Oden's goal this season is to start for the Portland Trail Blazers, no disrespect to teammate Joel Przybilla. "I love Joel to death, but I want that starting spot," he said.
Oden arrived at fall camp thinner and more cheery than he was at times last season, when he went through rookie growing pains. The 7-foot center was the top pick in the 2007 draft but missed his first season because he had microfracture surgery on his right knee. Oden played off the bench for much of last season while Przybilla started.
