The Microscope: Lamar Odom's On-Court Struggles (and More)

The Microscope is your recurring look at the NBA's small-scale developments—the rotational curiosities, skill showcases, coaching decisions, notable performances and changes in approach that make the league go 'round. 

On Lamar Odom and Basketball Reasons

By now, the news has made the rounds: The Dallas Mavericks and Lamar Odom have mutually agreed to part ways, giving Odom a chance to clear his head and the Mavs a chance to clear up their on-court chemistry. Both parties are struggling for very different reasons, but as Zach Lowe of The Point Forward has already pointed out, it's a bit misleading to link the causalities of the two; that Odom played poorly has certainly made an impact in Dallas, but the Mavs' offensive woes are a bit more complicated than that specific limitation.

Additionally, there's another misunderstood aspect of the relationship between Odom and the Mavs, exemplified by a recent postgame quote from Kobe Bryant (per Marc Stein of ESPN.com):

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It's tough. [Odom] comes to a team that's pretty much set, you know what I mean? So it's hard for him to find his niche. The fans, they don't really understand what he does or how he can do it, you know what I mean? I hope they don't unlock that mystery. I know. I know how to use him and to use his skill set and this, that and the other. But with this team, the roster that they had being pretty much set, it's tough for him to be able to find his groove here.

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On some level, there's truth in Bryant's thought process. It can certainly be more difficult for a newly-acquired player to find a role on a team with a relatively complete roster. Yet with Odom, that hardly seemed to be the source—or even a source—of his troubles. Not only is this Mavericks team fundamentally different than the one that won the title last season, but Odom was given a chance to play in a variety of roles as a part of the team's efforts to jump-start his production.

Odom was used as a post-up threat against smaller wing players. He was used as a playmaker and ball-handler at the top of the key. He was used as a finisher in the pick-and-roll and a spot-up shooter. Rick Carlisle experimented with everything possible in order to light a spark in Odom, but it just wasn't to be this season. Odom's personal trials had phased out everything that he once was as a player, leaving the fault not with the system or the coach in Dallas, but with the perils of Odom's circumstances.

Donald Sloan, Drawing Lines in Volume

A Sunday evening game between the Cavaliers and Nets doesn't generate much buzz at this stage in the season, but the stat line of the seldom-used Donald Sloan—an undrafted rookie who has played for three teams this season in a total of 21 games—might warrant your attention. With Kyrie Irving still on the shelf, Sloan ran the point full-time for the Cavs well into overtime and finished with 14 assists to just two turnovers in some 45 minutes of game action.

There are a few interesting notes here, the first being that Sloan was never exactly known for his playmaking during his four-year career at Texas A&M, nor in his D-League stint last season with the Reno Bighorns. But apparently, even scoring-centric guards can put on some fine passing displays when the Nets are in town and the planets align just right.

Although in a different way, Sloan's big-assist, big-minute performance makes me wonder about the variance in virtue of high-volume outings. If an unproven player like Sloan were to put up an unexpected scoring total in such gaudy minutes with a high number of shot attempts, there would undoubtedly be some discredit given by way of sheer volume. Yet when players rack up assists in similar circumstances, are we to—and do we—approach the game with the same skepticism?

The Life and Death and Life of Kelenna Azubuike

As a result of Lamar Odom's departure from the Mavs, Dallas has recalled the rehabbing Kelenna Azubuike, formerly of the Golden State Warriors, from their D-League affiliated Texas Legends. Azubuike didn't do anything all that impressive in the D, but the Mavericks' once-startling depth has now eroded to the point of taking an early look at a long-term investment.

In theory, Azubuike could be a wonderful late-season pickup for the Mavs...although this particular theory leans on dated assumptions and a shaky knee. We have little way of knowing how Azubuike might hold up against NBA-level competition, but those who remember 'Buike's active perimeter defense, athletic style and sweet shooting from the perimeter should be excited to see him try.