Yardbarker: Lamar Odom

NBA Punchlines: Monta Ellis Suspended 30 Games as a Result of Mopedgate

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:02:32 -0500

The NBA, in a joint venture with AEG, will finance multi-purpose arenas around China. (Seattle Times)

Gary Payton is working hard to get a NBA back in Seattle. (Seattle Times)

Eddy Curry is expected to return tomorrow night from a bacterial infection that has sidelined him most of training camp. (NY Post)

You know it's preseason when Vince Carter is hitting clutch free-throws. (NY Times)

Lamar Odom is embracing his new role as point guard. (L.A. Times)

The NBA will play regular season games in London leading up to the 2012 summer games. (Houston Chronicle)

Thus far, Carl Landry is earning his three-year extension he received this past offseason. (Houston Chronicle)

Shawne Williams is ready to wipe the slate clean playing for his new team, the Dallas Mavericks. (Dallas Morning News)

Boobie Gibson's NBA road thus far has been unconventional, but everything seems to be working out for him just fine. (Plain Dealer)

The Warriors suspended Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay stemming from a moped incident this past summer. (Cincy Enquirer)

Patrick O'Bryant is trying to prove that he is neither lazy nor unmotivated. (Boston Globe)

Trudell Interviews Odom

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:25:56 -0500

Mike Trudell, a Lakers Reporter, has posted an interesting interview that he conducted with Lamar Odom. Titled "Unplugged" the interview covers Lamar Odom's life, in many different ways, off the court. Not a single question regarding basketball, the Lakers, or being a sixth man. Instead, the interview covers music, wrestling, and baseball. Take a look [...]

Trudell Interviews Odom

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:25:56 -0500

Are the Lakers already in trouble?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:18:54 -0500

Despite being outmuscled and outhustled by the Boston Celtics in the Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers enter the season as the odds-on favorite to win the title. With the up-and-coming Andrew Bynum returning from injury, their status as favorites does some sense. But there is already trouble in Lala Land, as the coaching staff can't figure out how to best utilize the talent on the roster. There are two issues at hand: 1) Lamar Odom is in the final year of his contract and has always been a bad fit for the triangle offense and 2) it's no sure thing that Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol can play well together. Heading into the season, the team seemed intent on moving Gasol to power forward and starting Bynum at center, so much so that Phil Jackson suggested that Lamar Odom might come off the bench. While the trio would make a long and formidable frontline, none of them can hit a jumper outside of 15 feet, and even that's a stretch. Defenses would simply pack the lane, which would make it next to impossible for Kobe Bryant to get to the rim. (Read the rest after the jump.)

VladRad Minutes Reduction Justified

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:39:28 -0500

A Daily Babble Production While his status with the Lakers remains somewhat unclear, the current expectation is that when Lamar Odom isn't moonlighting at point guard (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=4024 Itemid=260) this season, he'll be trying his hand at the small forward spot alongside the big frontcourt combination of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Making room for one returning center and moving one forward over means somebody else is going to lose some minutes, and more than anyone else, that somebody currently looks to be Vladimir Radmanovic. Randmanovic started 41 regular season games and all 21 playoff games at small forward for the Lakers this season, and he stands to see the greatest decline in playing time if the Odom-Gasol-Bynum front line is in place. The seven-year vet is less than thrilled about this development, and the Press-Enterprise's Jeff Eisenberg reports (http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/lakers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_W_lakers_notes_05.274118d.html) that a championship is the one scenario that would ease his frustration if his playing time evaporates this season as expected. It's natural for a player to want to be on the floor, and it sounds like VladRad understands that the big picture is winning first and sticking together as a team. But it's worth...

Floor General Lamar?

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:24:02 -0500

A Daily Babble Production On the Lakers' list of X-factors heading into the new season, Andrew Bynum is hardly alone at the top. While the center has received plenty of deserved hype as his return from last year's season-ending knee injury nears, there is another member of the purple and gold whose fate with the team continues to hang in the balance: Lamar Odom. The media hasn't shied away from the power forward either this offseason, and there have been rumors of everything from the Lakers starting Odom at the three alongside Bynum and Pau Gasol to bringing him off the bench to shipping the guy out of town altogether. Thursday's report (http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_10624679) from Elliott Teaford of the LA Daily News brought one more possibility to throw in the mix: Odom as occasional point guard. According to Teaford, Phil Jackson has stated that he'll be doing some experimenting during the team's exhibition games, namely involving shifting Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher to small forward and shooting guard respectively and allowing Odom to run the point. Read More.. (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=4024 Itemid=260)All of Steve's daily posts can be found in the CelticsBlog: NBA blog. Check him out!

