The Lakers and Lamar, a basketball lament
What to do with Lamar Odom?
That’s the nagging question that’s been hanging in the air for the Los Angeles Lakers for a while now, ever since 2004 really, when the team cut loose center Shaquille O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson and the slow-down version of the triangle offense that had won them three championships.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss admitted then that he really didn’t like the triangle.
Buss wanted to return to the glory days of yore, to Showtime, when he had the majestic 6-9 Magic Johnson snaring a rebound on the defensive glass, then running a fastbreak that left opponents dizzy.
With Jackson’s firing, the team brought in Rudy Tomjanovich and began rebuilding the roster into a running team. The 6-9 Odom with the silky smooth open-court skills was a key acquisition for constructing the new-and-improved, up-tempo Lakers. Like the Magic of Showtime, Odom had the size to secure the defensive rebound and the ballhandling skills to power out on the fastbreak. Dude was born to run and feed the ball to teammates filling the lanes.
Only problem was, Buss’s dream soon derailed. First, the NBA of the new century is not the NBA of the 1980s. Jump-starting the pure running game proved oh so hard to do. Rudy T stepped down during a disastrous 2005 season, and that summer the Lakers rehired Jackson and his triangle approach.
All of a sudden, the elegant Odom was marooned. Like a racehorse hitched to a hay wagon.
With the behemoth Shaq gone, Jackson no longer insisted on running the triangle offense at a slug’s pace. Triangle guru Tex Winter had long been urging Jackson to run more, even with Shaq still around.
Odom gave the Lakers an opportunity to go, and to Jackson’s credit, he turned the team loose a bit and found some ways to take advantage of Odom’s gifts.
Still, the triangle features much half-court action, and the Lakers often found themselves slowed in the halfcourt, trying to move through the triangle options.
Lord knows that Odom has tried to get it. He’s always shown the team-first attitude. He’s a lovely, warm, genuine person. The Lakers adore him. But he has never been a good fit for the triangle. His hesitation in it feeds his inconsistency, Tex Winter has fussed over the past three seasons.
At first, Jackson likened Odom to Scottie Pippen, the versatile forward who ran the offense and set the table for Michael Jordan when Jackson coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships.
Alas, we knew Scottie Pippen, and Odom is no Pippen.
The Lakers front office has hemmed and hawed and kicked the tires, thinking about trading Odom several times over the years. But every time they thought about trading him they apparently got visions of what would happen if Odom fell into the hands of an evil genius such as Dr. Mike D’Antoni, once of the Phoenix Suns and now of the New York Knicks.
Basketball hell is giving up a talented player who then becomes the secret ingredient to the success of one of your sworn enemies.
Problem is, Odom’s such a talented, intriguing player that he presents a challenge for Jackson on how to use him. If the coaching staff could only harness that talent. …
The best answer the Lakers coaches could come up with was to move him to power forward, where he could rebound, defend and benefit from mismatches with slower opponents. That worked to a degree, but it left several things unresolved.
First, there was the open-court element of Odom’s talent just going to waste. That’s the kind of thing that keeps coaches awake at night.
Then there were the obvious things exposed in last year’s NBA championship series against the Celtics. Caught in the frontcourt playing in the triangle offense, Odom was often pretty damn good. But there were also numerous times he presented the figure of an unsure, inconsistent player.
The coaching staff was able to rationalize such inefficiency so long as the Lakers were winning and moving through the playoffs. But in the championship series, Los Angeles became a team exposed for its lack of mental toughness and inconsistency – and Odom became something of a poster child for those issues.
Plus the Lakers now face another head-scratcher. Center Andrew Bynum returns from injury this season, which moves Pau Gasol back to power forward. The Lakers hope to run a Twin Towers approach with the two 7-footers, although Winter has his doubts it’ll work in the “Small Is Beautiful” NBA of 2008.
Gasol at power forward would mean moving Odom to small forward, or so it seemed. (Actually, Odom remains an insurance policy. If the Twin Towers doesn’t work, he returns to power forward).
But as every single person in the Western World has learned by now, Jackson opened training camp this year by suggesting that Odom perhaps come off the bench. He made this announcement, of course, without discussing the issue at length with Odom himself.
Now, if you’ve ever played for Jackson, or played on a team that has gone up against Jackson, the last thing you want to do is trigger one of his mind games.
Unfortunately, it’s what Phil does best.
“Phil is the master of mind games,” Jordan said back in 1996 of the master manipulation that Jackson practiced.
Later, Jordan watched Jackson coach the Lakers and he declared, “He’s still the master of mind games, only better. He challenges you mentally. That’s his strong point.”
These mind games come in such variety that many times the people around Jackson proceed through the game without even being aware that they are participating, that he has engaged them in it and manipulated them. (He is magnificent at manipulating the media; reporters often seem least aware of his skill, perhaps because they’re easy suckers for the ego candy he feeds them).
His players are usually a bit smarter than reporters, so they have at least a dim awareness.
“There’s meanings in everything and why things are done not everyone always knows,” Bill Wennington, who played for Jackson in Chicago, explained. “Phil is a really deep thinker, and everything he says seems to have a lot of thought put into it. Most of the things he says have at least two meanings, and at times you have to figure out which one he means. But that’s part of Phil. He wants you to think; he wants you to figure out what’s going on. He doesn’t want you to do things just by rote, and he uses that term a lot. He wants you to think and know what’s going on and why you’re doing things.”
In the process of thinking about what Jackson has said to them, players sometimes discover that there was even a third or fourth intended meaning, Wennington said.
“At times you think back and you find a third or fourth meaning that you maybe didn’t see it right away. He knows how to push buttons and get guys going and get them to achieve goals that maybe other people can’t get.”
Odom, having played for Jackson for three seasons, is fully aware of his mind games. That didn’t stop the forward from complaining openly and vehemently about the idea of coming off the bench.
Perhaps Odom trumped Jackson by responding vociferously to the coach’s trial balloon.
After all, Jackson abruptly changed tactics. Now, it seems, the Lakers are ready to try Odom handling the ball and playing some point guard, or point forward, with veteran Derek Fisher moving to off guard and Kobe Bryant moving to small forward.
Just maybe, though, as Bill Wennington would allege, this is what Jackson wanted all along.
Some veteran Lakers observers might fuss that Odom can’t play point guard for the team because he still doesn’t know the triangle well enough.
