[Buckskin86]

Oden struggles in career opener
Posted by The Oregonian July 06, 2007 23:44PM
Categories: Trail Blazers
BY JASON QUICK

LAS VEGAS -- The Greg Oden era started with an overwhelming thud Friday, when the No. 1 draft pick struggled mightily in his summer league debut, which exemplified a subpar performance by the Trail Blazers in a 74-66 loss to the Boston Celtics.

Oden amassed 10 fouls -- the summer league maximum -- in less than 21 minutes and finished with six points, two rebounds and two blocks. He had flashes of the dominance that many predicted, hitting a jump hook in the lane, which was followed by an emphatic block of Boston's Leon Powe, but for the most part, Oden looked out of sync and generally lost in his first experience against professional players.

"I didn't play too well," said Oden, who was as depressed and terse as he has shown since leaving Ohio State after his freshman season. "I didn't play hard enough, and when you don't play hard, you don't win."

Oden struggles in career opener - OregonLive.com: Sports Updates from The Oregonian