Lamar Odom will attempt to play tonight Chris Carlson / Associated Press Lakers forward Lamar Odom went through the team's shoot-around this morning and will try to play tonight despite a bruised lower back suffered in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. "He's hurt; he looks stiff," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "They're going to pad him up; they're going to do all kinds of stuff to him," referring to the team's training staff. Odom has been receiving electro-stimulation treatments since getting hurt. Odom was injured when he landed on his back while attempting a driving layup Sunday in the third quarter of Game 4. He was called for a charge on the play after crashing into Houston forward Shane Battier. An MRI exam and CT scan confirmed Odom's injury on Monday. Odom has not been playing well this series, averaging only 8.5 points and 8.8 rebounds. The Lakers and Rockets are tied at 2-2 in their best-of-seven game Western Conference semifinal series. link: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers-rockets13-2009may13,0,43785.story
That's great. I would like a hobbled Odom to play. If Odom was out, it could have motivated them like Yao motivated the Rockets for game 4.
Ah, yeah all signs pointed to him playing. Oh well, if he isn't 100%, he won't be able to finish like he usually does... but hopefully we won't foul him and let him get on the line.
ANYTHING BUT BYNUM!!! wow, Jackson is desperate! could Bynum seriously not care any less about the playoffs? awesome.
rockets need to attack him he will be an extra step slow so attacking and getting him in foul trouble is the key
I'd rather he not play. Odom is not going to motivate the Lakers if he doesn't play because nobody is counting out the Lakers if Odom is out. However, since Odom has the reputation of being soft, him playing through the pain WILL galvanize the Lakers, being inspired by their hurt comrade's resolve.
if ur being sarcastic about ur robert horry statement then props to u. but if ur serious then u should search his nba tv statement where he claimed lakers (his boyz) winning game 4 by 15. which in itself isnt bad cuz noone expects us to win but his smug laugh after that made me sick.
Robert Horry will always be a Rocket to me. He may have "boyz" on that team considering he won Chips with Kobe/Fisher and PJ was coach but even he knows his first 2 rings can't compare to any with the Lakers.
"...he looks stiff," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. yes, that would be a very appropriate assessment of lamar's play thus far this series and for the majority of his career.
they cannot be that stupid to not at least try to get bynum going!! we have no one that can guard that fool..
I hope I'm not jinxing it, but I've never understood this mentality in the past week from some of you on the board. Maybe it's the MCL injury, I don't know, but Andrew Bynum sucks. As much as we insulted Greg Oden, Oden looked like an All-Star in the first round compared to Bynum. Seriously, I'm not sure if I'd even swap Brian Cook for Bynum (for this series, of course, long-term no I'm not insane) for the final three games. Bynum looked completely hopeless in the post against the likes of Cook and even Ron Artest in Game 4. Seriously, anything that gets Andrew Bynum more playing time is something Rockets fans should applaud in this series. I'm pretty sure most posters on this board could guard him — it's like watching Greg Ostertag with less defense. He is absolutely, positively terrible right now.