Then again, Fisher has always been able to get the Lakers into their half-court offense. He knows the triangle well. If he’s there at 2 guard, he can easily take over in those half-court situations. And maybe, like Ron Harper did in Chicago, Odom will finally get the hang of the triangle.
And Bryant at the small forward? That’s where the Lakers like to play him on offense anyway.
Maybe Jackson had wanted to move Odom from power forward all along, so he simply challenged Odom’s status as a starter. Suddenly Odom was so worried about being a starter – he has been a starter his entire basketball life – that he didn’t bother anymore about being a power forward.
Maybe that’s what Jackson wanted all along, that, as usual, he was playing chess a couple of moves ahead of everybody else.
Fact is, with Jackson, you never really know. It’s only after he’s gotten his way that you’re left to figure out what really happened.
Across the continent in Charlotte, where he sits these days as an owner/operator of the Bobcats while keeping an interested eye on Jackson and the Lakers, Jordan is surely smiling.
He knows Phil usually manages to get what he wants.
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 8:17 am
The focus here should be the lack of leadership by Kobe Bryant.
This team will give up on itself before winning a championship because Kobe doesn’t get it. He’s not a leader and him being as good as he is that is a problem that LA won’t get past.
This was evident in plain sight in the Finals, Kobe did not know what to do and the rest of the Lakers followed his lead.
cookiemonster Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 9:17 am
What the hell are you talking about? They lost. Plain and simple. You’re doubting that kobe doesn’t know what to do when he’s already won 3 rings and an mvp award?
J-wealth Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Sorry Joey but you obviously know nothing about Basketball or didnt watch the nba finals this year, Lack of kobe leadership? a team doesnt make it to the NBA finals with there star player without leadership being displayed, if there was any NBA season that Kobe displayed leadership it was this past season, The Lakers were beaten by the celtics because they for one were out coached, celtics are more athletic, lakers were not mentaly tough at all and they lacked a legit defensive presence on the court and believe me i watched the nba finals games 1-6 all summer over and over and they lost not because of a so called no kobe leadership but because the Celtics were better mentally and physically. PS ( stop looking for more reasons to hate on kobe LOL!!! )
Rick Trotter Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 10:27 am
Joey Deegeling is right!
Kobe should have lead Pau, and Turiaf to defend one of the top Power Forwards in the game.
He should have lead Vladimir Radmanovic to stay in front of Paul Pierce.
He should have lead the team by keeping Perkins, PJ Brown, KG and Leon Powe off the offensive glass every time down the floor.
He should have lead Ariza to get healthy earlier so he could contribute more. He should have lead them by keeping Pierce, Allen, House, and Posey from being open on the three point line.
He should have lead them by making Lamar Odom not choke under pressure.
Kobe let the team down by helping the team get through the west at break neck speed.
It’s clear the Lakers were better than the Celtics with their winning 66 games, starting 3 hall of famers near their prime, having one of the best perimeter defenders/spot-up shooters in the league, and having momentum in a head-lock.
Kobe let his team down. The Lakers should have won despite a season ending injury to their center and toughest inside presence, having 3 soft Euros clocking major minutes, and having to put Chris Mihm and DJ Mbenga on the floor.
Besides if Kobe can give up on the Redeem Team by closing out Spain in the gold-medal game amidst all-stars, why would anyone think he would do any different for LA? The Lakers should have kept ONeal and shipped Kobe to the east!
Sincerely,
Shirley I. Jest
Brian Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 10:32 am
He leads by example. You can’t make a someone fight if they dont want to. Who’s your leader Steve nash? Jordan. If either of them were switch off for kobe and played this finals… they too would have lost.
Mark Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 11:06 am
What does Kobe have to do with this? I don’t think you watched the finals lol, gosh why are haters so stupid?
John Lappi Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Without disrespect Joey, you’re completely wrong. Kobe has nothing to do with Odom’s talent. He’s been an underachiever since his days at the Clippers. Don’t blame Kobe for everything that’s wrong with the Lakers.
Mike Greer Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 11:23 am
Good point Joey, but i think its the mental maturity of the entire laker roster that needs to develop. Players such as fisher, gasol, and odom will have had leadership thrust upon them at every level because of their elite talents. Yet on the leagues biggest stage they digressed.
It has been said that kobes lack of leadership stems from not going through college, and its true he must improve from this standpoint. However when the best player on your team is getten jumped by four guys, you as a professional have to find a way to contribute.
This is very critical anaylsis of a talented group of players that simply got beat by a better team.
Ahwi Quacoe Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 11:25 am
the article is about Lamar dude
TBS Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 11:50 am
A brilliant article by Roland Lazenby and all Joey can do is blame Kobe Bryant. Welcome to another NBA season.
thizizzle Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Hopefully Jackson & Odum can find a workable game plan before the season starts. Its a moot point that leadership was questionable because the Lakers were outmanned & beaten by a better team in the finals. Go Lakers!
Cinimod Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
^^ If I was Roland I’d be offended. I will have written this insightful though provoking article for the masses of Lakers fans, only to have some Kobe obsessed individual come in and, ever so quickly, try to make it about #24…
I like the article RL…Appreciated the way you dug for those ex-Bulls players quotes…There are a few points I don’t agree with, but it was very informative and entertaining…
Joey Queerling Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Yea, he only led them to the finals.. And led the US team to a Gold medal in the Olympics
Joey, let go of your Kobe hate. It makes you seem retarded.
jubei Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
You are trippin, this has nothing to do with Kobe’s leadership skill either pro or con. What this is about is Odom’s agressiveness and tenacity on offense being more consistant.
Ron Harper types are excellent in the triangle and Jackson wants him there. Remember Jackson loves big lineups, always has. So lamar Kobe pau and Bynum gives him the lineup he likes with a shortguy thrown in to set them up and keep them moving.
Lamar must get more agressive, and thats what was missing, not kobe’s leadership, thats whatgot them there in the first place. Personally i think that had they met New Orleans instead of San Antonio in the playoffs they’d have been more conditioned in the mind to deal with Boston. but just them geting there with what they had was good enough last year. it’s not this year however.
stuckey Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Kobe is a problem for Los Angeles? That’s a problem 29 other teams would like to have.
Anyways, I like the Lakers, they are young and talented.
Hell, they made it to the sixth game of the finals when most writers were saying at the beginning of the season that they had a slim chance to make the playoffs. They have a load of young players now with Finals experience. Plus Andrew Bynum looks to be a decent center.
