable for his return was not immediately set.

“I’m obviously disappointed having worked so hard to get to where I was. This is a setback but I’ll be back. It’s in God’s hands now,” Oden said in a statement released by the team. “I want to thank the fans, my teammates and everyone in the Blazers family for all of their good thoughts.”

Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft out of Ohio State, has been plagued by injures his entire NBA career.

The 7-footer missed rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. Last season, Oden sat out six games after injuring his right foot in the season opener against the Lakers, then missed 14 games after the All-Star break with a bone chip in his left knee. He finished the season averaging 8.9 points and 7 rebounds.

Oden lost weight during the offseason and was averaging 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds this season as a starter.

“I thought he was the most consistent player this short season,” coach Nate McMillan said. “For him to go through this—it’s just unfortunate for him because he worked so hard.”

Blazers guard Brandon Roy said Oden spoke to the team at halftime, after he had learned of the diagnosis.

“He told us to keep fighting,” Roy said. “He feels like he’s letting us down.”

Portland went on to edge the Rockets 90-89, snapping a three-game losing streak. But Oden’s injury felt like a “punch in the gut,” Pritchard said.

The Blazers have been beset by injuries. Starting forward Nicolas Batum needed shoulder surgery just before the opener. Fellow forward Travis Outlaw fractured his foot in mid-November and required surgery.

Forward Rudy Fernandez was out of Saturday night’s game with sciatic pain and set to undergo an MRI. It was uncertain if he would be with the team on an upcoming four-game trip starting with the Knicks on Monday night.

Even McMillan was set to undergo surgery Monday after rupturing his right Achilles’ tendon during practice.

The coach was participating in practice because the team is so short-handed. He will miss the team’s upcoming road trip, replaced by assistant coach Dean Demopoulos.

[Tmac&Luther]

Rockets trainers on the floor before the Blazers LOL

LOL :lol, Houston's trainers are like a well oiled machine when it comes to running out on the floor to a injured player. They have so much experience with this crap, they could probably hear the bone break before Oden even hit the deck.

[HarlemHeat37]

That's true, Houston has some horrible luck with injuries too, they're always 1 top guy away..

McGrady, Cook and Scola's reactions are telling too..

[KSeal]

Honestly, you gotta feel bad for the dude. Poor kid man, he was really coming into his own. Why can't this shit happen to Kevin Garnett or some other cock sucker?

It did, last year.

[Ice009]

it did, last year.

LOL

I guess he forgot.

[Allanon]

Fuck poor guy. Isnt a patella injury the same thing that happened to Livingston? We know Livingston was never the same player after that so good luck to Oden in his recovery.

Livingston was an extreme case. He messed up almost all parts of the knee.

- Dislocated patella
- Torn ACL
- Torn PCL
- Torn Lateral miniscus (like Bynum last year I think)
- Sprained MCL

Multiple knee injuries resulting in his leg bending laterally.

Thankfully, I think Oden is just a fracture from what I've read.

[KSeal]

I'm pretty sure Bynum had a tear of the MCL last year.

[Kamnik]

I seriously feel bad for the guy..... :(((

Get well!

[MiamiHeat]

so

in 3 seasons

Oden has played a total of about 40 games out of 246 games

[Culburn369]

Everybody feels sorry for this guy, but, when Bynum gets hurt it's a lot of snickers & guffaws. What a hoot.

[balli]

Oden should just retire. Screw even trying to come back. He should take what money he has and walk away. Buy some real estate and spend the rest of his life on a beach somewhere.

Even if he makes it back, is there any doubt that he'd just get jacked up again. In short order.

[pauls931]

It does make you wonder how Portland is going to salvage this. How much is he currently costing them?

[Indazone]

Greg Oden is just brittle.. the old man started in high school when he had to have surgery on his wrist.

[Culburn369]

There but by the grace of God almighty goes each of our boys.

Bynum is severely knock kneed and at precarious risk for catastrophe.

[duncan228]

Where to now for Portland? (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/11262/not-again-oden-out-for-year)
By John Hollinger

PORTLAND -- It was perhaps the ultimate irony: On a night where the Blazers wore their retro uniforms from the 1970s, their star center fell to a season-ending injury. As it was with Bill Walton and Sam Bowie, so it goes with Greg Oden. The Blazers' big man suffered his second season-ending knee injury in three pro seasons, fracturing his left patella in the first quarter of the Blazers' 90-89 win over Houston tonight.

Yet it was another retro -- back to the halcyon days of 2008-09 -- that may be the ultimate takeaway from tonight’s game, and it leads me to a significant silver lining in this cloud.

