NBA - Sports Rumors

Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:48 am EDT

Odom's effort often goes unnoticed, except by teammates

By Joe Zedalis

Lamar Odom

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On any other day, Lamar Odom would have gotten plenty of face time on highlight shows with his 17-point, 14-rebound, six-assist performance against Denver in the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff opener. But Pau Gasol scored 36 points in winning his first postseason game and Kobe Bryant rode a late surge to finish with 32, unfairly reducing Odom's outstanding effort Sunday to a footnote, if it was mentioned at all according to Los Angeles Times columnist Hele Elliott.

That doesn't mean Odom's teammates failed to notice what he did or the contributions he made during the Lakers' successful push for the top seeding in the West.

The 6-foot-10 forward averaged a double-double in points (14.2) and rebounds (10.6, seventh in the NBA) for the first time since 2004-05, his first Lakers season. He adjusted easily to the arrival of the multi-talented Gasol, raising his emotional energy as much as his play. He also got stronger as the season progressed, shouldering a heavy load when center Andrew Bynum was injured and again when Gasol's sprained ankle jeopardized the Lakers' quest for home-court advantage.

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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418 Comments

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  1. da_grim_reefer_074
    1. Posted by da_grim_reefer_074 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    1st fools! LA Lakers 2008 Champions!
  2. hayadointoday
    2. Posted by hayadointoday Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    LOL@pic .....ohh look at me no love...
  3. jofel b
    3. Posted by jofel b Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    frist
  4. stillill
    4. Posted by stillill Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    Lakers vs celtics. f everyone else.
  5. Bear
    5. Posted by Bear Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    His effort goes unnoticed becuase he doesn't have a killer attitude. He has physical ability. He has skills. He doesn't have the attitude to want to dunk the ball body to body in someones face producing a highlight worthy of the Sportscenter top ten. If Odom had half of the killer instinct that Kobe has the Lakers would be unstoppable always and not on any given night. They have a team built like the Bulls when they were on there tri-championship runs. Then again I guess somebody has to play Pippen. I hope Odom steps up to the plate and plays D-fence like Pip. I'm eager to see a Lakers-Celtics matchup like the days of Magic and Bird. Lakers in 7.
  6. jessemcknz
    6. Posted by jessemcknz Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    Gasol shoots from anywhere and makes freethrows WHAT A DEAL!
  7. Vahaas
    7. Posted by Vahaas Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    L.O. just stay on the court and we have a great shot at this thing...what a beautiful SUNset wwe are about to see...wish were were the ones turning out their over rated lights...LOL
  8. Sasha 0-5
    8. Posted by Sasha 0-5 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    If LO plays up to his potential on a consistent basis he will be able to wear a nice flashy ring that garners plenty of attention. GO LO!!!
  9. Pherm1
    9. Posted by Pherm1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    Ive always liked Odom's game, he is Lakers Mr Fix it!! Versatile and built to play ball!!
  10. Rickers
    10. Posted by Rickers Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Are you kidding? A real fan knows that as the third option, Odom has far less pressure and thus is much better for it. Lamar can do almost anything in basketball, but he lacks the mental side of it unless there is little to no pressure. This is the case with Gasol around. Pau makes the Lakers much better.
    Lamar has gone through a lot and we all feel for him. He is great and we want him to be his best!
    Go Lakers!
  11. jOren
    11. Posted by jOren Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    Lamar is better than Marion right now :))
  12. SHAWN G (LA WHERE CHAMPIONSHIPS HAPPEN)
    12. Posted by SHAWN G (LA WHERE CHAMPIONSHIPS HAPPEN) Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:18 pm EDT

