Will the NBA finally see former No. 1 overall draft pick Greg Oden back in the postseason?
The Heat are considering putting the oft-injured center on the active roster Saturday night when they face the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Miami. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Oden had a great week of practice and could contribute defensively, especially against Pacers All-Star center Roy Hibbert.
Sidelined by a back injury, Oden has not appeared in this year's postseason after playing the regular-season finale. He told MSN Fox Sports: ''I'm definitely ready whenever he (Spoelstra) needs me."
Miami signed Oden to a one-year contract with the belief that he could provide low-post defensive help against Hibbert, who dominated the Heat during last year's Eastern Conference Finals. But Oden, however has struggled against Hibbert in their regular-season match-ups.
It's unlikely that Oden will be in the Heat's starting lineup for Game 3 or that he'll play significant minutes. However, minus Oden, the Heat have a small frontline with Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Chris Anderson all less than 7-feet tall.
Heat star Lebron James believes Oden would have to make an adjustment if he receives playing time.
''He hasn't been out on the floor as far as contact -- we haven't had any contact in a while. If he gets he nod, I think it would be an adjustment for him,'' James said.
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