Player Report Card: Lamar Odom
by C.A. Clark on Aug 4, 2010 2:45 PM PDT
in Editorial
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PrintThis is the next in our series of Player Report Cards, in which we evaluate and assign a grade to the performance of each member of the 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers. Up today is Lamar Joseph Odom. You can call him LO for short, or The Candyman to spice sweeten things up.
Lamar Odom is a busy man these days. Whether taking some time to manage his personal brand, Rich Soil (purveyors of music, film, and fashion), or playing a bit role in either of his wife Khloe Kardashian's two reality shows (with a rumored third on the way, centered on Lamar and Khloe's attempts to mate), the man has a lot on his plate.
He also plays basketball profesionally. Therein, for some, lies the problem. Considering LO was already judged to be inconsistent long before he ever married someone who's famous for being famous, all these distractions he's got piled up on the side sure don't seem to be doing him any favors. Kobe Bryant he is not, but is it too much to ask for a player who is already deemed to be not fully living up to his talent not to invite further criticism by living a large portion of his life in the public eye?
That's why, as Laker fans, we were praying that Kobe and Pau Gasol would take the summer off from playing for their respective national teams in the upcoming FIBA World Championships, but nobody batted an eye when it was announced that Lamar would be donning the red, white, and blue this summer. Lamar has played as many or more games than Kobe and Pau over the past few seasons, but nobody is concerned about his level of fatigue as we might for our two superstars, because nobody is convinced that Lamar works that hard all the time.
The book on Lamar Odom has been written for some time now. When you approach double digit years as a professional, it becomes difficult for anyone to imagine you doing anything different from what you've always done. And Lamar has always been inconsistent. Capable of superstar performances and Houdini-like disappearing acts in back to back games. Some nights, he's the best player on the court (and with the previously mentioned 1st team All-NBA combo of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on the team, that's pretty damned impressive). Other nights, he's being taken to school by Glen "Big Baby Uno Uno" Davis.
Midway through the season, I made the point that Lamar Odom has finally been properly evaluated and paid according to what he can provide. His best is a level of production that usually garners just about a maximum contract. If given the minutes, he can rattle off a string of 20 pt, 15 reb games like I can rattle off state capitals. His worst is something along the lines of 4 points and 5 boards in 30 minutes, numbers that Josh Powell thinks are pathetic. He is paid right in the middle (roughly $8M per year), right at the average of poor and exemplary.
Unfortunately, I made that salient point in the middle of a piece that turned out to be complete hogwash, because it's premise was that Lamar Odom is clutch. He doesn't (can't) perform at his best all the time, but when the Lakers need him, he brings the goods, I said. Lamar then proceeded to spend most of the playoffs making me look like a fool. Check out his splits from the different playoff series
|
|
MIN |
PTS |
REB |
EFG |
PF |
|
vs. OKC |
26.2 |
7.8 |
6.8 |
0.46 |
3.8 |
|
vs. UTA |
28 |
9.5 |
10 |
0.56 |
4.3 |
|
vs. PHX |
34.3 |
14 |
11.8 |
0.49 |
3.5 |
|
vs. BOS |
27.4 |
7.6 |
6.6 |
0.5 |
3.3 |
When I look at that, I see one great series, one OK series, and two serious clunkers. If we throw out the Utah series (because the Jazz were completely over-matched and the Lakers could have won with Josh Powell playing big minutes), we're left with a 1 out of 3 success rate of Lamar being a difference maker, including his epic failure in the Finals. Most concerning was his propensity for picking up fouls, nearly average 4 a game, despite not averaging 30 minutes per. If you remember, he picked up 6 fouls in 15 total minutes in the 1st halves of Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, and he repeatedly let foul trouble take him out of his game during the playoffs. That's the type of thing you would normally associate with a 2nd year player getting his first taste of the playoffs, not a 10 year veteran who's been to the Finals for three straight seasons.
