Lamar's Final Conference
Next on the exit press conference list, Lamar Odom. Dickens had A Tale of Two Cities, L.O. had A Tale of Two Seasons- the first and second halves. His splits show increased scoring and assists after the All Star Break, but there is no stat to measure the increased confidence and assertiveness he showed on the court. Here's what L.O. had to say on his way out, with a very busy summer in front of him.
BK
On his meeting with PJ-
"It was cool. Just talked about some of the things I've got coming up this summer, as far as auditioning to go play in the World Games, what I plan to do to keep in shape. Talked about the season I had, my position, where I like to play, where I'm most comfortable at- a question you (the media) often ask me."
You guys are still talking about that?
"This is the time to talk about it. I'm most comfortable playing towards my mismatches. Big guy on me, take him outside. Small guy on me, take him inside. In the triangle, I was comfortable in learning how to control the tempo from that position, playing the guard spot. So next year I figure most likely it'll be the same role. Now that I know the offense, of course I feel a lot more comfortable in it. I guess I'm just looking forward to staying in shape this summer, coming back here, and getting back at it again. It was an emotional ride, especially towards the end of the season for us, as far as fighting for a playoff position, making it to the playoffs, being up three on Kobe's shot, and now we're on the outside looking in. Phoenix played great ball to come back from 3-1. I take my hat off to them because they beat us." *
*L.O., a sensitive guy as it is, was clearly still taking the playoff loss hard... which is a good thing. You wouldn't want guys to blow it off.
On satisfaction they can take from what they did accomplish this season-
"When we look back at it, we look back at the beginning of last year, and of course not picked to make the playoffs, not playing in the postseason. So to be able to fight and coming together late in the year and taking the 7th spot, (and) be six seconds away from advancing. We had a great year, but you know, of course it hurts."
On finding stability this summer-
"I hope so. I understand the business of basketball. But I hope and I pray that this is my home, and this is where I'll end my career. It's a great franchise, and they have great people here. This has got to be one of the coolest places to play basketball. You have Denzel Washington at the games, Jack's at the games, (Lakers P.R. chief) John Black's at the games, Brad Turner (of the Press Enterprise) is at the games (at this point, L.O. is having a little fun...). This is a good place to play basketball. Last year we didn't make the playoffs and this year, we were playing in the first round. Playing in Staples Center was amazing and the energy that was in that building was incredible. You know, I'd love to see that for the rest of my career."
So would you classify this as a successful season?
"Of course right now I've got mixed emotions from a competitive standpoint. I wish I could keep playing. I went from watching every playoff game while we were playing, to (now) I don't even want to watch TV, I don't want to watch Sportscenter right now. It hurts a little bit to watch these other teams keep playing, but a couple of weeks I guess I'll get over it and be able to watch the Western Conference Finals. This second round is most likely definitely skipped."
On what he'd like to improve on over the summer-
"Oh, man, there are a lot of things. Coming back as a better basketball player just in general. When it comes to free throw shooting, stand still shooting, going left, going right, add a hook shot, turnaround jumpers, to become stronger, become quicker. Just to better my all-around game. On free throws, I think about the good six games I had in the series I shot horrible from the free throw line. Just those four or five points could have been difference makers, especially in that Game Six."
On what the team needs to improve-
"Time together. Maturity. Time together as far as playing in this system. We were the youngest team in the league by age. Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm, Andrew Bynum. Of course we need everyone to take their games to another level, and myself of course. This year was big also for Smush. This was really his rookie year as far as the NBA is concerned, starting 82 games. Just player development, really, on the court. Time together. Chris Mihm was playing great basketball, it was unfortunate for him and for us that he hurt his ankle. If we can get Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown to play the way they were playing at the end of the year together, with Andrew Bynum and his development working with Kareem- inside our triangle, Luke played great- if we can get those guys to play like they were playing towards the end of the year, throw Andrew in there to protect that basket for us, we'll become a much better defensive team. We'll be able to pressure up a lot more, and get those guys to protect our basket at all times like they did towards the end of the year this team will be tough."