NBA Punchlines: Rip Hamilton Criticizes Former Coach Flip Saunders

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:48:55 -0500

Welcome to the Clippers: Rookie Eric Gordon sprained his ankle during his first practice and will miss a week. (L.A. Times)

The Lakers are trying Lamar Odom out at point guard this preseason, in what we are guessing will be a Scottie Pippen type role. (L.A. Times)

Mike Dunleavy Jr. is looking to parlay his breakout season, and prove those wrong who doubted he could be a good NBA player. (Indy Star)

Rick Adelman is installing a new offense, his offense, in Houston. (Houston Chronicle)

Rip Hamilton had a few things to say about his former coach Flip Saunders yesterday at Pistons camp. (Detroit Free Press)

We have a Mateen Cleaves sighting. (Detroit Free Press)

Antonio McDyess is back in a bench role with the Pistons this year and he is comfortable with that. (Detroit Free Press)

The Cavs need Varejao and Pavlovic to snap out of whatever was going on with them last season. (Plain Dealer)

Finally: Ben Gordon signed the one-year tender offer with the Bulls worth $6.4 million. (Chicago Trib)

Lakers try Odom at point guard

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:05:55 -0500

Forget about that Lakers frontline of Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Odom has been shifted to ball-handling guard, part of an experiment conducted by Coach Phil Jackson in a monthlong petri dish called exhibition season. Odom, who has already clashed with Jackson in training camp, has brought the ball up court for the Lakers in their first two days of practice. Derek Fisher has shifted to a shooting-guard role on offense and Kobe Bryant has moved to small forward. The concept, if it sticks, has its pros and cons. Odom, 6 feet 10, could post up smaller point guards, though the team would lose some of his offensive rebounding if he stayed out on the perimeter. Also, there would be a litany of switching on defense, with Odom picking up the opposing small forward, Bryant guarding the opponent's shooting guard and Fisher picking up the point guard. Odom, who will be 29 next month, spent about half a season with the Clippers at point guard earlier in his career. So far he looked average in handling the ball. "He's looking like I would expect him to look -- still searching for where to be, how to get there, not only knowing where he's supposed to be, but where everybody else is supposed to be," Fisher said. "It's going to take some time to learn how to really quarterback the offense, though he's excited about the opportunity." Odom averaged 4.4 assists a game in his first nine NBA seasons. "It's almost a natural fit for him because he wants to involve other guys and make plays for other people," Fisher said. "I think we'll be able to do a lot of good things for him in that position, where he can bring the ball up and then cut off, get some post-ups, do some other things with the ball. He's not just standing around, waiting for somebody to get the ball to him."

Training Camp Report: Day 1

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:45:14 -0500

Training camp has officially begun and the Lakers are in El Segundo ready to go to work. As many may know, this team is surrounded by the glamours of Hollywood, so surely enough, the first thing to do, is enjoy a long day of media questioning. Thanks to Lakers.com, you are all welcome to take a [...]

Abdur-Rahim Retires

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:45:14 -0500

Sharim Abdur-Rahim of the Sacramento Kings has announced that he will be retiring from the NBA due to a persistent right knee injury. The Kings have filed with the NBA to try and get the salary of Abdur-Rahim wiped off the books for this season. Unfortunately, it is unclear whether the request will go through [...]

The 1990's All Clipper Team

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:54:11 -0500

G: Ron Harper G: Pooh Richardson F: Loy Vaught F: Danny Manning C: Olden Polynice And off the bench ... Lamar Odom Charles Smith Ron Harper Ken Norman Rodney Rogers Lamond Murray Maurice Taylor Perhaps their best player would be the rookie Lamar Odom. There wasn't a single impressive thing about the Clippers in this decade besides him. Trust me, I was living in LA the whole time ...

