Is Lamar Odom a solid defender this season?

KA_2 · Star Player Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1883

There's a thread going on over at RealGM, where a couple posters claim that Lamar Odom has been a solid defender this season. Taking into account on-the-ball defense, off-the-ball defense, fouling, intimidation, consistent energy, etc. is Lamar Odom in fact a solid defender this season? Vote in the poll if you want, but I'm primarily interested in your comments on this matter.

Thanks very much, and let's keep this clean and honest guys.

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Westside

Charles · Star Player Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 4525

Cuttino Mobley went for an effortless 36. Odom almost always commits 2 stupid fouls a game, and often forgets about defense to talk to the refs. Odom is a liability.

kemi4kobes · Star Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 4135

how is this even a poll question? this should have been the options to your question:

a) there is ice in hell b4 LO can be considered a decent defender

b) hells no

c) lay down the pipe. in other words : hells no

d)

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KA_2 · Star Player Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1883

bump

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Westside

62 · Starting Rotation Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 656

Just like the rest of his game, sometimes.
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Agent 62

KA_2 · Star Player Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1883

lmao, who voted yes. Where are you critical_breakdown?
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Westside

KA_2 · Star Player Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1883

^^^
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shnjb · Franchise Player Joined: 08 Oct 2002 Posts: 13320

I don't think Lamar Odom has played great defense against anyone in the NBA.

Of course, he did play some good defense in the olympics but that was against international players.

Drifts · Retired Number Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 28374

Lamar is not a good defensive player. He plays soft defense, does not go for blocks and is incapable of changing shots. Case in point, defense agaisnt TMac in the game we lost via layup at the buzzer. To his credit though, Lamar has avoided foul trouble this season.
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Kobe-Wan Kenobi · Starting Rotation Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 545

a lot of people must not own TVs... strange
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kobeodom · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:44 am Post subject:

Sage_10 · Star Player Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 6668

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

angel · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:36 am Post subject:

Yes, to solid.

No, to excellent.
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wolfpaclaker · Retired Number Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 58344

It depends on the matchup.

Overall I wouldn't call Lamar a good defender just yet. There's times where he does a good job but then there's night he's poor and foul prone.

His defense at PF has been very solid though. Phil needs to play Kwame/Bynum at C next to Odom at PF with George at SF/SG much more.

KA_2 · Star Player Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 1883

^^^
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Westside

Mr. X · Starting Rotation Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 109

Horrible defender whether it be at the SF or at the SF spot... If you watch the 2nd half of the Miami game again (a supposedly great game from him), he singlehandedly let the Heat back in the game with some horrible defense - for much of the third on Haslem, then to start the 4th watch Walker (who was chucking up bad shot after bad shot) and Payton school him on two consecutive possessions..

Ziggy · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 12717

M.V.P. · Rookie Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 21

Sometimes he's great, sometimes he's poor.

loseyourname · Star Player Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 1531

He's got a long way to go, but at least he's contributing on that end this year by creating some turnovers and bothering off the ball a bit. He's always been a great defensive rebounder, and that does count. Playing ballhawk man D and forcing a miss means nothing if you can't secure the board. He still looks very unfocused or confused at times, like he's just not sure what he should do, and giving his history of (lack of) assertiveness, it's possible he'll always have this problem and it's not just a matter of gelling and learning the system. Hopefully it is, though.

I think the guys talking about him getting burned by Mobley and Payton are stretching the indictment a bit thin, though. The only guys his size that can defend guards are KG and Shawn Marion - two of the elitest of elite defenders.

The Dagger · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:17 am Post subject:

He did control Kenny Thomas pretty good. I think that was obvious when he fouled out and Fluke Walton tried to defend him. I actually think he defends the PF position better than the SF position. He doesn't have the lateral movement to defend small quick players, but he can defend taller slower players okay. He also has a huge wingspan that works for altering shots.
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