Is Trailblazers' Greg Oden a Future Superstar or The Second-Coming Of Sam Bowie?

Two years ago, when one heard the two words "Greg Oden", an awesome picture was painted inside the minds of basketball junkies across the nation. The 7'0'' Freshman phenom from The Ohio State University struck fear and awe into opposing players.

While in college, Oden played 28.9 mpg, and averaged 15.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, and 3.3 bpg. Keep in mind he did all of this while playing with a broken hand, his dominant hand in fact.

In the pros, however, Oden is only averaging 8.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg. Because of his inconsistency this season, many fair weather fans are saying that Oden was another bust big man that the Blazers drafted, the second-coming of Sam Bowie.

For those who do not know about the infamous Sam Bowie, he was the second pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. The Blazers selected him over Michael Jordan, because the Blazers already had a big-time shooting guard in Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, and needed a big-time big man to complete the puzzle.

Bowie had one productive season with the Blazers, his rookie year, in which he made the NBA's All-Rookie team. After that season, Bowie's career was injury-plagued, and the Blazers eventually gave up on him, trading him and a draft pick to the New Jersey Nets for Buck Williams, which proved to be an excellent trade.

Due to Oden's micro-fracture knee surgery in 2007, which forced him to miss the entire 2007-08 NBA season, his ankle injury that he sustained in the beginning of this season, and his inconsistent play this season, many fans and sports analysts are deeming Oden as the next Sam Bowie, an injury-plagued, bust of a draft pick.

What these fans and analysts tend to overlook however, are the circumstances surrounding Oden. First of all, Oden is only 21 years old. He is very young. He has vast potential but is also very raw.

Second, is the whole micro-fracture knee surgery situation. The fact of the matter is, is that if Oden had left his knee untouched, his NBA career most likely would have been shortened by at least three to four years. Would you rather have a center who could win three championships, or six to seven? I think the answer is quite clear.

Also, what fans and analysts neglect to mention is that Oden did have the surgery in the first place. In order to prepare for the current season, Oden was strictly confined to rehabilitation drills, to get his knee up-to-snuff. All his efforts were focused on getting his knee back into playing-condition, and not to work out with the team.

The fact that Oden was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft also brings some leverage in this case. Pressure beyond imagination was instantly laid on his shoulders the minute his name was announced by commissioner David Stern.

Yes, Oden has been inconsistent this season. Yes, he has been injured. Yes, he has committed more fouls than anyone in the NBA. But one must also look at the upsides to Oden's game.

Oden leads all rookies in double-doubles. In the month of January, Oden had a five game stretch where he did not commit more than three fouls. This translated into four consecutive double-doubles, almost five.

He's also had two more stretches in the season where he has had four straight double-doubles.

Oden has shown us what he is capable of. We all know that as time passes, he will become more consistent. He hasn't consistently played in over a year and a half. When one is injured for an extended period of time, it takes awhile to get back into the swing of things.

Is Oden the best center in basketball, no. Can he become one, yes. It's all up to himself. Right now, he is his own worst enemy. He will only progress as far as his attitude takes him.

The thing that will help him out the most is staying out of foul trouble. He has learned from Portland's backup center, Joel Pryzbilla, how to block shots without being called for a foul: by contesting the shot with your arms straight up in the air, and letting the ball come to you, not you going to the ball.

Rest assured Blazer fans, Oden is not the second coming of Sam Bowie. He will continue to mature, and progress. The best thing he can do for himself at the end of this season, is to attend a big-man camp, or work with Blazers coaches all offseason, and getting back into basketball shape.

We've all seen what Oden is capable. We all know what he's capable of. The final ingredient in Oden's success story is thyme. With a good amount of thyme, Oden will turn into a well-seasoned NBA center.

Don't count him out. If you do, he will find you, and he will prove you wrong.