What's in a name?
Some Lakers fans, for example, might think that Josh Powell could very well be referred to as "Ronny Turiaf" (who's already winning folks over in the Bay Area, as one might expect). After all, Martinique's Favorite Son played a backup big man role for the Lakers with duties including rebounding, defense and endless energy, plus a boatload of sideline dancing and screaming. Sounds exactly like what Powell hopes to bring to the table, save the soft-shoe performance Powell guarantees ain't coming. In a perfect world, the name may end up the biggest and most negligible distinction.
Along those lines, Vladimir Radmanovic has picked up his share of "at his expense" pseudonyms ranging from "Space Cadet" to "My Favorite Martian" to "Igor." And those were just from Phil Jackson (Kobe Bryant has referred to him as "Slalom" and "Half Pipe," and back in the long hair/bushy beard days, I used to call him "Cat Stevens.") But fear not any hurt feelings, because Vlad has long adopted a "sticks and stones" attitude, as long as his newest nickname isn't "DNP-CD."
And finally, everyone pretty much agrees on what to call Lamar Odom ("LO"), but they don't necessarily agree on what to call him. "New Lakers point guard?" "The starting three?" "Reluctant sixth man?" Roland Lazenby takes a look at the process that is figuring out Odom's best usage. Whatever decision shakes out, Lazenby is betting it'll be discovered via a healthy (in all senses) heaping of Phil Jackson mind games.
AK
Edwin,
Do you remember the two weeks of hell during this past
summer when blitz and I were talking about Lamar?
So we're in pre-season now and guess what?
----------------------------
That was the underlying theme in Jackson saying Thursday about Odom's early training-camp impression: "He's not in shape. Lamar's not ready to play."
Odom has been open about taking it easy over the summer, hoping to ease knee tendinitis that bothered him all last season. Jackson said rest wasn't necessarily all Odom needed from his offseason.
"In our exit meetings (in June) with Lamar, we talked about the fact that he hasn't had the opportunity to work on his body in the offseason for the past three or four years, actually," Jackson said. "So this was really an opportunity to strengthen his shoulder and do some things that were going to help him in a pivotal (free-agent) year for him – not only for him, but for us."
------------------------------------
I'm guessing that Lamar did *NOT* work on his lateral
quickness.
Another article indicated that Trevor had *indeed* worked
on his jumpshot.
BTW, once again I apologize for any pain I put you through. :)
Go Lakers!
Posted by: hobbitmage | October 04, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Long Time,
I agree during the first few months Luke's surprising development in 2006-2007 was a reason why he started over Radman (other than Radman not knowing the offense and of a broken hand) and shot 40.0% from 3 point land before the all star break (in Jan when he injured his ankle). A healthy Luke is really one of the most ideal players in the triangle offense: passer, jumper, and okay defender. In fact, Luke replaced Trevor as a starter even after Trevor started 3 games (Luke was injured). In fact Luke had a very good assist per turnover ratio when he started in 2006-2007. Only problem is his defense and his offense beyond his passing. Pretty much here's what we have at small forward:
Lamar Odom: Versatility and Pass First Guy (Point Forward). Has nights where he is great has nights where he is invisible.
Trevor Ariza: Defender but not much of a scoring option.
Luke Walton: Passer and Runs the offense but lacks athleticism and a true scoring touch.
Radman: Good 3 point shooting outside but horrible defense though what Phil is saying actually may be (finally?) improving.
-blitz
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | October 04, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Pippen to LA
With most of the league's stars and decision-makers gathering at the All-Star weekend festivities in New Orleans, the 42-year-old Pippen announced he's hoping for a return to a contending team for next year — preferably in a warm-weather city — exactly 4 years after he left the league.
"I know that I have the skills," Pippen said. "I think it's sort of been on my mind the last couple of months. It's just about me going out and polishing my skills."
The forward hasn't played since his retirement on Oct. 5, 2004, following a 17-season career with Chicago, Houston and Portland. He won six titles in his famed role as Michael Jordan's wingman with the Bulls, and was part of two gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic teams.
Pippen has been working out in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., during the winter, and he believes the time is right to add his experience and defensive prowess to a contending club, perhaps in Los Angeles.
"This is definitely a stage I can use to get the word out there," Pippen said. "I would only do this for a contender."
Pippen once was one of the NBA's most feared defenders, and his offensive skills were an ideal complement to Jordan's abilities. He had most of his best seasons at Jordan's side, while his scoring averages and general satisfaction with the game dropped considerably after Jordan's second retirement in 1998.
Pippen retired after returning to the Bulls to play just 23 games in the 2003-04 season. Chicago retired his No. 33 on Dec. 9, 2005.
Pippen said he would love to play for Phil again, but would contact a few unnamed teams in hopes of getting the best destination.
