Before we "get rid" of Lamar Odom

[Anklebreaker702]

A lot of us lately (including myself) have really been on Lamar's case. I know he makes a lot of bone head plays like the 1 pictured above, but then I started contemplating this quote by Deep3CL

Also to paraphrase what Shaq said in the 2004 Finals, " This is what happens when sh*t ain't done right from the top". This is starting to fall squarely on Phil's door step, for not starting Bynum and Pau during the preseason and jerking around with the 3 spot also. Most teams during the preseason put out their starters but use them for short minutes. Phil jerk's and jive's around playing head games. So what if the league knew we were going to start Drew and Pau......wasn't like it was a secrete. In other words there wasn't any cohesion to begin with. The real reason we got off to such a good start was because of the home schedule and the fact it was spaced out early.

Bottom line is I didn't see Doc Rivers or Mike Brown jacking around with their lineups in the preseason, some of Phil's junk is getting real out dated real quick.............tell me I'm wrong.[/quote]
He is right. Right now the team is not playing well at all & Phil is jerking with the line up @ the SF position so why not try Lamar? I myself don't want to see him go without trying that massive front line. If we were rolling along then no problem but it's broke & no one apparantly knows how to fix it. How do we know that wont be the fix? Lamar always rebounds, we are complaining about defense, so why would this not be tried? It would be the biggest front line in the league. Let's go for it. I'm not changing the way I feel about LO I still feel he's been playing well since last January (minus the bone head plays) which he has waaaaaaaaaaaay too many of but I'm not ready to see him go without seeing what that front court can do together. IAMWORTHY stated in another thread we havent seen that front line for even 1 minute this season

[SashAlex]

I wish Phil tried that lineup. But, on the other hand, it won't space the floor at all since Lamar is a poor shooter.

We need a player like Battier !

[Anklebreaker702]

I wish Phil tried that lineup. But, on the other hand, it won't space the floor at all since Lamar is a poor shooter.

We need a player like Battier !

Phil's answer was also it would make us too slow but Lamars is quicker than Vlad & Luke & Luke doesn't space the floor at all. So what's the difference?

[DEEP3CL]

I wish Phil tried that lineup. But, on the other hand, it won't space the floor at all since Lamar is a poor shooter.

We need a player like Battier !

Phil's answer was also it would make us too slow but Lamar's is quicker than Vlad ,& Luke doesn't space the floor at all. So what's the difference?

Most definitely true anklebreaker, how in the hell does Luke space the floor ? I already know Phil's excuse to why he inserted Luke..........."His passing keeps the offense in flow", pfff whatever he still can't shoot worth a damn.

[Verbal]

In the playoffs, the rotation will get shortened and minutes will be given to the core players.


Bynum, Gasol, LO, Kobe, Fisher, Ariza, Farmar/Sasha, Radman/Luke is what we're dealing with.


Kobe and Fisher are untouchable and will get their minutes.

Bynum, Gasol, and LO will get their minutes.

Everyone else will have to earn their minutes and Phil Jackson will have to play the guys who play best with each other together.


I hope he doesn't treat this damn team like they're a group of veterans when they're not.

This team could use more character guys with playoff experience/toughness for them to do better - especially during these rough times.


I'm indifferent to Luke starting - it's definitely an upgrade over Radman... but starting Lamar Odom would certainly help kick start our offense and help our defensive squad.

Afterall, (Fisher, Kobe, Lamar, Pau, and Andrew) will most likely be our playoff starting lineup.

Another option would be to reward Ariza with playing time and let him get comfortable with our starters.

I consider him a top 6 keeper on our team right now.


Recap:

1. Start Ariza
2. Or start Odom
3. Stay with Walton/Radman and get potentially exploited against the Boston Teabag Trio.

[Anklebreaker702]

I hope he doesn't treat this damn team like they're a group of veterans when they're not.

This team could use more character guys with playoff experience/toughness for them to do better - especially during these rough times.

That's exactly what he's stuck on verb but unfortunately Phil, this is not Michael & Scottie, nor is it Shaq & Kobe. He needs to be more assertive because this team needs it.

[Anklebreaker702]

Deep this why I'm calling for Lamar to start. Let's play the game of what if. What if that fixes the starting line up. At least we will have 1 unit together. I know it wont solve the guard play but right now we have more leaks than a house with 200 year old pipes in it.

[AceFresh]

one of our biggest problems right now is SPACING

Lamar would just make the situation even worse

[crazyeights]

^If that were true then Luke's 20% from behind the arc doesn't help. Why would any defender stay honest?

If not Lamar then at least Sasha should be running the 2 guard as Kobe slides down to the 3.

[Dr Aki]

this team needs a shakeup...

[SashAlex]

I wish Phil tried that lineup. But, on the other hand, it won't space the floor at all since Lamar is a poor shooter.

We need a player like Battier !

Phil's answer was also it would make us too slow but Lamars is quicker than Vlad & Luke & Luke doesn't space the floor at all. So what's the difference?

I didn't say anything about Luke ! I'm not happy at all with Luke in the starting line-up.

