RealGM

I personally don't think Lakers will trade Lamar (at-least until the Mid-Season)

And honestly, don't try to fix it if it ain't broke, our system isn't broken, yes Odom had a bad Finals and at times he disappears but the guy went up against Perkins (A big Center) who obviously over-powered him on the boards and was guarded by the DPOY (KG).

With that said, again don't try to fix it if it ain't broke, (the Suns are a prime example), they were no suspensions away from the Finals and then they got Shaq and got blown out with pick n roll's by the Spurs.

What does Odom need to improve going into the season?

I see him coming off the bench and also playing with Fish, Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum in crunch time

To me here is what he needs to improve on:
-Outside shot (if he wants to help spread the floor, he has to improve his shot, not only to help spread the floor but have an advantage over other player who aren't quick enough to stay with him so they don't lay off of him and clog the pain ala NBA Finals).
-Use of Right Hand (This to me is one of his biggest weakness, he always drives left and uses the left hand, he is so quick and talented that if he used his right hand more often, the defense would be in big trouble.
-Array of Moves (remember the Finals, Odom drives right Spins left, oh Charge....!!! He needs to create different moves and read the defense and improvise as needed. If he can do that, again the defense wouldn't read him like a STOP sign. Utilizing the right hand would help And he needs to be patient, wait and take what the defense give ya, don't force a spin move that sets him up for charges.)

He has everything else in the book, he just needs to improve on those things that'll help improve our ability to use a big line-up on the court.

be consistent every night.

Half a brain, I would say thats a start. Like ive said for years, and I will stick to it, THE LAKERS WILL NOT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH LAMAR ODOM.

finding his role and staying with it

I completely agree with the OP, I have a huge post about it but I've been sitting that the ol puter way to long tonight.

But I don't know if he needs more moves or to even go right very often, but lateral quickness so he can be an elite defender and his outside shot. Not necessarily even just 3s, but the mid range at least. As long as he can keep the D honest and hit that mid range off a one dribble pull up he should be fine, that would open up the rest of his game plenty enough I think.

Anyway, I'll shut up for now lol

Yeah I'm starting to wonder what they will do with Lamar. Trade him now, or trade him mid-season. If they traded him mid-season, they'd have to be in a worse position than they were this year, and I don't think that will be the case. So if they don't trade him this off-season, or midseason next year, then they would re-sign him, or let him walk. I don't see them letting him walk. Then would he take a lesser contract if he had another good, but inconsistant year? So many questions.

His jump shot should be the highest priority for him this summer since he'll have to spend a lot of time at the 3. He's got to develop a consistent outside shot to be able to keep the spacing for Bynum and Gasol decent.

jumpshot, focus only on the jumpshot. people overstate the inconsistency in lamar's game. guy is basically a guaranteed near double/double night in night out. the effectiveness of his offense is pretty much dictated by the opponent and being set up by his teammates, not any real "inconsistency" in his game.

I agree, work on his outside shot the most. Trying to develop a go to post move would be nice, but how much will he really be posting up with Bynum, Gasol, and even possibly Kobe working out of the post next year?

So, it's the J, work on the J.

His brain. Dude needs serious therapy. He is physically gifted but mentally challenged. He played great the second half of the season and during the first 3 rounds of the playoffs, especially against Utah. Then he went awol in the Finals. I think the pressure got to him and he short circuited.

Lamar is Lamar. He will stay the same. Expecting to do things differently or better at this stage of his career is asking too much.

15cmngsoon wrote:His brain. Dude needs serious therapy. He is physically gifted but mentally challenged. He played great the second half of the season and during the first 3 rounds of the playoffs, especially against Utah. Then he went awol in the Finals. I think the pressure got to him and he short circuited.

you could say that about every single player on the lakers.

LO needs to tie his left hand behind his back all summer and use his right.

I'll take 07-08 Odom over previous ones or an innovated one.

IMO, Odom has finally found his role. The players that needs to improve for the Lakers to beat the Celtics next year are Bynum and Farmar. If not, we might end up waiting till Celtics getting too old.

LAKERLAW wrote:Half a brain, I would say thats a start. Like ive said for years, and I will stick to it, THE LAKERS WILL NOT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH LAMAR ODOM.

even if we have this lineup??

pg- cp3/billups
sg- kobe/ginobili
sf- bron/artest
pf- bosh/odom
c- howard/bynum

lol

but ya..odom needs to work and his jumpshot...and i agree with iamworthy also...if he can go right and have a consistant jumpshot..we'll be fine

MikeyMike wrote:Lamar is Lamar. He will stay the same. Expecting to do things differently or better at this stage of his career is asking too much.

Did he stay the same this year Mikey"Kobe will never be as good as Jordan?"Mike? He came a long way this year.

Gerald3Wallace wrote:

LAKERLAW wrote:Half a brain, I would say thats a start. Like ive said for years, and I will stick to it, THE LAKERS WILL NOT WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH LAMAR ODOM.

even if we have this lineup??

pg- cp3/billups
sg- kobe/ginobili
sf- bron/artest
pf- bosh/odom
c- howard/bynum

lol

but ya..odom needs to work and his jumpshot...and i agree with iamworthy also...if he can go right and have a consistant jumpshot..we'll be fine

I would say yes if we face this lineup:

Pg: D-Williams/Nash
SG: D-Wade/T-Mac
Sf: Pierce/Battier
PF: KG/Brand
C: Duncan/Amare

I don't think he has to learn to go right, that's not as easy as improving your stroke. He misses a ton of point blank layups as well.

Lamar needs more heart.