If finding a position for Odom is their big problem this season they may even go farther this year. Every team has injuries, its nice when you have a player like Odom that can fill many types of voids.
stuckey Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
Hey Rick,
If the Lakers kept Shaq and shipped Kobe to the EAst:
The Lakers would have a washed up Shaq right now, and owe him 30 million for the next THREE seasons. He would have destroyed the Lakers Salary cap. Bynum would also be playing for another team. Plus no Kobe.
Glad Rick is not working for the Lakers.
Matt Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
Odom finds himself in a contentious area. With Bynum freed up to play in the post, and Gasol moving to the four, where do you Odom?
Jackson’s idea of bringing him off the bench - and airing this in the media - looks like a typical Jackson move of motivating a guy who sometimes looks aloof on the court. But the thought of playing him at the three position should be tested out in the preseason.
I’d prefer a smaller guy there, purely for defensive reasons. There’s no doubt in my mind Odom can handle the three position from an offensive standpoint. He has the handle and agility - not to mention the defensive problems he’d cause. Yet the more I think about it, bringing Odom off the bench proves a much more logical move for the Lakers and strengthens an already deep bench.
(Though Radmanovic should not take the 3 position. Love his shot, but man, the guy can disappear for entire quarters.)
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
You guys are right, KOBE is the best player in the entire universe. I am such a dumbshit. Thank you im going to kill myself now because I am a shame to the human species.
El Duderino Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
There you go Joey… good thing you came to your senses. Now please, jump.
anthony vayas Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
KOBE KOBE KOBE KOBE …….. Come on guys ….. critics.. who the hell r u guys to put his name in your mouth …..bad mouthing him….. suckas… you dont want to see Kobe On The Court … Your Talent aint nowhere next to his …. you wouldnt be able to do wut he has done … if u played NBA LIVE on ur playstaion 1,2,3…. get my point… keep it real …. U guys Acting Like u Can do better …. y do i even waste my breathe on u chumps….. KOBE KOBE KOBE KOBE KOBE KOBE …….LAKERS#1
anthony vayas Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Oh Yeah one more thing…. theres a reason he gets a fat pay check ull never have ….. its called TALENT ….. wut u dont have ….. U get ur two week paychecks on fridays and u broke by mondays….. Only talent u have is called Spectators… dats all u can do pay ur money to watch him … SUCKAS
steve kohn Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
No comment on Joey Dingaling’s assessment of the best player on the planet. The Zen master first hinted Odom may come off the bench, now it’s a move to the backcourt. Get the message Lamar’ Sir Philip doesn’t know where to play you! After your abysmal performance against the Celts, I don’t blame Jackson’ The Lakers needed Odom to match up with Pierce and keep him from dominating the series at the 3. He didn’t. Odom does only to things above average on the court-bringing the ball up on the fast break and trying to rebound. Everything else he is average or below with his rebounding blocking out non existent. Wonder why the Lakers haven’t offered Lamar an extension with his deal up? The Lakers have to find some value in Odom before the trade deadline or must make a deal to improve the team in either the small forward spot or backcourt or both. My wish list is Caron Butler and Antonio Daniels for Odom. This deal would help both teams .
JTG Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Great article about Lamar Odom. I watched the videos of Lamar and Phil answering questions about Odom’s role in the coming season on the Lakers media day. Phil is very cryptic, yet defined in his confidence about how they will proceed. His mind games are a bit genius and creepy. Odom was frustrated and a bit agitated. He knows Phil is quietly urging him to be fired up and demonstrative with his basketball talents more consistently.
This has been overwhelmingly the Laker fan hot topic of the summer.
There is great intrigue for basketball fans to see how this all plays out.
It is funny that people have yet to comment directly on the article written. I don’t think Joey “big bag of douche” even read the article. Merely used the Laker involved title as a means to spout half cocked ill knowledged bile from his head into the electric world medium.
Thank you Joey for your inspired brilliance man. We can all feel a little more secure about ourselves knowing that there are genuinely sad small minded people like yourself ready to moronically talk smack about people and things just to get attention.
Back to the story at hand.
I think Fisher is to important and practiced in the offense to move to shooting guard spot in the tri. Odom will only initiate the offense i n set matchups to change the rythym. Odom should have many screen and roll plays drawn up for him cutting left for passes and picks between the high and low post. The Lakers can give a number of differnt looks to matchup with any opposition. Ariza will be a factor defender and energy guy that can slow down the opposing 1,2,3.
I think all Laker fans and basketball fans are eager to see it unfold.
kray28 Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
I’m curious, how does discussion of an article which is mainly about Lamar Odom’s underachievement and Phil Jackson’s mind games get derailed into an attack on Kobe Bryant?
kray28 Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
My feeling on Lamar is that you are going to know see his last hurrah with the team.
The Lakers aren’t giving up on him, but they’re giving him once last chance (until the trade deadline) to show that he’s worth keeping.
Odom in the backcourt is a serious liability for a variety of reasons. He has no perimeter shot and everyone knows he drives left. Defending him won’t be hard, and the impact on triangle floor spacing will be detrimental.
JTG Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
kray28
It is not a new season in the NBA until pseudo fans hear the word “Lakers” and start bashing Kobe in every ridiculous way imaginable!
JTG Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
kray28
I agree with your assesment of the Lakers with Lamar. However, I am not certain that his game and inability from the perimeter will disrupt the spacing. In the tri the three perimeter rotations can be interchangeable. Kobe and Fisher should be enough on the edges to keep the defenses honest and create spacing. If it doesn’t work I have faith PJ will find the right pieces and make the adjustment to create the flow for success.
hmmm Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
I am not a Kobe hater and I think he’s the most talented player in the world, but he did not step up in the finals. Bottom line. Granted, basketball is a team game but when you are down in a close final game and you’re team is getting shut down, you’re supposed to be that player on the court that is going to take over the game. He hardly drove into the lane, took long range jumpers even when they weren’t falling and was hesitant and unsure of himself. Now, I can understand that the team’s sucess in the season had a large part to do with Kobe’s change in mentality in terms of trusting his teamates more and distributing more often. Hopefully this is a learning experience for him and next year when the lakers most likely will be in the finals, he’ll know what to do.
» HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Roland Lazenby » The Lakers and Lamar, a … »Sport News & Equipment Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
[...] Sport news by unknown [...]
alatsacto Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Great article Roland. We get an idea of the mind games PJ likes to use on everyone.
I can’t wait for the season to start. Let’s all wait and see what happens. We haven’t even seen the triple towers play a single minute together, and we’re already shipping players out. Let’s give them a month or two to see how things gel. I love Odom’s skill-set, so I’m hesitant to dump him so readily. He just needs to put it all together consistently. When he’s into the game, he does a lot of little things that don’t always show up on the box score.
