PE: LAS VEGAS - The thought of coming off the bench in his contract year outraged Lamar Odom the first time he learned it was a possibility. Now that the veteran forward has had some time to reflect, he says he will not let "business" stand in the way of his quest to win his first NBA title.
Minutes before the Lakers took the court Sunday in search of their first victory of the exhibition season, Odom pledged to embrace the role of sixth man if that's how Coach Phil Jackson decides to use him.
Odom then backed up that promise with his liveliest performance of the season, coming off the bench for the first time since his freshman year in high school to help the Lakers to a 94-89 victory over Sacramento.
"You only get one or two shots at this, you know what I'm saying?" Odom said. "Some guys might not be able to take it well, especially in their contract year. Whatever, I'm good. I've made enough. I'm OK. My family's good. Hopefully, I can win a championship this year, and be rewarded for it."
Instead of the usual Kobe-centric melodrama that has dominated previous training camps, this year it's the unassuming Odom who has commandeered many of the headlines. He and Coach Phil Jackson have traded barbs since camp began, with Odom bristling at the idea of coming off the bench, yet showing minimal sustained aggression or urgency on the court until Sunday.
Odom OK with being Lakers' sixth man
#1
Guest_Nissan_*
Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:23 AM
#2
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"C" is NOT for Cookie!!
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:25 AM
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Ron Ron
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:25 AM
#4
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Sixth Man
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 08:39 AM
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ArtestMediaGroup Graphic Designer
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 08:44 AM
i believe he's just OK with being the 6th man.. & as long as we win, he'll be alright.
but he did play well last night. he seemed really happy in his post-game interview last night.
#6
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BACK 2 BACK NBA CHAMPIONS
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 10:32 AM
#7
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Kobe Bryant 2010 Finals MVP
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 10:37 AM
as much as i'd like to think that he's really ok with it, i don't believe him.
i believe he's just OK with being the 6th man.. & as long as we win, he'll be alright.
but he did play well last night. he seemed really happy in his post-game interview last night.
your sig scares me...lol
16 TIME NBA WORLD CHAMPIONS!
Thanks TheBigFish for this great sig
#8
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Queen Laker Girl
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 02:03 PM
#9
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Starter
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:12 PM
But if it works, I'm all for it.
If we win a Championship with him coming off the bench playing a major role, I can see Kobe and Phil going to bat for him on the whole extension thing.
I'm BAAACCCKKKKK!!!
#10
Guest_Nissan_*
Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:16 PM
Odom is still going to play 33+ minutes every game.
#11
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Legend
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:17 PM
bynum
gasol
ariza
kobe
fisher
with the bench being
mihm
lamar
ariza
sasha
farmar
i mean you ask me thats one hell of a second unit i mean one hell of one
#12
Guest_Nissan_*
Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:18 PM
Ariza is not starting at SF, Vlad is starting at SF.maybe this is the lakers way of developing a great not good bench i mean
bynum
gasol
ariza
kobe
fisher
with the bench being
mihm
lamar
ariza
sasha
farmar
i mean you ask me thats one hell of a second unit i mean one hell of one
#13
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Starter
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 07:57 PM
Odom is a great locker room guy and he's a team player. He's not happy about maybe coming off the bench, but he wants to win a championship and he doesn't want to be a distraction to the team.
Odom is still going to play 33+ minutes every game.
Or...
He knows that they aren't going to give him money if he's not producing AND whining about coming off the bench. He has NO LEVERAGE at this point.
Only way to get back to the table is to play his way back into the starting lineup...easier said than done.
I'm BAAACCCKKKKK!!!
#14
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The Only Suns Fan On TLN
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 09:03 PM
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Pump Up The Fruit
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 09:07 PM
Team Farmar
United we stand. Divided we fall.
#16
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Rookie
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 10:06 PM
#17
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Based
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Posted October 13, 2008 - 10:58 PM
#18
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Starter
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Posted October 14, 2008 - 03:20 AM
Lamar is tight.
Dude...am I just too old or does that sentence not make any sense whatsoever?
I'm BAAACCCKKKKK!!!
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