Odom May Thrive With Pau (and Bynum, when he comes back)

ock · Post #1 » by **ock** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:10 am

I have been one of Odom's harshest critics on this Lakers board. There are still a lot of things about him that infuriate (INFURIATE) me.

But watching this game was a revelation. Odom doesn't even WANT to be the main man. Or the 2nd man. He simply isn't built to take that kind of pressure and challenge. We've been approaching Odom the wrong way, demanding that he become the pippen to kobe, the 2nd option. The fact is, he is happiest when he's the 3rd or even 4th option. He thrives in that role. I've suspected it when Bynum was getting more touches and becoming a bigger focal point. Instead of getting upset, as other stars may have done, Odom played better as the 3rd option.

In this game, Odom was filling in many little things for our win. He is happy for Pau's sucess and becoming our 2nd option.

I wanted Odom's ass out, but now I'm beginning to think that we should keep him here. (but he still plays defense like a (Please Use More Appropriate Word), just not that bad today)

RJM · Post #2 » by **RJM** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:16 am

I agree totally. He gave us tonight vs New Jersey what teams would kill for. He filled in all the holes that we had tonight. That 4th man is perfect for him and I'm sure he'll thrive in that role. Now it's going to be acceptable to get 12/13 & 8-10 from him with the occasional 20-10 outings. He's a keeper if he plays as such now.

Post #3 » by **milesfides** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:18 am

ugh, again, I hope so, but I doubt it. LUXURY TAX, a lot of it. Unless Odom is willing to take a major paycut, I think we have a 2-year lease on Odom.

How will he fit? Well, if he keeps hitting outside shots like he did tonight, he's going to do really well. If he doesn't, like he hasn't for most of the year, he's not going to fit too well.

feoekells2 · Post #4 » by **feoekells2** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:20 am

Totally agree. Odom posted 14/15/5 today. I think the best is yet to come. I wouldn't be surprised if he became more of that "triple double waitin to happen" type player.

It is just one game, and against a bad team, but with Odom, Bynum and Gasol...Kobe may not even have to facilitate as much. He could just pick his spots on offense and play lockdown D. Odom could potentially rack up the assists like crazy.

Man it feels good to be fish right now. He's going to have SO many open shots.

ock · Post #5 » by **ock** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:26 am

milesfides wrote:ugh, again, I hope so, but I doubt it. LUXURY TAX, a lot of it. Unless Odom is willing to take a major paycut, I think we have a 2-year lease on Odom.

How will he fit? Well, if he keeps hitting outside shots like he did tonight, he's going to do really well. If he doesn't, like he hasn't for most of the year, he's not going to fit too well.

Maybe Odom will be willing to take a major paycut. I don't know that he's really proven his worth in terms of his salary. Maybe we can approach him and give him a reasonable offer. It'll put us over, but if this current team can tear a new hole into the league, Buss may be willing to put up the cash so that we can potentially have a dynasty (that's right, it's premature, but I said it).

Manexx · Post #6 » by **Manexx** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:36 am

We should look to move Walton and Mihm for expiring contracts and sign Turiaf and Sasha. Odom should be signed for ~ 8 Mil.

ock · Post #7 » by **ock** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:38 am

Manexx wrote:We should look to move Walton and Mihm for expiring contracts and sign Turiaf and Sasha. Odom should be signed for ~ 8 Mil.

Agreed. We don't need Walton or Mihm.

Gerald3Wallace · Post #8 » by **Gerald3Wallace** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:39 am

agreed...the guy only took 4 shot attempts...even when kobe shot 13 attempts too..ODOM is too unselfish..he will thrive and gel with this team just fine..

joe.linnen · Post #9 » by **joe.linnen** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:41 am

Next season Odom will be a 10/9/10 player. With him playing on a team with player like Kobe, Bynum, Gasol, Fisher, Radmanovic, Walton, Ariza, Farmar, Turiaf, Vujacic, and Mihm he would have to rack up on the dimes.

EiRON · Post #10 » by **EiRON** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:49 am

We need this from Lamar Odom consistently. That's the only thing we've been waiting for Lamar (and defense of course). We know he can get it done, but we need these type of numbers every single game not once every 5 games.

Gerald3Wallace · Post #11 » by **Gerald3Wallace** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:51 am

lets just hope this keeps on continuing...odoms been on a tear since the trade

ock · Post #12 » by **ock** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:51 am

I really think he may become a triple double threat every night. THIS is his true game. Not to be a focal point on offense. He thrives as a supporter. (Hence his odd Kobe-love at unexpected moments)

Sting3r · Post #13 » by **Sting3r** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:06 am

odom will do fine. Ive always said he was best being a 3rd option on a team. Now hes gonna be the 4th option which is even better for him.

Dexmor · Post #14 » by **Dexmor** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:11 am

ock wrote:I have been one of Odom's harshest critics on this Lakers board. There are still a lot of things about him that infuriate (INFURIATE) me.

But watching this game was a revelation. Odom doesn't even WANT to be the main man. Or the 2nd man. He simply isn't built to take that kind of pressure and challenge. We've been approaching Odom the wrong way, demanding that he become the pippen to kobe, the 2nd option. The fact is, he is happiest when he's the 3rd or even 4th option. He thrives in that role. I've suspected it when Bynum was getting more touches and becoming a bigger focal point. Instead of getting upset, as other stars may have done, Odom played better as the 3rd option.

In this game, Odom was filling in many little things for our win. He is happy for Pau's sucess and becoming our 2nd option.

I wanted Odom's ass out, but now I'm beginning to think that we should keep him here. (but he still plays defense like a (Please Use More Appropriate Word), just not that bad today)

Your mostly right but the real way to say it is not 2nd or 3rd or any number but it's Rasheed Wallace. He wants to be like Wallace and not be the superstar but just fit into the team.

CITYOFANGELSX3 · Post #15 » by **CITYOFANGELSX3** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:29 am

Odom looked damn good tonight Besides that one missed dunk.

tayzer · Post #16 » by **tayzer** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:29 am

If we need to cut salary, then we have to get rid of Luke, Mihm, Coby, DJ, and Radman. The rest of the bench is pretty cheap, and can make up for the lost even better. Plus, we get to keep the core.

Dexmor · Post #17 » by **Dexmor** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:30 am

He is a player on the team now just like Sheed. That is how we should think of him and we will not be dissapointed and honestly a team has no room for 4 stars unless one of them is a really unselfish pg. Bynum-Gasol-Kobe is enough. Odom and Fisher and the rest are just really great champion role players.

Vlade4life · Post #18 » by **Vlade4life** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:40 am

Well Lamar isn't going to be a PF when Bynum comes back, he's going to be a SF while Bynum and Gasol are grabbing the rebounds in the post. Lamar sucks at shooting, he sucks at moving without the ball, and he's not going to be the facilitator. He'll be gone in no time!

richboy · Post #19 » by **richboy** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:41 am

I've always said Lamar Odom is overrated talently. He is the black Toni Kukoc. He is now in position to become exactly that.

Vlade4life · Post #20 » by **Vlade4life** » Wed Feb 6, 2008 5:14 am

richboy wrote:I've always said Lamar Odom is overrated talently. He is the black Toni Kukoc. He is now in position to become exactly that.

Kukoc could shoot.