Put simply, it was not the best of seasons for Lamar Odom. In fact, over many statistical categories, it may well have been his worst as a Laker. His points and rebounds/game both were down, although that can be forgiven as Andrew Bynum shoulders more and more responsibility in both areas. His shooting was only better than his first year in the purple and gold, a year we'd all like to forget. And it was the lowest performance in that grand all-telling stat, PER, that we've ever seen out of LO.
And yet, Lamar has to be given credit for contributions that never make it onto the stat sheet. In many ways, LO is every bit the intangible force that Derek Fisher is. It doesn't manifest itself in the same way (i.e. always succeeding in big moments), but so much of Lamar's contribution to this team can not be seen in the box score. For one, LO is probably the best defensive big man we've got, certainly the most adept at playing the pick and roll. I can't find the link, but I recall Kelly Dwyer saying that LO was one of the best help defenders in the league, and I can't argue with that (though my own limited experience would simply label him the best help defender on our roster).
But perhaps even more important (and certainly less tangible), Lamar Odom is the soul of this team. It's odd to say, considering the Lakers have a starting 5 which consists of: the greatest player in the game today, possibly the best big man in the game today, a former all-star/defensive player of the year, a rising star big man, and a future head coach. Despite all that talent/experience/ability, it is Lamar that makes this team tick. He's the glue. More than any other player on the roster, he has willingly sacrificed his own individual accolades and glory for the sake of the team.
On a team with so much talent/personality/ego (back to back champs have plenty of ego), there's a damn good reason why Lamar is at the center of every team circle, dancing, shouting, leading the team in their pre-game rituals. His overall performance on the court wasn't quite up to snuff this year, but his value to the team can not be overstated. For that reason alone, he gets a solid grade.
Final Grade: B
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Couldn't agree more
The guy does what he is supposed to do which may not always make us avid fans happy but he gets the job done.
Great players win games. Great teams win championships.
nice article
but in the 10th paragraph i think you meant to say jackson as a future hall of fame coach or something to that effect (you just said “and a future head coach”)
Phil is already in the Hall of Fame, so I think Fish was implied.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
The counter-argument is
if Fisher wasn’t such a poor player, games would never need heroics to win.
Impossible to resolve one way or another, but can be talked about for hours.
I guess a counter-counter-argument would be that Fisher isn't the only player/ factor at fault for a close game, nor is it accurate to say that he's the biggest reason nonetheless all the time whenever that situation arises
But yeah, like you said:
Impossible to resolve one way or another.
LOL, I think they're already doing a lot of this.
centered on Lamar and Khloe’s attempts to mate),
Perhaps the show will be centered on their attempts to pro-create.
At any rate, LO can make you pull your hair out at times, and at others make you scream his name in ecstasy, often in the same fucking game. I loves me some Lamar Odom.
Good piece. Nice grade.
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
That's typical of a B grade
gives you hope you can go for the A, but at the same time makes you worry about dropping to a C
and at others make you scream his name in ecstasy,
WOAH! :)
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
whoops messed the blockquote up......epic fail!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah thats y i wear sunglasses at nite....lol
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
haha.. a la Lebron?
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
wow....that........is........just...........wrong. lol i hate that dude.
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions
forgot the pic
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
same thoughts as me. lol.
Unfortunately the legend of MJ has long surpassed the reality of MJ. -Joshua S.
lol Marty!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Candyman will be back
LO had a poor Finals but he will be back. A good summer chiling in that new Bentley Phantom and getting the hookup for their new show should bring him back energized!!
That Lamar Odom
has somehow carved out a niche as the “glue” on this championship team is very strange but true. I’ll be thinking after one of his stinkers of a game, well Lamar has yet to show up and dominate for at least a game. And it never ceases to amaze. It’s said to be a champion, it takes a lot of heart and character…I’m not sure those are the 2 words you think of when you think of Odom, but I’m glad he’s on the team and other teams have to account for his size, length and ability. As frustrating as it can be to watch him as a Laker fan, it must be that much tougher as a fan of the team we play as they watch this guy sleepwalk to a great game.
