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Oden optimistic for recovery from setback

By Brian T. Smith
Published: December 7, 2009, 12:00am

Blazers’ center out for season, but could be back in summer

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden is out for the season following successful surgery Sunday to repair a fractured patella in his left knee, Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said.

Two screws were inserted in Oden’s left knee to re-attach the patella, which he injured early in the first quarter of the Blazers’ 90-89 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at the Rose Garden.

Pritchard said Oden suffered no ligament damage due to the injury, and he expects the center to make a full recovery.

However, Pritchard stated that a timetable for Oden’s return would be “speculation,” while adding that the earliest he would likely take the court again would be this summer.

“Greg will get over this,” Pritchard said Sunday during a conference call. “We’ll have Greg back. He will make amazing plays happen in the Rose Garden, and we will go crazy.”

Oden’s surgery was performed by Dr. Don Roberts at Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver.

Pritchard stated that Oden’s spirits were high following the procedure. He spent Sunday in the hospital and will return home today, where he is expected to be joined by family, friends and Blazers management.

“He knows that he can overcome this. And it is a setback, but there’s a major comeback coming,” Pritchard said.

He added: “I think he’s going to attack it with a smile now. Versus what’s happened in the past, where it got him down. Right now, I think he wants to attack it with a smile.”

Oden’s recovery will be a multi-stage process, Pritchard said.

A two-month window will follow in which Oden will wear a brace as the bone attached to his patella repairs and bonds. Oden’s movement will be limited, and he will be re-evaluated following the stage.

Next, another two-month window should allow Oden to increase his movement as his quadricep muscles and hamstring strengthen.

“We don’t push guys to get back quick. We’re not into that,” Pritchard said. “Our big thing is, let’s get him 100-percent healthy. And if that takes him to the summer, it takes him to the summer. But we expect him to be fully back by next training camp.”

Saturday, Oden jumped up to defend a layup attempt by Rockets guard Aaron Brooks with 7 minutes, 45 seconds left in the first quarter. But the ensuing collision with Brooks did not appear to have caused Oden’s injury. Video replays of the event appeared to confirm the initial prognosis. And follow-up photos showed Oden writhing on the court in severe pain, while his patella appeared to be dislodged.

Pritchard said Sunday that Oden’s injury was a non-impact type that likely occurred because the muscles in his leg are so strong that they put intense pressure on his patella.

“That’s when the break occurred,” Pritchard said.

Pritchard added that doctors do not believe there is a connection between a chipped left patella Oden suffered during a Feb. 12 game last season against the Golden State Warriors and his new injury. Consideration was given at the time as to whether Oden would sit out the remainder of the 2008-09 season. But he eventually returned to action, after missing 14 games.

Oden put in extra work during the offseason, shedding weight and adding muscle. And he started all 21 of Portland’s regular-season games and played in 7 of 8 preseason contests this season before Saturday’s injury.

Oden was drafted by the Blazers out of Ohio State with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He missed his entire first season, though, after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee.

He returned in 2008-09 to play in 61 games, starting 39, during an inconsistent rookie campaign in which he averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds.

This season, Oden had been the most consistent Blazer on a team that has quickly watched a season filled with high expectations momentarily derailed by injuries and bad luck.

Oden ranks fourth on the team in points (11.1), and first in rebounds (8.5) and blocks (2.2). In addition, his 60.5 percent field-goal percentage is fourth in the NBA, while his average blocks are second.

Oden was in the best shape of his career before Saturday’s setback. He had revamped his offensive game, adding a jump hook, improved footwork and more finesse. Meanwhile, his improved defense and overall consistency had allowed him to supplant veteran Joel Przybilla as Portland’s starting center.

Now, Oden will have to recover from the second major injury of his young career.

Pritchard said the Blazers have faith in his resilience and heart, though. And the Portland GM said he still would not hesitate if given a second chance to go through the 2007 draft. The Blazers passed up on Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, who ranks third in the NBA in average scoring with 28.1 points.

“That was a difficult decision at the time,” Pritchard said. “But Greg Oden is a Blazer. And we’re going to back him as much as we possibly can, and help him as much as we possibly can.”

Notes

Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez will not play in tonight’s 4:30 p.m. road game against the New York Knicks. Fernandez (sciatic back pain) was held out of Saturday’s victory over the Rockets, and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test before the contest. … Portland coach Nate McMillan is scheduled to undergo surgery today to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon, and will not be with the team during its four-game road trip. Lead assistant Dean Demopoulos will take over head coaching duties.

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