by 
Tanya Ryno
Tanya Ryno Mon, July 7, 2008
9:45PM
Greg Oden goes lateral
From SWEAT SPOT written by Anna K. Clemmons for ESPN Magazine July 2008
The Jock: Greg Oden
The Workout: Resisted defensive slide
The Benefit: Boosts balance and strength
For a guy who has yet to see a minute of NBA action, former No. 1 pick Greg Oden sure has kept our attention. And the spotlight will only be brighter when he finally makes his debut with the Blazers in the fall. With that kind of extended buildup, he'd better be ready to go. Oden has been working hard to get back into game shape as he continues to rehab his right knee, which underwent microfracture surgery last September. In the resisted defensive slide, personal trainer Robb Rogers loops rubber bands around Oden's waist and upper thigh. As the big man takes lateral strides -- crossing one foot over the other, as he does on the court -- Rogers pulls on the bands, forcing Oden to use his core and leg muscles to stay balanced. The exercise emphasizes coordination and strength as well as proper alignment of the legs. "I'm mindful of everything I do to make sure I don't kill my knee," Oden says. After all, it's going to have to support the weight of his seven-foot frame -- and of all our expectations.
The Jock: Greg Oden
The Workout: Resisted defensive slide
The Benefit: Boosts balance and strength
For a guy who has yet to see a minute of NBA action, former No. 1 pick Greg Oden sure has kept our attention. And the spotlight will only be brighter when he finally makes his debut with the Blazers in the fall. With that kind of extended buildup, he'd better be ready to go. Oden has been working hard to get back into game shape as he continues to rehab his right knee, which underwent microfracture surgery last September. In the resisted defensive slide, personal trainer Robb Rogers loops rubber bands around Oden's waist and upper thigh. As the big man takes lateral strides -- crossing one foot over the other, as he does on the court -- Rogers pulls on the bands, forcing Oden to use his core and leg muscles to stay balanced. The exercise emphasizes coordination and strength as well as proper alignment of the legs. "I'm mindful of everything I do to make sure I don't kill my knee," Oden says. After all, it's going to have to support the weight of his seven-foot frame -- and of all our expectations.
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Reader Comments (1)
Oden is really doing hard work.By best wishes are always with him.