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3 really good games by Lamar since the Gasol trade. Coincidence? No. Lamar is so much better when the pressure is off. Last night he went 5 for 5, played in-control the whole game and made the key plays down the stretch. The shot that was called for goal tending and then the block on the other end. Expect good if not great play from LO the rest of the way!

Yes, being paid 13M as a 4th option is a perfect situation.

I like Odom, I really do....he had a great game last night. Prove me wrong Odom and don't disappear for the next couple of contests.

Lamar will be even better when Bynum comes back because then he'll be the 4th option. The further he drops in the offense the better he gets. I wish I could make 13-14 million and no one depended on me.

the 4th option? Kobe and Fisher would rather have Fisher shoot before Lamar.

snaquille oatmeal wrote:the 4th option? Kobe and Fisher would rather have Fisher shoot before Lamar.

Your right. 5th option

Kobe
Gasol or Bynum
Fish
Lamar

Give Lamar the paint with Pau or Bynum out, and Lamar shines. We saw that game in stretches throughout his time in LA when Phil decided to put him in the post.

He has that left hook and he knows how to play in the post. He'll finish and draw fouls too.

I think Lamar is very unappreciated on this team. Everyone thinks that "to be good", you have to score a LOT of points... NO! People don't realize the small things that Lamar do.. like last night when he blocked Rashard Lewis' three-point attempt. Give Lamar some props..

The Laker Kid wrote:I think Lamar is very unappreciated on this team. Everyone thinks that "to be good", you have to score a LOT of points... NO! People don't realize the small things that Lamar do.. like last night when he blocked Rashard Lewis' three-point attempt. Give Lamar some props..

I'm sure he can deal with being unappreciated when he cashes his $13 million dollar paychecks. Not worth the money, would def. keep him around if he was willing to take less money.

Odom is basically a Piston, kind of like a mix of Sheed and Prince. Instead of being a go to guy he likes to just fit into a team like Sheed and Prince do. He is capable of being a go to guy just like they are and average 20 a game but he would rather just fit into a team and that is perfect when your on a team with 3 allstars in Bynum-Gasol-Kobe.
He is in the perfect situation now he just needs to resign with us for alot less because role players can't make 14 million. Hopefully he signs a 4 year 35 million dollar deal or something in that area.

I guess you can call Lamar whatever option you want to call him,but the guys you have ahead of him are not putting up 12 to 15 rebound games. I dont see Fisher doing that

Another things Lamar doesnt get enough credit for,is when he doesnt get the rebound,he tips the ball to a teammate. There were multiple times in last nights game,where Orlando players had good position for the rebound and Lamar tipped the ball to a teammate. Now he didnt get credit for that rebound,but he was responsible.

He's starting to do some of the things when it comes to rebounds that Ben Wallace used to do. If you cant get it yourself,use your length and tip it to a teammate and get a 2nd chance opportunity for your team.

Odom has also been shooting much better from the outside the last few games. I hope he knows that he's moving to SF when Bynum comes back so that working on the jump shot is a priority.

Squirrel Boy wrote:Give Lamar the paint with Pau or Bynum out, and Lamar shines. We saw that game in stretches throughout his time in LA when Phil decided to put him in the post.

He has that left hook and he knows how to play in the post. He'll finish and draw fouls too.

Exactly. Larmar's game is in the post and slashing to the basket. It's not his fault that pretty much every coach he's ever had has tried to force him into being a perimeter player. The situation LO's in now is absolutely perfect for him and for the Lakers. Mark my words: the LO haters are going to choke on their own B.S. by the end of this season.

We should keep him in the future by signing for a cheaper long term contract or use him as a trade piece.

He's been doing very well as a 3rd option and that thing that we pay him 13M will not hurt us in the future.

He is in a good situation now that the pressure is back off. He was always disappointing as a 2nd option, that much has been clear going into year 4 now. But now that he'll eventually be a 3 when Bynum comes back, he'll have more energy to concentrate on defense and shooting. It has always been mental with him. His rebounding will dip at the 3 though, so he becomes less valuable unless he starts playing good D and hitting his outside shot, which he has actually done very well these last couple games or so.

he's not good for the money he's being paid. if i was the owner (and yes, i'm cheap), i'd trade him for expirings and first rounders and let radman/ariza play the 3. the radman/ariza combo works well bc you can put in outside shooting or defense based on which is needed more at the time.

this has nothing to do with the pressure being off lamar.

it has to do with us having a consistent 2nd option which makes the defense concetrate on him on one hand - making it easier for lamar to score when he tries, but on the other hand - it means he gets a lot less opportunities to score and he's not expected to give us the same amount of scoring.

that's all it is, and the reason it's looking nice for lamar is because he's STILL PLAYING POWER FORWARD !!!

NOTHING he's done so far should lead anyone to believe he can give this team the ideal skill set they need at the SMALL FORWARD position once bynum comes back, or that what he will give us will be worth his salary.

i mean, you replace a useless offensive player like kwame with gasol - wouldn't it be obvious that lamar will have an easier time ???
it's as obvious as it can get.
it has nothing to do with pressure - only with basketball and what we now need from lamar - which is a lot less scoring.

let me know when the middle is clogged with bynum and gasol, and lamar is standing on the perimeter and having a great game justifying what he's paid.
that would be news.

these last few games mean nothing regarding odom's fit to this squad at full strength. all it is is lamar benefitting from the pressence of gasol while still playing his best position - POWER forward.

Odom signed a heavily back loaded contract in '03. A very fair 6/$65 given his youth and skill set. He's likely to get a similar contract when this one expires after '09.

Odom is an above average scorer who adds immense flexibility to any roster. His skill set goes well beyond scoring, he's a career 15/10/5 player who puts up efficient percentages and isn't a liability on defense.

He's unfairly bashed here, and it's sickening. No numbers or evidence is given, just anecdotal bull that you repeat from the stuff you hear on the radio.

Odom's one of the better forward in the game, in his prime, and adds a versatile skill set that compliments the team in ways that aren't quantifiable.

Davidse -Lamar is a very good rebounder even without Gasol. He doesnt need Gasol to be a good rebounder.

It's hard to judge Lamar at SF with Bynum and Gasol in the lineup because they have not played together.

Earlier in the season, Lamar was coming off shoulder surgery,so i dont think its fair to judge him at SF for that stretch with Kwame at center.

B-Scott wrote:Davidse -Lamar is a very good rebounder even without Gasol. He doesnt need Gasol to be a good rebounder.

It's hard to judge Lamar at SF with Bynum and Gasol in the lineup because they have not played together.

Earlier in the season, Lamar was coming off shoulder surgery,so i dont think its fair to judge him at SF for that stretch with Kwame at center.

Odom's rebounding numbers with LA are inflated due to the fact that we didn't have any one else. I know it, everyone knows it and I'm fairly certain that - as the greatest playground baller in history - even you know it. Let's see what he brings to the table when we now have 2 legit 7 footers....I doubt it will be worth $13M. And no, BS, a guarantee based on your insight doesn't cut it.

Odom is the 29th highest paid player in the league. I want him to succeed, but I'm tired of being teased with games like last night. Period.

blix wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Odom's rebounding numbers with LA are inflated due to the fact that we didn't have any one else. I know it, everyone knows it and I'm fairly certain that - as the greatest playground baller in history - even you know it.

rofl. Don't mess with him though dude, he'll ball you up on the playground without you even knowing it! And he'll recover faster from a dislocated finger than Kobe ever could!