The Los Angeles Lakers Have the Third Superstar to Match Miami in Lamar Odom
Much ado has been said about the new three kids on the block with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh joining forces trying to forge a championship with the former Laker poster boy, Pat Riley.
The Lakers counter of course with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and the key to the whole ball of wax three-peat thing, Lamar Odom.
Actually I, along with many others, would consider Derek Fisher a superstar as he is the holder of five NBA title rings.
So in all reality, with Ron Artest stepping up to play big defense and working on his open looks, just like Magic became a better outside shooter, so shall Artest go.
The Lakers are retaining Fisher after he briefly visited the new enemy camp. He left Miami and reported back to the place where his jersey should rightfully hang after retirement.
Andrew Bynum can play center but he and Odom need to see the same motivational force in the universe that will convince them they are great, and should play that way all the time like Magic, like Elgin, like Jerry, like Goodrich, like Kareem, like Kobe, like even Kurt Rambis.
Lamar Odom, maximum supreme effort and utilization of the talents and physical attributes that God gave you is what all Lakers fans are craving.
Lamar Odom, if I was 6'9'', 240 lbs, I would be the best freaking basketball player on planet Earth!
I would be so motivated, and so happy, everyone would be talking about the Mr. Hustle of basketball—me!
I love basketball, and have been a Laker fan since 1969. As a casual fan, I watch the season progress, root for the Lakers of course, and plan on watching playoff runs culminating in NBA titles, much like my predecessors the 50s and 60s—Boston Celtic fans.
Between the Lakers and the Celtics, these two teams have more than half of all the titles won since the NBA was formed.
As the last few seasons have unfolded, the one constant is wondering if the guy everyone said was going to be an NBA great is going to show up that night!
I, stated during last season's playoffs, said that if Lamar Odom does not come to play in these important final series, where he was desperately needed, dump his sorry butt.
Then he miraculously appeared in the final games of the series, and was one of the heroes.
Lamar Odom is the missing superstar that is already on the roster. He is as talented as Chris Bosh, LeBron James, or Dwyane Wade.
He just does not know it.
I have no clue what to say to Lamar Odom, except wake up and be better. Explode to the rim like your body can easily do.
Gear up the home crowd with elevated dunks with authority.
Play defense with every ounce and fibre of energy, be relentless, almost obsessive in shutting down opposing players all night.
Are you hearing me Lamar? If there is a God, somehow this article will get to you and you'll read it.
Then some light will go on, and maybe you'll watch some old tapes of some of the great players along with Kobe, and realize you have all the tools to become an Elgin Baylor, or even as good as the great Connie Hawkins.
Watch the Hawk against the Lakers one long spring ago as he dismantled the entire defense by himself.
Watch Happy Hairston get 20 rebounds a game, effortlessly.
Watch even Pat Riley, the best sixth man in basketball one season, 40 years ago, hustle his ass off.
The Lakers currently are NBA champions twice in a row. A three-peat is entirely possible, but not likely unless this one key ingredient in being all the Lakers can be, Lamar Odom, joins the ranks of players that are feared nightly in the NBA.
If Lamar Odom would be great, not just good, then the Lakers can expect two to three more rings soon.
Bryant, Gasol, Artest, Odom, and Fisher along with Bynum are a good enough group to beat any other team out there, including the untested new Miami Heat.
All Lamar Odom has to do is check into Hotel Stardom for 2011.
