Greg Oden's NBA debut got off to a promising start, with this HUGE rejection of Andrew Bynum. Then it went about as bad as you could possibly expect.
I didn't expect Oden to come out strong this season, but one thing I failed to consider was the big man getting injured in the very first game. Oden sprained his foot shortly after his big block and played with a noticeable limp throughout the first half.
Technically, the entire Trail Blazers team played with a noticeable limp throughout the first half. Portland was lucky the score was only 96-76.
As for Oden's injury, he did not return from the locker room in the second half and left Los Angeles in a walking boot and crutches. He's schedule for an MRI today that I think we all hope is nothing serious. Here's some comments from various Trail Blazers reporters, bloggers and fans:
Jason Quick, Oregonian: If Oden's injury was a black cloud over one of the Blazers most anticipated season openers in years, plenty of his teammates provided the rain to make for a gloomy start to the season. Asked if anything else could have gone wrong on opening night, McMillan was quick to answer.
"No," he said.
Mike Barrett's Blazers Blog: You can't put all of this on the enormity of the night, or the jumbled nerves of the Blazers. The Lakers were focused and brought the defense early in this game. They pushed the Blazers out of everything they wanted to do, and showed the killer instinct of a veteran team.
The news got worse for the Trail Blazers after that initial rush by the Lakers. Greg Oden took an awkward fall and appeared to be in pain. But, he stayed in the game and didn't show any sign of being injured until the next time out was called, and he winced on his way to the bench. It was revealed later he had injured his foot.
The latest on this, as of late Tuesday night, is that's a mid-foot sprain, and he'll have it checked Wednesday. Doesn't sound too serious, and that's good news.
Henry Abbott, True Hoop (live blog): There is some talk about how much the Blazers have to learn and all that. But I don't take it like that. I take it like young teams run hot and cold, and tonight they ran cold. Roy will play better. Aldridge will play better. They'll figure out the Oden situation. And most importantly, I think this season will prove that the Blazers will have plenty of company in looking bad on this floor against the mighty Lakers.
Bad night for the Blazers, but the good news is that some fans jumped off the crowded bandwagon, making it more comfortable for the rest of us. Portland will figure things out with or without Oden.
Henry Abbott, True Hoop (live blog): There is some talk about how much the Blazers have to learn and all that. But I don't take it like that. I take it like young teams run hot and cold, and tonight they ran cold. Roy will play better. Aldridge will play better. They'll figure out the Oden situation. And most importantly, I think this season will prove that the Blazers will have plenty of company in looking bad on this floor against the mighty Lakers.
Bad night for the Blazers, but the good news is that some fans jumped off the crowded bandwagon, making it more comfortable for the rest of us. Portland will figure things out with or without Oden.
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