I'm ready for the Autumn Wind to blow strong once again.
hahaha
sleepwalk lol
wasn’t it amare who said Odom got lucky in the series against Phoenix?
Amar'e could only dream of being so lucky.
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
Revisionist history
What if LO signs w-Miami last year?
Probably no Nazgul trio in Miami (as they may not have enough for the 3 max deals, but possibly no repeat in L.A?
I'm ready for the Autumn Wind to blow strong once again.
That's more like creationist history
That’s the what if game, which is fine, if pointless.
Revisionist history is where you “remember” things differently to fit current sets of circumstances, instead of admitting you were wrong.
Example:
6 years ago: Kobe is the reason why the Lakers blew everything up in 2004. He’s a terrible teammate.
(Shaq proceeds to alienate 3 different fanbases on his way out of town in 6 seasons)
Current day: Shaq is a bad teammate, he at least played an equal role in the blow up of the Lakers.
Lol
right, thanks for clearing that up.
It’s certainly pointless, but was thinking it is all.
I'm ready for the Autumn Wind to blow strong once again.
not completely pointless
we are, after all, stuck in the summer doldrums
"Lebron has the ball, dribbles down the court, splitting the Lakers defenders with 5 seconds left on the clock with the game on the line in the 2011 NBA Finals Game 7! Lebron pulls up from deep, in Kobe's face and drains the three pointer! HEAT WIN HEAT WIN!!! 89-88!!!!!
...BEEP BEEP BEEP...BEEP BEEP BEEP...
Then Lebron's alarm goes off and he wakes up and goes downstairs to eat a delicious breakfast made by his mom and Delonte West."
There was another article, a behind the boxscore, where Kelly mentioned Lamar's ability.
Come to think of it, I don’t know if it was even a behind the box score article, but I am sure it was an article that wasn’t directly about Lamar. He was mentioned coincidentally, and I had a moment of happiness/refreshment at a Laker being mentioned positively.
your like the Indiana Jones of looking up forgotten links Blue!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions
WOAH.....like the dalilama?
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions
What a great, solid, true article.
I 100% agree, CA; thanks for the read!
He came in for Shaq...
Lakers tried to land Wade, got B.Grant, Odom and Butler… The first one was a disaster, waste of money. The second was our captain, and the third never learnt the words DEFENCE or TRIANGLE. Yet, with hindsight, I like that trade, it could have turned out better, but in the end, Kobe is getting the last word. Shaq going green, that’s just signing his own testament. Bynum will terrorise him next year.
by Belgian Chocolate Lake on Aug 4, 2010 3:21 PM PDT reply actions
What I appreciate most about these Player Report Cards is..
That non stat aspects are taken into consideration. Btw..I didn’t even realize that no one said a peep about him playing for the US’s mens basketball team. And the comment that Laker fans simply assume he just doesn’t work that hard is right on point.
"That means no more coming into camp fat and out of shape, when your team is relying on your leadership on and off the court. It also means no more blaming others for our team's failure, or blaming staff members for not overdramatizing your injuries so that you avoid blame for your lack of conditioning. " Kobe on Shaq being a leader
What concerned me the most about Odom was his migration towards the perimeter last year
He seemed content to chuck up long jumpers off the dribble far too often and rarely ventured into the paint to rebound or offer up some of his beautiful interior passing. It should be easier this year given that driving lanes will open courtesy of actually having shooters, but he should be more assertive in driving to create opportunities, even if they’re not for himself.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
meh, maybe in practice them 3's were goin up with ALOT more consistency...
so who knows…?
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah exactly
that’s when you know his head isn’t quite in the game. When he’s focused, you see him drive more, more backdoor cuts and more offensive rebounds.
This.
Kobe Bryant's no Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant is Kobe Bryant.
"Lebron joins teams with his friends; Kobe’s enemies join teams with him." - Gil Meriken
by Saurav A. Das on Aug 5, 2010 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree with your observation...
I’m not sure but this might be related to Lamar’s complacency since he’s just the 4th or 5th scoring option because of the obvious talents around him. I say such because I noticed Lamar oftentimes step-up when we are short of personnel like when Drew is hurt, ineffective or in foul trouble.