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    im just thankfull odom's finallly doing what he's always been capable of doing...im not gonna lie and say ive always liked odoms game,cause up untill gasol got here ,what was there to like ????alot of fans are fakeing the funk ,once again up untill gasol got here these blogs were filled with fans that wanted odom traded....on the flipside odom has earned my respectand i hope he still takes up another notch and goes to beast mode,thats all it will take to make him mr.highlite.......
  13. Jarky
    13. Posted by Jarky Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    go nuggets!
  14. Vernz
    14. Posted by Vernz Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    He gets the job done and the killer instinct is for the team to close out opponents as a whole not by one man! Where o where can you find a hard working player like LO that slides into the #4 position (or is it #3?) when help arrived (Pau Gasol) and immediately buoyed up the whole concept of the triangle offense by sharing the ball with others? He is what the Lakekrs needed just like Michael Cooper for the showtime squad in the 80's and Scottie Pippen of the 90's Bulls.
  15. sports-rules
    15. Posted by sports-rules Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:37 pm EDT

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    It goes un-noticed because odom is not a very consistant player- NOT ever has he been- However in this offense LA has recently over the last 28-29 games now it has worked to his liking (third option)- although he still has inconsistancies but there not as they once were.....!
  16. kmxwhat
    16. Posted by kmxwhat Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Odom....Laker fans DO NOTICE YOU MAN...we love you...cause KB and Gasol cannot do what they do without you man....
    I guess LO doesn't mind though....if u notice he plays his best basketball "under-the-radar"...meaning opposing teams forget about him and focus too much on Mr Bryant!
  17. kmxwhat
    17. Posted by kmxwhat Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    sup sportman and shawn g....do u think tonites game will be a close one?
  18. osito
    18. Posted by osito Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    From day one with the lakers, I could see the effect that Lamar would have on the team had they been strong. Remember when they started the season before they had so many injuries? I think that using him as a third or fourth option has really made him into a great go to guy. He has is great now since other teams are more focused on kobe and now, start focusing on pau. Now they have to turn their heads again to see where Lamar is coming from. Then we have the bench players who open a whole new can of worms for the opponents. If he continues playing like this on a more consistent basis, I think this team is unbeatable. If Andrew returns, then the Lakers will be able to push the same kind of offense off the bench as they can with the starters. Its like playing two Lakers team with the same potency. What a team they will be to beat. LAKERS FOR LIFE...
  19. osito
    19. Posted by osito Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    From day one with the lakers, I could see the effect that Lamar would have on the team had they been strong. Remember when they started the season before they had so many injuries? I think that using him as a third or fourth option has really made him into a great go to guy. He has is great now since other teams are more focused on kobe and now, start focusing on pau. Now they have to turn their heads again to see where Lamar is coming from. Then we have the bench players who open a whole new can of worms for the opponents. If he continues playing like this on a more consistent basis, I think this team is unbeatable. If Andrew returns, then the Lakers will be able to push the same kind of offense off the bench as they can with the starters. Its like playing two Lakers team with the same potency. What a team they will be to beat. LAKERS FOR LIFE...
  20. SHAWN G (LA WHERE CHAMPIONSHIPS HAPPEN)
    20. Posted by SHAWN G (LA WHERE CHAMPIONSHIPS HAPPEN) Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:18 pm EDT

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    wad up kmx ,i say we win by 10 points ...whats your fix in it????
  21. kmxwhat
    21. Posted by kmxwhat Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    shawn g....my take is "IF" the nuggets sit down and play some D for 48mins it will be close....but thats a strong IF....i'd say it gonna be another shootout and since lakers play better D...it will be another blow out W for us...
  22. rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier)
    22. Posted by rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier) Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    He has been the 2nd best player behind Gasol for the last 10-15 games.
  23. kmxwhat
    23. Posted by kmxwhat Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Lebron has been the 3rd best player behind Kobe and CP3 the entire season...
  24. SHAWN G (LA WHERE CHAMPIONSHIPS HAPPEN)
    24. Posted by SHAWN G (LA WHERE CHAMPIONSHIPS HAPPEN) Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:18 pm EDT

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    they did odom wrong with that picture .....man im pumped up cant wait till tonight......

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