<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bryant, who sustained a severely sprained ankle Thursday against Cleveland, had visions of Odom as more of a passer and ballhandler. "He's a great facilitator," Bryant said. "I'd much rather him handle the ball and me be off the ball. This is a good situation for us as a team to get accustomed to him being the facilitator and handling the ball." Isn't Bryant the facilitator? "The misconception that they have is that people automatically assume that I play with the ball," Bryant said. "I had to play with the ball because I was the facilitator of the team these past years. But I much prefer being off the ball. I like to score. I don't like dribbling the ball that many times."</div><div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Most likely I'll be starting a little bit more close to the basket so I can try and put pressure on the defense with my scoring ability," Odom said. "You probably will see me handle the ball a little bit less because I want to catch the ball more in scoring position."</div>http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/n...ack=2&cset=true I agree with Kobe's optimism, this situation gives the team the opportunity to "Lamar Odom Basketball." It'll be interesing to see which Lamer Odom will be out on the court these next few weeks...the ball-handling LO or inside-scoring LO. Kobe's injury could very well be a blessing in disguise. Remember when Kobe hurt his wrist in the beginning of the first championship run (when Kobe wore that lame glove on his bad hand for "support")? The team was able to stablize and get used to the triangle offense without him...and then when Kobe was put back into the lineup, the offense was taken to another level. Hopefully this will happen again. Also, this is Sasha's chance to earn himself a spot into the rotation. Realistically, the team's chance of getting into the playoffs has diminished tremendously....but in the long run, this could be a good thing...and maybe, just maybe with a lottery pick, this could be a very good thing.
This is Odom's chance to show he is for the Lakers. I think this will be the start of a great duo in Kobe and Lamar. With Lamar controlling the ball, Kobe will be able to work off of screens and his FG% will go up. I think in Kobe's absence, Lamar will average 24, 10, and 6. This is Lamar's chance to shine, he will do it. Also, Sasha should be ahead of Tierre in the rotation, he looked good for a foreign rookie out there on Thursday.
yeh sasha has impressed me every time he has played for the lakers. I do believe this is a great way for lamar to gain respect by his laker fans and teammates. And hopefully lamar is up for the challenge.
This is great news if the team can do this, Kobe shouldn't be playing like Iverson, Kobe is a guy that can come off screens and hit mid-range jumpers, or come off and cut the corner and get to the basket. The style of play where he was the playmaker and scorer was definately making him looks selfish because it's just not how he should be playing. The 4.7 turnovers was telling that it wasn't working, and this is definately better. If Kobe can come in more of a scoring role and put up 30 points, 6-7 rebounds, and 4-5 assists, it will help the team more, and the Lakers will look much better. Kobe is a scorer that can pass, not a passer that is a very good scorer. Odom was playing point on the Clips, and was one of the 3 playmakers in Miami last season so as we all know it's nothing new to him.
I like the idea of Odom being the facilitator, but I'd rather this decision be made from Coach Rudy T instead of Coach Kobe. Also why did it take being injured for Kobe to realize the Lakers are better off with him coming off the ball. Maybe I'm looking into this, too much, but if the Lakers play better with Odom bringing the ball up, I'm all for it. Pippen did it for the Bulls and Jordan, so why not give it a shot.
That's a very good point Shape. Funny how Kobe realizes two months removed this season that Odom should be the ballhandler and not him. Besides in Kobe's absence, Lamar Odom has made things so much easier offensively. Suddenly it was like he woke up from a bad dream answering all of our latest criticisms about him. He's much more aggressive, he demands the ball in key offensive situations, and he's gaining confidence on each and every Laker possession. Now my only hope once Kobe returns, he can finally open up the doors to Odom more offensively so that they can form their own little offensive tandem.