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
needs to add a little more to his "driving hard to the left of the basket" move
seems like everyone knows his scouting report now, dont let him go left. he needs some sort of spin move a la carmelo to get some easy buckets in the paint.
Lamar doesn't have the skill set to spin to the right in my opinion...
If you’re left handed and you want to spin to the right, then you need to:
1. Be able to finish with your right
2. Be able to stop short and shoot a fade-away (to do it fluidly you’ll want to shoot with your right)
Unless you meant he needs to learn to spin to the left… which I think he already knows how to do. There are two aspects as to why Lamar doesn’t usually drive, which are:
1. Dude can’t go right (nor finish right ‘aside for the occasional right-handed dunk)
2. Dude ain’t aggressive
3. Dude ain’t got a car parked on court
I’m writing this from pure memory (which isn’t clicking at all this summer), and I just woke up from an hour and 13 minute nap, which is freaking horrible as it’s not too long and not too short. Chances are I could be dead-wrong. But as of my current shit state, this is how I feel.
agree with this
The onus is on LO to want to improve. Now the things you listed, Kobe does very well.
If Kobe himself doesn’t mind learning from the likes of Hakeem, LO ought to learn a lot from
what Kobe can teach. (See Ariza, Trevor)
"E-Coaches are heavy in here tonight! Take E-Sasha and put him on the E-bench on your fantasy league, that’ll show him!" - Jevon O
Great report card, CA
Excellent analysis of all his different aspects. LO is a bit enigmatic
snaq signing with the CeLOLtics....
ahahaha…
I don’t have a problem saying, ‘Your franchise player sucks.’ - Ron Artest
I thought that was intentional….lol
"Lebron has the ball, dribbles down the court, splitting the Lakers defenders with 5 seconds left on the clock with the game on the line in the 2011 NBA Finals Game 7! Lebron pulls up from deep, in Kobe's face and drains the three pointer! HEAT WIN HEAT WIN!!! 89-88!!!!!
...BEEP BEEP BEEP...BEEP BEEP BEEP...
Then Lebron's alarm goes off and he wakes up and goes downstairs to eat a delicious breakfast made by his mom and Delonte West."
it was dude.
but i’m more proud of the ceLOLtics. it sounds better than it types, really…
I don’t have a problem saying, ‘Your franchise player sucks.’ - Ron Artest
so does this make shaq The Big Leprechaun?
"Lebron has the ball, dribbles down the court, splitting the Lakers defenders with 5 seconds left on the clock with the game on the line in the 2011 NBA Finals Game 7! Lebron pulls up from deep, in Kobe's face and drains the three pointer! HEAT WIN HEAT WIN!!! 89-88!!!!!
...BEEP BEEP BEEP...BEEP BEEP BEEP...
Then Lebron's alarm goes off and he wakes up and goes downstairs to eat a delicious breakfast made by his mom and Delonte West."
jesus christ
I checked on stubhub for the Lakers vs Heat game, the lowest price for a ticket is $238 bucks!!
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
almost as expensive as NBA finals game 7 tickets
I saw those starting at about 300 bucks.
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
wonder how much finals tickets will cost
if the heat make it out of the eastern conference to face us, considering the christmas day ones are priced so high
3peat.
probably about as much, maybe higher
its a shame they have to jack up the prices so much, even regular season tickets are pretty ridiculous. In 2005, loge level seats were 75-80 bucks, then again we sucked that season.
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
Assuming we, too, make it to the Finals.
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
You keep your sensible mouth shut!
Lakers are a lock for next years finals!!!
strokes beard ominously
shannon is staying (most likely)
Agent Mark Bartelstein tells The Post Shannon Brown likely to pass on #Knicks for #Lakers. Final decision tomorrow. http://bit.ly/9t4TFP
3peat.
