Just like in seasons past, Lamar Odom has been in the Lakers' starting lineup this season, as Bynum recovers from off-season knee surgery. The consistent play of Odom has fans asking a famous question: should Lamar Odom remain in the starting lineup when Bynum returns? The answer is no. Here are three reasons why:
Andrew Bynum is a better defensive player: Andrew Bynum is clearly the Lakers best interior defender. What Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol lack physically, Bynum makes up for. With his physicality, Bynum is a more reliable last line of defense in the paint. The team would be silly not to start their best defensive lineup.
In addition, Bynum gets a lot of easy baskets. A majority of Bynum's baskets come off dunks and put backs. These high percentage shots get the Lakers off to fast starts in games.
If it aint broke, don't fix it: After Bynum has returned from injuries in seasons past, he has assumed his starting role and Odom has went back to being the the team's sixth man. This formula has always worked out well for the Lakers.
Odom has always welcomed his role as the sixth man without much of a complaint. Would Bynum accept his new role as the team's sixth man? I am not convinced he would. Why potentially hurt Bynum's confidence and team chemistry by changing something that has been proven to work?
Also, while Bynum starts the game, Odom usually finishes the game. Look back at all of the Lakers big games the last three seasons and more times than not it is Gasol and Odom finishing the game, while Bynum is on the bench.
Odom works better with the other bench players: Typically, Phil Jackson plays a lot of his bench players togeth...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