“stuckey” have you ever heard of something called sarcasm. You should look it up. “Rick” I hear you. We all saw the Gold Medal game, on a team of superstars, Kobe CARRIED the team down the stretch, when they were close to blowing the game. I’ve been critical with Kobe over the years post Shaq era, when he was trying to carry the subpar team. However when Kobe knows he has the supporting fire power around him there is nobody else better in the post-Jordan era. Just look at the Championship years, even though Shaq was the #1 guy, it was always Kobe leading them to victory at the end of the games. He trusted his guys like Fisher, Fox, and Horry, now he’s working on building that trust with this new cast. With another year of the triangle under their belts, look out for this group to be SCARY offensively. With good health, this team has the players to be very good defensively.
soge shirts Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
Phil could be playing mind games with Odom but I don’t think Odom at point is going to work too well. Odom turns the ball over much too much for my taste and although he is just initiating the offense he tends to charge into his man when he drives. Also if he is on the perimeter can he knock down the wide open outside jumper that he is sure to get with Bynum and Gasol down low and Bryant penetrating? I will be very interested to see how the spacing works.
Lance Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
Good call joey! Kobe isn’t a great leader as the media and everybody else thinks he is. Cookie monster said “Kobe has three rings” well so does Derek Fisher and Rick Fox…Robert Horry has 6 rings. Did kobe win finals MVP for any of the championships? Last i checked he was riding the dominance of the Diesel at the time don’t ya remember 2002 game four in New Jersey Shaq had 55-16-3-2 =SWEEP! Leadership…Jordan had Bill Wenington and Luc Longley as his bigs. Pau Gasol would kill both of them and is way better than the both of them combined. If you gave Jordan this team they would win 7-8 rings in a row. kobe couldn’t bring out the fire in them and like Joey said when he gave up they all gave up. Also Kobe was playing good team ball until the finals, then he started going back to his old ways “i can turn it on when ever i want to” mode looks like he never turned it on. He did have his career high though in the finals 35 points. That’s why the Celtics had a harder time with the best player on the planet who isn’t even in his prime Lebron james. They went to Game 7 and Lebron got his 45 and lost by six, If he had a better team they would have won. Bar None. Last one the Lakers had a pretty pancake road to the finals too. but hey they earned it by securing the #1 seed. I guess they might be the team to beat this season with Bynum back. We’ll see
Ness Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
Great article ! Thank you !
Leo Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
Lamar Odom is a freaking joke. God blessed this chump with unbelievable potential, and all he has done is underachieve at every stop. He had the opportunity to use this offseason to improve his ball-handling skills and jumpshot, so as to more effectively transition to small forward. Did he? No. Instead, he “chilled” on a beach all summer and reported to camp out of shape. And this is a contract year. Hope he enjoys coming off the bench, destroying what little market vaule he had, and his mid-level contract (with some other team) next year. Loser.
Whatchtalkin Bout Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
Isn’t this supposed to be a Lamar article?
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
I am glad i sparked such debate and flaming from the Laker nation.
First off the best player in the NBA is LeBron James. If James was on the Lakers last year they would win the championship. If you disagree you are just hatin’.
Since you want to discuss Lamar - the Lakers had their best periods in the finals when Pau was at the top of the key passing to a posting up Lamar. They ran this play a few times and they were up huge when they did so. However for some reason Phil takes Odom out of the game and they lead is gone. (same for Fisher).
Therefore a four corners version of the triangle would do wonders for the Lakers. They can interchange Kobe and Lamar in the middle and both their big man will be able to post up and their shooters can spot up. This allows both Kobe to drive and Lamar to post up in the middle. Either of them would be bringing the ball up while the other mans the middle spot.
Suede Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
WOw Joey you must be a true hateful Basketball fan…I’m not surprised so many out there. The article is about Lamar Odom and all you can do is write a lengthy article about how much Kobe sucks. You just idolized Jordan growing up and can’t admit that the one person coming close to emultaing your child hood hero shame on you Joey grow up and take bball for what it is and discuss the issues at hand or keep quiet at your Keyboard. You ruined Roland’s article.
Craig W. Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
If the comments here reflect the general public and the press it is no wonder Phil’s moves and words confuse just about everyone. The point of the article was not just about Lamar, but about Jackson’s techniques and thought process. Never take him at his word and never take him too personally. Of course that is a bit tough when the average pro athlete has an ego the size of Mars.
Craig Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
Well the fact that this article was striclty about Lamar Odom and the Lakers trying to find a role for him and yet someone finds a way to bash Kobe shows jus how great Kobe is. honestly if Kobe was as bad as the haterz say then he would be irrelevant. It takes a team to win a championship, always has and always will. And u cant force any grown ass man to step up and get tough if he doesnt have it in him. he either has it or he doesnt. so stop trying to blame Kobe for everything, the guy is the best player on the planet right now. get used to it cuz he aint going nowhere for a while.
but yea back to Odom. i feel like the 1st half of the season is his final chance to get it right. The lakers have given him chance after chance and he started out great only to disappear like usual. I feel like he will be traded for a pure shooter. I mean the guy has so much damn talent but he doesnt know wat to do with it. Hopefully he figures it out, if not then we gotta let him go and move on. Cant stop this ship, i see this being the beginning of another Dynasty. lets go lakers!!!
chantana Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
Wowwww Joey and Rick trotter why dont u watch the laker games more. Rick how can u tell a 6-10 PF to stay infront of Paul Pierce? Vlad is too slow and leadership cant bring up someone’s athleticism. then u talk about Pau bein soft? KG is a freeak even Duncan cant guard that. and being a VERY young team in their first NBA final against a team thats got former champs (posey, cassell) and hall of famers they already are at disadvantage with lack of experience. And Lebron is not the best player in the L, how many All Defensive teams have lebron been on? where’s the midrange jumper? dont get me wrong lebron is a freak of nature and is a great great player. and Joey would the lakers have won the 3 rings without kobe? probly not given that kobe had 20 a game in those finals and played superb defence on the perimeter guys like Iverson and kidd. who did Shaq (in his prime) play against in those finals? Van Horn, McCouglouh, Mutumbo….exactly my point. so stop hatin on kobe and just look out for them this year, all this hatin just make him more fierce, AND with Bynum back they finally got rebounding so forget all u haters
Joey Retardgeling Said,
October 3, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
LOL @ Lebron being the best player in the NBA.
