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JamStone
03-24-2009, 12:48 PM
Just want opinions.

If Lamar Odom was a full time starting small forward, where would you rank him among small forwards in the NBA?

This is for a debate I'm having with someone.
z0sa
03-24-2009, 12:50 PM
out of 30 starters, #30
lefty
03-24-2009, 12:50 PM
Honestly, IF he showed up every night, he would rank 2nd IMO.

His D still needs work, but otherwise, he is really versatile and causes a lot matchup problems (especually for the Spurs)

Great rebounder too
IronMexican
03-24-2009, 12:52 PM
Top 10, maybe. He needs better D and a better outside shot.
lefty
03-24-2009, 12:52 PM
Top 10, but closer to 10. The league is full of SF's but Odom is probably the best rebounder and passer of all of them. Thats about all the love Odom is getting from me.

LBJ is the best passer of them IMO
JoeTait75
03-24-2009, 12:52 PM
In terms of pure ability, he's top 10 easy, maybe top 5. There's really nothing the guy can't do on a basketball court when his mind is right.
TheMACHINE
03-24-2009, 12:59 PM
He just needs to be more consistent. Even if his numbers arnt going to be great, the Lakers should know what to expect from him everynight.
dirk4mvp
03-24-2009, 01:01 PM
Him and Josh Howard are about a wash. Wherever Howard is on your list, Odom is one spot away from that (being higher or lower)
JamStone
03-24-2009, 01:08 PM
Agree about his "talent." But, not really asking about talent. He could arguably be a top 10 or top 15 power forward based on potential. Take his level of play now and make him a small forward. Is he a top 10 small forward? Or is that just based on his talent?
lil_penny
03-24-2009, 01:09 PM
Odoms talent ranks in the top without a question, as far as consistency thats a hole other story.
Bandwagon Lakers Fan
03-24-2009, 04:09 PM
Lamar Odom is the best SF in the universe, followed closely by Ariza and Luke Walton.
Medvedenko
03-24-2009, 04:25 PM
Odom doesn't play SF....he hasn't in like 4 years.
JamStone
03-24-2009, 04:35 PM
Odom doesn't play SF....he hasn't in like 4 years.

That's precisely why I asked "if" he did.
ginobili's bald spot
03-24-2009, 05:11 PM
Agree about his "talent." But, not really asking about talent. He could arguably be a top 10 or top 15 power forward based on potential. Take his level of play now and make him a small forward. Is he a top 10 small forward? Or is that just based on his talent?

Lamar as a power forward >>>>> Lamar as a small forward. Putting him at small forward he gets worse not better. At small forward a lot of his advantages are negated. He is faster and more agile than most PF's and (when he wants to) can play pretty good D against guys like Dirk. Obviously that's not the case at SF. He's not a very good shooter and not quite quick enough to guard most SF's on the perimeter. At small forward you aren't going to be able to take advantage of his rebounding as much either.
Morg1411
03-24-2009, 05:13 PM
Lamar Odom is the best SF in the universe, followed closely by Ariza and Luke Walton.

Holy cow, you must smoke the good stuff.
cobbler
03-24-2009, 07:40 PM
Bald spot is correct. LO plays better at PF than SF. He gets beat off the dribble with many SF and his outside shot is very inconsistant.

If he played with the same agression he has shown over the last month he would be top 5. His flakiness and inconsistency move him out of the top 10. He is however a matchup nightmare for many opponents.
Pelicans78
03-24-2009, 08:16 PM
I think he would be a solid SF, but not very good and especially not great. He really doesn't have a position. He's more PF than SF, but i'm not sure if he ranks that high as a PF. I think he is good, but not All-Star caliber PF.
z0sa
03-24-2009, 08:54 PM
#8

that's kobe's old number, get with the times
Austin_Toros
03-24-2009, 09:02 PM
History shows Odom has the ability to score, has great handles for a guy his size and has passing skills. That said, I think he can be a top forward in the league.
lefty
03-24-2009, 09:20 PM
#8

# 24
Showtime24 LAKERS
03-24-2009, 09:25 PM
Better question, If Lamar keeps playing like he is right now who can challenge the lakers
mogrovejo
03-24-2009, 09:27 PM
Depends on the rest of the personnel: in a team without a big with a ranged jumper and a guard like, say, Rondo, he'd be a terrible misfit, because his outside shot is too inconsistent. And then, in the type of role he's asked to play - as a 1st option he'd be quite useless. Defensively, he's struggle with a couple of guys, but those are the guys almost everybody struggles with. The problem with Odom, as everybody said, is inconsistency and the mental frailty - that's what would put him out of the top-10, but I'm not in the mood to think a lot about this. Anyway, Odom's best position is the same of AK47 or Gerald Wallace.
Bob Lanier
03-24-2009, 09:54 PM
Definitely better:
1. James
2. Pierce
3. Durant
4. Anthony

Arguable:
5. Granger
6. Wallace
7. Artest
8. Butler
9. Turkoglu
10. Jefferson
11. Howard
12. Deng
13. Prince
14. Iguodala
15. Gay

I think he's pretty clearly better than Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko, Corey Maggette, or Peja Stojakovic.

On that list, I'd place him 10th, above Richard Jefferson and below Hedo Turkoglu.
IronMexican
03-24-2009, 10:18 PM
Butler is better than Artest and Wallace.