I said, we need a Battier type player who's a decent defender and a great shooter to space the floor and make it easier in defense.

In this case - Radman is the best option because with him on the floor against the Magic everyone had more space and Lakers outscored the Magic, plus he's now stealing, reading the passing lanes, not always, but it's better than nothing !

But, as i said, the best case would be to trade for a lock-down defender and a great shooter.

Plus, i'd put Bynum on the bench and use Lamar's maximum potential by starting him. The guy definitely is not comfortable coming from the bench.

I'd better sacrifice the defense we don't have to get that offensive flow we had last year.

I knew we weren't good in defense last year, but at least we were great offensively.

This year - this team looks like a broken mechanism.

[Dexmor]

Finally people are starting to question the gosble. I honestly thought if Phil sent Farmar back to the D league had Bynum back up Mihm and Kobe play the 4 with Gasol at the 3 you guys would defend it because it's Phil.
Clearly Odom needs to start. They need spacing yes but it's not like Odom is totally incapable of hitting the outside shot or we need to make room for Fisher's drives. Gasol is not exactly Shaq either were he must be 5 feet from the basket.
Make it work. Put in your 5 best players and start kicking a--

[hermes]

so your think one of the problems is jerking with the SF spot, and your solution is to put someone else in there?


although i would like to see that lineup

[semi-sentient]

Finally people are starting to question the gosble.

Again?

Plus, i'd put Bynum on the bench and use Lamar's maximum potential by starting him. The guy definitely is not comfortable coming from the bench.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I don't know what's up with this kid, but he is causing problems for us on both ends of the floor, and this has gone on for a solid month now. He looks uninspired, out of sync, and flat out poorly conditioned which is resulting in a variety of issues

Anyway, here's an analysis of how we did last season with Pau Gasol playing C and how we are doing this season when he plays PF. There is a very noticeable drop off in offense, while our defense and rebounding are practically the same. Additinally, our schedule during that stretch last season was more difficult than it has been up until this point. In short, we lose absolutely nothing by moving Bynum to the bench, but our offense improves considerably. Now I'm willing to give this a few more weeks, but if Bynum continues to play poorly then it's something that Phil should consider.

Code: Select all

    Season: 2008     Season: 2009
     Games: 26        Games: 25
    Record: 22-4     Record: 20-5
      Home: 11-1       Home: 14-1
      Road: 11-3       Road: 7-4

  Team FG%: .486   Team FG%: .471
   OPP FG%: .445    OPP FG%: .437

  Team RPG: 43.2   Team RPG: 45.5
   OPP RPG: 40.7    OPP RPG: 42.0

[Dexmor]

Bynum goes to bench and we have a new fued. And this is sports so no spelling corrects needed.
Bynum would bitch and moan and it would be Phil vs Bynum if he sat. He already complains about crunch time minutes.

[semi-sentient]

Bynum goes to bench and we have a new fued.

We already have a "feud" since Bynum thinks he needs to be playing when games are on the line.

And this is sports so no spelling corrects needed.

Consider it constructive criticism which can help you in other areas outside of posting at RealGM.

Bynum would bitch and moan and it would be Phil vs Bynum if he sat. He already complains about crunch time minutes.

Right, he's already bitching, so what difference would it make? He either needs to put up or shut up. If he can't, then well, ship his ass out.

[Erik Eleven]

Dexmor, please stop making false blanket statements like that about the entire board. Many of us here have been very critical of Phil over the years.

[wfiles]

Our biggest weakness is defense not spacing on offense. You don't think a big front line of Odom, Gasol and Bynum won't help our defense tremendously? They're really misusing Odom. Either start Odom at small forward or trade him for someone like Gerald Wallace. Why are we having so much trouble getting a starting small forward? Small forward is not a hard position to fill.

[Erik Eleven]

Our biggest weakness is defense not spacing on offense. You don't think a big front line of Odom, Gasol and Bynum won't help our defense tremendously?

I don't know if you were asking me but yes, I do. I have long said the same thing. And I agree 100% that defense takes precedence over offensive spacing. I want to see this team holding opponents to around 80 points while scoring around 90 rather than winning 115-107, and I've said so for a long time. Defense needs to be the consistent factor because offense never will be — for any team.

I disagree with Phil's choice of starters. I still think we should start Ariza, Kobe, Odom, Gasol, Bynum — the biggest starting five ever. Make teams adjust to that. If he doesn't want to move Fish out of the starting five and he absolutely needs to keep Odom with the bench mob, at least start Ariza at the three.

[ahwi_quacoe]

Bynum right now sucks balls, can;t rebound on the defensive end , can;t move his feet and avoid stuoid fouls.... Why should he start?????
He's already a DIVA ???? For what ????

Lamar needs to go. He just can't focus when it's time to buckle down and get the win. The LAkers don't have enough heart. Seriously, the Lakers would be better off with some Nocioni's or Reggie Evans's. Apart from Ariza there is no hustle .

And can someone tell me why Derek Fisher's Napoleon complexed ass , always comes to help double team in the post?????? HOw does he help?????

AAAAAGHHGHGHAGAGAGH