For Odom, skill meets production

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02/09/2009 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lamar Odom has always been a "What if?" kind of player.

The supremely-skilled Odom has been lavished with the kind of basketball gifts rarely seen in 6-foot-10 players. The former Rhode Island standout is an excellent shooter and rebounder with a deft passing touch, and a handle that would make any point guard envious.

But, instead of being compared with a Kevin Garnett, Odom is usually mentioned in the same breath as a Derrick Coleman, another tremendously gifted player that never got "it."

"How much talent can God bless one guy with?" Karl Malone said on TNT Thursday night. "Lamar Odom is one of the most talented guys (and) last I checked he wanted a new contract. Step up, big fella. He can handle the ball, he can shoot the three, great shot-blocker when he wants from the weak side. How much disruption are you going to cause?"

Malone, one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, is far from the first to call out Odom. The Jamaica, Queens native sat down with the Zen Master himself before this season.

After watching Odom underachieve in last year's NBA Finals, Phil Jackson decided to tweak the basketball prodigy.

Jackson asked Odom to become a reserve, not exactly a comforting thought for a player entering his contract year. The mental manipulation was a pretty transparent ploy, an attempt to light a fire under the soft-spoken Odom, while clearing more minutes for the Lakers' rising star in the middle -- Andrew Bynum.

True to form, or at least true to public perception, Odom balked and publicly ridiculed his coach for daring to think that someone with his skill level should be starting games on the bench.

Fast forward to Los Angeles' just completed torturous, six-game road trip and Odom seems to have finally figured things out.

Off the court, the trek was misery for the Lakers. A collision between Kobe Bryant and Bynum shelved the Lakers' big man for at least eight weeks and possibly the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, the 11-day swing through some of the NBA's more chilly climates caught up with Bryant, who came down with a nasty case of the flu.

On the court the trip was an unqualified success, punctuated by season-highs in points (28) and rebounds (17) for Odom on Sunday, as the Lakers handed Cleveland its first home loss of the season, 101-91.

The win snapped a streak of 23 straight wins at Quicken Loans Arena by the Cavs, and served notice to the rest of the NBA -- the Lakers (Bynum or no- Bynum) that are the team to beat.

LA finished a perfect 6-0 on the trip, sweeping the season series against the East's two heavyweights, Cleveland and Boston.

Odom produced most of his damage on Sunday in a brilliant third quarter, compiling 15 points and 10 boards in the frame.

"It was the total package of his game," Jackson said of Odom's impact. "He was able to do things that broke people down with his speed and quickness to the basket."

Odom had been heavily criticized last year for playing softly against the Celtics' intimidating interior defense presence in the finals. In Thursday's overtime win in Boston, Odom netted 20 points and pulled down six boards.

In Cleveland, things only got better and it didn't go unnoticed.

"Way to play, Lamar Odom," Pau Gasol said. "Way to (expletive) play."

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Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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