SALT LAKE CITY – There’s a star on the rear, left side of Lamar Odom’s head. He had his barber leave hair there to make that symbolic design for Odom going into this season.
Is that the only star the Lakers will get from their trade of Shaquille O’Neal more than three years ago?
Odom (seven points, four turnovers) continued his extended slump Friday night in the Lakers’ landslide loss to the Utah Jazz.
Few Lakers brought much energy on a night when Utah played without top big men Carlos Boozer (ankle) and Mehmet Okur (back). Just minutes into the second half, Odom and center Andrew Bynum were benched for continued failure to take advantage inside – along with guard Derek Fisher, who perhaps was distracted by his first game back in Utah.
QUOTE
Lakers coach Phil Jackson wasn’t too big a fan of Odom’s defense against Denver’s Carmelo Anthony early Thursday night: “Lamar was punk against him, actually. … He was getting toasted.”
TURIAF TIME
Ronny Turiaf, who has been recovering from an ankle sprain, returned to the starting lineup at power forward in place of struggling Vladimir Radmanovic.
1-2-3
Kobe Bryant missed the last free-throw attempt on a three-shot foul late in the loss to New Jersey on Sunday night. He drew another three-shot foul against Utah in the second quarter … and made all three shots, although the Lakers still trailed, 47-31.
NEXT
Orlando at Lakers, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, FSN, KLAC/570
If i may ask.. is it kobe’s fault why the team is losing every now and then. He is playing team ball and still the team lost to a badly depleted team likeUtah. It is time to give Kobe some good help.