This is epic failure
I was digging through some old books and found my 5th grade family recipe book. In it there was a recipe for guacamole created by a fellow classmate and a description of why they chose it:
I chose this family recipe because it reminds me of my grandma and when I was little I used to cook guacamole with my grandma I used to put all the ingredients like the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and the salt. I even chose this recipe because we always do it on parties and on birthdays and it reminds me of the good food my family and I eat that tastes good. Sometimes it comes in special occasions because like if you are assigned to bring this and you forget then you can just make guacamole really fast. I like the broth of the ingredients of the guacamole. Sometimes when we think has not had guacamole in a long time then we do some.
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
I don't understand...
why anyone would be assigned to guacamole e.e.
yum
when I was little I used to cook guacamole with my grandma
cooked guac
"Lebron has the ball, dribbles down the court, splitting the Lakers defenders with 5 seconds left on the clock with the game on the line in the 2011 NBA Finals Game 7! Lebron pulls up from deep, in Kobe's face and drains the three pointer! HEAT WIN HEAT WIN!!! 89-88!!!!!
...BEEP BEEP BEEP...BEEP BEEP BEEP...
Then Lebron's alarm goes off and he wakes up and goes downstairs to eat a delicious breakfast made by his mom and Delonte West."
Exactly my thought.
WTH would you cook guacamole?!
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
aaaaaaand out of left field this way comes....
a post from shaqfor3.
…ahhh… the NBA offseason
LMWAO!!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions
laugh my wet ass off: This begs the question...
why is your ass wet?
LOL! my WHITE.....ass off
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Odom played this season?
Czheck Productions
My Instrumentals
Woj is conducting a massive LeBook burning.
by Czheck on Aug 4, 2010 6:25 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
id give kobe an A-/ B+ for the season.
"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."
Dude, at least type "Spoiler Alert!"
I haven’t seen this movie!
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
ha ha
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
A bit off topic
But on Christmas Day when we play the Miami Heat we will expose their backcourt. Andrew Bynum will eat Chris Bosh alive in the paint and Pau Gasol will dominate their veteran center Big Z. Lamar Odom, Theo Ratliff and Derrick Caracter will handle the rest of their big men off the bench. As usual Dywane Wade can’t guard Kobe, I don’t mean to be a stat whore but Kobe averaged 36 PPG against the Heat last season with Dywane Wade guarding him. LeBron will have his way against Ron Ron but that’s it, we will dominate you best believe.
" I wanna be the best, I wanna be the best simple and plain and to be the best you have to win and thats what drives me" -Kobe Bryant
by 15xtimeNBAchamps on Aug 4, 2010 7:13 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
HOnestly I have faith the Lakers can beat this team
One of the biggest X factors is how easily Wade gets to the free throw line. But as long as Bynum is healthy then the Lakers will beat them.
"That means no more coming into camp fat and out of shape, when your team is relying on your leadership on and off the court. It also means no more blaming others for our team's failure, or blaming staff members for not overdramatizing your injuries so that you avoid blame for your lack of conditioning. " Kobe on Shaq being a leader
Yes we can
I expect the Heat to throw a zone defense against us like what they did to us in our last game in Miami, it was effective. Hopefully, we learned how to counter the zone d from the Phoenix series. And yeah, we got better 3 pt shooters in Blake and Barnes (not that better but can shoot the 3).
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
hell yeah
Artest got Lebron, Kobe gots Wade, Barnes on Mike Miller, Pao on Bosh. We can man handle that team.
I don’t mean to be a stat whore
yes you do…don’t worry, embrace the dark side
"Lebron has the ball, dribbles down the court, splitting the Lakers defenders with 5 seconds left on the clock with the game on the line in the 2011 NBA Finals Game 7! Lebron pulls up from deep, in Kobe's face and drains the three pointer! HEAT WIN HEAT WIN!!! 89-88!!!!!
...BEEP BEEP BEEP...BEEP BEEP BEEP...
Then Lebron's alarm goes off and he wakes up and goes downstairs to eat a delicious breakfast made by his mom and Delonte West."
