More than merely heading to the Pacific Northwest for today's preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Jazz also will get their first appraisal of Greg Oden and what his addition means for a team that beat them three times last season.
"I thought he was a wonderful player his first year in college," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said of Oden, "and obviously getting hurt, you hate to see that happen to any team, because great players are good for our league."
Oden, who led Ohio State to the NCAA championship game as a freshman and was chosen ahead of Kevin Durant in the 2007 NBA Draft, technically is still a rookie after missing all of last season following the microfracture surgery.
His play in the Blazers' first three preseason games has been encouraging, especially for the fans who bought more than 3,500 new season tickets after Oden's arrival. He has scored in double figures in all three games, averaging 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 21.0 minutes.
"I heard he had a good first game," Carlos Boozer said. "I look forward to seeing him in person, see what he's like, see how he's going to help their team, so we can prepare for them this season."
Although Oden still has to learn the NBA game, Sloan said: "His talent level looks like he can handle about anything you throw at him. He's going to defend the basket."
Jazz rookie Kosta Koufos certainly is familiar with Oden after following him at Ohio State. The two played together a couple of times in the summer of 2007, before Oden's surgery, and reconnected at the NBA's rookie orientation in September.
"He's got a great future," Koufos said. "He's young and he's going to be dominant in this league."
They were completely different players, Koufos said, with Oden working in the post and Koufos shooting from the outside. Both declared for the NBA Draft after just one season, though Koufos was selected late in the first round.
The Jazz have every reason to be concerned about how much Oden's return will bolster the Blazers. They dropped three of four games to Portland last season, losses that might have made the difference in capturing the Western Conference's top playoff seed.
Portland finished 41-41, but reeled off 13 consecutive wins in December and boasts one of the best collections of young talent in the league.
The Blazers will be adding Oden to a lineup that already features All-Star guard Brandon Roy and former No. 2 overall pick LaMarcus Aldridge. Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, Roy and Aldridge all had huge games against the Jazz last season.
"We couldn't deal with them very much at all last year," Sloan said. "They waxed us every time we played them, practically. We have tremendous respect for the team they have."
Asked if he considered the Blazers a playoff team this season, Sloan answered, "I don't think there's any question about that." Mehmet Okur added, "I think they grow a lot if you compare from last year to this year."
For this early in the season, the Blazers have had several injury issues already. Webster is out eight to 10 weeks after having foot surgery to repair a stress fracture. Roy is returning from knee surgery and Rudy Fernandez is nursing a sprained ankle.
The biggest question is Oden, who by his own admission is still working to get in shape. The last time he played before this month came in the 2007 Vegas Summer League. That didn't stop Aldridge, though, from making a prediction after just one preseason game.
"I think he is going to be rookie of the year," Aldridge told the Oregonian. "I'm going on record and saying that Greg is a man-child."
Notes: Ronnie Price (bruised leg) and Jarron Collins (elbow tendinitis) made the trip to Portland but are doubtful to play. Matt Harpring won't travel this week as he continues to rehab following an ankle infection. Boozer missed two games with a sore hamstring but went through a full practice of scrimmaging and sprints Friday.
rsiler@sltrib.com