More on that in a minute, but first let’s get to the main story. Yes, we can officially say Greg Oden is injury-prone. By the end of this year, Oden will have played 82 of a possible 246 games since Portland took him with the first overall pick in 2007. While broken bones are rarely career-altering, this injury is franchise-altering in the sense that it seems a pipe dream for the Blazers to count on Oden going forward. They can take his contributions as gravy if he’s healthy, but they can’t build a team around him.

His latest setback appeared to happen without any contact: He planted both feet to block a shot by a driving Aaron Brooks, and his left knee simply gave way as he went up. Brooks lofted in a bank shot while Oden grimaced and began to clutch his knee while still in mid-air. Photographs in the immediate aftermath showed his kneecap displaced several inches down and to the right from where one normally expects a kneecap to reside.

All this seems horribly unfair to Oden, a gentle giant who, as general manager Kevin Pritchard somberly noted afterward, had worked so hard to come back from his first knee injury. Oden felt bad enough that Brandon Roy said, "He looked at me and he was like, 'Sorry,' and put his head down." He also was asking for score updates while being carted off for his MRI.

In a roundabout way, it's unfair to Pritchard too. I know what you’re all thinking, so before we go any further: All you second-guessers out there, just stop it. All 30 NBA general managers were prepared to take Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. All of them. There wasn't even any question about it. One can fairly ask whether this consensus was borne more of the hope that infects every personnel evaluator upon seeing a talented 7-footer than of common sense. That said, it's hard to single out a front office for doing what everybody else would have done too.

A more salient point is how Oden's injury puts the rest of Portland's season in a much different light. As Blazers coach Nate McMillan noted, Oden had been the team’s most consistent performer in what had otherwise been a largely disappointing season for Portland.

“This is a setback,” stated Pritchard, and it’s one that leaves him running low on players. With Travis Outlaw slated to miss most of the year with broken foot, Nicolas Batum still out, and Rudy Fernandez (sciatic pain) the second-most prominent addition to the injury list tonight, a Blazers team that began the year wondering how to allot minutes among so many talented players suddenly finds itself playing with a skeleton crew.

Little-used subs like Jerryd Bayless, Dante Cunningham and Juwan Howard all saw extensive action on Saturday night. With rookies Paddy Mills and Jeff Pendergraph also hurt and the maximum 15 players under contract, the Blazers will have only nine healthy players until Fernandez comes back (he had an MRI Saturday night and the results were not available).

Pritchard dryly noted that the league doesn’t allow injury exemptions until a team is down to seven healthy players, and that he wasn’t rooting for two more injuries. But he admitted it may be time to look at roster moves to bring in reinforcements.

A trade is one possibility, especially one that uses the expiring contract of Outlaw. Another is to cut Mills and sign a “stretch 4” from among the league’s waiver-wire flotsam, since that spot is the most glaring roster need at the moment.

But in a weird way, Oden's injury takes some of the heat off a Blazer team that was visibly pressing, and off a front office that may have felt pressured to do something rash. Expectations bred by last year's 54-win season had caught up with this team, and with Oden's injury they can get back to relaxing and playing basketball without feeling like they need to win every game by 20 points.

They could also get back to playing a similar style to a year ago, when Joel Przybilla started at center and Oden came off the bench. I mentioned to Roy that tonight’s game was the first one of this year that felt like last season's games, and he didn’t disagree. McMillan made similar comments in his postgame press conference, admiring his team’s cohesiveness and scrappiness in rallying to beat the Rockets.

For whatever reason, the guards had a much easier time than in other Blazer games this season. Andre Miller -- the official scapegoat of the 2009-10 Blazers -- had his best game in a Portland uniform with a season-high 24 points, leading a third-quarter rally that got Portland back in the game, while Bayless needed only six shots to score 13.

Roy also seemed more comfortable with the added driving lanes created by not having Oden in the post. Tonight he scored 28 points on just 15 shots, the first time he'd scored more than 20 points while making at least half his shots in nearly a month and only the fourth all season. Three times in the last minute he scored on the type of 1-4 isolations plays that he killed opponents with last season, including the game-winner with 3.0 seconds left.

I’m not sure this just a coincidence. If one looks at the results of the Blazers’ five-man units a year ago, the starters tended to play much better with Przybilla, and the subs much better with Oden. While much of the focus has been on Roy’s inability to pair with Miller in the backcourt, it appears that attention may have been misplaced and glossed over a bigger story -- the inability of either of them to play with Oden. This isn’t a knock on Oden, as McMillan was correct in noting how well he’s played. But the pieces don’t fit together smoothly, at least yet.

