Oden’s practice brings some optimism

SEASON OPENER

Suns at Blazers, 7 p.m. today

TV: Channel 8. Radio: 95.5 FM

Probable Starters

Blazers

Position/player Ht. Avg.

F Nicolas Batum 6-8 10.1

F LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 17.9

C Marcus Camby 6-11 7.5

G Brandon Roy 6-6 21.5

G Andre Miller 6-2 14.0

Suns

Position/player Ht. Avg.

F Grant Hill 6-8 7.3

F Hedo Turkoglu 6-10 5.1

C Robin Lopez 7-0 9.8

G Jason Richardson 6-6 11.0

G Steve Nash 6-3 8.8

On the Web: www.columbian.com/blazers

TUALATIN — Here it is, folks, the moment we’ve all been … wait a minute, who is that?

The preseason has evaporated, games of true significance are upon us, and … hold on, who are those reporters swarming?

The Blazers host the Phoenix Suns tonight in their regular-season debut, a night the city of Portland has marked on its calender since … what? Greg Oden practiced?! And ran some 5-on-5, too?! Since when has Christmas landed in fall?

Two vibes emerged from Blazers practice Monday: Anticipation toward a definite, and enthusiasm toward an as-soon-as-possible.

Yes, the Blazers will meet Phoenix at the Rose Garden tonight, and players and coaches’ thoughts on the matter will appear in a few paragraphs.

But there was also a certain 7-footer interacting with teammates in a way he has not for 10½ months.

Oden, who ruptured his left patella last December, practiced “lightly” Monday and took part in half-court 5-on-5 drills.

Does this mean he’s zeroing in a return date?

No.

But it was an important step — even if that step was painful and nerve-racking.

“I was worried, but it was fun,” said Oden adding that the knee was “a little stiff” after practice. “Your first time out there you look around, head on a swivel, everyone’s moving fast … just being a little cautious about it. It takes a long time to trust it like you really want to.”

Oden said he found out he was practicing, “When coach said, ‘Get out there.’ ”

He went about 75 percent (as instructed by coach Nate McMillan) and said he felt like “the weak link out there, but I was still out there.”

Despite the progress, which he said was more mental than physical, Oden still offered no timetable as to his return, saying only: “Whenever I feel like I can compete with the best.”

Nic Batum and Wesley Matthews feel that way now.

Batum tweaked his neck in the Blazers’ final preseason game last Thursday and Matthews has been out the past couple exhibitions with a sore Achilles. Both, however, are expected to play against the Suns tonight.

And what about that Suns team?

Phoenix may have lost All-Star forward Amaré Stoudemire to the Knicks this offseason, but McMillan said the Suns’ style of play will remain the same.

They are still going to run.

Still going to launch 3s.

Still going to give Nash full control of the offense, which is dangerous no matter how undersized they may be.

But the opponent appeared to be of less significance to the Blazers than the stakes. After all, for the first time since May, Portland is playing a game that counts.

“For the first game of the season, I’m always really excited,” Brandon Roy said. “I’m looking forward to going out there and playing well and improve on the season before.”

Roy downplayed the idea that Phoenix ousting the Blazers in the first round of last year’s playoffs has morphed this into a “rivalry” game. He just thinks the Suns are a quality opponent for which his team is prepared given their recent practices.

McMillan agrees.

The sixth-year coach paused, smiled, and said: “We’ve had a good camp. It’s been good. We’ve been getting in what we want to get in in terms of our defensive rules and our offense. It’s time to go.”

Apparently, it was time for Jerryd Bayless to go, too.

The former Blazers’ guard was shipped to New Orleans for a conditional first-round draft pick Saturday. In addition to giving rookie point guard Armon Johnson more minutes, McMillan said the trade provides “an opportunity” for Roy and Matthews to spend more time in the backcourt together.

According to Roy, this does not necessarily mean more minutes for him, but he will often be the point guard when not sharing the court with Andre Miller.

Roy is not complaining.

“I’m very comfortable with that. I’m a 2 (shooting guard) a lot because of my size, but I think naturally I’m a ballhandler. I’m a creator,” Roy said. “I wouldn’t call myself a 1 (point guard), but I wouldn’t say I’m a pure 2, either. I’m a combo guard.”

When Matthews was asked about his comfort level as a point guard, the swingman responded: “As I’ve said before with positions — I’m comfortable on the court. If that means playing point, OK. If that means playing the 4, I can do that, too.”

Notes

• The Blazers officially signed center Fabricio Oberto on Monday. The 35-year-old Argentine, who won a title with the Spurs in 2007, will wear No. 21.

• Portland also signed Australian point guard Patty Mills, but waived forward Jeff Pendergraph, who tore his ACL in the second preseason game.

Matt Calkins is the Trail Blazers beat writer for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4528 or matt.calkins@columbian.com. Read his blog at www.columbian.com/weblogs/blazerbanter