Oregon Sports Live

The Blazers finally start what should be a fiery and competitive training camp tomorrow.  We touched base with all the players on the active roster.  This post focuses on Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden.  More content is on the way:

The Blazers' Unquestioned Leader: "No More Regrets"

Brandon Roy:

- Roy was asked right off the bat about Andre Miller’s influence.  The Natural said Miller’s influence begins with his passing ability, and continues with his veteran presence in the locker room (click here for audio).

- Roy says “We have no more questions about what we need,” the team just has to go out and do it.

- Brandon says Greg Oden will be as good as he wants to be. Also, apparently Greg has added some face-up moves and a little touch to his game  (click here for more audio).

- Brandon on LMA’s contract dispute: He has to understand it’s a business deal and it’s a process.  “He’s an important person to me as a friend and a teammate.”

- Martell is more focused and wants to show he can play at a high level this year.

- Nate no longer has to push the team as much – guys are pushing themselves.

- On the playoff loss and the attitude for this year: “Houston just wanted it more.  Next year let’s not have any regrets. We want it now. If a team beats us and they were just better than us, then we can live with that, but let’s not have any regrets.”

- Brandon is excited to no longer pace himself as much and hold back until the fourth quarter because of the Blazers’ depth.

- Though Roy thinks he’s still best with the ball in his hands, he wants to get better at coming off of screens. However, he still wants to run the pick-and-roll as the ball-handler, because he thinks that gives opposing two-guards problems on defense.

- Roy is an old man trapped in a young man’s body.  While many players focus on adding a new move or jumper, Roy says watching TV and simply thinking helps his game (click here for audio).

- Brandon is an absolute pro at talking to the media at this point. He seems to genuinely enjoy being The Man. If I could use one descriptor to describe Brandon’s demeanor, I’d invent a new word that means confident, in-charge, and affable.

Greg Oden Is Already Smiling More

Greg Oden:

- Many of the Blazers facing battles for starting positions shied away from answering the question of whether they wanted to start. Mr. Oden did not (click here for audio).

- Greg had a busy summer working out with assistant coach Bill Bayno.  Oden said the big goal for him this summer was losing some weight.  He said he feels quicker on his feet, and that helps with rebounds and being in the right position defensively.

- Greg on Juwan Howard, “First off he’s a Michigan guy so I don’t talk to him that much.”  Good to have the jokester Oden return.  In all seriousness though, he says Howard “can pass, he’s smart, yes he does lead the floor out there.  He’s telling guards where to go.  Good for me to see and learn.”

- Oden on the how the team stacks against the rest of the league, “We can’t be looked at as just a young mistake now, we’ve got smarter guys who know what to and not to do.”

- He admitted to still feeling pressure on his shoulders, but now he wants to show off all the hard work he’s put in this summer on the court.

- Greg seemed genuinely excited to see Coach Lucas come back: “There were some times last year when he was gone and then did came back for a couple days and I end up having a good game.  I think it was because of him and how he took me under his wing when I first got here.

- “I want to be the guy who can protect the basket.”

- Realistic expectations from Greg: Screw that, “the goal is always to win the championship.”

- Oden addressed his foul issues from a year ago. “It comes to me being lighter, just being able to move my feet better and getting in the right spots and not being a half second late and getting a foul called, maybe it’ll be a charge this time or I’ll be in the right spot and guys won’t put me in that predicament.”

- Oden on how he lost weight, “I go to Whole Foods every now and then.”

"Oh man, I have to talk about the contract again?"

LaMarcus Aldridge:

- LMA touched on the overall goals that the team is facing.  He’s not ready to start with the championship as a goal. “We’ve got to put little steps,” meaning start with a division title and move from there.

- The contract dispute still weighs heavily on LaMarcus, and he doesn’t hide that.  “I can’t say I’m happy about it’ (click here for audio).

- That being said, he says it won’t change his focus.  He says he owes it to the fans too to be focused.  He wants it to be finished by the 31st, but he can’t guarantee it.

- Lamarcus joked that every year he claims he’ll make the All-Star game.  He doesn’t want to have to make that claim in vain again.  He says every year he’s gotten closer…

- Aldridge says he spent a lot of time working on his left hand this summer.

- LMA on Greg: “He’s back to the guy we met when he got drafted.  More fun, more easy-going, more laid back.  I think he seems like he’s happy to be here again like when I first met him.”

- Aldridge said the summer was very interesting on the free-agent market.  He says Andre Miller will be a big asset whether he starts or not.

-On seeing his good friend Sergio Rodriguez moving on: “It was tough. Seeing him go was tough, but you know it’s a business and you know both parties wanted it, I can’t say I know that but I think both parties wanted it.  I just want to wish him the best.”