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BlazerFan1
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Post subject: Brandon Roy says he's ready
 Posted: Oct 01, 2008 - 01:08 AM PST
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One day before the start of a training camp loaded with expectations, Brandon Roy delivered optimistic news that should reassure wary Blazers fans: He's ready to go.
The All-Star guard, who in August underwent surgery to repair a partial tear in the meniscus of his left knee, has resumed basketball activities and will be ready to participate when training camp starts Tuesday.
"My knee is doing good," Roy said at the Blazers media day on Monday. "I had this last week to play ... and afterward, there was no soreness. As we go into training camp, we are still going to monitor (my) minutes (but) I'm just excited that the knee is OK."
Roy has played pickup games with teammates at the Blazers' Tualatin practice facility during parts of the past two weeks, with his most extensive action coming last week when he played Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Roy said he felt "95 to 100 percent" healthy during those games and has little doubt he will be at full strength when the Blazers open the season against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28.
But this optimism does not mean the Blazers have halted their cautious approach to Roy's rehabilitation. Roy said he probably would only participate in the morning practices during this week's two-a-day sessions.
"They don't want me to go out there and try to kill it the first week," Roy said. "They want me to try to build up and get my body in shape. Right now the plan is just to play in morning practices the first week."
Roy and the Blazers also plan on limiting his participation during preseason games, as a precautionary. The team has not outlined a detailed schedule, but it's possible Roy will sit out some games and play only sporadic minutes in others. He did express a desire to play, however, saying he wanted the game experience to get in shape for the regular season.
After watching Roy scrimmage last week, teammates said it was virtually impossible to tell Roy had surgery last month.
"I saw him play one or two days and he looked good," LaMarcus Aldridge said. "He looked like the old Brandon Roy, making those crazy late-in-the-shot-clock shots and fade away jump shots. He looked good to me. I don't see anything wrong."
Frye healing faster than expected: There also was good news regarding backup forward Channing Frye, who underwent surgery on Sept. 8 to remove bone spurs from his left ankle. The Blazers originally anticipated that Frye would be out of action until at least early November, but he said on Monday that he hopes to return on Oct. 18.
"I want to try to give myself 10 days (before) the first game," Frye said. "I think that will give me a chance to really get in there with a lot of the guys and I think that's somewhat reasonable. I think that's pushing it a little bit, but I think it's reasonable for me. I want to be in good shape coming in. I don't want to be dragging and then that will be coach's first impression of me. I want to come in and be ready to go."
Frye has been riding an exercise bike and elliptical machine and has been doing "a lot of shooting" as part of his rehab. Through it all, he has noticed a dramatic increase in the flexibility of his ankle. He said doctors were stunned at how much "loose bone" they discovered in his ankle and were amazed he played pain-free last season.
Newest (potential) Blazer: Shavlik Randolph made his first appearance for the Blazers on Monday, expressing excitement at his opportunity and optimism that he could fill out the team's 15th and final roster spot.
"I think I can be somebody who plays hard and I can go in and take charges and get rebounds and play defense," Randolph said. "That's what I did when I was in Philly and that's kind of what I'll bring to the table now. Hopefully that's what they'll be looking for."
Randolph is one of four players, including former University of Oregon standout Luke Jackson, who is hoping to land a roster spot. He visited Portland two weeks ago and participated in three days of scrimmages as part of a mini training camp tryout. He said he "met with a few teams" this summer, but felt his best opportunity was with the Blazers. The 6-foot-10 forward, who arrived in Portland for training camp on Saturday, played the past three seasons with the 76ers after spending three years at Duke.
Catch of the summer: Travis Outlaw is an avid Mississippi fisherman. Frye claims that he can hold his own with a rod and reel. But neither can top the surprising prize Joel Przybilla hauled in this summer during a vacation with his wife, Noelle.
During a trip to the Bahamas, the Przybillas hit the open waters on a guided fishing tour in search of tuna. Instead, Przybilla landed the catch of a lifetime -- a nine-foot shark. Using 80-pound line designed to haul in a tuna, Przybilla wrestled the shark for more than an hour as he fought to bring it to the boat. The fight paid off as the 7-foot-1 center landed the fish. He plans to have it mounted at his lake house in Wisconsin.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazer ... ready.html |
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