Sometimes it infuriates me when he doesn’t attack the basket with passion. When you think about it, who’s really going to stop an assertive 6’10 left-handed slasher?
Not many. If any.
He can average 15 and 10 with ease. Just think, if they have to guard Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and stay home with Andrew Bynum, there is simply no way to effectively stop Lamar. His only downside in terms of ability may be his free throw shooting. the rest is all approach and mentality.
He is simply the enigma for this Lakers squad. The measuring stick of their caliber.
You can always tell how the Lakers are going to play simply by watching him. When he’s the aggressor the defending champs are the defending champs. And when he isn’t..well. They have a much tougher task than anticipated.
Even in Game 3 of these finals, where Derek Fisher lifted the Lakers to victory late in the fourth, Odom played much better on both ends of the floor.
It’s just Lamar being Lamar.
His carefree attitude is contagious. The ‘lucky’ lefty just loves to have a good time; on and off the floor. Sometimes it works in L.A’.s favor. It helps them remain even keel against the toughest opponents. But sometimes it makes them tentative on their intensity. Not fighting through screens, settling for jumpers, or the infamous ‘Kobe watching’.
Of course he’s not the full blame of this, but these traits do usually show when Odom’s not playing his hardest.
The Bottom line though is that Odom is the soul of the Lakers. When he does play at his best, he can do everything and his team’s possibilities are endless. He brings a bit of a reminiscent of Scottie Pippen. The player who will always be the underrated superstar. The only problem is that it is only Lamar himself who can determine what his legacy will be remembered of. Being the Lakers’ savior, or the Lakers’ downfall.