On his game taking off after the trade deadline-
"I just think that was the system, and getting comfortable with the system. It just happened to be towards the end of the year. (If the deadline) was from November to December, I don't think my game would have picked up right at the end of December or January. I think it was just the time. It was towards the end of the year, I was feeling a lot more comfortable in the offense. Like I told you, I understand the business. You can be here one day and be traded the next. I don't really think it was me being comfortable with I wasn't being traded. I just think it was the time it took to really understand the offense. To understand how to manipulate the offense. For me to be able to catch the ball in the post, staying aggressive in the offense, and really learning it inside out. And once that happened, I just felt a lot more comfortable offensively as far as shooting the ball, where I'm shooting from, finding my sweet spots on the court. And it just so too that I hit a rhythm, too. It felt like every three was going to go in, I just felt really comfortable. Shot the ball better from the free throw line."
On the Lakers encouraging him to become an All Star player-
"They don't really have to say that to me. I kind of know it's expected because what I bring to any team I've been on, I feel like I have that potential. It's going to take some balance as far as learning the system, which I felt like I've learned, and hopefully I can put it together- hopefully offensively I hope I can put together, the spurt that I had at the end of the season I hope I can bring that type of offensive balance to my game so my name can be out there as far as being an All Star. I was only I think two or three baskets away from making that team, so hopefully I can average 20 points and 9 rebounds and 6 assists so I can be talked about in that light, as far as being one of the best players in the league. At least for a year. That's what the All Star team makes you, one of the best players in the league for that year. So I feel like I got that potential inside me, that I should be an All Star, become an All Star."
Kobe said the way you ended the season established you as one of the best players in the game-
"As far as showing everybody, right? For six games or whatever, I averaged 20 points. 20 points is usually what it takes (for) you to be considered a good player in this league. 20 points, and got some rebounds, five or six assists. I felt like I was. In that series, I definitely felt like I was one of the best players in the game. I think I have that in me. I think I can still get to that level of play where people acknowledge me as being one of the best players in the NBA. Top 25, top 20 players in the league. There are a lot of talented players out there, but I feel like what I bring to the table could definitely get that acknowledgment. And coming from a player like Kobe, of course that's a compliment. He's a tough critic."
Did Phil talk about you finishing with your right hand?
"Yeah, he was upstairs and he had a couple of right handed jokes. But I guess I'm a creature of habit. But that's definitely part of my game that I'm going to work on a lot this year. Being a great standstill shooter. I haven't mastered that part of the game yet. Being more consistent from the free throw line. I think I have a good enough touch and range on my jumper where I should be shooting in the high seventies to low eighties rather than low seventies, high sixties. I know I'm better than that. And that will definitely help my average, my points per game, things like that, being more consistent, I think I can hurt teams a lot. I think I can get to the free throw line a lot."
On this summer and USA Basketball, what he hopes to get out of it-
"I hope we can win. The relationships that you make with coaches that never coached you before, players you never have been around. And I feel like I have some making up to do because I was on a team of course that lost. Well, we won a bronze medal, but I guess to USA Basketball, to our standards, to the guys that were on the court, we felt like we lost. So to go back over there to the World Championships and win and kind of reclaim our spot as having the best basketball in the world. To let people know, again, that I'm one of the best young players- I don't know if they'll consider me young in the NBA next season at 27- but to consider myself as one of the best players in the NBA. Last time I went I had a great time. Even in games we lost I felt like I played hard, and I was able to make a name for myself. So I guess to go over there and do that again. And to be on the court with Dwayne Wade and LeBron, and Elton Brand will be on that team. Hopefully I can get a spot.
BK,
What happened to the rest of the exit interviews? AK you're welcome to answer this too ha.
Posted by: Xodus | May 11, 2006 at 06:49 PM
AK,
My comment about Kwame is just a comment that I related to reckless journalism that’s all. As an example of how the media jumps at anything to create a controversy and that I do relate to Barkley.
