BLAZER NOTES: Expecting a big year? Blake is; bearded Oden 'nervous' on eve of camp

By Steve Brandon

The Portland Tribune, Oct 3, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Trail Blazer guard Rudy Fernandez (right) says one player he's really looking forward to going up against is fellow Spanish Olympic team player Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers.

WILLIAM WEST / GETTY IMAGES

Point guard Steve Blake showed up at Trail Blazer media day on Monday with big news.

He and his wife, Kristin, are expecting their second child, another son. He’s due during the All-Star break. The Blakes haven’t picked a name.

• Blake, 28, says he’s comfortable running coach Nate McMillan’s system, and adds that “I’m in the best shape of my life.”

• The Blazers will honor the late Kevin Duckworth by wearing the former Blazer center’s number, 00, on a black shoulder-area patch uniform patch this season. Duckworth died in August.

• Center Greg Oden jokes that he’s “a little nervous” about his first healthy NBA training camp.

“It’s nothing but running and learning plays. And I haven’t really had to learn a place in I don’t know how long,” he says.

• What does Oden think of the talent level on this year's team?

“I think it’s amazing,” he says, adding that he hasn’t had a chance to work out with guard Rudy Fernandez yet, either.

• What about the L.A. Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and other top teams in the Western Conference?

“Those guys need to worry about us, too,” Oden says.

• Oden, sporting a beard he says he’ll keep for a while, defers team stardom rights to guard Brandon Roy and forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

“It’s their team right now. Those are the main two guys,” he says.

But Aldridge says Roy and Oden are the headliners.

“This is their team,” Aldridge says. “Everybody else is going to do our best to fit around those guys.”

• Aldridge says Oden “is more skilled” than he thought. “I knew he shot free throws left-handed in college, but I don’t think people know about the moves he can do.”

• Roy has been an All-Star. Aldridge wants to make the West team this year. It’s probably only a matter of time till Oden earns Star status.

Who else on the Blazers could get there?

“Travis (Outlaw),” Aldridge says. “I think he could be a Tayshaun Prince type of All-Star.”

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