You’re a bigger jackass than anyone thought.
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 12:45 am
Hey guys - I was joking about everything i said. Kobe is the best in the NBA right now. And I just noticed I said a four corners version of the triangle would do wonders for the Lakers. Wow, I must be a dumbshit because triangles don’t have four corners.
januko Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 1:24 am
Great article sir! Well, talking about Lamar Odom, I like him to be the Toni Kukoc for the Lakers. Remember Toni Kukoc? He was a Croat who plays like Lamar Odom. The Croat was also a big factor the Bulls won against the Jazz in two NBA Finals. If Lamar can embrace that role (which I doubt), the Lakers could have a very potent second unit. So how is that guys?
Better Version Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 8:44 am
Now, Joey’s initial comment has some merit given how the Lakers just seemed totally overwhelmed and rudderless in the Finals, and I’m sure Kobe with his shoddy play and questionable attitude deserves some blame for the collapse - but can’t you also point to Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher for failing to provide leadership as well? However the comment was out of place in a Lamar Odom article.
On that note, Odom at SF is hardly ideal, but may be the best that the Lakers have. Now, I’m not saying that there won’t be some advantages of having him be the 3-man, the Lakers would own the glass, plus LO is a better passer than any other Laker SF (except for possibly Walton, who is still injured and not really a viable starter). Furthermore, LO would not be as much of a liability defensively at SF as folks believe. Kobe guards the best perimeter player anyway, and aside from Boston Milwaukee and possibly Houston (if Artest plays SF), teams do not have big scoring threats at both SF and SG. I’m sure LO can guard the Raja Bells, Bowens and Mo Petersons of the world. However, Odom cannot be trusted to hit an open jumpshot. Its frustrating to watch year after year how it’s his weakness, and dude does not seem to work on this aspect of his game at all. And with the hulking Bynum back, Joeys vision of LO in the post is pretty much a thing of the past. BUT here’s the rub - LO as a mismatched 3 is better than anything that the Lakers have, aside from one option I will mention. Everyone seems to think that Ariza would be a better fit at SF, forgetting that homie CANNOT shoot either. Also please forget about VladRad being a starter anymore, he is allergic to D and he’s way too inconsistent. Walton seems like a good fit, but he’s still out and will need to work his way back. LO is likely the best option here, unless Phil slides Kobe to SF and starts Vujacic at SG. Vujacic can shoot and defend, which is what the Lakers need alongside Kobe Pau and Bynum, but starting him might screw up the rest of the rotation, given the lack of another quality SG on the team. It also sounds unlikely because it’s not something Phil has done in the past given a healthy roster.
Better Version Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 8:56 am
PS Januko makes an excellent point. As far as size and ballhandling, Odom is very similar to Kukoc, who was a stellar 6th man on the latter Bulls 3-peat. Given how the Laker bench seems to lack anyone else who can create his own shot, Odom would be a terror as a 6th man a la Ginobili. This is the best reason to start someone else, BUT let’s not kid ourselves - unless Vujacic is promoted, I don’t think anyone else on the roster is a better fit at this time, given my comment above.
chantana Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 9:56 am
i agree with januko, lamar just gotta buy into phil jackson’s thinkin and come off the bench. their second unit can pick up right where the starters left them, Farmar and sasha are better so if lamar come of the bench theres definitely steady scoring.
justin-time Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 11:17 am
i agree with some of what Better Version said. Lamar isn’t the best small forward in the world, but he’s still probably the most talented person on the team that can play the position (besides Kobe, but i don’t really want to mess with his position, cuz he’s an mvp at SG, and played that spot for most of his career).
also, i’m sure Phil is only looking at this Lamar at the Point as just an experiment. he’s not dumb; if it doesn’t work, he’ll abandon it.
and why does everyone seem to think that Lamar will play just one position? i’m sure during the course of this long season, he gets to play a variety of positions. even in the same game. he can start at the 3, and then Phil can rest Gasol or Bynum, and then move Lamar over to that position, thus allowing him to bring in Ariza or Walton or Rad. he might even have Lamar move over to 2nd unit center, and play Rad at back-up 4, with Walton or Ariza. then he gets rest when Gasol/Bynum returns.
and unless the opportunity to get a better player appears, i’d re-sign LO. i agree with the guy that said he liked LO’s skill-set. he’s just got too many skills and too much athleticism and size. he might be making too much money, but i surely wouldn’t want to see him on the Suns, Spurs or Hornets.
(oh yeah, and i think LA should never have let Robert Horry or Caron Butler go)
Mobiz Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Ohh Kobe backers keep right on with your defense. In the end a team takes the form of its leader. Kobe has again and again shown that he is all about himself. He is mega-talented, no question, talented enough to put the team on his back and carry them through the playoffs, but when he ran into an organization that knew how to play together, that knew how to exploit the talents of everyone on their team he was totally out matched.
Kobe will never win a championship on his own. He needs a second star who can take control of the team when the pressure is on, who knows when to put on the cape and when to empower those around him. Brian said that if you swapped Jordan (young Jordan I’ll assume) in for Kobe the Lakers still would have lost. Total crap, Jordan would have brought the toughness the Lakers were lacking in the finals. He also would take on Odom as a project and turn him into the stud he could be. Kobe is too busy worrying about himself to ever show that kind of leadership.
Mo Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Man, y’all clueless. Kobe and Odom will switch. Think a bout it. Lamar can play the two. If they play teams with running two guards ( Rip Hamilton, Ginobli) then Lamar can play the 3 forward. Kobe posts up more than Lamar anyways, and now Lamar can hit the offensive boards or switch with Lamar to hit the boards. It’s not like the Lakers have a bunch of immobilized bigs.
Jeff Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 8:24 pm
Joey u don’t have to listen and respond to these fascists..I can’t believe that in 2008 still exist PEOPLE that don’t respect a different opinion-point of view.What can i say?At least major lack of education..
