Lakers' Odom unhappy with sixth-man status

[Sam The Man]

im SHOCKED Andrew hasn't mentioned this, but Odom could be the Toni Kukoc of the Lakers.

Very good comparison.
I think Odom needs to work on his jump shot. Then he would be a very big threat.

[Andrew]

im SHOCKED Andrew hasn't mentioned this, but Odom could be the Toni Kukoc of the Lakers.

Well, he's expressed a preference to be in the starting five and wears #7. That's a start.

[Andrew]

Lakers' Odom OK With Reserve Role

Sounds like cooler heads have prevailed and Odom is adjusting to the new role. Good news for the Lakers.

[Fresh8]

I always thought Odom would cool down and once his ego took a backseat, he would become sixth man of the year. I hope the latter comes true!

Honestly, I feel like this is good on so many levels because Odom will get a lot more touches and scoring opportunities coming on with the second unit and he will be playing at the end of games too, which are usually the most important moments of games.

I'm feeling a great year from the Lakers!

[Jackal]

I'm feeling a great year from the Lakers!

You feel that every year.

Good for Odom, the man has loads of talent but doesn't quite use all of it. (Or use it at the right times.) Here's hoping to see a good year from Odom, I really like him as a player.

[Cloudy]

It's all about how he thinks, Lamar is already a proven player that can play. All he needs to do now is change his mindset! Sixth Man of the Year?

[Fresh8]

You feel that every year.

Do you get that feeling too Jackal?

[Andrew]

Sixth Man of the Year?

At this point he sounds like a good early pick. I don't think they'd give it to Ginobili two years in a row, assuming he keeps coming off the bench too.

[Alejandrov011]

Don't forget Barbosa

[Andrew]

He won the Sixth Man award in 2007 though, not that that disqualifies him but only two players have won the award more than once and no player has won it twice within the last fifteen years (back-to-back or otherwise).

[Fresh8]

Well, Barbosa, Odom and Manu would be the good early picks having not seen any guys in action. On paper they'd sound like good contenders for sixth man.

[Andrew]

Indeed and no matter who takes home the honours I expect they'll be amongst the top sixth men in the league if that's the role they each have throughout the season. However, based on the way they avoid repeat winners of the award (unlike the MVP award where winners do repeat or at least are multi-time recipients) I believe Odom has a better chance of being named Sixth Man of the Year, since Barbosa and Ginobili have already won the award in recent years.

[Fresh8]

I feel awards like sixth man are usually based on hype. Defensive player is based on reputation. I think the NBA should really introduce a player's player award or something of the like...

[Andrew]

All awards are based on hype to a certain extent. I don't think that makes them completely irrelevant or that all award winners are undeserving as you don't see seldom used reserves winning Sixth Man of the Year or someone who isn't one of the top players at his position named the Most Valuable Player but there does seem to be the notion of someone having their turn to be recognised, especially when it comes to MVP.

[Fresh8]

I wasn't say they were irrelevent however I feel some awards are more based on hype than others. However, that is just my thinking. If they got coaches or players or team execs to vote, I feel that it would be much more legitimate however!

[Andrew]

Possibly, though I think there'd still be a bit of an "it's his turn this year" mentality. Still, it's possible that coaches, GMs and especially players might be able to cast votes with less bias and more insight, being more immersed in the game than the media who are perhaps more interested in spinning or perpetuating a story.

No matter how the awards are chosen there'll always be some controversy surrounding them and arguments over the worthiness of the winners and other candidates but that's all part of the fun of being a basketball (or just plain sports) fanatic. That doesn't mean you can't try and improve the system of course but I don't think any system could completely eliminate the hype factor; at least, no system where individuals vote based on their opinion.

[shadowgrin]

If they got coaches or players or team execs to vote, I feel that it would be much more legitimate however!

Like the NBA's sportsmanship award.

[Jackal]

Do you get that feeling too Jackal?

As a fan, you want to feel that every year, but then reality kicks in and you realise it might not be the case. For all I know Bynum could end up sucking due to the time off, Gasol could disappear as usual and Odom might not like his role after a bit.

But I've got my fingers crossed that there's no drama in Hollywood this time around.

[shadowgrin]

Bynum will be a bitch. I can sense it.

[Valor]

Bynum will be a bitch. I can sense it.

agree...i dont like him ever since he taunted shaq

[Andrew]

Despite his agent pushing for $17 mil, Bynum's been saying all the right things though. I think he'll keep his head on straight but it remains to be seen how dominant he'll be; I don't think he'll pull a Dwight Howard playing alongside Gasol, simply not enough touches or boards to go around.

[shadowgrin]

I do believe Bynum's talent can be at an all-star level. Just like Jamaal Magloire.

[BIG GREEN]

They should bring Kobe off the bench.

This.

[OrlMagic]

I support Odom coming off the bench and Bynum is a talented player I think.

[galvatron3000]

he'll come off the bench and POSSIBLY play starter minutes but more importantly if Phil wants that, you do it.

Phil may also have wanted to see what kind of response he would get from Odom, in regardds to attitude. Would he be settle for this or say he'd expect to make the decision hard for Phil or would he just except it and go passive or just complain.

I'd preferred the first one but hey I'm not pulling for thoe guys in prple and gold, lol