LakeShow
02-25-2008, 04:18 PM
Odom looks to have benefited most from Gasol trade
By CURTIS ZUPKE
The Orange County Register
EL SEGUNDO — Lamar Odom is pain free for the first time in a long time, and Lakers opponents are feeling the pain of his impact.
No player has benefited from the acquisition of Pau Gasol as much as Odom, who has thrived in the Lakers' offense in his first healthy stretch since an injury-filled season last year.
Before the addition of Gasol, Odom was averaging 13.2 points on 46.8 percent shooting from the field. In eight games with Gasol, Odom has averaged 14.6 points on a remarkable 62.5 percent shooting.
Criticized much of his Lakers career for not attacking the basket and shooting more, Odom has cleaned up on the wing position with the 7-foot Gasol occupying the paint.
"I can just play," Odom said. "I can have a good game and take seven shots. If we lost a game two or three months ago, especially without Andrew (Bynum), and I played what I felt was a good game at eight shots and we lost that game, it may look like I wasn't aggressive enough. I can play a floor game right now and still help this team win."
Odom had 22 points and 11 rebounds against Phoenix on Wednesday and has a double-double in each of his past three games. Coach Phil Jackson said Odom isn't benefiting from Gasol and Kobe Bryant so much as guards Derek Fisher and Vladimir Radmanovic, who, along with Sasha Vujacic, rank in the NBA's top 20 in 3-point shooting percentage.
"They keep the defense spread out because they're great shooters and all of a sudden you've got some penetration," Jackson said. "That makes a big difference when teams can't clog the lane.
"It opens the floor up. He sees a lot more space available for him out there."
Odom said he has found a good place physically after a sprained knee ligament and a torn labrum limited him to 56 games last season. He has no pain from a May surgery to repair the labrum.
"This is the first time I've felt rested," he said. "I feel refreshed. My body feels good."
How much does that impact his play?
"That's what my game is all about," he said. "Me not getting tired or feeling beat up is a big part of my game. It allows me to keep myself on the court."
Bryant has noticed a difference.
"I think he's been more aggressive," Bryant said. "I think the addition has helped him out a lot."
SENSE OF CLOSURE
All was quiet on the El Segundo front when the NBA trade deadline passed, bringing a sense of closure to the flurry of big-name moves in the Western Conference.
The Lakers returned to practice Friday knowing that this is their group from here on and that the already packed West is, for the most part, settled.
"It does kind of solidify the rosters and we know what we're dealing with," Jackson said.
BYNUM WATCH
Bynum said his knee responded well from running in a pool.
"No extra swelling," he said. "I was able to do everything."
Bynum will continue pool exercises for about a week and then run on a treadmill.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
By CURTIS ZUPKE
The Orange County Register
EL SEGUNDO — Lamar Odom is pain free for the first time in a long time, and Lakers opponents are feeling the pain of his impact.
No player has benefited from the acquisition of Pau Gasol as much as Odom, who has thrived in the Lakers' offense in his first healthy stretch since an injury-filled season last year.
Before the addition of Gasol, Odom was averaging 13.2 points on 46.8 percent shooting from the field. In eight games with Gasol, Odom has averaged 14.6 points on a remarkable 62.5 percent shooting.
Criticized much of his Lakers career for not attacking the basket and shooting more, Odom has cleaned up on the wing position with the 7-foot Gasol occupying the paint.
"I can just play," Odom said. "I can have a good game and take seven shots. If we lost a game two or three months ago, especially without Andrew (Bynum), and I played what I felt was a good game at eight shots and we lost that game, it may look like I wasn't aggressive enough. I can play a floor game right now and still help this team win."
Odom had 22 points and 11 rebounds against Phoenix on Wednesday and has a double-double in each of his past three games. Coach Phil Jackson said Odom isn't benefiting from Gasol and Kobe Bryant so much as guards Derek Fisher and Vladimir Radmanovic, who, along with Sasha Vujacic, rank in the NBA's top 20 in 3-point shooting percentage.
"They keep the defense spread out because they're great shooters and all of a sudden you've got some penetration," Jackson said. "That makes a big difference when teams can't clog the lane.
"It opens the floor up. He sees a lot more space available for him out there."
Odom said he has found a good place physically after a sprained knee ligament and a torn labrum limited him to 56 games last season. He has no pain from a May surgery to repair the labrum.
"This is the first time I've felt rested," he said. "I feel refreshed. My body feels good."
How much does that impact his play?
"That's what my game is all about," he said. "Me not getting tired or feeling beat up is a big part of my game. It allows me to keep myself on the court."
Bryant has noticed a difference.
"I think he's been more aggressive," Bryant said. "I think the addition has helped him out a lot."
SENSE OF CLOSURE
All was quiet on the El Segundo front when the NBA trade deadline passed, bringing a sense of closure to the flurry of big-name moves in the Western Conference.
The Lakers returned to practice Friday knowing that this is their group from here on and that the already packed West is, for the most part, settled.
"It does kind of solidify the rosters and we know what we're dealing with," Jackson said.
BYNUM WATCH
Bynum said his knee responded well from running in a pool.
"No extra swelling," he said. "I was able to do everything."
Bynum will continue pool exercises for about a week and then run on a treadmill.
Contact the writer: [email protected]