Lakers To Shift Starters

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:51:53 -0500

The Los Angeles Lakers have entered training camp and it looks like Phil Jackson has some new ideas for the team. If it's any indicator of the level of change Jackson is looking to make he entered camp clean shaven, no zen master mustache and beard. They were all happy to get to the Finals last year, but it wasn't enough. They are hungrier than ever this year to win and with the stable of players they have it just might happen...

NBA Punchlines: Starbury Pours Some More Fuel on the Fire

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:36:53 -0500

Monta Ellis is beaming with confidence even after his accident a couple of weeks ago, we wonder what Chris Mullin and the boys think of that. (San Fran Chronicle)

The Kings plan on implementing the triangle offense in training camp. (SacBee)

Iggy is cool with playing either small forward or shooting guard. (Philly Inquirer)

Dwight Howard says if he had to pick he would rather win a gold medal over a NBA championship. (Orlando Sentinel)

Steph does not like that he has been labeled "poison." (NY Post)

Bobby Simmons is eager to take over the role vacated by Richard Jefferson. Are Nets fans equally as eager to see Jefferson gone? (Star-Ledger)

It definitely seems as though Michael Beasley needs some mentoring off the court. Good move by the Heat pairing him with Udonis. (Miami Herald)

It is safe to say Lamar Odom is not to excited about even being considered for the 6th man role with the Lakers. (L.A. Times)

Another season in Houston brings more immense pressure and expectations for Tracy McGrady. (Houston Chronicle)

The core players for the Pistons are back once again to make a run at a championship. (Detroit Free Press)

Same old story: The Nuggets are going to "emphasize defense" in training camp. (Rocky Mountain News)

Josh Howard took the first step to repairing his fractured image yesterday at Mavericks training camp. (Dallas Morning News)

LeBron says he is "five times better" then he was in game 7 of the Boston series last year. Now that is a scary thought. (Plain Dealer)

Here it is training camp and Ben Gordon's contract status still lingers. (Chicago Trib)

Larry Brown seems excited to be coaching again. That will last until the first time the help defense rotation is slower than he expects. (Charlotte Observer)

Sam Cassell talk about the tough task ahead of the Celtics as they look to repeat. (Boston Globe)

Odom doesn't want to come off the bench

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:28:45 -0500

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said recently that he is considering making Lamar Odom the team's sixth man this season. The Lakers convened this afternoon for a media session in El Segundo before the start of training camp Tuesday and Odom voiced his disdain for Jackson's idea. "He must have woke up and bumped his head. He probably hit his head on something -- boom," Odom said about Jackson. "To start off like that, you've got to be out of your . . . mind." Odom, from his grade school days in New York City to high school to college and during his nine years in the NBA, always has been a starter. Several Lakers said today they are still bitter about losing the NBA championship in June to the Boston Celtics. Kobe Bryant viewed it as lessons to be learned. His team lost, 131-92, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, which was close to being the most one-sided game in Finals history. His team also blew a 24-point lead in Game 4, which was the biggest comeback in Finals history since Elias Sports Bureau became the NBA's official keeper of statistics in the 1970-71 season. "It was a bad taste," Bryant said. "But at the same time, it was like 'We got there.' Everybody knows that we had a lot of guys that missed a lot of games during the year. We shuffled lineups around the place. We missed our key guy to provide our defensive anchor. It is disappointing, but it was a great experience for my guys. It's time to go now." Andrew Bynum sat out the final 46 regular-season games and all of the playoffs after having season-ending left knee surgery. Bynum is back healthy and ready to man the center position for the Lakers. Pau Gasol, acquired Feb. 1 from the Memphis Grizzlies, will get a full season and training camp with the Lakers. Trevor Ariza, acquired Nov. 20, from the Orlando Magic, sat out four months last season recovering from a broken right foot. He's healthy and will provide the Lakers a defensive presence on the wing, possibly even as a starter at small forward instead of Odom. Bynum, Gasol and Ariza are expected to enhance the Lakers with a full season. The Lakers remember the horrible feeling of being blown out by the Celtics in the Finals, and none of them want to feel that way again. "It's something that we don't want to forget, that we want to keep in our minds," Gasol said. "I think that's going to be a factor in every single game, in every single thing, every single day to make us be better, to make us become better to get to that stage again."

Odom Off the Bench

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:09:12 -0500

For the upcoming season, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to have to make some adjustments to their rotation now when Andrew Bynum is healthy...