Craig Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
OH WOW MOBIZ APPARENTLY THINKS THAT MJ IS GOD. LOL. DUDE HOW THE HELL CAN KOBE MAKE LAMAR ODOM BETTER. HE’S BEEN ON THE LAKERS FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS AND HIS JUMP SHOT HASNT IMPROVED A BIT. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE DUDE JUS DOESNT HAVE IT. AND ABOUT KOBE NOT WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP BY HIMSELF…. UMMMM NO SHIT ASSHOLE. LOL. NOBODY DOES, IT TAKES A TEAM. MJ NEVER DID IT ALONE. HE HAD THE BEST COACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME, PIPPEN (HALL OF FAMER) AND GREAT SUPPORTING CAST. LIKE GET REAL DUDE, IM SICK OF PPL LOOKING BACK ON MJ AND OVER EXAGGERATING WAT HE DID AND COMPARING IT TO TODAY. THE GAME HAS CHANGED AND TO BE HONEST WAT COMPETITION DID JORDAN HAVE @ HIS POSITION WHEN HE WAS PLAYING??? NOT MUCH. BUT NOBODY WANTS TO ADMIT B CUZ ITS MICHAEL JORDAN. TAKE MJ’S DICK OUT YA MOUTH.
POINT BLANK THE LAKERS LOSS TO THE BETTER TEAM WITH MORE EXPERIENCE.
Guillermo de Hong Kong Said,
October 4, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Well, Lamar is just a little problem.
Remember, he’s got a great coach in Phil Jackson and he’s got talent and most importantly the right attitude which is to share the ball. As long as he continues to drill and listens to the Master’s instructions, this kid would eventually get his games rolling.
On the other hand, the biggest problem remains, Kobe.
I don’t know if you have read “The Final Season” by Phil Jackson. This is a book capturing Phil’s diary throughout the 04 season. The one who took away Malone’s and Payton’s last chance was no other than Kobe. His me-first behaviour has destoryed the team chemistry and morale on and off the court for years. If Jerry Buss doesn’t have a daughter in Jenny, I don’t see Jackson coming back and tolerating Kobe for these years.
You don’t believe me, huh?! READ THE BOOK AND ASK JACKSON!
By the way, the recent Olymipics exemplified Kobe’s lack of self-discipline. Who took the most shots for Team USA? Kobe. But he’s way afar from the top-scorer title.
adrian Said,
October 5, 2008 @ 1:42 am
Listen guys, Lamar is a good third option. He is not and never will be a 2nd option. Gasol came up weak then people was looking at Lamar to pick up the slack. That will never happen in LA. Remember Miami? Eddie Jones was like the #1 option then when Miami started really winning Wade’s rookie year he became the #1 option and Eddie Jones was the #2 option and Lamar just kinda free-lanced.
To say Kobe is not a leader is ludicrous and you are insulting yourself by saying such things. I mean anyone that knows basketball can’t respond to such a statement. LA got exposed because they lacked front court toughness. The Celtics really exposed that as their role guys Perkins, PJ Brown, Leon Powe I think that cat has like 22pts one game. Lakers need A Bynum and everyone knew it. Kobe is not MJ simply because his image was not as protected as MJ and the league was different then.So please guys watch the games more and develop your own opinions rather than watching sports center and NBA TV and getting your facts.
Mobiz Said,
October 5, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Guillermo brings up a great point. None other than his own coach thinks Kobe is too selfish to be a respected basketball leader.
Those of you who don’t think talented players can’t make players around them better just don’t know sports (Craig). Toughness is contagious, both mental and physical. Encouragement at the right times, and tough love when needed can completely turn around a players self confidence. Kobe just doesn’t have those skills. Pippen became Pippen in part because Jordan guided him.
Guys like Craig have their head so far up Kobe’s ass that they can’t see the forrest for the trees. The Lakers go as Kobe goes, and Jackson knows it, that’s why he’s constantly trying to reign him in. When Kobe plays controlled basketball and gets his teammates involved the Lakers win. When things get tough for the team Kobe’s weak character comes through and things break down. He tries to take the game on is back, and the rest of the team panics.
Kobe’s trash as a person, and in the end it comes out on the court, that’s the beauty of life. And if you were starting a team today and didn’t take LeBron over Kobe your out of your freakin’ mind!
JW Said,
October 5, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
Kobe is the most polished player to ever touch a basketball however he is not a natural leader. His arrogance and social disinterest has been the achilles of hi legacy. Other players admit its nice to play alongside of him but thats all. He is known to “quit” to prove a point (Game 7 vs Phoenix 3 yrs ago in the 2nd half). Court Personality and Skill = a leader. His Basketball skill is superior but he simply doesn’t have the personality to be looked at as a leader.
globapix Said,
October 5, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
Hmm… Kobe’s not a leader? Well, maybe not. But then why did all the superstars defer to him in a game ever bigger than the NBA finals - the Gold Medal game in Beijing? And Kobe delivered.
So you can bash him if you will, but he’s an American hero for now. Sure he wasn’t at his best in the final games against Boston. But, hey, nobody’s perfect. As they say in Brooklyn, wait ’til next year. (Which seems about to start anyway)
nmonyei Said,
October 5, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
Rick Trotters response is great. Very hilarious!
a-rog Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 1:39 am
AHAHAHAHHAHA!!! i agree with Ahwi Quacoe
Logan Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 2:33 am
I think it’s interesting that NBA players are such babies about their “minutes” and who gets to be a “starter.” And of course, they love to complain about their salaries. NBA players, are by far, the most spoiled, egotistical, and whining group of professional athletes anywhere on the planet.
For example. Did you know that a NFL roster consists of 53 active players, not even including players signed to practice squads. Now, out of those 53 players, 24 players are guaranteed a start (11 players per side, plus a kicker and punter). But 24 players do not play the entire game. On average, close to 40 players, per team, play in each and every game. And how often, outside of the most important position, do you hear about players whining about playing time, not starting, or their contract. Considering the sheer SIZE of an NFL team’s roster, I’d say, not that much. And this is not considering the weekly battles by practice players to even MAKE the active 53-man roster.
By comparison, nearly every NBA team has atleast half it’s roster who believe they deserve more minutes, more money, or the chance to start. But, if they would realize, like the NFL, that the NBA is a team game (although individuals do have more impact in the NBA game). And unless you’re willing to put aside your WANTS for what your team NEEDS, only then will a team “lock in” that focus that is required of NBA Champions.
Where the Celtics overall more talented than the Lakers? No, obviously not. Were they more experienced? (Kobe, Fisher, and Jackson vs. Garnett, Allen, Pierce, and Rivers) Debatable till the ends of time. But were they more cohesive, did the Celtics just KNOW they were a better team, a more unified team? Hell freaking yes.
And until the Lakers realize that, they’ll never win a Championship. There are no Baltimore Ravens in the NBA. There are no accidental champions. You have to be it, or move on.
