Lamar Odom Tells Phil Jackson Where to Shove Sixth Man Role
In his first chat with the local media prior to the new season, Lakers coach Phil Jackson mentioned the fact that he might bring versatile forward Lamar Odom off the bench in 2009. Naturally, we all sat back and wondered how the emotional Odom would take the news.
Wonder no more. Odom didn’t particularly take it well, and wondered aloud about his coach’s mental stability.
From the LA Times (which has a rather amusing photo to go along with the article):
“He must have woke up and bumped his head. He probably hit his head on something — boom,” Odom said about Jackson.
“To start off like that, you’ve got to be out of your . . . mind.”
Things are off to a sunny start in Laker Land, yes?
Most of the stories coming out of the Lakers’ Media Day centered around how calm and relaxed things were compared to last year; something tells me this idea of blissful calm and serenity will change once Phil and Lamar have their first meaningful conversation during training camp.
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hahahahahah
is that true?!!??!
hahahahahahha
i’m laughing so much here!
this can’t be true!
if thats really true, i move Lamar to #5 in my list and i’ll never say he doesn’t have balls anymore!
hahahahahahahahahahhahha
Um B, these are direct quotes.
it might be true Phil was out of his mine, but you choked like one of Wayne Brady’s b!tches.
Sincerley,
Me
1) it shows that he’s willing to listen to anything the coach tells him
2) off the bench, he will be playing with scoring GIANTS like Farmar and Walton and Mbengu. He can get all the shots he wants off the bench. He can score his average in points alone in the second quarter.
3) He WILL be small forward when the fourth quarter comes around. He WILL be in the game when the score is tied and the Lakers have the ball, he will also be in the game if the score is tied and the other team has the ball. He is a key player and will be played as a key player. It is, in my opinion, not a good move to have four strong offensively minded players on the court together with no one to bring off the bench. That is not a good idea. People will see him in the fourth quarter and forget that his name wasn’t announced.
I’m more in agreement with Allenp than with you B Long. He gets the need for a bench scoring option, but he suggests Gasol. I don’t agree with that for three reasons:
1) (IF THEY CAN PLAY TOGETHER), the match-up problems playing both Bynum and Gasol will be a thing of beauty. Take out Gasol, throw in Odom and Ariza/Vlad/Walton, and you have a standard, easily matched up team.
2) I think Odom will be a much more effective off-the-bench guy than Gasol. Odom can score in so many ways, he doesn’t need to be fed to knock you out. Gasol, on the other hand, needs either someone to feed him or for other players to spread the floor. In actuality, me wanting Odom over Gasol coming off the bench is a compliment. Odom’s versitility makes him perfect for this role.
3) You may feel that Ariza is a weak link in this equation, but if he develops into what the Lakers are hoping he will be, I think Ariza is perfect. This is a guy who is NOT looking to take shots. He’s not looking to control the ball. He is not looking for a contract. This guy will do the two things he is good at: being the occasional open man, and being a DAMN good defensive player. With a starting five of Fisher, Kobe, a more developed Ariza, Gasol (well, he’s seven feet, y’know), and Bynum is a scaaaaaary defensive force.
Also, upset or not, Odom’s response was a bit aggressive.
Like another poster said, Phil Jackson probably thought this would make Lamar fired up to play, or he thought it would make Lamar look bad to the public when he responded with anger. Either way, it’s not big deal for Phil Jackson…I’m just disappointed that people think players should just shut up and play, while coaches can say whatever they please. This dynamic needs to change. These aren’t children, these are adults.
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