In the end you think as a journalist, that’s my opinion. Your points are very valid and I understand them. But that doesn’t change my opinion that what Barkley did was irresponsible. Even if you say he is not a journalist in a sense he is. You say that is not a journalist responsibility to think about what children listen to, that they cater to adults it may be true, still doesn't make it right.
Barkley is always saying or talking about how irresponsible certain people are and he says it on his show. Isn’t he using his status to get his view point across? In the end is just an opinion that has weight because he is Charles Barkley a former player and an analyst. To me that’s wrong, because he has the power to change the perception people have of a player.
You could tell me, well that’s the problem of the person who buys his comments, it may be true, but well I could continue telling you that it doesn’t make it right. Kobe didn’t change Barkley’s view point, obviously not. Would Charles lose credibility if he retracted his comments? Obviously. He lives of making outrages comments and being sort of a clown, so changing his controversial comments would make him less entertaining.
But see AK in a way he did change is comments, saying Kobe is the best player in the world, saying he never said Kobe quit, saying he meant to say……. That in a way is changing what he originally said. In the end the damage was done. The doubt was there, the seed was planted and instead of journalist talking about how great of a season Kobe had, how he matured as player, etc. They are just talking about selfish Kobe quitting on his team. Was that caused by Barkley’s comment? In my opinion yes. Was another journalist or analyst thinking the same think and would of made a controversial statement like Barkley? Maybe, we will never know.
Posted by: lakofan | May 11, 2006 at 07:57 PM
AK,
I hope so. Kwame seems like a good guy and Los Angeles is filled with Borderline Personality Disorder witches.
Anyhow, I hope he's innocent. I believe he is. It would suck to root so hard for a guy who you want to do well, not only because he's a Laker, but because you see an honest spark of greatness in him... and then find out that he raped some woman.
Things will be alright, Kwame.
Suffering is like fire. Use it to make you stronger, and you become like a samuri sword sharpened in the bellows. Use it as a distraction, and you become like slag, brittle and easily broken by blows.
Too much fire ruins. Just enough produces greatness.
Be great.
GO KWAME!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | May 11, 2006 at 09:00 PM
Lakofan,
Actually, to my knowledge, Barkley didn't back off from his comments at all. He had made statements that Kobe was the best player in the world before this game 7 incident happened. A few times, actually. When asked about the comments after Kobe texted him, he said that his opinion didn't change, but he admired Bryant for confronting him directly. But he never even inferred that he was wrong for saying Kobe quit to make a point.
This has really been a cool discussion. Thanks.
AK
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | May 12, 2006 at 08:56 AM
No blockbuster trades for the Lakers or Phil's one year of teaching the triangle is all going to waste. Then Phil will have to reteach it again because you know he won't change.
Posted by: Mike Hawk | May 12, 2006 at 09:44 AM
AK,
The link that you posted on today's extra about how Charles is indeed influential in the NBA and his comments carry weight, that proves my point and I know is a journalist and if I don't believe the bad I shouldn't jump at the articles that I find to be true. But like I told you Charles shouldn't just jump and say whatever and hurt someone the way he did Kobe.
Even the writer says that Barkley did back a little about his comments and I also felt that. But in the end the damage was done.
I also enjoyed the discussion, really cool like you said. I hope you look forward to another one, when I don't agree with you, haha
Thanks.
Posted by: lakofan | May 12, 2006 at 10:42 AM
you guys talking about McNamara are nuts. He is not a "great" shooter, he has just had some big games. He shot .328 from three in the Big East last year. That's .328 from the COLLEGE line. As for being a "winner," please note that without Carmelo at his side, he lost the last 3 NCAA games he played,all to lower seeded teams (#8 Alabama in 2004, #13 Vermont in 2005, and #12 Texas A&M in 2006). He is vastly overrated.
Posted by: Maalouf | May 30, 2006 at 11:43 AM
I can't bet behind the lakers until they get rid of the colors yellow and or purple. Clash! Yellow is ugly too.
Posted by: la girl | June 05, 2006 at 02:12 PM