RealGM

Odom played primarily with the second string before being shifted to the first unit toward the end of practice. "We're having Lamar come in and play off the bench so that he can start thinking about how he can help the team and what he can do when he does that," Coach Phil Jackson said. "But I don't know if I'll experiment with it in a game yet."

The answer could be gleaned as soon as tonight when the Lakers play Sacramento in Las Vegas. Jackson said Saturday that Odom as a sixth man would "really helps us." "We know that we can stick a lineup out on the floor that's probably going to be 6-7 and taller and play this game that we have," he said. If Odom became a reserve, he could still play substantial minutes, Jackson said.

"If the team's successful out on the floor, you want to keep that group going, so if a guy comes in and plays, you play him until he's tired," he said. "We [could] really get a sixth guy who can play 34 minutes with ease."

In Saturday's practice, Odom played small forward, power forward and ball-handling guard.

Otherwise, the Lakers practiced intensely at times, with Kobe Bryant and Jordan Farmar exchanging sharp dialogue after the second string beat the first string in a brief game. Bryant reminded Farmar that the starters had won five in a row, while Farmar retorted with, "Check your count," claiming it was fewer than that.

Jackson, observing from the sideline, hadn't been thrilled with the Lakers' overall effort to date, but he thought the upcoming week would be better.

"We're still a long ways off," he said. "I think by next weekend we'll start to be somewhere where I would consider us kind of conditioned."

Allanon wrote:I think we'll see more of Bynum/Pau/Odom on the court tonight. Phil's a stubborn guy, he'll keep them working until they get it right.

I love Ariza but man, his jumpshot looks worse than last year...so far.

b shaw20 wrote:anyone know if this game will be televised outside California (eg - TNT, NBA Pass, etc)??

dcash4 wrote:

b shaw20 wrote:anyone know if this game will be televised outside California (eg - TNT, NBA Pass, etc)??

looks like nba league pass is carrying the game.

j-far wrote:Actually our ball movement and passing looks a lot better with Gasol and Odom in the frontcourt imo. If there's any possibility of bringing Drew off the bench, Phil should look into that too.