By Craig Edwards

Greg Oden is Likely Done for Season

Sorry, Blazers fans. This is possibly the worst news you could have heard out of the Rose Quarter today.

Since draft day, Greg Oden has been the centerpiece of everything related to the Blazers' franchise, from strategy on the court, to marketing and ticket promotion. This is a huge blow for the team.

But... DO NOT PANIC.

The Blazers still have a strong nucleus of a young team, led by 2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. They are going places.

Building this franchise up from the bottom of the NBA standings is a long term process. Greg Oden was not going to make the team into NBA champs by himself, or do it in one season.

Again, this is a team on the rise, and will continue to be so in 2007-08. Whenever Greg Oden joins the team, they are going to get that much better.

I know you're bummed if you've got tickets for this season. Hope that the team's franchise center heals quickly, and properly.

Just don't jump off the bandwagon yet.

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