Lamar Odom ... finishes?!?!?!

[mmyers37]

Alarm bells have been going off in my head over the past two games. At first, I thought I might be dreaming. But... I don't think Odom has attempted a single finesse layup in traffic in that period of time. Instead, he has been going strong to the basket and DUNKING the ball.

I would like to know who finally got through to this man, because this is awesome to behold. I've always appreciated Lamar's ability to wind through defenders and snake his way to the rim, but I've always had to bite my lip and watch as his layups roll around the rim and fall off, snatched up by the other team. ...Now he's posterizing people.

I know, his game started looking better ever since Gasol got here, but it always looked to me like Gasol was just covering up the flaws in his game. Now he is starting to look like the guy I gave up wishing he could be.

And what happened to the charging fouls and the 3-pointers from straightaway?

I finally might have to admit that Lamar seems to have trimmed the fat off his game. Please, God, let him stay this way.

[LAKESHOW]

he played a solid game. but he still has those mental lapses. like with about 3 minutes to go, virtually time on our side, and goes ahead and gets a travel call. turns the ball over and creates momentum for the jazz.

it was an opportunity to execute the offense, and slam the door shut on the game. but rush rush mistakes at times give opportunity.

he played a solid game. but he still has room to improve.

[Gerald3Wallace]

actually...i can name one time from each player of our team where they gave up momentum to the other team..

but to OP...he played a solid game...now all he needs to work on is to jump when he blocks the ball...yes hes tall with long arms but he has a way better chance if he just jumps straight up...

18pts 12rebs 2blks 58%fg against the jazz...dude has always brought it in the playoffs...3 years straight..made boozer look like a scrub

LOVE IT

[bobobolas1]

Maybe Phil changed the rol of odom in the last two games.

the thing is we won and he played solid...

[Frantik]

Lamar always brings it in the playoffs. Thats a known fact. Lamar owns anybody that guards him in the playoffs.... well...thats up till now. We will wait and see what happens with duncan(??) or KG.

I got a question tho for yall tho:

How would you feel if Jackson decided to unleash the Bynumite all of a sudden?? would that be a Good call or bad call??

answer qwuestion along w/ ur response and feel free to repost Q in new thread...sorry Myers..im just lazy right now. Im so full with Lakerhomerjuice i can barely type....

[zen_4_10]

he played a solid game. but he still has those mental lapses. like with about 3 minutes to go, virtually time on our side, and goes ahead and gets a travel call. turns the ball over and creates momentum for the jazz.

it was an opportunity to execute the offense, and slam the door shut on the game. but rush rush mistakes at times give opportunity.

he played a solid game. but he still has room to improve.

I guess for you this could actually be considered a compliment to LO.

Kobe's TO's in the 4th quarter of game 6 were not helpful by the way...it's basketball. Everyone makes some mistakes.

[Erik Eleven]

Just like for Kobe and any other player, it helps Odom's game too when you put good players around him. For some reason, Odom has always been blamed for everyone else's shortcomings while Kobe gets immunity to criticism due to a poor surrounding cast. Way to solidify your value, LO. Big props for bringing it out when it counts.

Here's to the long arm of the L.O.,

[joe.linnen]

I must say Odom has played his ass off. I've never felt this way before, I was getting sick during the games and my eyes full of water. Seeing Odom step up the way he did has made me proud. I've seen him play before but this Odom seems different form the one I knew before. Its like he dosen't worry about the game he just goes out there and play it the best he can. Hell I'll resign him my damn self next season

[RJM]

I'm proud of how he's played in this playoffs. I think he's finally starting to realize the gigantic advantage he has on his opponents due to his length, size, and quickness.

[islander009]

LO has really stepped it up in the playoffs. He did so last year but i think he has real understanding of his role now this year. He doesnt have to score, as its always up to Kobe and Pau. Now he can do what he pleases. I do have to agree he is no longer trying to put up finger rolls but dunking it on the opposition. He needs to continue doing that against anyone that matches up with him, he has the clear advantage. everyone says the x factor is the bench but to me its LO. He has stepped up when we needed it.

[Sedale Threatt]

It's beautiful -- no more loitering on the perimeter, no more jacking up low-percentage jumpers, no more disappearing for quarters at a time, no more...well, far fewer lapses in concentration.

I think the addition of a great interior passer in Gasol has spurred Odom to finally get the offense, and understand how he fits in it. He's realized that if he moves off the ball and cuts hard to the basket, there's a good chance Pau is going to feed him for an easy layup/dunk. That, and Jackson constantly dogging his jump shot, has helped Odom grasp his role.

And we're still not running a single thing through him in the post, nor has Kobe made any extra effort to get him involved, as one poster has constantly lobbied for since I've been a member. Pau's obvious impact on his game notwithstanding, Odom has accepted responsibility for himself -- finally -- by playing harder and smarter.

[Slava]

Fk finishing, I saw him go to his right in a game this series. I just don't remember when... LO is awesome!

[LakerFanSince84]

People forget that Odom lost his son Jayden before the start of last season. YOu can't put a time table on when he could get back to being himself. Maybe he's finally beginning to do that.....

[Erik Eleven]

^ Yeah, and he's finally been fully healthy for two months or so. I guess that might have helped a bit.

[Dexmor]

In Odom's defense he was the only player up front until Gasol that was not a scrub and to play alone up front is hard. When you have help it's different.
This could be the real Odom.

[joe.linnen]

In Odom's defense he was the only player up front until Gasol that was not a scrub and to play alone up front is hard. When you have help it's different.
This could be the real Odom.

correction this is the real Odom

[crazyeights]

But is 'real' real?

[Erik Eleven]

This is the Odom that some predicted would come into full bloom once he was healthy and had better players around him. Even more so than Kobe, Odom needs good players around him for his strengths to shine and be effective. Odom's strengths are team oriented

[dockingsched]

the one part of lamar's game that just sticks in my mind was how he would create super easy shots for kwame more than anyone else. before, it was seen as lamar being passive and not wanting to take the big shot. now, its seen as this great attribute that goes perfectly along side pau.

[Chubby Chaser]

Fk finishing, I saw him go to his right in a game this series. I just don't remember when... LO is awesome!

F*** Finishing, or going to his right hand. I saw Lamar make TWO consecutive free throws........ At the end of the game when it mattered too!