LAKERS NOTEBOOK: ODOM REMAINS ENIGMATIC FORCE.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer NEW YORK New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of - Only four months ago, Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. sat for an interview at the Lakers practice in which he summed up the season ahead as ``kind of like do or die'' for him personally. He backed off the words as soon as he said them, but did admit, ``This is it.'' There was every reason to see why. Odom was heading into his seventh NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= season and days away from turning 26. He was playing for a Lakers team that had missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, finishing 34-48 after the Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). trade. So far, though, Odom has found progress tough to measure, with his scoring on the decline and his turnovers multiplying. Odom has totaled 15 turnovers the past two games and hasn't scored more than nine points since Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. went for 81. ``I'm just focused on doing what's right on the court and making the playoffs,'' Odom said. ``That's what it's all about, wins and losses. So I just want to win as many ballgames as possible. Hopefully, that'll equal a postseason berth for me in a Laker uniform.'' The Lakers note that Odom is the NBA's only player averaging at least 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists, numbers that leave little doubt about his versatility. Only Minnesota's Kevin Garnett Kevin Garnett (born May 19, 1976) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics. The 6 ft 11 in, 220 lb (0 kg) power forward is regarded as one of the best all around players in the game today. and Memphis' Pau Gasol Pau Gasol Sáez (born July 6 1980, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a 2.13 m (7'0") Catalan[1] Spanish[2] basketball player. Gasol played in the Spanish ACB League for FC Barcelona, where he had an average of 11.3 points per game. are filling up the box score like Odom. Yet Odom has shown he is as likely to approach a triple-double as he is to disappear on a given night. He went 1 for 8 and 1 for 7 in two games this month. He has scored fewer than 10 points in a third of the Lakers' games this season. There also has been an adjustment for Odom to playing in the backcourt - the Scottie Pippen Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). role - in the triangle offense  This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. as well as with new faces in the starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes . Lakers coach Phil Jackson has given Odom the freedom to try to play his way out of his recent funk, leaving the 6-foot-10 forward in during a dismal third quarter Sunday, but also stressing the need for Odom to contribute more on offense. Jackson was asked Monday if he ever has coached a player similar in personality to the highly emotional but also highly giving Odom. He answered no. ``I see a guy that's really a team guy, probably first and foremost,'' Jackson said. ``and in some ways it's good, because it helps our team out. When he's playing well, we're really a special team. When he's not playing well, we really miss him dramatically. We're not as good a team as we can be, by a long shot.'' Jackson said the most crucial aspect to the Lakers' success this season will be finding secondary scoring to Bryant. He mentioned Odom's capability of scoring 15 to 18 points nightly. ``It's a long ways to go for Lamar to find some consistency, so we're still looking at that,'' Jackson said. As for his recent struggles, Odom said he simply needed to make better decisions and look to shoot instead of forcing passes inside. ``When I get inside the key,'' Odom added, ``I probably look for my teammates a little too much because teams are starting playing me for the pass when I should just put the ball up, score a little bit more.'' Odom also has been plagued by charging fouls. He was called for two in the first half Sunday against Detroit's Ben Wallace, in addition to the crucial charge Kenny Thomas drew against him Jan. 19 in Sacramento. ``I think I've got to slow down, change direction a little bit, use my head just a little bit more,'' Odom said. At a minimum, Odom continues to say the right things when it comes to playing with Bryant. He told reporters Monday that he hoped to be on the floor if Bryant ever scored 100 points in a game. --Sharpshooter: Guard Smush Parker, a New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. native along with Odom, has been nominated by the Lakers to take part in the 3-point shootout Shootout Venture capital jargon. Refers to two or more venture capital firms fighting for the startup. at All-Star weekend. Parker, a 37.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc, has yet to hear whether he will be invited. --Fateful game: Bryant said he once played in the Hershey, Pa., arena where Wilt Chamberlain had his 100-point game back March 2, 1962. Bryant played in a state championship game with Lower Merion (Pa.) High and had 15 points by his recollection. Bryant also said he appreciated a call from former Lakers general manager Jerry West in the aftermath of his 81-point game last week. ``He said it was an incredible game, it was fun to watch, it was one of the most entertaining games he's ever seen,'' Bryant said. Ross Siler, (818) 713-3610 ross.siler(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Lamar Odom is averaging 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists, but also continues to be inconsistent. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images Box: LAKERS at NEW YORK - Ross Siler |
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