I never (and by that I mean rarely, and by that I mean until the Lakers get blown out) watch holiday games because I KNOW that the other team always outplays us. Lol, I had tickets to last Christmas’ game, and I sold them and went on a trip to Hawaii. No regrets. Didn’t even watch Sportcenter that night.
Vikas Srinath
yeah
somehow, we almost always suck on Christmas day. smh
"E-Coaches are heavy in here tonight! Take E-Sasha and put him on the E-bench on your fantasy league, that’ll show him!" - Jevon O
So happy you stopped by to brighten up our day!
;-)
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
Oh man, let me ruin your fantasy
On Christmas day, the Lakers will more than likely be blown out. If not blown out, then we’ll lose by 7 or 8 after trailing by 15 going into the 4th.
Stats don’t matter on this game because, matter of factly, Kobe Bean and Company are fucking tired of playing on Christmas. Prepare for a Christmas stinker courtesy of our spoiled and talented and waitin-for-June squad, the LA Lakers.
And I love ‘em. I expect no less than 4 WALIT from Fish with a helping of PUJBTT (pull up jumpers breaking the triangle) from Brown, if he’s still with us. God bless us.
well..
lets just hope that after we lose the game, Artest won’t fell down the stairs again.
Lebron has the ball, dribbles down the court splitting the lakers defenders with 5 seconds left on the clock with the game on the line in the 2011 nba finals game 7! Lebron pulls up from deep, in kobes face and drains the three pointer! HEAT WIN HEAT WIN!!! 89-88!!!!! BEEP BEEP BEEP then Lebrons alarm goes off and he wakes up and goes downstairs to eat a delicious breakfast made by Lebrons mom and Delonte West.
by Kobe:The Legend on Aug 5, 2010 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Is it just me
Or did anyone else notice how Lamar seems to turn it up for the final few possessions in a close ball game. I was keeping an eye on exactly that during the play-offs, and he was doing all types of good stuff at the end of games, like grabbing a big rebound here and getting in a swat there. That type of play will still show up as only one rebound on the box score, but it does a lot to win the game. I don’t have time to procure video evidence, but I remember him coming up big in that close Jazz game (the one with the insanely clutch fisher 3 from way downtown) as well as Game 7 of the Finals. Does anyone remember that/have the time to look it up? I
I did notice that.
I’ve been rewatching the Lakers playoffs and I noticed a lot of huge defensive plays and rebounds from Lamar in our Laker wins. He does a lot that goes unnoticed, and CA did a good job pointing that out.
wouldn’t be close if he put out consistently
I haven’t drunk the koolaid on Lamar…trading him wouldn’t break my heart.
"Lebron has the ball, dribbles down the court, splitting the Lakers defenders with 5 seconds left on the clock with the game on the line in the 2011 NBA Finals Game 7! Lebron pulls up from deep, in Kobe's face and drains the three pointer! HEAT WIN HEAT WIN!!! 89-88!!!!!
...BEEP BEEP BEEP...BEEP BEEP BEEP...
Then Lebron's alarm goes off and he wakes up and goes downstairs to eat a delicious breakfast made by his mom and Delonte West."
Lamar Videos
I hope this is appropriate, here are some youtube clips about why I love Lamar
Post game, in your FACE ,Defense, Vision, Coast to Coast! , and of course, Stoner Odom :)
nice vids
but here’s my fave Lamar dunk, 2009 WCF against Denver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaRb1tHiaUQ
I also love Luke’s headbutt. :p
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
i remember this
he fucked birdman’s shit up good!! have u seen the one over ratliff? Its one jump step in from the FT line, it’s monstrous man
by wickedskillz on Aug 4, 2010 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions
oh not yet
ima look for that one. shit sounds good.
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
YOU WANT THIS MONEY COME GET THIS MONEY
by wickedskillz on Aug 4, 2010 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions
AHA!
nice poster, better without the headband though. I hope Ebanks won’t wear headbands.
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
He asked on Twitter if he should "rock the headband this season?"
I replied that Lakers don’t do headbands or mouthpieces. Even Fisher stopped wearing his.
