Los Angeles Clippers roster responding well with the exception of Lamar Odom – NBA News
The Los Angeles Clippers returned from a weeklong visit to China to participate in the NBA China Games on Sunday. While there, the Clippers played two exhibition games against the defending champions Miami Heat, and won one of the two games. And on Wednesday, the Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center in a game where coach Vinny Del Negro rested his key players.
The Clippers looked rusty at the beginning, missing seven of their first eight shots and trailing by fifteen points before finding their footing in the game and leading by 11 points in the final period. They eventually won 96-94. It was another comfortable and confidence building wins for the team, which rested Lamar Odom and Grant Hill.
Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul looked in good form as the core of the team played their part and ensured a victory.
“It's another opportunity for us to get better. It's another opportunity for us to build our chemistry,” said Del Negro after the game.
However, one negative for the Clippers thus far in training camp has been the fact that Lamar Odom has failed to arrive for training camp in form, and is currently working on weight and conditioning issues. In addition to that, Odom’s knees are bothering him as well, which was the primary reason why Del Negro rested him for the Jazz game.
“He's got to work through some conditioning things and some health things right now, which he's doing. Yeah, I wish he was in a little bit better conditioning, and he wishes he was. But he's just got to continue to work every day and I'm sure he'll get there eventually,” said Del Negro about Odom.
While the rest of the Clippers roster is looking good and playing well as a unit, Odom seems to be the weak link so far in the offseason. If he is unable to achieve the level of fitness and play that is required by the Clippers, the team could have issues with their depth in the front court. The option of trading him before the March deadline is always there, but the Clippers would ideally want Odom to find his rhythm and form, and contribute to the success of the team as they embark on a crucial season with high expectations and even higher aims.
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