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C Greg Oden (All B1G, All-American, Defensive Player of the Year, Butler Assistant Coach)

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Trail Blazers excercise options on Oden, Batum, Fernandez and Bayless
By Sean Meagher, OregonLive.com
October 16, 2009

Lots happening at One Center Court today. Another release from the team ?

PORTLAND, Ore. ? The Portland Trail Blazers exercised their fourth-year option on center Greg Oden and third-year options on the contracts of guard/forward Rudy Fernandez, forward Nicolas Batum and guard Jerryd Bayless.
The moves, announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard, keep all four players under contract through the 2010-11 season.

Portland selected Oden with the No. 1 overall pick and acquired Fernandez via trade in the 2007 NBA Draft.
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Trail Blazers excercise options on Oden, Batum, Fernandez and Bayless | Blazers Blog - OregonLive.com
 
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Who's hot?

Trail Blazers center Greg Oden has returned to the Pacific Northwest a new man. The second-year player from Ohio State is averaging 13.8 points, a team-high 10.2 rebounds and two double-doubles in Portland's first five preseason games.

Oden has begun to deliver on the promise the Blazers saw in him when they selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft. His footwork has improved, he is lighter on his feet, and he has shown the potential to dominate games and opposing defenders.

He's been coming off the bench behind Joel Przybilla, but he could be the Blazers' opening-night starter at the "5."
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Bob Finnan's NBA notes: Hughes: LeBron isn't leaving the Cavaliers - The News-Herald Sports : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio
 
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Five fouls doesn't mean Oden sits automatically
Monday, October 19
BY BRIAN T. SMITH
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

TUALATIN, Ore. ? Greg Oden. Five fouls.

Last season, it would have meant trouble. Bad news. Another "Oh, not again" moment that symbolized the Portland Trail Blazers center's slow progression from a promising No. 1 NBA draft pick into a dominant, powerful big man.

With five fouls, Oden would have played cautious. Then he would have inevitably drawn a sixth, found a place on the team's bench, and been out of the game.

The 7-foot, 270-pound Oden fouled out of five games last season, and received at least five foul calls in 26 contests.

"Last year we got him out and we went with Joel (Przybilla) and we pretty much stayed that way," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said Monday, following a workout session at the team's practice facility.

But Oden kept playing Sunday night in a come-from-behind preseason victory over the Denver Nuggets.

After drawing his fifth foul with 9 minutes left in fourth quarter, the Blazers' second-year center stayed on the court. And then he dominated.

Rather than shrinking away and playing smaller than his enormous frame, Oden expanded. He hit 4 of 5 shots, knocked down all four of his free throw attempts, grabbed six rebounds, recorded two blocks, and dropped in 12 fourth-quarter points.

"My confidence is there," Oden said Sunday.

And it has been present throughout training camp.

The former Ohio State standout is averaging 14.2 points and 9.7 rebounds through six preseason contests. He is shooting 55.6 percent (30 of 54) from the field, which ranks second on team, and 71.4 percent (25 of 35) from the foul line. In addition, Oden has only fouled out of one game, and has recorded four fouls or less in five.
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http://www.columbian.com/article/20091019/SPORTS01/910199985

Blazers' Oden out with thigh injury; Aldridge says extension will get done
Monday, October 19
BY BRIAN T. SMITH
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

TUALATIN, Ore. ? Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden did not practice Monday. Oden is out with a left abductor contusion -- a thigh injury -- accoring to the team, and is listed as day to day.

Oden, who was seen walking with a slight limp, was not made available to speak with the media, due to a previously scheduled engagement.
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Blazers' Oden out with thigh injury; Aldridge says extension will get done - Columbian.com
 
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Lighter, faster, wiser: Portland's Greg Oden reinvents himself

By Anne M. Peterson (CP) ?

PORTLAND, Ore. ? Greg Oden reinvented himself this summer.

After an inconsistent debut season, the seven-foot-centre for the Portland Trail Blazers slimmed down, worked on his defence, focused on his footwork and even added a turnaround jumper to his repertoire.

He also changed his attitude.

"It wasn't really an 'Aha!' " he said. "It was more just, I know that something needs to change and I've got to do something about it."

