I was thinking about our dilemma with all of our small forwards. Let's just assume we stop all the transactions for the rest of the off-season (hopefully not)...here's our list of SF's... Lamar Odom - obviously the starting SF...he can run 4 positions on the floor, so keep that in mind...he's a great passer, better than most PG's in the league also, and he's a solid defender...international experience is a plus, also Caron Butler - can do alot...he's aggressive and gets hyped easily, and he attacks the rim well...he doesn't have a great jumper and isn't the best ball-handler either, but he can post up well for being his size and can crash boards with many PF's Devean George - George has a deadly shot, but he's streaky...he needs to lose his defender before he receives the ball in order to do anything offensively...he's very athletic and can also pull down boards from out of nowhere Luke Walton - the man has proven that he can pass...he's got a high IQ for basketball, and he's working on his shot...he gets guys involved, which is an important factor for the Lakers next season Jumaine Jones - good defender, can shoot from the perimeter and the corner, and he's got the ability to play both PF and SF...he's better than some make him out to be, he just needs a better opportunity to prove everyone wrong What should we do about this? I know Walton and Jones can play PF (or maybe that's Walton's primary position in the first place)...but then we'd have Grant and Medvedenko. Obviously, Odom will be a starter. Any thoughts?
I would play Odom at the 4 and start Butler at the 3. Odom showed last year (albeit in the East) that he is a capable 4. With Butler at the 3, I think it takes some pressure off of Kobe on the defensive end because they are interchangable (and makes it much easier to switch on picks). It also takes away minutes from Grant, who like Vlade, looks pretty shot (old). I don't think the Lakers want to expend too much of their energy early on. So starting Butler at the 3 essientially platoons Vlade, Grant, and Mihm to the 5 and the backup 4 (when odom is out of the game) This will leave plenty of minutes behind Butler for Walton and Deavan.
I dont think all those SF's will be in Laker uniform at the start of the season. There is one more trade going to happen in LA.
Man, I really dont know. but having 5 SF on the roster is just crazy. I just have a feeling somethings going down. I know Odom will be kept, but I hope Caron is kept as well, unless of course its a trade for something unbelievable. Only time will tell eh?
I still feel the missing link is JKidd. A package of Brian Grant and a couple of those small forwards and Atkins would work salary wise and give the Nets salary relief next year and JKidd just fits in perfectly with the new Lakers.
Very impossible to keep all five small forwards on one team, so I'm still predicting maybe another transaction is in place somewhere along the line. If I had a say on who would have to go, it'll probably be Devean George. Devean absolutely lost his confidence since the "Big Four" went down with their respective injuries, he was never aggressive when he definitely has the athletic ability, and he was always successful in steeping up amongst Payton, Kobe, Malone, and Shaq's shadows. Now with what looks like three players gone (if Malone doesn't return this year) I don't think George has what it takes to bring himself back up again. Maybe George can be packaged with some others to benefit ourselves better in the long run, only time will tell.
Prolly start Lamar Odom of course, but, I think they should Keep atleast LAmar ODom and Caron Butler, but, if they can keep Luke Walton that would be a big plus, with his youth and greatpassing ability.
I don't think Odom can play 4 in the west. He's an OK defender but it wouldn't be that smart to make him focus on guarding stars like Duncan or Garnett. I like kobe-360's idea but I hope the Lakers will make another trade this offseason. All of the Laker SF are talented but there's no reason to keep ALL of them...
I like the idea of playing Odom at the 4 and Butler at the 3. This not only gives the Lakers a lot options on offense, it also gives Divac and Grant less playing time, so they can be more effective in the post season. A lot of the answers should fall in place when Malone makes a decision for his plans next season. Assuming he comes back to the Lakers, (I have my fingers crossed he does return) they will have more options to pull off a trade. At the moment we have, too many players and not enough spots on the roster to accomodate everyone. Adding Malone would mean we need to pull off a 2 for 1 or 3 for 2 type deal, and hopefully add a quality player for our logjam at the smallforward position. I'm confident Odom can hold his own at the 4 spot. Even with the great power forwards in the West, it's not like anyone can really shutdown Duncan or KG as it is, so Odom will be just as effective as any other power forward out West. Having Grant and Odom both defend these players would be all you could ask for.
Putting Odom at 4 and Butler at 3 isn't a BAD idea, but the burden of having to guard guys like KG and Duncan could make Odom tired and less effective on offense (or he could get into foul trouble).
A lot of people are doubting Odom's ability to play the 4, so I decided to take a look at the actual results he had against the premiere power forwards in the league from last year. Based on these numbers, I'd say Odom can more than hold his own out West. Last year Odom averaged the following stats for the season. PPG 17.1 RPG 9.7 APG 4.1 <font size="4">Odom vs.</font> <font color="Blue">Kevin Garnett</font> -- PPG 12.0 RPG 9.0 APG 3.5 <font color="Blue">Tim Duncan</font> -- PPG 15.5 RPG 10.5 APG 3.5 <font color="Blue">Elton Brand</font> -- PPG 18.0 RPG 14.5 APG 3.0 <font color="Blue">Dirk Nowitzki</font> -- PPG 21.5 RPG 12.0 APG 6.5 <font color="Blue">Zach Randolph</font> -- PPG 19.0 RPG 8.5 APG 3.5
He also compares very well with Rasheed Wallace from last year and I think that is the type of player he will be.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">A lot of people are doubting Odom's ability to play the 4, so I decided to take a look at the actual results he had against the premiere power forwards in the league from last year. Based on these numbers, I'd say Odom can more than hold his own out West. Last year Odom averaged the following stats for the season. PPG 17.1 RPG 9.7 APG 4.1 <font size="4">Odom vs.</font> <font color="Blue">Kevin Garnett</font> -- PPG 12.0 RPG 9.0 APG 3.5 <font color="Blue">Tim Duncan</font> -- PPG 15.5 RPG 10.5 APG 3.5 <font color="Blue">Elton Brand</font> -- PPG 18.0 RPG 14.5 APG 3.0 <font color="Blue">Dirk Nowitzki</font> -- PPG 21.5 RPG 12.0 APG 6.5 <font color="Blue">Zach Randolph</font> -- PPG 19.0 RPG 8.5 APG 3.5</div>LO was in the East and all the people you listed are in the West. LO still has to prove himself in this tougher conference.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting heatfan83:</div><div class="quote_post">LO was in the East and all the people you listed are in the West. LO still has to prove himself in this tougher conference.</div> I don't see how that matters...that's how he did against them, no matter what conference he's in.
Well,it looks like Mel proved that Lamar can hold how onw against the top PF's in the west so I say let him play PF and start Caron at SF. Even tough Odom has a lean frame and is only 6'10 he is a solid defender a versatile and quick enough to hang with the best of the west,IMO. This really ends up to Karl Malones decisons for next season if he comes back to the Lakers then he plays 4 Lamar plays 3 and Caron comes off the bench,but then all the other SF's would get very little playing time so they would probally let Kobe do some PG so they can get some of the other guys so PT.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't see how that matters...that's how he did against them, no matter what conference he's in.</div>Oops sorry skipped that small detail thanks for pointing that out, post deleted. I thought their season avgs were being compared, not how they fared against each other.
