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'He must have woke up and bumped his head. He probably hit his head on something -- boom,' Odom said of Jackson. 'To start off like that, you've got to be out of your . . . mind.' Odom did not think he would lose his starting spot to Ariza, but, if it happened, well, you know ... Everybody knows on my team I'll do whatever for the team," Odom said. "If you want me to be the mascot, whatever you want me to be. I'll be the doormat, the rug, whatever you want me to be.'"

I just listened to coach Jackson talk about the Lakers. It sounds like Odom is taking a lot of Jackson criticism just like Kobe used to. Its clear that Odom wasnt there in the Finals. Every Laker fan hoped Odom could have delivered more, but the Lakers were w/o Bynum and Odom had a great play-offs in the West. I'm cool w/ trying to motivate Odom to be tougher and stronger. But the type of player Odom currently is (not demanding 15-20 shots) is what this team needs from the 4th best Laker. I want this team to come together and stay together. I worried some about the $ situation but you know what, as long as the Buss family is making a profit PLEASE KEEP THIS TEAM TOGETHER. This Laker team doesn't need a whipping boy, just like the old Laker 3 peat team didn't. This team needs Bynum in the mix and needs everyone on board. I don't want to talk salaries anymore. The Lakers are built right. I want to talk championships!

Odom was actually closer to his regular season numbers in the Finals than Kobe or Gasol... I dont think any person should be singled out for our loss in the Finals, we were outmatched and lost to the better team.. That said I'll take the experience gained and the addition of Bynum and hopefully we over the top this year

My question for everyone is how many power forwards in the NBA would be consistent with a hungry KG guarding them? I think you would find a lot of power forwards having a inconsistent series with KG on them. With the exception of maybe Duncan, but he's not the same as he was a couple of seasons ago.

OP, perhaps you should be a little more detailed in what Phil Jackson said. Otherwise, this thread will only be a rehashing of the constant debate regarding Odom this entire past year.

Let's keep it constructive and substantial.

B-Scott wrote:how many power forwards in the NBA would be consistent with a hungry KG guarding them?

Wasnt KG guarding Pau? (I'm really asking; I havent watched any of the Finals games since they came on live)

^Generally, yes. KG and Pau generally guarded each other.

I would say Odom was most frequently matched up with Perkins - and I thought Odom did a good job. That being said, Perkins is the worst player in their starting lineup (and yet, Perkins generally outplayed Bynum in the regular season matchups).

Phil Jackson did say he was open to the possibility of moving Ariza into the starting lineup and bringing Odom off the bench. I'm not sure how that makes Odom the whipping boy - wasn't there a report posted just last week in which Odom volunteered to come off the bench? That takes the bite out of Phil's comments, doesn't it?

I'm not so sure Phil Jackson unfairly singled out Odom so much as express common concerns and reiterate relatively old ideas on how to improve the team - ideas that apparently Odom himself shares.

That he specifically named Ariza is a little bit interesting, considering how Ariza is hardly a great fit offensively when we need shooters to spread the floor, and defensively, he is more of a gambler than a lock down defender, and his slight frame hardly answers the call for a more physical presence on the floor.

This could be nothing more than Phil simply motivating Odom (as Phil previously motivated Bynum by publicly endorsing Kwame and Mihm).

Or it could be the first step in building a team that doesn't rely on Odom very much, as there is a distinct possibility that this will be his last season in Los Angeles.

Hopefully Odom will do what he needs to do to make him irreplaceable, in both his stature and tenure with the Lakers.

I think it has more to do with Odom being passive than producing. He needs to attempt more shots and be more aggressive, if he fails at it...then so what, but at least u know he is trying his best...

One thing Ariza does that Odom isn't the best at offensively is moving without the ball. One of the only things I really remember of Trevor's game is that baseline cut.

Yes a shooter to spread the floor is very important with our potential starting lineup. Fisher will be there again, so that helps. IIRC, while Trev was injured he worked quite a bit on his shot, so hopefully he put a lot of time in over the summer to improve. I don't think Phil would neglect that spreading the floor is crucial, this is the exact reason Vlad started last season.

This leads me to believe Ariza was what his role would be in his exit meeting. Or this is Phil putting some pressure on Odom/Luke/Vlad.

I guess we'll see.

i don't think what phil said was a dig at odom. i think he is giving odom more room to shine,especially with the second lineup. it may work,and it might not. i think phil and alot of fans need to come to grips that odom is just not an aggressive player for 48 minutes,no matter what role he is playing. his finals performance should really come as no surprise,and we have all seen who odom is for the last three or four years now.

Odom may not be the perfect fit as the starting SF, he actually might do better if he became the #1 option off the bench. I don't think Phil Jackson is placing him in the dog house, the Lakers have a lot of players they can play at SF so it's just deciding where LO fits.

I actually kind of do want to see Odom play fresh with the bench...run with players like Farmar, Ariza, and Sasha with Odom being the #1 option. I wouldn't be surprised if he was more aggressive either off the bench.

I would be safe to say that Odom has under achieved on this team. I hear how he can play four positions. I'm not sure he really fits. He seems lost out there. If he has a good play he goes thru his primal scream and never really plays to the level with any consistancy. I think Phil is right in telling Odom what his expectations are from him. In the time Odom has been in LA I have not seen any significant improvements especially after a summer off. Hell even Bynum has figured out getting a trainer in the offseason so that he can make improvements in his game the next year.. I could produce a shopping list of decent players that I know I could get more consistant play from. i.e. Mike Miller for a lot less money. He may not have Odoms size but you know you better not leave him open. Miller will stretch the floor. It's no excuse Odom hasn't been an all star. Yes I like Odom, but this is a business. And he is being paid like an all star. (14 Million) When you make that kind if money there will be zingers thrown at you when you are being paid well and in LA and under achieving.

^ you do know players stats increase their 2nd and 3rd year in the league right?

ha, i thought this thread was going to be about his treatment on message boards. i was going to say your thread is 3 yrs late.

as far as phil, he isn't unfairly calling lamar out. he's just addressing real concerns that reporters were asking him about. plus, like miles mentioned, not like the idea of lamar coming off the bench wasn't already a hot topic. also, in phil's press conference, he said that pau is going to have to adjust to facing the basket and defending outside the paint. he also called out radman for not wanting to get hurt before training camp and avoiding any pickup games. he's just addressing all the questioned that have yet to be answered.

'He must have woke up and bumped his head. He probably hit his head on something -- boom,' Odom said of Jackson. 'To start off like that, you've got to be out of your . . . mind.' Odom did not think he would lose his starting spot to Ariza, but, if it happened, well, you know ... Everybody knows on my team I'll do whatever for the team," Odom said. "If you want me to be the mascot, whatever you want me to be. I'll be the doormat, the rug, whatever you want me to be.'"

I think those comments show that LO thinks he has become the whipping boy

You have to understand winning the West and going to the Finals was the most success LO has ever had. Perhaps he thought he proved to the Lakers he works really well on this team. He didnt expect this and Jackson and LO need some extra attention at camp.