Oden was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft after one season at Ohio State. Portland fans rejoiced, dogpiling on the floor of the Rose Garden arena when the selection was announced - then turning out en masse for a rally when he arrived in town.

Oden was heralded as the next Bill Walton, a big man who would lead the Blazers back to the NBA's elite.

But shortly thereafter the party was over when Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season.

Despite his absence on the court, Oden was still a looming presence in the organization. He appeared in commercials for local businesses, attended charity events, threw his support behind Barack Obama's presidential campaign and even blogged. Through it all, he kept his trademark wit.

Oden's postponed rookie season was also met with anticipation, but that was soon crushed too when he sprained his right foot in the opener against the Lakers and missed the next six games.

He sat another 14 games after the all-star break because of a bone chip in his left knee. The injuries drew comparisons to Sam Bowie, the injury-prone forward that the Blazers selected in the 1984 draft ahead of Michael Jordan.

Replaced in the starting lineup for much of the season by Joel Przybilla, Oden averaged 8.9 points and seven rebounds. He often had foul trouble.

But most dramatically, Oden seemed to lose his humour along the way.

When the season closed, Oden returned to Columbus, Ohio, where he spends the off-season, and set about remaking himself.

"It wasn't what I had hoped it would be," Oden said about last season "I foresaw it as being a lot better, I definitely had my good points and I had my low points. Those injuries were definitely the low points."'

Every week, Oden was visited by Blazers assistant coach Bill Bayno to work on his on-court skills. Off the court, Oden slimmed down, trimming 15 pounds from his 285-pound frame.

"I think last year Greg felt he had to be bigger and stronger," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "This year he decided it would be better if he were lighter on his feet."
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hl9vS8U9XG78NpDa2AkTIBUNKe7w
 
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Defense is the focus, but the Trail Blazers' Greg Oden has become a force on offense, too
By Joe Freeman, The Oregonian
October 25, 2009

greg-oden-030b674260c1424d_medium.jpg

Associated Press
Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden looks on from the bench during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Coach Nate McMillan was eager to make one thing unequivocally clear less than 48 hours before the Trail Blazers were scheduled to open the regular season against the Houston Rockets.

Even though center Greg Oden has revealed a pretty low-post spin move, improved jump hook and an offensive arsenal that, all in all, has undergone a top-to-bottom transformation since last season, offense is the last thing he should be focused on.

?I want Greg to establish us on the defensive end of the floor,? McMillan said. ?I don?t want him concerned so much about the offensive end of the floor. Last year, we were able to score and we?ll be able to score this year. But I want that (center) position and Greg to focus on establishing our defense ? covering that basket, rebounding that ball ? really being a monster in the paint.?

Perhaps the most important development of the exhibition season was the emergence of Oden, who played so well he has prompted McMillan to insert him into the Blazers? starting lineup for Tuesday night?s opener. So while McMillan is urging Oden to concentrate on defense, it?s hard not to imagine the possibilities his newfound offensive swagger could generate this season.

Oden ended the preseason as the Blazers? leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in seven exhibition appearances. He shot 52.5 percent from the field and 72.1 percent from the free throw line.

But Oden?s value on offense goes beyond the numbers.

Perhaps the most obvious impact involves offensive rebounding. Oden can create more possessions, and potentially more points, by giving the Blazers? second and third chances. And if his strong free throw shooting continues, Oden can also become a difference-maker in tight fourth quarters
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Defense is the focus, but the Trail Blazers' Greg Oden has become a force on offense, too | The Blazers Beat - OregonLive.com
 
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Oden blazing a trail to reinvention

Injury-plagued center heals up and makes many changes in offseason

By Anne M. Peterson ASSOCIATED PRESS
PORTLAND, Ore. | Greg Oden reinvented himself this summer.
After an inconsistent debut season, the 7-foot center for the Portland Trail Blazers slimmed down, worked on his defense, focused on his footwork and even added a turnaround jumper to his repertoire.
He also changed his attitude.
"It wasn't really an 'Aha!' " he said. "It was more just I know that something needs to change, and I've got to do something about it."
Oden was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft after one season at Ohio State. Portland fans rejoiced, dogpiling on the floor of the Rose Garden when the selection was announced - then turning out en masse for a rally when he arrived in town.
Oden was heralded as the next Bill Walton, a big man who would lead the Blazers back to the NBA's elite.
But shortly thereafter the party was over when Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season.
Despite his absence on the court, Oden was still a looming presence in the organization. He appeared in commercials for local businesses, attended charity events, threw his support behind Barack Obama's presidential campaign and even blogged. Through it all, he kept his trademark wit.