Ok, so now, having said that, I’ll put my two cents in on Odom. Obviously, since I just bitched about a willingness to sacrifice your wants for the team needs, I’m going to say that Odom belongs on the bench. But he’s our 6th Man. He should EASILY win the 6th Man of the Year award. He should average 30+ minutes a game. We should never see Mihm or Mbenga or Powell unless someone’s in foul trouble.
Let’s face it, Odom is a great talent. But his glaring weaknesses also make him too difficult to make a starter. He’s faster and a better ballhandler than most power forwards. He’s stronger and bigger than most small forwards. But this also works vice versa. Versus PFs, he’s too small and too weak. Against SFs, he’s too big and too slow. Someone suggested having him at point forward, with Kobe at SF. Or Odom at SF and just have Kobe guard the best perimeter man. But if the opponent’s best perimeter man is their SF, then who guards the even faster and quicker shooting guard? Odom? Isn’t that why we didn’t have him guarding the SF in the first place?
Odom is tweener. He doesn’t fit in any one position. So that’s why his BEST position is the 6th Man. The 6th Man, in his best usage, is a player who plays 3 positions. Not two. Three. A guard-forward combo, or a forward-center combo. The latter is Odom. How often was Odom the center at the start of the 2nd Quarter? Why can’t that work now? With Odom, getting 30 mpg as the primary backup for Bynum, Gasol, and whoever is at SF, whether it be Bryant, Vujacic, Ariza, Walton, or Radmanovic, this gives us a bench mob that is far more impressive than last season, and could rival some team’s starting 5.
Tell me, how is Odom NOT an upgrade over Turiaf? With Bynum back, that’s essentially the trade that was made. The only problem, and this is going to be the TRUE decider of Odom’s fate… is his contract. Odom earns $15 million plus this coming season, and for the 4th best player on your team, and possibly not even a starter… that is far too much. We already pay Radmanovic too much, and he was a starter most of last season.
The only chance Odom sticks around is if he accepts a 6th Man role, and, this is key, accepts a MAJOR paycut after his contract expires.
But alas, like I pointed out in my earlier ramble… Odom, despite being the great guy he is, will do what every NBA player does, even our lovable Ronny Turiaf… take the offer that has the most zeroes in it.
Henry Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 4:49 am
Actually Lamar coming off the bench makes a lot of sense: the twin towers will need to take alternate breathers plus foul trouble, match up considerations, Kobe can shift btwn the 2nd guard and small fwd….by moving him to the bench, Lamar can spell pretty anyone, anchor a second unit etc…if versality is game, then make full use of it.
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 7:39 am
Just a quick note.
Tex Winters does not think the Lakers can run twin tower offense. (see article) The best option for the Lakers becomes benching Gasol or Bynum; Gasol is more offensively talented and seems to mess better with Kobe and Bynum is more of a rock on defense.
My choice would be playing Bynum with the second unit and in the fourth quarter together with the starters. This will provide more looks on offense and stronger defense overal. Both will still be able to play 30+ mins ppg anyways.
Adamantelope Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
Hmmm is Lamar really the problem? Is it Kobe? It seems like the Lakers (minus Bynum) overachieved during the playoffs. They beat the crafty Spurs and the up and coming Jazz (no answer for Kobe at SG!) In the end they lost to a sort of dream team for the Celtics with 3 All stars and maybe a couple of hall of famers all hungry for a ring. Now the Lakers are young and versatile team with endless possiblities. Good big men and almost unstoppable Kobe, they have to be favored to win the whole thing. In any case, if you’re going to throw somebody under the bus maybe look at Radmanovich or Vujocic. They lack toughness required for the NBA. Of course Jackson will not have to rely on these guys if everybody else is healthy, but they could be replaced. A couple of defensive minded role players, maybe a shooter off the bench and the team could be dangerous. That being said I hate them and especially Kobe, and I’m not even sure why. Perhaps the sense of entitlement disturbs me?
Steve H. Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
Odom has to take the blame for this I’m not going to blame Kobe or any other player for another player who (is a grown man first) makes 14mil a year not accountable for his actions. He (Odom) has to show initiative, he should have gotten a double double easy every night against Boston. Point Proven: Al Horford a ROOKIE was beasting Garnett, Perkins and Powell!!!!!!!!!!!! No excuse for Odom not to step up to the plate. The Lakers should trade him for Turgolou who spreads the floor with his 3 point shooting and is a playmaker, Or another option would be to acquire Jamal Crawford from NY he and Kobe would be the best backcourt in the NBA. Odom can go back east (NY) where he’s from and the Lakers get a shooter /playmaker who can control the tempo and put serious pressure on the defense. I say let him ride he has had ample oppurtunities to prove himself, I stopped being a fan after they Lost being up 3-1 versus Phoenix a few season’s ago.
frank B Said,
October 6, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
Lamar would be the perfect fit to come off the bench. As stated in other posts, his talents don’t map perfectly into any position. He’s not tall enough for center, not strong enough for power forward, and doesn’t have enough range on his shot to play small forward or guard in my opinion. But he does have talents that are unique and is a difficult cover for anyone.
All of these comments have to do with the offensive end of the floor. On defense, Lamar is not talented. He is a very good rebounder, but cannot guard any, and I mean any position on the floor.
Instead of displaying hatred for Bean Bryant who has has won three rings, an MVP award, has been the league’s leading scorer, been on the all defensive team virtually every year, was an all-star as a teenager, and just lead one of the greatest teams ever assembled to the Olympic Gold medal, let’s just be clear that the Celtics won because they were a better team than the Lakers. Congratulations to the Celtics for an extraordinary year and I think that most basketball fans love to see a guy like Garnett get a ring.
Basketball is a team game. Let’s graduate from whether Kobe is better than Michael or whether Batman is stronger than Superman to a discussion of what role Lamar Odom should play on the Lakers.
The Lakers lost to the Celtics because the Celtics played better defense than the Lakers played offense. Lamar Odom fills up the stat sheet, but whomever he guards fills it up as well
Lamar has shown that on the offensive end of the floor that he is most comfortable playing a supporting role. This is why I find it curious to place him at the facilitator, or point guard position. This is a position of leadership, and I don’t see any of leadership qualities in Lamar.
Off the bench he could literally sub for any position on the floor. This is a valuable attribute for a bench player. It could offer him new life as a spark plug type role like Manu Ginobli and Jerry Stackhouse have. One of the greatest players of all time is John Havlicek, and he spent a lot of time coming off of the bench. It is no dishonor to fill a role that you are well suited for, and Lamar should embrace coming off the bench as the opportunity that it is to help his team.