Besides, he’d look like LeBron or Paul Pierce. Not what you want to go for.
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
yah I saw it too
He’s been twitter crazy this past few days. I said “no” too because headbands are jinx. And it reminds me of Smush Parker era with us. {Pukes}. Sorry.
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
oh wait
doesn’t Shannon use a mouthpiece? I think he does. But anyway…
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
He does
gotta protect his teeth from the rim ya know.
Unfortunately the legend of MJ has long surpassed the reality of MJ. -Joshua S.
LOL, true.
The thing that bothers me most about them is those guys flipping them in and out of their mouths. It’s disgusting. Either leave it in or take it out.
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
I'm assuming we have a similar person in mind
but I won’t say his name because i have taken it out of my vocabulary. Lets just say it looks french, but is really a derivative form of english called asshole.
Unfortunately the legend of MJ has long surpassed the reality of MJ. -Joshua S.
i think luke mighta hit him too hard
lamar shuts up really quick after that ha
by wickedskillz on Aug 4, 2010 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions
My fave moment from LO
was when he passed to Sasha standing at the bench.
It was our home opener in the 2008-2009 season against the Blazers.
His brain farts, though infuriating, in hindsight, are usually kinda lol-worthy.
Honorable mentions would be dribbling the ball in by himself or the time he and Luke scored in our own basket against the Rockets.
Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.
by PeanutButterSpread on Aug 4, 2010 9:41 PM PDT reply actions
haha anybody got vids of these?
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 4, 2010 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions
haha
Chris Mihm’s farewell Laker practice. I remember him owning guys in NBA Live 06
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
leave it to Blue! lol
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I was just about to post those!!!!
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
lol Shaq4!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGTkRERxyQk so jokes man. I love phil jackson’s face on the play where lamar walks it inbounds.
by wickedskillz on Aug 4, 2010 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I think that was Kwame and Walton with the score in our own basket:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvs4cWAFvbk
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebron, Bosh, and Wade combined?
LMAO
i remember that. Kwame was fighting for it cuz it was the last rebound of his triple double
by wickedskillz on Aug 4, 2010 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
It was Luke and Kwame!
The fact that I somehow remembered it as Luke and LO really shows how ridiculous LO’s brainfarts are that I’ve pinned somebody else’s gaffe on him. Sorry LO :P
Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.
by PeanutButterSpread on Aug 7, 2010 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
lmao! at the memories ;-D
"E-Coaches are heavy in here tonight! Take E-Sasha and put him on the E-bench on your fantasy league, that’ll show him!" - Jevon O
Lamar CandyMan Odom
soo hard to grade, I do agree he was foul prone during the finals however I’d give him a pass since refs were douchebags as always soo my grade for Odom has to be incomplete or a C—, either way dude needs to make more of an impact in the playoffs and not for one series…
There are basic Fundamentals that are needed to move forward in this game. Always keep your guard up at all times to avoid being caught in a trap. Overcome the fouls that will be committed against you REBOUND AND PRESS ON. ADJUST to the Limelight: ALL-STAR PLAYERS ARE ALWAYS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. Know what your role is and play your position. Find a game plan and execute it. REMEMBER YOU ONLY GET OUT OF THE GAME WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.
Odom definitely doesn't much referee love
I never understand why.
Also, I’d hardly give Odom a B. If you counted every game in the playoffs that he showed up for I doubt you’d even hit 50% of them. Odom had a decent season coming off the bench, but he was never great when the Lakers needed him to be and he led a second unit that was the achilles heal of the team. Invoking LO’s intangibles in comparison to Derek Fisher’s is downright blasphemy in my opinion.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
LOL doesn't have intangibles, remember?
he gets lucky.
I don’t have a problem saying, ‘Your franchise player sucks.’ - Ron Artest
The difference is that Lamar's intangibles don't come at the sacrifice of something tangible on the court
Fisher’s intangibles and ability to come through in the clutch is literally the ONLY thing he brings to the table. Other than that, Fisher a) couldn’t shoot, b) couldn’t defend, c) didn’t do a good job of running the offense all season long.
