| 16 February 2010
Jay Jensen loves his craft, but the road games are nearly killing him.
It’s been that kind of season in Portland.
“It is very difficult for me to watch,” admitted Jensen, the Blazers head trainer who stays in town working with Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla when the Blazers hit the road.
“I’m yelling at the TV and yelling at the refs, because you want your guys to do so well. It is difficult, no question. Every win is a nice win, especially because we are shorthanded every night. Everyone is pulling their weight.”
This season, Jensen has carried the weight of the banged-up Blazers on his shoulders. After 20 years in the NBA and 16 in Portland, this season is by far the most “challenging” Jensen said. From Patty Mills and Travis Outlaw’s foot, Jeff Pendergraph’s hip, Nicolas Batum’s shoulder, Rudy Fernandez’s back, to Oden and Pryzbilla’s knees, to Brandon Roy’s hamstring, Jensen has seen and done it all this season, and the season is far from over.
Still, everyday Jensen goes about his work knowing he’s taking care of his basketball family.
“They are like your kids. And when something happens to your kids, and you have to take them to the doctor or whatever, you hurt for them. The same thing goes with these guys. When something happens to them – you are around them, they become part of your extended family. They know your family, you know their family. And when something happens to them it affects everybody. You just try to give them support and do the best you can and hope for the best.”
For now, Jensen believes his time is better served spending it in Portland with Oden and Przybilla at the practice facility going through their routine. That will change once the rehab phase grows and both players become more independent. Still, it’s a mundane process for Greg and Joel. In a word, Jensen called the daily activities for the two centers “boring”.
“They have ups and downs like everyone else. They’ll have good days and bad days,” Jensen began.
“Out of the 24 hour period, they’ll spend 3 or 4 hours here. And with the rest of their lives, they’ll go home do what they do. When the pressures of home get to them, they’ll come here. But I only have them for about 3 or 4 hours a day.”
According to Jensen, the rehab process is more difficult for Przybilla. Aside from cardio work in the pool, he’s not able to do much. Oden on the other hand, has been down this road before.
“I think being through the process once before, he knows what he has to do. I think he’s making an effort to make sure he’s eating the right things and we have a nutritionist that he talks to,” Jensen said of Oden.
“It’s hard for him to burn a lot of calories but his weight is under control and I think he’s done a good job of being contentious of it. He’s becoming more active. The worst part is over. The activity phase is over with and I think he’s come through that really well as far as his weight goes. I think he understands that. I think a lot has to do with him and being through the process before, what is expected and what he has to do.”
The Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics visit the Rose Garden this week before the Blazers head back out on the road for a five-game road trip.
That means more time at the practice facility for Jensen.
That means more yelling at the TV and the refs.
“That’s the way it is,” said Jensen.
“You have an emotional attachment to these guys.”
(For more on Oden and Pryzbilla's rehab process, check out my story feature Tuesday in USA Today - "Portland's big center's watch, wait and heal")
photo: oregonlive
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