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 7, 2008 @ 6:59 am
I find it ridiculous that Kobe leads the team to the finals and then doesn’t get blamed for choking up and getting schooled by Paul Pierce. Who would have thought he couldn’t score at will on Ray Allen…
If they had won the thing Kobe would have gotten credit for it and now that they lost they blame others… bulsh!t.
Sat a Tim Duncan would have put the blame on himself because he’s a true leader. That said we can get back to the Lamar issue.
The Lakers went to the Finals last year with Odom starting. Tex Winters does NOT believe Lakers can play a twin tower set. Clearly the best idea is putting Bynum in the second unit.
Neil Nameroff Said,
October 7, 2008 @ 8:21 am
Trade Odom and Bynum to Miami for Marion, Cook and future one and two draft picks, Marion is the Lakers’ missing a link–a star at both ends of the floor who will bring rings to LA.
Steve H. Said,
October 7, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
Joey D. get the hate out your heart, Kobe could beat Paul Pierce or Ray Allen in a one on one easily. It is a team sport and those guys didnt pull their weight. I’m from Chicago and even MJ with all his greatness couldn’t do it all alone. When we lost to Orlando the city didn’t blame just MJ, Pippen and the rest of those guys took the heat so Walton, THAT BUM RADMONOVICH and those other guys totally sucked(check their numbers in the Fianls series. Kobe will take some off the heat NOT ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!! Phil got too cocky Radmonovich on Pierce? Bad Move, he should have gone with Fish,KB,Odom,Turiaf and Gasol the game would have been more competitive. But I stand by my statement you can keep him in the sixth man role, but I would trade him for Hedo or Jamal Crawford and let the two bigs handle their businees and they would have better balance.
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 8, 2008 @ 7:37 am
So first preseason game, Phil is following EAXCTLY what i proposed above, starting Lamar benching Bynum and running the ball through Kobe and Lamar.
All the haters proven wrong.
Joey Deegeling Said,
October 8, 2008 @ 7:37 am
*Exactly
Steve H. Said,
October 8, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
That’s because it was the first preseason game. He won’t be on the bench for the remainder of the season.
rusty shackleford Said,
October 10, 2008 @ 5:12 am
Replying to rick trotter…
U can lead a horse to water but u can’t make him drink… Kobe can lead the lakers to the finals, but without their REAL CENTER ANDREW BYNUM they were helpless against the celtics. Even doc rivers knows ubuntu wouldn’t have saved their asses if bynum stayed healthy and we never got gasol, bynum would have continued his breakthrough season and he would’ve handily trounced boston into the ground. Gasol is a power forward so we didn’t have a true center. Bynum is the future, let the new laker dynasty begin… 99% of hate is out of jealousy, so keep hatin and the lakers will keep winning.
Mobiz Said,
October 10, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Rusty dude, it’s interesting how you can be wrong on so many different levels. Rick Trotter signed his post Shirley I. Jest, the entire post is sarcasm - and in fact he is probably a delusional Laker fan like you. Further, what a tremendous load of speculation your post is, to assume that Bynum would have turned the entire series. What will your excuse be at the end of this season when the Lakers lose to New Orleans.
Maybe some of these negative posts about Kobe and the Lakers have noting to do with jealousy and hatin, maybe they are just cold hard basket ball analysis. Being a fan of a team doesn’t require that you are blind to their faults. To all you Laker zealots, try examining the game instead of looking to spin things in favor of the Lakers. The team lacks character, and I don’t think Bynum is going to change that.
namebrandz4less Said,
October 11, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
I think that phil should leave odom at the 3. With Bynum back Odom numbers is going to be down, but now odom can concentrate his role on the team….If i remember correctly Bynum before the injury was 10n10 guy or 15n10. With bynum back everyone role’s is more defined since they don’t have overcompensate for a key player. Odom can concentrate on assists (slashing and dishing to a cutter), missed rebounds either end, concentrate his points coming from mid range or the free throw line. Bynum role is to block shots, rebound, score 10-14points. Gasol block shots, rebound, score 18-24pts. Fisher play defense, knock down three’s, be a leader of the triangle (he does have 3 rings). Kobe just has to create havoc on both ends, don’t need him to score as much unless the situation calls for it. Kobe 20-25pts, try to get his steals up again create the fear he did in the Olympics. Positions 1-4 are all good passers, not many teams have that.They have the pieces to win a title if everyone is healthy
Steve H. Said,
October 12, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
Lamar has a choice he can either go ahead and accept the sixth man role and use it as a motivation. It can be a positive, it will allow him to see what the team is lacking before he enters the game. And with him being so multi-talented it will allow him to come in and be a FILLER for whatever the team is lacking. If not then trade him, my personal preference is still Hedo Turgolou. He would welcome a sixth man role on a championship caliber team and he can give you twenty points off the bench on any given night. He has a complete offensive game including passing, the Lakers would maybe only miss the boards Odom gives them. But with Bynum and Gasol healthy, rebounding shouldn’t be a problem.
Alexxx Said,
October 12, 2008 @ 3:17 pm
Listen, I’m no Kobe fan or Laker fan for that matter…but to lay blame on Kobe is seriously ridiculous. Lamar was also very inconsistent with the clippers and thats why everyone sang his praise when he moved up to PF in Miami and had that great year. The fact is, Lamar has some sick natural abilities and is one of those hybrid point forwards that give other offenses fits…and his long arms and court awareness make him formidable on both ends of the court….but…big BUT…Lamar is and always will be somewhat of a pot smoking dullard…he just isn’t intense enough night in/night out to be a first or second option…but his talent and pay basically command a first or second option status (IE. coming off the bench and getting playing time). Much like AK47 in Utah, he just is a great piece if he didn’t have his mental wired wrong. Lamar belongs on a .500 over achieving team.
Ron Said,
October 13, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
The Lakers are really in a difficult position. They have two talented (however underachieving) big men, and don’t know what to do with one. Gasol is god, but with his skill set he should be great. He’s soft and so is Odom. Either of the two are too talented to trade away, but it doesn’t look like they can win the last four games you need to win a championship with them.
Media Impact Said,
October 15, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Great article. Phil Jackson is great in this way. Very entertaining too. This is why he is able to garner so much respect from players. Anyhow let’s see how the lakers pan out this year. it looks pretty good so far.
andreu bcn Said,
November 2, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
I tink, odom cant be titular. He can the best 6 men. Pienso que Odom no tiene puesto como titular pero puede ser un gran sexto hombre i jugar muchos minutos.