<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Going back to my formative sportswriting days at Northwestern University, where I was sports editor of the school paper that had to rehash many, many lopsided losses against Big Ten big boys, I've told people who complain about negative coverage that it's really quite simple: If the team loses, the coverage pretty much will be negative (and vice-versa). I bring that up because you look at the game Lamar Odom just had for the Lakers against Atlanta, and you see how the result completely dictates the analysis. If the Lakers had come back to win, you could talk about how Odom shook off what was a largely mindless performance to make some big shots late. He has a tendency to get down and stay down in games, so recovering is noteworthy for him. Alas, the Lakers lost the game, so you come away thinking more about how Odom's largely mindless performance most of the game cost the Lakers a game they obviously should've won. If Odom doesn't commit so many foolish fouls, he's in there to rebound and defend when the Lakers needed it. If Odom is at least slightly assertive on offense in the second quarter (he was scoreless, shot-less and assist-less in 9:21 of action, with two fouls and one turnover), the Lakers might've had a blowout victory after building a 10-point lead after the first quarter. His final numbers: 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, three rebounds, three assists, three turnovers. Not horrible. Not great. But considering the game result, you come away with the negative spin: Odom's irresponsibility and lack of focus in what he probably thought was a sure victory wound up a painful loss for the Lakers.</div> Source Unfortunately, this is what Odom will continue to be for the Lakers.
Odom is useless. He never asserts himself. He takes himself out of the offense every night. He doesn't do anything. The Lakers need to find a way to trade him before the deadline if they want to improve their chances of getting to the playoffs.
You can't blame this loss on Odom. He had 17, 3, and 3. Sure you want to see the rebounds and assists higher, but Kobe had 9 assists. You can blame so many things on Odom, not this loss though.
as much as i want to bash odom and say how much he sucks and ect. he is valuable to this team. just look at how this team played without him.
It was the Lakers defense that caused the loss. You guys allowed the Hawks to score 20 more points than their average. Not odom but the Lakers as a whole team lost the game. Stop bashing Odom
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WadeDynasty:</div><div class="quote_post">It was the Lakers defense that caused the loss. You guys allowed the Hawks to score 20 more points than their average. Not odom but the Lakers as a whole team lost the game. Stop bashing Odom</div> The Lakers defense was pathetic in the game. Odom has become the whipping-boy for a lot of Laker fans (including myself), because of the money he makes. I realize he's playing injured, but he was getting killed by Josh Smith. He gave up a career high in points and rebounds to Smith. People claim Odom is our best rebounder, he only managed 3 rebounds. He got into early foul trouble because he continues to play lazy defense and picks up cheap reach in fouls. He did make a clutch 3 point shot, but overall his performance this season has been very disappointing. I still think Lamar Odom can be an All-Star caliber player. However, it won't be in Los Angeles playing within the Triangle. He doesn't have the skills, work ethic, or basketball IQ to make it work.