The All-Stars gathered in New Orleans mostly seemed warm to the idea of playing with Pippen, specially one Kobe Bryant who is the #1 bearing puller for Pippen to come to LA.
"I know it's hard when guys leave the game," Lakers Pau Gasol said. "They're sitting there analyzing, and they're getting itchy. If he's ready, he's ready. Maybe I can get another autographed jersey from him.
Los Angeles Andrew Bynum also liked the idea of a comeback with the Lakers.
"I'm already playing with (Kobe) Bryant and Fisher, two guys I used to play with on video games," Bynum said. "To add Scottie Pippen to the mix, that would be crazy."
Posted by: BD | October 04, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Long Time,
"If either Lamar could improve his 3-point shooting, he'd be
about the equivalent of Luke at his best as a starting SF."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Phil's not gonna have Lamar jacking up threes anymore. That experiment ended two seasons ago.
Prognosis: Fools gold. Lamar's outside touch is smooth, but what's L.O.'s m.o.? Inconsistancy. He doesn't have the focus to be a shooter. The best medicine for Lamar is less outside shots and more clean up or fasbreak points.
Kobe's gonna man the small forward position this season. Meaning the only place for Odom in the starting lineup is the point. Phil knows that the 4 is pretty much out of the question, so the only other option is that sixth man.
Or how abut abot this:
Farmar
Sasha
Kobe
LO
AB
GASOL FOR SIXTH-MAN! LOL
Posted by: banner year | October 04, 2008 at 05:49 PM
BD, as much as it would be interesting if unlikely to have Pip there are a few things going against that:
1) Small Forward not to mention the rest of the Lakers are clogged.
C: Bynum, Mihm, Mbenga
PF: Gasol, Powell,
SF: Odom, Ariza, Radmanovich, Walton
SG: Bryant, Vujacic, Karl
PG: Fisher, Farmar, Sun
Unless Karl is not waived or a traded, there is no spot for Pippen.
2) Pippen is old. The last time we had that was Karl Malone. Even though Malone still managed really made guys like KG work, he wasn't the same Mailman. Pip isn't really the same Pip of the Bulls and not the Pip of the Trail Blazers
and
3) As Sir Charles Barkley has said: The same chance that Pip has to really returning has as much chance as Sir Charles being a "thin" guy.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | October 04, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Sources say Pippen is close to a deal with Boston.
Posted by: Insiderz Note | October 04, 2008 at 06:06 PM
thekobebryantblitz,
Trust orientated people like Vlad and Andrew sure can be motivated to an outburst by someone not trusting them and, yes, they do compete better in that kind of anger/resentment IN THE SHORT RUN.
In the long run, if they are not treated by trust, particularly by someone they respect, it actually has the opposite effect and they begin to engage in self-sabotoging actions.
So, if Phil wants to motivate Rad Vlad or Bynum to have a standout game after they've been in a funk, then, sure, yeah, a little bit of mind games in the trust realm could be useful, but as a long-term coaching strategy it will be an absolute disaster for these two players.
So says the Bio-Chrono!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 04, 2008 at 06:08 PM
BD,
Beam me up, Scottie. Count me as one who wouldn’t mind seeing Pippin as a player-coach for the Lakers. While I doubt he has any game left, Scottie would be great working with our guards as Kareem does with our bigs teaching them how to be better defenders and players. Thanks for posting the info. How did you happen to come across the article since it is from last year?
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | October 04, 2008 at 06:32 PM
Hobbit don't rub it in lol.
I did say Trevor will improve the jump shot while you said "If and only if" so that gives me a point.
in any case, at least the long season is over don't you agree?
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | October 04, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Jon K.-
not to be confrontational(i know that the jao is good stuff)...
who says that Phil, Andrew and Vlad don't marinate in a sea of trust and that everyone knows the point of the words said and feels ok about it? isn't it possible that trust is not breached at all and might even be strenthened by his candor as to how he is feeling atm?
i think the locker room may be much more brutally honest...
Posted by: man | October 04, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Odom's greatest value may be the big cap number he has that may allow the Lakers to make a Gasol-like trade at midseason to add the final piece to the puzzle if needed. I wonder if having Bynum and Ariza for the whole season means that Odom's skills are duplicated.
Posted by: Jman449 | October 05, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Jman,
On paper, playing at SF, Odom's skills are either redundant (rebounding), replaceable by others on the roster (ball handling), or not as good as others on the roster (outside shooting). If everybody is healthy, his ability to chew up minutes isn't as important, because they have so much depth. His presence adds a lot of flexibility, though, and depth to the "bigs". For the time being, both of those are very important until the health of Ariza, Bynum, and Mihm is "certified", it is determined how well the Gasol/Bynum pairing works, and Ariza has a chance to show what he can do.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | October 05, 2008 at 06:49 AM
man,
You're right. I don't know. I just know what Vlad and Bynum's personality matrix is like. And I know that Phil Jackson has an oft-admirable tendency towards snarkiness and mind games.
