LAKERS NOTEBOOK: ODOM SAYS HE IS READY TO PLAY.Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer What once looked like a potentially season-ending shoulder injury will wind up keeping Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. out for less than two weeks, a critical development for the Lakers as they attempt to regroup re·group v. re·grouped, re·group·ing, re·groups v.tr. To arrange in a new grouping. v.intr. 1. To come back together in a tactical formation, as after a dispersal in a retreat. with 18 games left in the regular season. Odom saw team doctor Steve Lombardo before Sunday's game and was cleared to practice. It was feared that Odom would need surgery to repair the torn labrum labrum /la·brum/ (la´brum) pl. la´bra [L.] an edge, rim, or lip. la·brum n. pl. la·bra A lip-shaped anatomical edge, rim, or structure. labrum pl. he suffered in a March 2 game against Sacramento. "The strength is good, so the strength will protect the shoulder," Odom said. "I regained strength really quick, so the rehab's going well right now, and I'm looking forward to getting on the court." "I will play on Thursday (against Denver)," Odom added. "No doubt about it." The Lakers are 0-5 since Odom's injury. He saw specialist Lewis Yocum last week, at which time the Lakers said Odom would defer a decision on surgery for two to threeweeks to see whether he would be able to strengthen his shoulder enough to play. Lakers coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. conceded that Odom, who needed surgery to repair a similar injury at the end of the 2004-05 season, would be limited in some ways once he returns. Odom still hadn't done any shooting yet, to the best of Jackson's knowledge. "I think he'd have to understand what he can do and what he can't do," Jackson said. "There's some things, maybe going to the basket and dunking the ball, that right off the bat is something he's going to have to watch, because that extension is the problem." Injury report: Jackson said Luke Walton Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28 1980 in San Diego, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His position is small forward. reported no pain and increased mobility in his ankle and was hopeful of returning Thursday. Walton was in uniform for Sunday's game but did not play. The coach also has given Vladimir Radmanovic (separated shoulder  This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.Please help recruit one or [ improve this article] yourself. See the talk page for details. ) the nickname of "Count Dracula Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. Some aspects of the character may have been inspired by the 15th century Wallachian Prince, Vlad III the Impaler. " as he watches practice from the sidelines. Radmanovic was injured in a snowboarding incident for which he was fined $500,000. He is not expected to play until sometime in April but Jackson did say, "Hopefully, he'll get back in time to play a couple games." Center of attention: A combination of factors led to teenage center Andrew Bynum Andrew Bynum (born October 27 1987, in Plainsboro, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Bynum is listed as 7'0" and 285 lbs and plays center. staying in the starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes and Kwame Brown coming off the bench Sunday. The first came with Brown showing up late to Sunday's shootaround. Brown celebrated his 25th birthday Saturday -- there were no cake- throwing incidents -- but didn't make any excuses to Jackson. Jackson also said he "liked (Bynum's) attitude" after Friday's loss to Philadelphia. Bynum had another lackluster game, making just 1 of 4 shots and scoring two points, in what Jackson considered a favorable matchup against the Mavericks. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Lakers' Andrew Bynum, right, shoots over Dallas' Erick Dampier in the first half. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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