When Mavs fans heard the news that Lamar Odom was coming to the big D, they couldn’t believe that they only had to give up an $8.9 million trade exception, as well as a protected first-round pick; two simple things for Lamar Odom, 2011 sixth man of the year. And if that wasn’t enough, the Lakers also threw in a 2012 second-round draft pick. Could it get any better than that? Well, no, but it could get worse.
Take Odom’s career averages and cut them in half, to give you an idea of how he is performing as of lately. Over the course of his career, per game, Odom has averaged 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and shot 46% from the field, 31% from three, and 70% from the line. With Dallas, per game, he averages 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and shoots 35% from the field, 25% from three, and 58% from the line.
Out of 35 games played this season, he has only scored in double-figures for seven of those games. Last year with the Lakers, his season stats very much resembled his career stats; and one asks, how does a player go from sixth man of the year to barely getting by? Well, some make up excuses for him, and some find his game unacceptable, but whatever it is, it remains a mystery.
First off, the amount of minutes at small forward position that he is being asked to play in Dallas is far different from his days in LA where he played exclusively at the power forward position. Unfortunately for Odom, the Mavericks power forward position is unmistakably taken by one of the best in the game, which leaves Odom in the dust. In LA, Odom was able to play the 4 with Gasol on the bench or when Bynum took a rest because Gasol could always switch to the middle. Playing at a position that he isn’t used to makes it hard for him to make himself relevant on a consistent basis, but we don’t want to make excuses for him, right?
Odom is clearly too good of a player to just sub in and out for Nowitzki and Carlisle realizes that; but in Odom’s return to the team after missing four straight games due to personal issues, of his 18 minutes against the Jazz, all but two were logged with Nowitzki on the bench late in the first quarter after Odom subbed-in for him. For the first time in a while, Odom looked focused on the game. He finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks, one of his most all-around best performances of the season. As desperate, frustrated fans, we applauded his energetic performance, which is still 5 points and 3 rebounds shy of his career average. His season-high is 19 points against their second match-up with the Jazz.
Ironically enough, Odom was supposed to be absent from that game and play a game or two in the D-League with the Texas Legends, but that idea was cancelled when Brandan Wright unexpectedly suffered a concussion.
At the end of the day, if Odom wants more playing time than he’s been getting, he’s going to have to start getting used to playing the 3, because we all know that Nowitzki will always get the playing time he deserves at power forward.
After Odom returned from his 10-day personal leave, Mark Cuban expressed his confidence in Odom and believed that he was fully committed to the team. He did, however, acknowledge the concern that was going around the team with some Mavericks bothered that Odom met with his agent and Cuban in Dallas last week while the team was on a road trip.
Rumors stayed afloat when people received the wrong impression that Odom wanted a buyout. Himself and Cuban made it clear that this was not the case. Odom told the fans that the rumor is wrong and that he’s lucky and blessed to be able to play for a team and organization like this.
Coach Carlisle wasn’t too shy to criticize Odom during his Friday appearance on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM, saying that patience with Odom has worn thin throughout the Mavs organization after his poor performances.
In their second meeting against the Knicks on Tuesday, Odom had three points on 1-of-9 shooting and four rebounds in 23 minutes.
During the Knicks game, Cuban was apparently getting upset and bluntly frustrated with Odom’s lackadaisical play. Knicks beat reporter, Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN), tweeted: “Lamar Odom getting into it with Mark Cuban. The owner had the nerve to ask Odom to hustle. Lamar didn’t like that.”
Odom’s presence, or should I say lack of presence, in Dallas raises many concerns among fans, but the Mavs were 0-4 during Odom’s leave. The question is, is Dallas better off with him, or without him?
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