Cont...
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Canzano: Greg Oden holds the key to Trail Blazers' season
By John Canzano, The Oregonian
October 26, 2009

Maybe you're curious to see what Martell Webster makes of his starting opportunity at small forward. Or how well free agent Andre Miller will mesh. Or how coach Nate McMillan will keep everyone happy.

This Blazers season for me?

It's still mostly about Greg Oden.

There has never been a more talked-about preseason in Portland. And we've spent an inordinate amount of time fretting over chemistry, and the No. 15 roster spot (Patty Mills?!?) and who will start/finish games. And all that ends up passing the time until we see if Portland really is ready to play deep in the playoffs.

blz-oden27jpg-0345aa02cc57f674_large.jpg

The Associated PressThere's reason to believe Greg Oden can carry the franchise for some significant moments this season.On the eve of the Blazers' 2009-10 opener tonight, I asked Brandon Roy what he was most encouraged by in the preseason. His answer: "Greg (Oden's) ability to dominate."

You've waited for Oden. I've waited for Oden. It's become the thing to do in Portland, and even as there are obvious questions for this franchise, Oden's sophomore season trumps them all.

How grand will Oden allow you to dream?

Sure, it's going to be a blast watching Webster get a chance to help carry the starting load. Absolutely, it's going to be fascinating to examine the curious case of newcomer Miller, who looks brilliant one minute and feels out of place the next. And, yes, as the Blazers' expectations escalate, the importance of McMillan's decisions will increase.

This beats sitting around waiting for a lottery pick, as you did for five seasons this decade. And it trumps the wishing and hoping you embarked upon last season, because you probably secretly knew that as good as the Blazers might be, the climb wasn't going to happen without some hiccups.
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Canzano: Greg Oden holds the key to Trail Blazers' season | John Canzano - ? OregonLive.com
 
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The road to redemption begins tonight vs the Houston Rockets. NBA League pass is currently running a free trial from tonight through November 3rd. :) If your provider offers NBAtv or a sports package you should be able to view the game (my comcast setup has the league pass channels starting at 750). It starts at 10:00 pm eastern time.
 
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GREG JAYNE: Opener is like heavy weight lifted off Oden
Tuesday, October 27

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Greg Oden (52) pulls in an offensive rebound against Houston Rockets center Chuck Hayes. It was one of 12 rebounds for the Blazers center, who also had five blocked shots. (Don Ryan/The Associated Press)

PORTLAND ? The deliberation was short, with the jury requiring mere minutes to render the first verdict of the season: Greg Oden is a shadow of his former self.

And that?s a good thing.

As the Trail Blazers opened the season with a 96-87 victory Tuesday over Houston, as they tipped off a year of absurd expectations, Oden appeared lighter and thinner and quicker and nimbler than at any time during his heavy-footed, overly muscled rookie season.

Not that it translated into performance. Oden finished with five fouls, seven turnovers and two points in 26 minutes. But there also were five blocked shots and 12 rebounds. There also were flashes of brilliance. There also was a sense that Oden now is at a weight that will allow him to develop.

Which, presumably, will make it easier for him to bear the unfair burden of carrying the franchise?s hopes for a championship.

And, presumably, made it easier for Oden to be effective against the Rockets? Rec League center tandem of Chuck Hayes and somebody named David Andersen.

There?s no telling what Oden will be able to do against a real NBA center, and there remains no explanation for how an athletic 7-foot center could be completely devoid of low-post moves. But at this point, the Blazers will take what they can get from Oden.

"I think I did some good things that don?t show up on the stats," Oden said, which is the basketball equivalent of, "She has a great personality."
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http://www.columbian.com/article/20091028/SPORTS01/710289950
 
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