Lamar Odom Shows Up For Lakers

Lamar Odom (Photo by Jeramey Jannene)

There has never been any questioning  the talent of Lamar Odom. A six foot ten monster with point guard skills, Odom can literally play every position on the court.

Odom has averaged 4.1 assists and 8.9 rebounds per game in his career. The assist total is amazing for a power forward (which he is actually listed as). The rebounds are incredible for a small forward (the position his style is more comparable to.)

He is also one of the most inconsistent players in NBA history. That means that the 19 point, 19 rebound performance Odom had against Phoenix in game one is probably not a sign of things to come. He is more likely to have a 10 point, 5 rebound performance like he did in game four of the Utah series.

That is the problem with Lamar Odom. He is probably one of the most talented player in NBA history. His desire to be great though is not at a Hall Of Fame level. For a guy with his skill sets to never have averaged 20 points per game in a season is ridiculous.

If the Lakers could get Odom to play hard every game, they would be unstoppable. It would mean that they would have three of the top twenty players on the planet playing on their team. Kobe Bryant would be able to relax a little. Pau Gasol could have an off game. The lack of production from Ron Artest would be a moot point.

The Lakers can’t count on Lamar Odom though. After being a force in game one, he could completely disappear in game two and no one would be surprised. Maybe that is the true shame when it comes to Odom. His inconsistencies are expected and tolerated.

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Kobe Bryant: Off-Season Profile

Kobe the Leader

Kobe Bryant- Guard- LA Lakers

Born August 23, 1978    College- None

Drafted 13th overall, 1996

2008-2009 stats: 26.8pts, 5.2 reb, 4.9 ast, 1.5 st

Despite the fact that he won the MVP award last  and not this season, you could argue that this was Kobe Bryants best yet. This, of course,  was the year that he was able to win an NBA championship as the ‘main guy’.

In the history of the NBA, very few offensively dynamic players have been even decent on the defensive end. It’s almost as if they have to exert so much effort on offense that they just don’t have anything left on the other end.

With Kobe though, it seems like he has extra energy. He funnels that energy into becoming the best perimeter defender of his generation. Michael Jordan is the only guard in the last twenty years to be so dominate on both ends of the floor.

Just look at how much better Kobe’s Olympic teammates played on defense when they got back. Carmelo Anthony guarded opponents with passion, Lebron James finished second for Defensive Player of the Year. Dwight Howard won the award and Dwayne Wade had an astronomical 1.3 blocks per game for a guard.

The fact is that Kobe has finally become something that I wasn’t sure he ever would. He became a leader, and a pretty good one at that. He is such a great leader that he will undoubtedly keep Ron Artest in check and will be a favorite to win another NBA Championship.

Look for Kobe to maintain the same basic stats, with perhaps a decrease in playing time. With Lamar Odom, Artest and Pau Gasol; Kobe will be able to afford a little rest through the regular season.

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Sports Uncensored topics for July 27th

Here we go with more topics for Sports Uncensored, tonight at 10pm on Southlemon.

Should Pete Rose be reinstated and allowed in the Hall of Fame?

Yes. It’s that simple. His playing career mandates his inclusion in the Hall of Fame. We aren’t trying to get him in the Good People Hall of Fame. The fact that he is not already in is a tragedy.

Where should Lamar Odom end up?

I really like the idea of Lamar Odom going to a team that really, really wants him. Dwayne Wade really wants him in Miami which shows his desire to get back to championship form. He will give Odom the respect he wants and he will instantly become his number two guy.

How bad has Lebron James’s off season been for him?

I am a huge King James fan and not even I can make excuses for his odd behavior this off season. His unsportsmanlike conduct after the loss to Orlando at first seemed like a momentary emotionally bad decision. Now after the dunk tape situation and his silence on the subject, I just wonder if the guy is getting burnt out on being the savior.

All in all he seems like a good guy. Though it is unrealistic to expect him to live up to the image that he has tried to portray his whole career. It will just be a complete bummer if Lebron, who seems like an everyday guy, turns out to be a jerk.

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