Because of that, I don’t think this injury is the death knell that some suspect. Oden was playing extremely well, but if Roy and Miller revert to their long-term averages in his absence, it will offset the loss.

That said, the Blazers face a difficult road to the postseason now, something that seemed all but assured at the start of the season. Their once-formidable depth now is more a liability than strength, with the frontcourt in particular looking thin. For instance, when they signed Juwan Howard this summer I don’t think the idea was for him to be the first big off the bench.

Oddly enough, then, Oden’s is a franchise-altering injury, but I’m not sure it’s a season-altering one. Tonight’s game leaves me with the sneaking suspicion that Portland will continue more or less on its previous trajectory toward a low playoff seed. That would have been a huge disappointment with a healthy Oden; it now will likely be seen as a pleasant surprise.

[Indazone]

Welcome to our world Blazerfans.
:lol

[Culburn369]

Nice and warm and cozy bent put on by Hollinger. The clarity is just adorable.

F'k him.

[SenorSpur]

You can't help but feel sorry for the poor guy. He's a talented and sensitve kid, who wants desparately to live up to the expectations placed on him. This really sucks for him.

Portland's history with big men, who were drafted number one overall draft, isn't exactly warm-n-fuzzy:

LaRue Martin - (1972 -1976)
Bill Walton - (1974 -1978) - Won 1978 NBA Championship
Sam Bowie - (1984 -1989)
Greg Oden - (2007 - )

Could there actually be some validity to the rumored "Portland Big Man Curse"?

[LnGrrrR]

Everybody feels sorry for this guy, but, when Bynum gets hurt it's a lot of snickers & guffaws. What a hoot.

No sympathy on my part. That's what happens when you're a senior citizen.

[boutons_deux]

Stupid that knee pads are considered not cool, or for whatever stupid reason players with a history of knee injuries don't wear them.

[Venti Quattro]

Could a knee brace have avoided this injury? I really feel bad for Oden.

[pauls931]

Oden felt bad enough that Brandon Roy said, "He looked at me and he was like, 'Sorry,' and put his head down." He also was asking for score updates while being carted off for his MRI.

Damn... Poor SOB...

[iggypop123]

sabonis was fine. he just was here past his prime

[Culburn369]

& those little titties.^

[ducks]

I never thought oden was all that
he has always been injury prone
he could not even stay healthy in colledge
what makes people think he could in nba amazes me
oh and how many games has durant missed blazer fans

[ducks]

Stupid that knee pads are considered not cool, or for whatever stupid reason players with a history of knee injuries don't wear them.

oden has no brains

[djohn2oo8]

Welcome to our world Blazerfans.
:lol

The Rockets' disease is spreading:wow

[ducks]

I seriously feel bad for the guy..... :(((

Get well!

I do but not what is in his bank account

[LakerLanny]

Sam Bowie 2.0

[Dex]

Ok, this might be an issue.

Terrible luck. I've joked about Oden being a china doll as much as anybody else, but you never wish any ill will against the guy. Here's hoping he has a speedy recovery and is able to come back strong.

That being said, I think the last article nails it. The writing is on the wall. You just can't depend on Oden enough to make him a franchise centerpiece.

If it makes you Blazer fans feel any better, many of us Spur fans are currently having the same doubts about Manu.

[Mori Chu]

If it makes you Blazer fans feel any better, many of us Spur fans are currently having the same doubts about Manu.

Yeah well, at least Rogaine boy had the decency to deliver ya 3 titles before going gimpy. And he can still play, he's just not 100%. Apples and rotten oranges.

[Dex]

Yeah well, at least Rogaine boy had the decency to deliver ya 3 titles before going gimpy. And he can still play, he's just not 100%. Apples and rotten oranges.

NBA Rule No. 12, Section VII.c.

[iggypop123]

at least they dont have to worry about a long extension in the future

[Culburn369]

Yeah well, at least Rogaine boy had the decency to deliver ya 3 titles before going gimpy. And he can still play, he's just not 100%. Apples and rotten oranges.

What's alarming is his downfall in mental mistakes. Though it could be attributed to him perhaps peeking thru Google about the affects of rabies death. That's enough to scare the shit outta anybody.

[Scola]

It does make you wonder how Portland is going to salvage this. How much is he currently costing them?

He should still be on his rookie contract so not much, probably 3-4 mil. It would of been worse if he had signed his first real contract and then gone down.

[pauls931]

He should still be on his rookie contract so not much, probably 3-4 mil. It would of been worse if he had signed his first real contract and then gone down.

Looks like the only positive here (for Portland). Teams are going to be worried about giving the guy a big contract now.