However, what is REALLY happening in the locker room and in terms of interpersonal relationships. I really have no idea. I'm just guessing.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: | October 05, 2008 at 07:40 AM
I'm going to have to do some Bio-Chrono readings again, but there are some players that Phil Jackson should NOT be doing mindgames with. Playing mindgames with these players will NOT be helpful. Trust me on this.
1. Vladimir Radmonovich
1. {Tied for first, but SLIGHTLY less than Rad Vlad} Andrew Bynum
2. Lamar Odom
I don't care how much a Zen master psychologist Phillip Jackson thinks he is. With these three players (but PARTICULARLY Vladimir and Andrew--both are trust-orientated) insidious mindgames will be very destructive. I am dead serious about this.
With Rad Vlad and Andrew Bynum, Phil Jackson simply needs to be trustworthy and exhibit faith in these players. In Biblical terms, Phil's "yes" should mean "yes" and his "no" mean "no". It need go no deeper than that.
Period.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 04, 2008 at 08:55 AM
=========================
I agree and think the mind games are outdated and useless especially on the players you named and I would include Kobe in that mix.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | October 10, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I'm troubled by the LO controversy.
Coach Jackson knows what he's doing in creating it. I don't get it, the controversy.
Why does PJ do these things? Communicate in public to key players 'through' reporters? With negative thoughts about Lamar?! To a player, it is the ultimate embarrassment. There are better ways to do it, to communicate.
'He might not be a starter', 'he's out of shape', 'he's never been motivated to play'?
I know PJ has his reasons. He wants LO to reach his potential and be the best he can be, which would be pretty darn good. Humiliating a player in practice to motivate him is one thing, but in public is another.
PJ wants to win, we know it. But to win without honor, by disrespecting your men who you want to perform for you is going to far.
Maybe that statement is a bit too strong. Perhaps Dr. Phil thinks he's just being the clever man he's supposed to be.
This year is going to be special. We know it, the Lakers know it, and for sure Phil knows it. So he plans on pulling out ALL the motivators, from 'PJ's Book of Tricks'.
The Lakers will win a Title this year. But Jackson's ego won't let him win just another Championship. He would not be content with that. His 10th ring must be a statement to his legacy. All the bases will be covered, this team WILL BE his greatest achievement.
And to win it, he MUST be at his cleverest best, even if it means hurting people on the way. Sometimes we can be too clever for our own good.
His method may work, but the end doesn't always justify the means.
Fatty - Who still thinks PJ is a great coach, but doesn't like some of his methods.
Posted by: Fatty | October 04, 2008 at 10:07 AM
==========================
A lot of what I said about PJ. I dislike his methods and like him as a person. This dissing or reverse pschology is boorish and out dated.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | October 10, 2008 at 04:28 PM
130,
You're missing the point with Phil's Bynum comments. The point is that Phil doesn't want him focused on scoring because we will not need it. They want him
to focus on defense and rebounding and score when it comes naturally. Obviously, if Bynum scores 21 points a game Phil will be fine with it.
[The point is PJ is going wrong about his approach to Bynum. He is holding him back and his message is do this (defense) because you can't or we don't want offense from you.
This is wrong wrong wrong. instead he should stroke AB's natural desire to succeed and feed that. He should say to AB ok its fine with me if you get 20/15/3 or what ever goal AB wants but point out that must come in the flow of the game and his PRIORITY is defense. If he can do this then fine but first commit to defense and go from there. Basically say do it my way until you prove me wrong and can do both ways defense and offense. Much better approach.]
As for Odom, I think Phil may be trying to send him the message that his play hasn't met expectations and that he needs to work harder. Phil did the same
thing with Kwame before he got shipped out. I suspect he has tried to privately whip Odom into proper mental shape and it hasn't worked. Why limit yourself
to a single tactic, especially when it's been unsuccessful?
[His method with LO has not suceeded and will likely not now. Intead of mind games just be straight upfront and say this is your contract year and he hasn't for whatever reasons not filled up to his potential. Time to put up or shut up. Challenge him in private and say LO you stated you wanted to stay a Laker then now is the time to prove it. Man to man and straight up with no mind games.]
Also, Odom does need to prepare for the possibility of being a 6th man. We've known it here on the blog for some time. He's just not a natural 3, we don't
know how well he can defend at the 3, and we don't know about his jump shooting. Pau is clearly a better power forward than Odom so he gets the
starting spot and that's that. The team is willing to give Odom a chance and given his inconsistent play with the Lakers, it's fair, about what he should
expect.
[Fits with above heart to heart]
Posted by: Benjamin | October 04, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | October 10, 2008 at 04:41 PM