Just curious about the possibilities of playing Odom at the center position. His skill set isn't very much different from Boris Diaw and perhaps moving Odom there would maxmize the effectiveness and versatility of the Lakers.
2006-08-07 14:11:26 · 6 answers · asked by mike b 2 in Sports ➔ Basketball
Odom being to small to play the 5 is nonsense. The guy is 6-10 abd 230 lbs. By comparison, Chris Bosh, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, Boris Diaw and several other centers around the league all fit that physical description. Most complain about him being dominated in the post but the question is by whom? There are no longer many traditional center's in the league and the few left hardly have the offensive skills necessary to score in the paint so I feel that's a mute point. Most importantly, most forget that the league is becoming more and more uptempo so your prototypical bruiser is slowly losing his place in the league. I also don't particularly agree that Nash is responsible for Diaw being able to play the 5. Diaw has proven statistically (when Nash missed the Spurs game later in the season) capable of playing BETTER at the 5 spot. I don't support Odom not being a facilitator but I believe that the Lakers should look to push the ball and who better than the best rebounder on the team?
2006-08-07 16:34:05 · update #1
ruofei119-How could Odom not go against center's in the NBA? Name me a couple guys that can guard him out on the perimeter or stop his offensive game. You guys constantly mention how he'd have his problems on the defensive end because of matchups but never how he match's up on offense. On another note, Odom won't be playing Tim Duncan or Yao Ming 82 games a season so what those players do against him can not outweight the advantage his mismatch can create throughout the season. Besides, Duncan and Ming are who they are because they can score against the best defenses in the world. Name me guys that can actually put a SERIOUS dent in those guys game's. I bet the list is pretty much non-existant which is why both Duncan and Ming are all-stars. I think people are seriously underestimating what a guy can do at the 5 with passing ability.
2006-08-07 17:36:53 · update #2
No... Odom should not be a center he is not tall enough and he is not a defensive presense. He is on a team that plays within a half-court offense not a running team although he would be good on one of those teams. They have Chris Mihm anyway who is actually a decent center... something rare in the NBA that should be exploited. I agree that he is similar to Diaw but Diaw was not a center for Phoenix. He is really more of a small forward. Phoenix didn't have a good enough center after Amare got hurt. Diaw got to play with Steve Nash. But Odom on the other hand plays with Smush Parker... big differance there. I like Farmar though. I think he will start over Parker this year. You can only run like the Suns did when you have a good point guard. But the Lakers have worst starting point in the league. Odom would be great in Phoenix's offense just like Diaw is but the reality is the Lakers are not a running team and therefore they need a true center in the post and Odom wouldn't go there. However if Odom were on a running team like the Nets or like the aforementioned Suns it would work for him to play center.
2006-08-07 14:16:45 · answer #1 · answered by mr. jones 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, Odom doesn't have enough size to play center, and not in the Lakers triangle offense, which is set up to make use of a more traditional center, and where he's being used more in a facilator role. He can actually play the other 4 positions, but he wouldn't be an effective center, he's better as a foward.
2006-08-07 21:55:44 · answer #2 · answered by ccmonty 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Odam doesn't really have the height to play the position, but he got the rebound skill. He's fit for a forward, but center. Not really. Odam got skills offensively and he's got left handed advantage. But he can't really go against the tall center in the league. Imagine a Tim Duncan or a Yao Ming standing in the key. Can Odam defend against them. Rebound isn't every. So I don't think Odam can play a center. He may if they play against team like the Suns, who doesn't have the height.
2006-08-07 23:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by Ouchi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he can play center if he plays better offense like boris. and he also needs some seriious backup if he plays center, maybe like they need a big guy to play power forward that can block shots and dunk over defenders. no matter what position he plays, lakers will be better if they acquire ron artest. i also think if they trade odom and kwame to orlando for dwight howard, lakers will go really far.
2006-08-08 00:42:40 · answer #4 · answered by peopleschamp713 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is not a physical player he would be dominated on the block. Even the very worst centers could back him down.
2006-08-07 22:30:10 · answer #5 · answered by whetzellus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Odom is versatile he should play the sf
2006-08-07 21:42:53 · answer #6 · answered by hal langdon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