Odom's Growth will be Valuable for Lakers

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- He thought about his old neighborhood in Queens and all the rappers and ballplayers who made a name for themselves off the streets. He thought about his new home with the Lakers and all the championship trophies and retired numbers that came before him.
When Lamar Odom founded his own record label this summer, he could think of no better name than one taken straight from the lyrics of his cousin, rapper Ali Vegas: From the land of rich soil/Expect branches to follow.

So it was that Rich Soil Records was born and Odom last week was left explaining the connection to the Lakers.

"It's about tradition," said Odom, who split his offseason between New York and Los Angeles.

But the name is all the more apt when considering how this Lakers' season will be defined by Odom's growth. A year removed from the Shaquille O'Neal trade and coming off shoulder surgery in April, even Odom acknowledges the expectations couldn't be greater as training camp begins Tuesday in Honolulu.

"I just think that being the player that I am, and this is my seventh year and we didn't make the playoffs last year, it's kind of like do or die," Odom said. "Not in those terms, but this is it."

For all the back-and-forth about Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson, consider the words of general manager Mitch Kupchak, who says, The biggest challenge we have is to figure out how to use Lamar."

Odom is coming off a season that, if not disappointing, at least seemed incomplete. He failed to take the next step toward becoming an All-Star, missed the last 17 games after tearing the labrum in his left shoulder and watched the Lakers' free fall to a 34-48 finish.

He played out of position at power forward, even though he never objected. He put up good numbers (15.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists) but also seemed to find his place alongside Bryant. The two played in only 50 of 82 games together due to injuries.

"Basketball-wise, I felt like I played good basketball," Odom said. "I only averaged one bucket less than I did in Miami. I tried to play a team game. I think maybe the only part I didn't do well was play offensive basketball a little bit more selfishly.

"Maybe I could have played a little more selfishly, just making plays. I don't mean that in shooting the ball. Just putting it on my own back, my own shoulders, just to make plays for everyone."

He is asked if it takes a year to adjust after something like the O'Neal trade and answers, "It took A-Rod a year to get adjusted." Ever the Yankees fan, Odom is hoping Rodriguez's .320-47-129 season can translate into 20-9-6 nightly for him on the basketball court.

There are those who say Odom cannot be judged on his first year as a Laker, when the team lacked structure on offense and defense and was shaken by Rudy Tomjanovich's departure as coach. Odom was coming off the disappointment of the Athens Olympics and said he wanted to take back the first 20 games of the season at the All-Star break.

In his evaluation Wednesday, Jackson described Odom's past season as "choppy." Yet Jackson also made clear that Odom will play what he termed a "very prominent" role, especially when it comes to handling the ball and initiating the triangle offense.

"He's going to be a person that we're going to ask for a lot of responsibility," said Jackson, who will bring Scottie Pippen to camp to work specifically with Odom. "That's something he's got to step into, but I'm also going to ask him to step into that level."

The question of where Odom is best suited to play has not been answered, and might never be. He banged with the likes of Kevin Garnett as a power forward last season but is perhaps most comfortable as a point forward, taking advantage of his passing skills.</div>

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Very nice breakdown of what the Lakers need from Odom next season. I've also felt he will be the key player for the Lakers this season, especially on defense. If Odom and Kobe can find a workable chemistry, it will make life so much easier on the rest of the team.

 

I like the idea of Odom and Kobe playing more in the post next season. Odom is going to tower over most SFs guarding him, and is a great passer out of double teams. Kobe is also deadly in the post, and knows how to draw fouls and get to the line. Having them in the post should also help the Lakers on the offensive glass. Odom is the best rebounder on the team, and Kobe is a quick leaper who should be able to out jump his man for the ball or tip out to a teammate.

 

Lamar Odom has to improve defensively and buy into Phil Jackson's defensive schemes. It's great the Lakers brought in Scottie Pippen to mentor Odom and show Odom what his responsibilites will be on defense.