[duncan228]

Updated.

Oden tells teammates to keep fighting without him (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-trailblazers-oden&prov=ap&type=lgns)
By Anne M. Peterson

In an instant, the fire in Greg Oden’s eyes was gone. As he was taken from the Rose Garden floor on a stretcher, defeat was written all over the 7-foot center’s face.

Oden broke his left kneecap in the Trail Blazers’ game Saturday night against the Houston Rockets and is likely out for the season.

It is the latest injury to befall the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007, who some have compared to Sam Bowie, the often-injured big man the Blazers selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.

Brandon Roy said that Oden apologized and bowed his head as he was wheeled off the court. Once he learned his diagnosis, Oden told his teammates in the locker room he was sorry he let them down.

“He didn’t do anything,” forward LaMarcus Aldridge protested. “People don’t understand that injuries are part of the game. We all are at risk every time we play so I think injuries are going to happen. It’s unfortunate that it’s happened to him.”

The Blazers said Oden will need surgery. A timetable for his return was not immediately set.

“I’m obviously disappointed having worked so hard to get to where I was. This is a setback but I’ll be back. It’s in God’s hands now,” Oden said in a statement released by the team. “I want to thank the fans, my teammates and everyone in the Blazers family for all of their good thoughts.”

Oden, drafted ahead of Kevin Durant, has been plagued by injures his entire NBA career.

He missed rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. Then last season he sat out six games after injuring his right foot in the season opener against the Lakers, before missing 14 games after the All-Star break with a bone chip in his left knee. He finished the season averaging 8.9 points and 7 rebounds.

But this season Oden lost weight and was averaging 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds as a starter. He had a renewed confidence that was seldom evident in his delayed rookie season, when he admitted the pressure of being a top draft pick got to him.

“He did all the things he needed to do this summer to get himself ready for this year. He came back and showed the potential we felt he had,” coach Nate McMillan said.

The Blazers have not historically had the best of luck with their high-profile big men.

Bowie is considered one of the biggest busts in draft history, fairly or unfairly. The Blazers took the 7-1 center with the No. 2 overall pick instead of Jordan.

While Bowie played in 76 games his rookie season, averaging 10 points and 8.6 rebounds, he appeared in just 63 games over the next four seasons because of injuries. He missed the entire 1987-88 season. In all, he had five operations on his legs.

Then there was Bill Walton, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1974 who, like Oden, was hailed as a franchise player. But his first two seasons were beset by injury, with a broken nose, leg, foot and wrist.

Walton’s legacy was turned around in the 1976-77 season when the Blazers won the title in their first trip to the postseason, with Walton the MVP of the finals.

Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said Saturday night he was just trying to get over Oden’s latest injury, but added he may soon have to look for help for the Blazers.

“The challenging part for me is sometimes life’s not fair, you know? I’ve seen this kid work his tail off. He has put in the work. He has done absolutely everything we’ve ever asked him to do, and more,” Pritchard said.

The Blazers have been beset by injuries. Starting forward Nicolas Batum needed shoulder surgery just before the opener. Fellow forward Travis Outlaw fractured his foot in mid-November and required surgery. Rookies Patty Mills and Jeff Pendergraph have both started the season on the injured list.

Forward Rudy Fernandez was out of Saturday night’s game with sciatic pain and set to undergo an MRI. It was uncertain if he would be with the team on an upcoming four-game trip starting with the Knicks on Monday night.

Even McMillan was set to undergo surgery Monday after rupturing his right Achilles’ tendon during practice.

The coach was participating in practice because the team is so short-handed. He will miss the team’s upcoming road trip, replaced by assistant coach Dean Demopoulos.

If Fernandez doesn’t make the trip, it’s likely the Blazers will only have nine healthy players.

Blazers owner Paul Allen, who himself is battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma, spoke to Oden, telling him to “hang in there.”

“That’s the kind of thing you certainly hope doesn’t happen,” Allen said. “Greg was just really starting to come into his own. Hopefully they’ll be able to repair the kneecap and he’ll be in good shape.”

[iggypop123]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/tlongII/tlonglocker.jpg

[duncan228]

Oden underwent surgery on his left patella Sunday, and the Blazers confirmed what they feared all along—that Oden was done for the season.

[MarCowMar]

He's such a good kid. Hopefully he doesn't let these injuries get to him; having this happen year after year after so much hard work must be devastating. Best wishes to him.

[TIMMYD!]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/tlongII/tlonglocker.jpg

WTF is this supposed to be? :lol

[iggypop123]

WTF is this supposed to be? :lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/tlongII/tlonglocker.jpg