L.A. Lakers: Lamar Odom Is the NBA's Top 6th Man, but Should He Win the Award?

Most people would agree that the top two contenders for this season's NBA Sixth Man of the Year award are Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom.

Terry is a previous winner of the award, but Odom may be enjoying the most consistent season of his entire career, and when you compare the overall impact each player has for their team, Odom holds a distinct advantage.

Terry is a spark plug off the bench for Dallas, and his main responsibility is to provide instant offense.

Terry averages 15.9 points per game, 4.2 assists, 1.9 rebounds and shoots 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range.

Forward Dirk Nowitzki may be the Mavericks' most prolific scorer, but Terry is one of the few players on the roster who is capable of creating his own offense off the dribble, and he has a clean quick release on his jump shot.

Terry's contributions to the Mavericks offense are invaluable, but his impact is mostly limited to that area of the game.

Odom is bigger than Terry and his game is more diverse, as his impact on the Lakers is obvious in numerous categories.

Odom averages 14.3 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and shoots 53 percent from the field and 39 percent from three point range.

Odom may be the most versatile player in the game today, and at 6'10", his length and ability to play on the perimeter and in the post creates nightmare matchups for opponents.

Odom also serves as an energizer off the bench for the Lakers, but he is capable of jump-starting the team with his defense, rebounding, ball-handling or passing skills, while Terry is mostly distinguished by his offense.

There are cases to be made for each player, but Odom's overall impact for the Lakers is greater than Terry's, and his consistency this season means he may be looking at his first major postseason award.

But, Terry may still be the more worthy recipient of the award because he embodies the entire concept of a sixth man. 

Terry has only started 10 games for the Mavericks this season and thrives in the role of the first man off the Dallas bench. Odom has started more than 20 games for the Lakers this season, and is often referred to as the team's sixth starter.

Most of the blame for that can be laid at the feet of oft-injured center Andrew Bynum, but it doesn't change the fact that Odom has been forced to approach every game as if he is a starter.

Terry knows that it would take a near catastrophe to force him into the Mavericks' starting line-up, while Odom is just a Bynum sore knee or Pau Gasol tweaked ankle away from the Lakers' first five.

That doesn't mean that Odom should be penalized for his versatility and value, but on any other team, he would probably be a full-time starter.

Terry, on the other hand, has discovered his niche as a sixth man, and even if the Mavericks traded him, his new team may find that his talents would be better utilized in that role.

If Odom does win the award, I would still applaud him because it would be great to witness his unique talent finally recognized on a league-wide scale.

But I would also understand any misgivings from Terry, because after all, he is exactly the type of player the award was designed for.