Nobody causes the occasional head-scratch gesture more than Lamar Odom. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward’s passing ability, length and instincts on the boards, attack off the dribble and transition game make him capable of putting up hall of fame type numbers on a nightly basis.
There’s just one problem—he doesn’t.
The one constant you’ll find in regards to Odom is fans constantly wanting to grab and shake him until he gets that he’s better than the once in a blue moon 20/10/5 stat line. The reality is Odom isn’t ever going to have that killer instinct mentality. He’s mellow, deferent and goes with the flow. It’s that same personality, however, that integrates so well with this current Lakers squad.
When Odom is engaged he gives the Lakers another dimension, if he stays aggressive throughout the season, he represents an additional offensive threat for the Lakers and a constant headache for the opposition. If he lacks focus on the floor, he looks awkward and lost leading to such travesties as say Glen Davis’ career night in game 4 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
That being said, at the risk of triggering physical ailments, it’s best to accept Odom for the player he is instead of criticizing him for the player he could be. It would be unfair to assume that Odom at times doesn’t care, clearly he does or the Lakers wouldn’t have won a title, let alone back-to-back titles.
Take a good look around the league, but it won’t be easy to find another player whose role changes on any given night. Odom’s versatility allows the coaching staff to give him different assignments on a per-game basis.
“I guess it’s my job to be prepared because from guard to forward to power forward, I always have to be ready to step in and fill any role,” said Odom during his post-season exit interview.
Before stepping into his role as one of the NBA’s most intriguing sixth men, he’ll have to fill in as a starter for the injured Andrew Bynum. Inserting Odom gives the Lakers offensive flexibility that often times is tough for the opposition to adjust to defensively. Unfortunately, it takes Odom away from the second unit where he is viewed as a leader and helps the reserves forge an identity. In the meantime, the meshing will have to wait at least until the end of November or when Bynum is 100 percent, whichever comes first.
Next: Back to Back Contributions…
During his 2009-10 campaign, Odom’s rebounds and assists went up while his scoring and field goal percentage took a drop from the previous year. He’s not the only player whose production fluctuated throughout the season, Jordan Farmar was erratic at times, Sasha Vujacic struggled and the Lakers as a whole underperformed offensively.
“What I really want to work on is my ability to be a consistent shooter,” added Odom. “Especially with this team, we’re talking about posting the basketball and playing these big lineups, people have to double team us.”
Although Odom is likely considered the fourth or even fifth option on offense, forcing the issue and making the opposition account for him, opens up lanes for his teammates. Last season, Odom took a step away from the paint towards the perimeter, causing him to shy away on offense or take ill-advised shots. He took jumpers 51 percent of the time, a stat that should decrease significantly if the Lakers want to have any chance at achieving the illusive three-peat. Ideally the bulk of his offense would come from the block where his length and skill are more effective as opposed to shooting mid-range or perimeter jumpers.
Once Bynum recovers, the new and improved Lakers bench will make things easier for Odom. The addition of Steve Blake alleviates Odom’s role as the second unit’s designated playmaker and allows him to find his own shot (albeit begrudgingly).
Building upon what he did last year as far as rebounding, most specifically on the offensive glass provides the Lakers with cheap points. Adding Matt Barnes into the mix provides the Lakers with another rebounder, giving the second unit another layer of depth defensively. Recall the old adage that defense leads to offense. Defensive rebounds lead to fast break points, an area of strength for Odom whether he leads the break or makes the outlet pass.
Odom understands his role on the team and in order to be effective he must excel at the intangibles of the game; the stuff that can’t be measured by looking at the box score. So long as Odom’s focus tends to flow at a higher rate than it ebbs, the Lakers should be in pretty good shape.
“I’m trying, but you know I’m still a work in progress,” Odom concluded.
Truer words have never been spoken.