Lakers's Odom listed as doubtful for game 5

[Indazone]

Odom is game-time decision for Tuesday

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Reuters

LOS ANGELES -- Lakers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=lal) starting forward Lamar Odom (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=617) has a bruised back and has been listed as doubtful by his team for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Houston Rockets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=hou).

http://a.espncdn.com/i/headshots/nba/players/65/617.jpg
Odom

Odom, who fell awkwardly while attempting to drive during the third quarter of Sunday's surprise 99-87 loss to the Rockets in Houston, had a CT scan and MRI on Monday morning.
The scan showed he had a lower back contusion, and a final decision on his ability to play will be made before Tuesday morning's shootaround, the Lakers said on their Web site.
Los Angeles is tied 2-2 with Houston in their Western Conference semifinal series after squandering a golden opportunity to go 3-1 up against a Rockets team missing the pivotal Yao Ming (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1722) because of injury.
Chinese center Yao broke his left foot in Friday's loss to the Lakers, but Houston shrugged off his absence by outplaying the top-seeded Lakers on Sunday.
"We just happened to play probably our worst game of the year," Odom told reporters. "It hurts. We got beat.
"Now we go back home. Hopefully I will be able to help the team on Tuesday."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4159470

[timvp]

He'll play.

[DPG21920]

Of course he will play, more "Jordan has the flu" propaganda.

[lefty]

He'll play.
+1


KFC is playing mind games, what a pussy

[Indazone]

I'm betting he won't. The stars are lining up.

[Banzai]

Hopefully Odom plays..he did have a nasty fall though.

[DPG21920]

Odom will play. Despite the knocks he gets from people, I would say he is a pretty tough dude as far as basketball goes.

[nkdlunch]

bruised vagina?

[DrHouse]

Odom will be fine. Haven't you heard of cortizone?

[DAF86]

I'm betting he won't. The stars are lining up.

If that's true the stars could be "lining up" for the Lakers, Odom is getting owned by Scola in this series. If Odom doesn't play Bynum would start, he'll make 20+ points, grab 14+ rebounds and Phill Jackson would realize that they're better playing Bynum and Gasol more time toghether.

[Indazone]

Are you kidding me? Bynum sucks!

[Banzai]

Are you kidding me? Bynum sucks!

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/ball_trick_2.gif (http://www.threadbombing.com/details.php?image_id=4008)

[DAF86]

Are you kidding me? Bynum sucks!

No, he doesn't. He's out of confidence and/or rythm, maybe getting his starting job back would elevate his confidence level.

[024]

i'm all for bynum starting. less touches for gasol! besides, he started at the beginning of the playoffs and for the first game against the rockets. he was mediocre at best.

[timvp]

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/ball_trick_2.gif (http://www.threadbombing.com/details.php?image_id=4008)

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/ball_trick.gif

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

bruised vagina?

DrHouse could tell him about getting rid of those.

[Indazone]

Odom's back injury makes him questionable for Game 5
Lamar Odom
Email Picture
Larry W. Smith / EPA

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-05/46851885.gif


Lakers forward Lamar Odom reacts in pain after falling to the floor with an injury against the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday.
Lakers forward might miss Tuesday's playoff game against Houston.

By Mike Bresnahan
2:21 PM PDT, May 11, 2009

Lakers forward Lamar Odom has a bruised lower back and is questionable for Game 5 Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Odom fell on his back after being called for a charge on a driving layup attempt in the third quarter Sunday in Game 4. Odom ran into Houston forward Shane Battier on the play and was called for charging.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson did not specify today who might start in Odom's place.

Odom had a CT scan and MRI this morning, and he received treatment at the team's El Segundo practice facility today.

After Sunday's game Odom said of his injury: "Pain. Immense. It hurts."

Odom has averaged 8.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in this series.

The Lakers and Rockets are tied 2-2 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.

Game 6 is Thursday in Houston.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers12-2009may12,0,7441361.story?track=rss

[Indazone]

Doesn't look good for Lamar.

http://www.latimes.com/images/blogs/bloghd_lakers.gif (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/)
« Game 5: Who would you start at PG? (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/05/derek-fisher-jordan-farmar-shannon-brown-game-5.html) | Main (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/)
Lamar Odom participates in shootaround, still game time decision

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c506253ef01157082531a970b-320wi (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c506253ef01157082531a970b-popup) That's the word from El Segundo. Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who took a nasty fall on his back during the Game 4 Mother's Day debacle, was able to get on the floor Thursday afternoon for shootaround, but was still called a "game time decision" by coach Phil Jackson. "They're going to pad him up, they're going to do all kinds of stuff with him," Jackson said. "He's noticeably affected by it, but feels like he wants to play."
Asked if he thinks the team needs all hands on deck tonight, Jackson agreed. "Yeah, I would."
My guess, given his history and that he was able to get on the floor today, is that Odom will try to play. How effective he'll be is an open question- back injuries are hard to predict- but I can't see LO sitting on the sidelines for a game this big unless he flat out can't do it. (Update: Just saw Odom leave the facility, and he's definitely moving with care. Word is he has a little fluid around the point of injury, which given the location is always a tricky proposition. But like I said, knowing Odom, I think he'll try to play. BK)
Either way, PJ said the Lakers are prepared to go small if need be, or try to outsize the Rockets, working through sets with a variety of combinations.