Fisher redeemed himself by playing well for most of the playoffs, but he spent the regular season being one of the worst starting players in all of the NBA.
LO on the other hand, even when he’s not performing that well, makes a mostly positive difference through defense.
The simplest way I can put it is that Fisher’s grade w/o his intangibles is the easiest F one could ever give. LO’s grade w/o his intangibles is probably like a C (because his defense is relatively consistent, and very good). So Fisher’s intangibles was good for a 2+ grade bump, and LO’s only bumped the grade one letter, but LO wasn’t starting from complete fail.
I think a C is accurately describes average, right?
"E-Coaches are heavy in here tonight! Take E-Sasha and put him on the E-bench on your fantasy league, that’ll show him!" - Jevon O
I'd give him a B-
Because of inconsistency, and lack of Ammo-ness…
For me its the consistent inconsistency that concerns me - PAGFL
It's always AMMO Time, in spirit- DexterFishmore
If we're gonna take Ammo-ness into consideration...
Then the whole roster fails. Dunno about Fisher or Shaw though… even though technically the latter isn’t “on” the roster.
Nobody grades Brian Shaw...
Except Brian Shaw.
Formerly known as "akb24b"
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"Lets go for for it again"- Kobe Bryant, 2010 Championship ceremony.
"The NBA Apocalypse has occurred, and it's our fault."- C.A. Clark
LOL!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
On that point
I do believe that this isn’t the kind of offense that Lamar can truly shine in a “max contract” type of way, save an absolutely brutish performance by everyone named Kobe and Pau, or hella candy (in the way of Amare-caliber defense). However, to excuse his inconsistencies as being merely that is kinda lame…given how many years he’s played and “grown” alongside this team?
Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, I love his wife’s sisters even more, but shouldn’t he have carved out more of a substantial niche by now? If he really wants to earn more money, he’s got to start doing the things his “role” needs him to start doing…on a MUCH more regular basis. Then again, there’s that part of me that says “Vikas, better on our team than theirs.”
Vikas Srinath
I love his wife’s sisters even more
Oh amen, brother, amen.
"E-Coaches are heavy in here tonight! Take E-Sasha and put him on the E-bench on your fantasy league, that’ll show him!" - Jevon O
by altree on Aug 5, 2010 3:05 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
agreed!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Lamar HAD no bench help
Our bench was the problem, not LO. Ammo, Walton, Powell, DJ, and Sasha couldn’t win together as a team in a Rec League let alone hold a lead in an NBA game. Farmar, Brown, and LO were the only real effective players and the first two (Farmar and Brown) couldn’t play together. Don’t blame him for others’ lack of abilities. The bench will be a positive contributor instead of the bain of our team this year.
Great players win games. Great teams win championships.
I agree with the B
His up and down nature may warrant a C for Average, since his play settles on a happy medium of good and bad play. BUT…. when Lamar does play good, he does things no other player can do for us that it’s so great, it pushes his overall grade up a notch.
For example, when Lamar plays bad, you’d say he gets a D grade. Maybe an F on those REALLY bad nights, but most of his bad nights is a D. His good nights are Bs or As, but when I feel that even a so-so stat night can still be an A grade if his talents are used correctly. My point is, while Lamar might have alot of D games, I think he has more A games than B games, which would make his average a B, not a C.
As Lamar goes, so go the Lakers.
"There are no "Kobe Lovers", just people who are right." - Gil Meriken
where to?
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
LMAO!
I don't do it for your thanks, I do it because I had a calling, but I do love the support you give me and my Soldiers.
by Sarge Clemins on Aug 5, 2010 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
One thing I really worry about with Lamar
is his lack of discipline when it comes to nutrition. I know it may sound minor, but we all know as you get older, the things your body used to let you get away with, it doesn’t so much anymore.
I am hopeful someone will sit down with lamar, take away the candy bars, and put him on a reasonable eating plan for a professional athlete.
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