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Blazers will miss Oden, but the show must go on

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Oct 2, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

SAM FORENCICH / GETTY IMAGES

Brandon Roy (left), LaMarcus Aldridge and Jarrett Jack (right) could make up the nucleus of the Blazers’ starting lineup this season.

Joel Przybilla shook hands with Greg Oden for the first time last Thursday, welcoming him to the Trail Blazers, providing his phone number and extending a dinner offer at the Przybilla house anytime the rookie desired a home-cooked meal.

“Yes, sir, thank you, sir,” Oden responded, a sincere smile on his face.

“I told Greg, ‘I’m your teammate. Call me Joel,’ ” Przybilla, who turns 28 next month, says with a laugh. “But you know, I was impressed. He seems like a phenomenal kid.

“The microscope he’s been under, the attention he’s gotten, he still seems like a humble guy. That’s great. The biggest thing for him is to keep that demeanor. That type of attitude is going to take him a long way.”

Due to the microfracture knee surgery that will rob Oden of his first season, the Blazers open training camp today missing the presence of a player expected to make a big difference in the middle. There’s no getting around the fact it won’t be the same without the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft.

“It’s a disappointment,” point guard Steve Blake says. “We were all upset when we heard the news. Greg’s a great talent and a great guy. Unfortunately, we won’t get a chance to see what he could bring to the table for us, but I’m sure it would have been a lot. Obviously, we’re going to miss that.”

Przybilla’s role expands, and the eight-year veteran says he is up to it after a rigid summer of work under personal trainer Brad Arnett in Milwaukee.

“I worked out with Brad two hours every morning, focusing on getting my legs right,” says the 7-1 Przybilla, who missed 39 games last season with abdominal and knee injuries. “In the evenings I did basketball drills. My biggest goal is, I want to play 82 games this season. My body has never felt better.

“When we started, Brad said he wants me to feel like a teenager when I leave for Portland, and he did. I feel like I’m 18 or 19 again.”

Przybilla says he hopes he is the starting center, but coach Nate McMillan says only that he expects a four-man rotation at center and power forward including Przybilla, LaMarcus Aldridge, Channing Frye and Raef LaFrentz.

“Greg and Joel would have been a really nice combination at center, but now we’re kind of thin there,” McMillan says. “I don’t know if Joel or LaMarcus will start at the five spot, but we’ll certainly use LaMarcus there more with Greg out. He’ll get more minutes there than we envisioned.”

The 6-11, 250-pound Frye — acquired in the offseason deal that sent Zach Randolph to New York — will get most of his minutes at power forward but also is capable of some time at center. And LaFrentz, who played only 27 games a year ago while dealing with a nagging calf injury, will figure into the mix.

“Raef has experience, and he can shoot the ball,” McMillan says. “He’s healthy now, and we need him to give us something this season. Hopefully he’ll be able to do that.”

Outlaw, Jack could start

Travis Outlaw has the inside track on the starting small forward position, but the 23-year-old fifth-year pro will have to prove himself in a battle with James Jones and Martell Webster.

“Travis’ best position for us last year was the 4, but he’s going to get a good shot to show us what he can do at the 3,” McMillan says. “He’ll play both positions. We’re hoping for him to be a consistent presence. We’re going to need points and defense from him. He’s at the stage of his career where he needs to take that next step.”

Brandon Roy is the shooting guard, and last year’s rookie of the year probably will get paired with a number of players in the backcourt. Camp will help flesh things out in McMillan’s mind, but Jarrett Jack — last year’s starting point guard — will get first crack.

“You have to lean to Jarrett, but he knows we want that position to improve,” McMillan says. “He looks healthy and is feeling better and stronger. Blake knows there’s an opportunity for him there to get good minutes as a starter or backup.

“But I don’t want them to worry about who’s the starter. I want them to focus on what’s the best combination for us to win games.”

McMillan feels Roy can play with either Jack or Blake, and that Jack and Blake can pair together in the backcourt, too. Webster likely will get some time at shooting guard. Second-year pro Sergio Rodriguez “will start out as the No. 3 (point) guard, no question,” McMillan says.

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