I asked Jackson about the defense, and if they plan on playing guys a little more straight since Houston is now spreading the floor and using less of a post game. (There was too much doubling down low for my tastes on Sunday.) Better recognition and understanding of what the Rockets are doing should help tonight. "It's knowledge of what the action is, and how we have to play it. Our intent while we're out there on the floor," Jackson said. "(Houston) is a team that shares the ball well, and we have to understand that. There's not just one guy that you can trap or stop from having the basketball. They pass it pretty well together and look to hit the open man, so you have to honor that."
Regarding Aaron Brooks, Jackson said it's a question of team defense, not simply the man assigned him. "We have a quick team. Our team has a lot of speed, we're not totally worried about that. Brooks does have the advantage of speed on (Derek Fisher), but we feel that we can contain him and we did the job at times- it wasn't consistent enough- but at times we did the job to contain him."
Would Jordan Farmar come in faster?
"It depends on how the game goes. We've got faith in Fish, and that he came off a unique experience in this series, and he's just righting himself now," Jackson said. "One of the things Fish does well is control dribblers, and send them in the direction we want to send them in. He's been very good at that over the year."
For what it's worth, the last three guys off the floor were the point guards, who worked through a few different looks and actions. The last guy off the floor? Fisher.

[Indazone]

Brooks is going to blow right by Farmar... nobody can keep Aaron Brooks in front of them.

[icem]

id be really surprised if odom doesn't play....

[Indazone]

Oh Odom will play alright but he'll be the walking gimp out on the floor and Jackson will pull him within 5 minutes.

[Indazone]

Doesn't look good for Lamar.

http://www.latimes.com/images/blogs/bloghd_lakers.gif (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/)
« Game 5: Who would you start at PG? (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/05/derek-fisher-jordan-farmar-shannon-brown-game-5.html) | Main (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/)
Lamar Odom participates in shootaround, still game time decision

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c506253ef01157082531a970b-320wi (http://lakersblog.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c506253ef01157082531a970b-popup) That's the word from El Segundo. Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who took a nasty fall on his back during the Game 4 Mother's Day debacle, was able to get on the floor Thursday afternoon for shootaround, but was still called a "game time decision" by coach Phil Jackson. "They're going to pad him up, they're going to do all kinds of stuff with him," Jackson said. "He's noticeably affected by it, but feels like he wants to play."
Asked if he thinks the team needs all hands on deck tonight, Jackson agreed. "Yeah, I would."
My guess, given his history and that he was able to get on the floor today, is that Odom will try to play. How effective he'll be is an open question- back injuries are hard to predict- but I can't see LO sitting on the sidelines for a game this big unless he flat out can't do it. (Update: Just saw Odom leave the facility, and he's definitely moving with care. Word is he has a little fluid around the point of injury, which given the location is always a tricky proposition. But like I said, knowing Odom, I think he'll try to play. BK)
Either way, PJ said the Lakers are prepared to go small if need be, or try to outsize the Rockets, working through sets with a variety of combinations.

I asked Jackson about the defense, and if they plan on playing guys a little more straight since Houston is now spreading the floor and using less of a post game. (There was too much doubling down low for my tastes on Sunday.) Better recognition and understanding of what the Rockets are doing should help tonight. "It's knowledge of what the action is, and how we have to play it. Our intent while we're out there on the floor," Jackson said. "(Houston) is a team that shares the ball well, and we have to understand that. There's not just one guy that you can trap or stop from having the basketball. They pass it pretty well together and look to hit the open man, so you have to honor that."
Regarding Aaron Brooks, Jackson said it's a question of team defense, not simply the man assigned him. "We have a quick team. Our team has a lot of speed, we're not totally worried about that. Brooks does have the advantage of speed on (Derek Fisher), but we feel that we can contain him and we did the job at times- it wasn't consistent enough- but at times we did the job to contain him."
Would Jordan Farmar come in faster?
"It depends on how the game goes. We've got faith in Fish, and that he came off a unique experience in this series, and he's just righting himself now," Jackson said. "One of the things Fish does well is control dribblers, and send them in the direction we want to send them in. He's been very good at that over the year."
For what it's worth, the last three guys off the floor were the point guards, who worked through a few different looks and actions. The last guy off the floor? Fisher.


Don't care how much therapy Odom is getting from massage, ice, heat whatever. Medical injections like cortisone shots or painkillers. He's got fluid around his vertebrae and he's going to be barely able to walk let alone run and jump at full playoff intensity.

[DrHouse]

Indazone == Kill Bill Pana

No wonder he's so fucking annoying

[rayray2k8]

If he plays, it'll be under limited playing time.
Now ask yourself this Laker fans.. If Odom struggles early, does he become a liabilty on your team and how important is he to the lakers offense with Bynams late struggles?

[stretch]

if he doesnt play, the lakers are in trouble. his versatility is very key for the lakers success, and ive always felt that to beat the lakers, you gotta stop him and Ariza before anything else, because their versatility and hustle plays are what energizes that laker team most of all.

[Banzai]

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/ball_trick.gif

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/2/ball_jump.gif (http://www.threadbombing.com/details.php?image_id=2927)

[Indazone]

Indazone == Kill Bill Pana

No wonder he's so fucking annoying

http://loudounlady.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/pot-kettle-black.jpg

[KSeal]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers-rockets13-2009may13,0,43785.story

He's playing.

[rayray2k8]

Oh man, I feel for this poor bastard. I got a bad back as well and theres no way of telling how much pain he will be in.