<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">HOUSTON(AP) Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom sprained his right knee in the first quarter of Tuesday's game against the Houston Rockets and Coach Phil Jackson said he might be out for more than a month. The 6-foot-10 Odom, the Lakers' leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, landed awkwardly after Shane Battier blocked his shot on a drive. Odom stayed in the game for another 90 seconds, but the Lakers called a time out so Odom could come out with 8:31 left. ``I don't know exactly when it happened,'' Odom said. ``But I felt like something was really wrong. I have no idea how long it'll be. I've never had anything like this.'' Odom was taken to a hospital for an MRI. The Lakers said Odom suffered a moderate MCL sprain and was flying back to Los Angeles for more tests on Wednesday. ``He's going to miss some time,'' Jackson said. ``I'll be really happy if he plays again in January.'' Odom had started all 20 games for the Lakers and is averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game. </div> Source It looks like Turiaf, Cookie, and Vlade will have to step up. I really hope Odom gets well soon.
Luke has already proved his worth, and it's not like he's the one on the big contract like Radman, but that's beyond the point. Odom, not like he can control this, but he sure chose a rough time to go down with this injury. The team has been playing great all season, but that's not the point. The issue here is the fact that we lose him, and now we're getting set to play 15 of the next 25 away from Staples. That's going to be one hell of a tough schedule, and even moreso without Lamar. This is when we REALLY need Radman to step in and produce. I realize that thumb has been hurting him all year, but he needs to step it up now. We signed him to a nice, big contract, but haven't gotten much out of him. Hopefully that hand of his is starting to feel better, cause now is when we need his outside shooting more than ever.
ESPN said Lamar Odom will be out for 6 WEEKS! Not good. Our bench has to produce even more for us now.
6 weeks, definitely not good. So that means, we're now looking more at a February return than a January. Hopefully Lamar can make a speedy recovery, or otherwise, as stated earlier, the bench (Radman specificially) REALLY need to step it up.
I'm expecting Odom back late February early March if he thinks it's a bad injury, which he does. I hate knee injuries, especially involving the MCL and the ACL. I really hope that Radman can step up and produce. This is a tough part of the season and losing Lamar is starting it off the wrong way.
The XMas matchup is going to be even less exciting now. No Shaq and now no Odom. Be prepared for an onslaught of Wade v. Kobe threads after the game.
It's a bad thing that Odom is injured. Now expect Kobe's points to skyrocket to the 50's and 60's again!
I don't know if Kobe scoring is going to be the answer to the question. We're going to need contributions moreso from the likes of Radman, Mo Evans, just the bench in general if we want to win. We can't become a one-man team again, because then when teams start focusing soley on stopping Kobe, we're going to need others to step up, and the only way that happens is if they're confidence is there, and if Kobe starts taking too many more shots with Odom out, that could hurt their confidence level, something we don't need.
The defense needs to continue playing strong like we have in the 3rd quarter of both the San Antonio and Houston game. With one of our main offensive weapons out, we have to find other paths to win a game, and the path is through defense, rebounding, and ball control. I'm sure there will be a few games Kobe needs to drop 40+ for us to win, but this is a great opportunity for our bench guys to earn their money and gain some valuable PT. We're 9 games above .500, so if we can just win half our games while Odom is out we'll be in great shape.
<div class="quote_poster">Moo2K4 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know if Kobe scoring is going to be the answer to the question. We're going to need contributions moreso from the likes of Radman, Mo Evans, just the bench in general if we want to win. We can't become a one-man team again, because then when teams start focusing soley on stopping Kobe, we're going to need others to step up, and the only way that happens is if they're confidence is there, and if Kobe starts taking too many more shots with Odom out, that could hurt their confidence level, something we don't need.</div> Yeah, that's true, but he dinetely needs at least 40+ sometimes when odom is not playing.
I completely agree that there are going to be some nights between now and February when Odom returns that Kobe's going to have to throw the team on his back and just will them to a victory. I know that's going to happen. The thing is, I don't want it to have to happen too often. On nights like those, Kobe ends up exerting all of his energy on offense and doesn't play nearly as well on the defensive side of the ball, something that can cost us as well. Also, the other thing with that is, the more energy he has to exert, the more fatigued he's going to be for preceding games, which means he'll be less effective, and we can't have that with Odom down.
<div class="quote_poster">Moo2K4 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I completely agree that there are going to be some nights between now and February when Odom returns that Kobe's going to have to throw the team on his back and just will them to a victory. I know that's going to happen. The thing is, I don't want it to have to happen too often. On nights like those, Kobe ends up exerting all of his energy on offense and doesn't play nearly as well on the defensive side of the ball, something that can cost us as well. Also, the other thing with that is, the more energy he has to exert, the more fatigued he's going to be for preceding games, which means he'll be less effective, and we can't have that with Odom down.</div> True. The Lakers need to be consistent. They lost game that they should have won. They almost lost the game against the Rockets. However, they have a knack for beating good teams like the Jazz, and the Spurs, so I know they will go far in the playoffs this year, maybe even the finals!
Defensively we just need to outhustle the other team and play with alot of energy like many have already said, the 3rd quarters against Houston and San Antonio. Offensively I liked what I saw with the guys executing the triangle to perfection, with precise passing. For example Kwame in the post passing to cutting guards. If we do that and Kobe scores slightly above what he is scoring nowadays we should be fine.
