Matthew Yglesias » Odom on the Bench

Oct 3rd, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Odom on the Bench

Of course Lamar Odom isn’t happy with the idea of coming off the bench as a sixth man. Still, it’s clearly the correct decision. I also note that it shouldn’t necessarily lead to a drastic reduction in his playing time. You figure that when Pau Gasol’s out of the game, he’ll be logging those minutes at the four. And when Bynum’s on the bench, Gasol will slide over to the five and Odom will come in as power forward. That way you don’t need to play Chris Mihm unless someone’s in foul trouble. That makes a lot more sense than playing a Bynum-Gasol-Odom frontline that crowds the lane and lets defenses pack it in.

Comments
23

Filed under: Basketball, Lamar Odom, NBA

23 Responses to “Odom on the Bench”

Charrua Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Two words for Odom: Toni Kukoc.
ben Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
a Bynum-Gasol-Odom frontline that crowds the lane

It’s not going to be crowded if Odom is out at the 3-pt line taking poorly-chosen shots.
SomeCallMeTim Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I’m sympathetic to the argument, but watching Odom when he’s really going is such a joy that I’d probably prefer that the Lakers trade him and set him free.
steve duncan Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I never worry too much about my favorite team having a logjam at one spot or a disgruntled player upset over minutes. Soon enough somebody is getting cut, suspended, killed or injured because of drugs, a drive-by, a hooker with an attitude and a straight razor or a stint in jail for pushing a stripper down a flight of stairs. It all works out. I think the Pacers have a couple guys that achieved most of the above in one night.
joejoejoe Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
You sound like Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers in this post.
Curtis Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Basketball is almost back. It is an odd-year. Obama is almost a lock. Happy days are here again!!
jimmychitwood Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Odom needs to have the ball in his hands. He’ll be most effective when Bryant is out of the game. Odom had an MVP-type year in Miami before they traded for Shaq.
Kit Stolz Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
This may be a way of telling Lamar that he’s on the trading block. (I’m sorry to say that: I love his game, and think he helps the Lakers more than they seem to realize, despite his mediocre jump shot.) Another potential hint: Phil has him playing point guard in the preseason, which despite his superb ball-handling skills is a stretch. But who knows, maybe it’ll work, at least in stretches. Odom certainly can pass, drive, kick, and score. I hope the Lakers find a way to keep him.
Al Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
than playing a Bynum-Gasol-Odom frontline that crowds the lane and lets defenses pack it in

Would that frontline “crowd the lane”? I think of Odom as much more an outside player than inside, especially given that Odom is a very good passer. Moreover, don’t they play the triangle offense anyway?

To me, this is much more predicated on Odom’s defensive liabilities than any offensive issues. I doubt that Odom could guard many 3s well, and we all know that once somebody beats Odom, the interior defense is not likely to be able to clean up the mess.
SomeCallMeTim Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I think of Odom as much more an outside player than inside

He shoots poorly, but can be amazing getting to the rim. But he can’t keep the defender honest by shooting from the outside, so the defense can slack back and pack the basket. This problem gets exacerbated by Kobe’s tendency to hold the ball and let a defense set before he attacks it or passes.
Nat Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Steve Duncan made me laugh.

As for Mihm, some body part will break by Turkey Day, so that worry will be taken care of, too.
Petey Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
“But he can’t keep the defender honest by shooting from the outside, so the defense can slack back and pack the basket.”

Yuperooni.

Under current rules, an inability to shoot decently from outside makes you a real liability to your team unless you’re a pure post player.

Under the old no-zone rules, LO would be a great asset. Under current rules, not so much.
beowulf Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Matt, your areas of expertise are hard to keep up with.

Reading your headline, my first thought was, didn’t General Odom die in June?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/05odom.html
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Matt Yglesias

Odom on the Bench

23 Responses to “Odom on the Bench”

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