Why Is Lamar Odom So Terribly Inconsistent?

Lamar Odom is one of the most exciting and frustrating players in the league right now.

The Los Angeles Clippers drafted Odom fourth overall in the 1999 NBA draft. Odom stayed in Clipper land from 1999-2005 but then signed with the Miami Heat during free agency. 

Odom was very productive in Clipper land and Miami, but fans were expected more from the lanky 6'10 forward.

Pat Riley once said that Odom was the only forward coming into the NBA who had a similar skill set to the great Magic Johnson. 

After one year with the Heat, Odom was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Laker fans were expecting Odom to play the role of Pippen to Kobe's Jordan.

That obviously didn't happen, as the Lakers missed the playoffs his first year there while also being consistently average the next two years until Andrew Bynum's emergence and Pau Gasol's arrival. 

The 6'10 forward has an extremely long wing span and a versatile skill-set.

Odom can handle the ball, take you off the dribble, shoot the perimeter shot, pass, post-up (though he doesn't do it as much now), start a fast-break, play great individual and help defense, you get the point. 

Ever since Gasol arrived, Odom has been on the bench while Bynum starts. Once Odom accepted his sixth man role, he understood that any hopes of still becoming a star player would end.

Odom isn't a scorer like Terry or Crawford, so he won't get the media recognition like those players get.

Laker fans will never forget Odom's sacrifice and thought that role would suit him best but he is still as inconsistent as ever. He had a terrible post-season last year and fans are getting restless with these inconsistent performances. 

Here are some reasons as to why Lamar Odom has been inconsistent all these years. 

Passive Mentality

I've always said that the mentality of great players are on a different level than the rest of the players.

Odom doesn't approach the game like a great player would, such as Jordan and Kobe. He's a very passive player while great players are the aggressors. 

Odom's passive mentality has hindered him thus far in his career, and fans don't see him changing anytime soon.

There would be countless times where Odom would have favorable match-ups but wouldn't take advantage of them. 

Does Odom understand how versatile he is? Fans ask themselves questions like these every time Odom touches the ball. What goes on in this guy's mind?

Up-Tempo Player

In the 2010 Western conference finals, Kenny Smith of TNT Inside the NBA gave a very interesting reason as to why Odom is so inconsistent.

He stated that Odom is an up-tempo player and excels in a run-gun system similar to what the Suns were running. His skill-set is perfect for an open court game.

Odom's great performances against the Suns were proof of this theory and you have to wonder if the triangle has hindered his potential.

The triangle predates on ball movement and finding the open man rather than a traditional system where one player handles all the playmaking duties.

When Odom first came to the Lakers, he wasn't the best fit for the triangle but eventually became comfortable with the system.

Lamar Odom is a great playmaker and seeing him on the break is very entertaining.

As the current Laker team becomes more defensive oriented, the offense has transitioned to more half court sets.

When we had Ariza, we played a lot on the break, but Artest's arrival has changed that. LA plays more of a half-court offense now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Laker fans might see even less production coming from Odom in the next two or three years. 

In And Out Of Starting Lineup

Odom has been a sixth man ever since Gasol has arrived. When Bynum is injured, Odom is inserted into the power forward spot while Gasol slides over to the center position.

Odom actually plays better with Gasol, but with Bynum in the game, it gives us a better defensive lineup.

Andrew Bynum is injured often, so Odom has to take his place but once the 7 footer is healthy, the Candyman returns to his bench role.

You have to wonder if constantly changing roles (from starter to bench) every year, is affecting his consistency? He has never stayed on the bench for a complete season yet.

Bynum consistently gets injured, so Odom gets inserted into the starting lineup while leaving the bench shorthanded. This is probably why the bench is so inconsistent.

Odom has to develop continutiy as a bench player and hasn't done that yet these last two year. 

Sugar Addiction

Fans have started calling Odom "The Candyman." Ever since that mini-documentary on his addiction to candy, fans began calling him that nickname. 

Also, fans have been joking about how his sugar addiction contributes to his inconsistent performances.

Lamar Odom has admitted that sugar is his vice, but doesn't think that it is negatively affecting his performance. 

I think he should experiment without candy for a couple of weeks, and then we can fairly judge if too much sugar is affecting his performance.

At least he got a nickname out of this and probably several endorsements.