Oden Is as Frustrated as the Rest of Us

The rash of injuries and extended unavailability of Greg Oden has been extremely frustrating to his team's players, coaches and fans. But at this point, the one most frustrated by it all might just be Oden himself.

Jason Quick of The Oregonian spoke to the Blazers big man recently, and Oden insisted that it's not a matter of heart: the pain is simply too great, and in his current condition, he'd be of no help to his team even if he did try to play through it.

For anyone that believes Oden could play if he were tougher, or that he may not have the strongest desire to get back out there, he offers the following:

"I get portrayed wrongly, like I don't have a heart," Oden said. "But I sit there and I try to explain to people what is going on, and it's like they aren't listening to me."

There is pain, Oden says, and not just any pain, but biting pain. He said it so many times in interviews that he started saying it more demonstratively, in hopes that his louder tone would finally get someone to believe him.

"I don't know how else to put it: There's a difference between sore and painful, and this is painful," Oden said.

"Look, I'm tired of sitting; I want to get out there," Oden said. "But damn, if I did go out there and play, it may be worse having me out there. They'd be playing four-on-five most of the time."

The guy's hurt, people -- both physically and emotionally. And there's no doubt that the failure to live up to the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft has taken its toll on the big man's formerly gregarious personality. There's absolutely no evidence, however, that Oden's desire isn't where it should be, so maybe that's where the fans' frustrations have gone a little too far.

Oden is never going to be the nightly 27-point, 15-rebound monster that people hoped he would become when the Blazers drafted him ahead of Kevin Durant. And, heck, at this point, even the franchise would be hard-pressed to admit that they wouldn't draft differently if they had it to do all over again.

That being said, Oden has already shown that, when healthy, he's capable of being an above-average big man in this league. On a team like the Blazers who are loaded with young talent and a clutch All-Star in Brandon Roy, that might be more than enough to keep the team contending near the top of the West for years to come.

Maybe then, everyone's frustrations -- Oden's included -- will finally be laid to rest.