Lamar Odom making a case for sixth man of the year award

 it's uncertain whether Odom will win the sixth man of the year award. There are others up for consideration after all. When the Lakers and Mavericks meet Thursday, a perhaps unfair barometer will be used on how Odom and Jason Terry go up against each other, two completely different players both Jackson and Odom say considering Terry is a guard expected to score and Odom is a forward expected to rebound. But it's still an intriguing storyline nonetheless, considering Terry averages a second team-best 6.4 points, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals. And in an interesting twist, some Lakers wondered if his 34 starts during would penalize him, even though the only the criteria remains that he has to play more games off the bench. In those 39 games as a reserve and 34 games as a starter, Odom seamlessly filled the same role. He plugged in the void the Lakers needed. He can focus on providing coast-to-coast dunks and layups and outlet passes, sparking the momentum plays he wants to provide off the bench. Or when Bynum missed the first 24 games when he rehabbed from his surgically repaired knee, transition back into the lineup as a reserve the following () games and served a two-game suspension for picking up a flagrant foul type 2, Odom immediately filled that starter's spot, by replacing the  post presence and widening the floor for the backcourt. Frankly, Odom's role has remained mostly the same as a starter and reserve, but he initially saw it as a blow to his ego.
"As a sportsman, you're used to starting," he explained. "I used to be one of the guys and go to guys on the team. I'd be lying if I told you it didn't. I'll be honest with you, a little bit. I've always started for every team I was on and was one of the first three options."
A 2008-09 season that Odom characterized as "up-and-down" and a 2009-10 season where he said he "mentally accepted" the role soon paved the way to where Odom currently sits. He's being considered for an award Jackson argues should measure the "impact a player has on a team." Even with being demoted to a bench position, in no way has Odom's impact been diminished.

Spurs are no longer out of sight

there were plenty of blunders earlier this season — and, yes, some as recently as last month — but the Lakers finally see something ahead of them.

It's not the finish line. It's the staggering San Antonio Spurs.

The Lakers suddenly have a Texas-sized carrot in front of them for their final nine games: San Antonio is down to a 31/2 -game lead atop the Western Conference after another loss Monday.

The Spurs' four-game losing streak is entirely injury-driven, their Big Three limping a lot these days, be it Tim Duncan (sprained ankle), Manu Ginobili (bruised thigh) or Tony Parker (bruised knee). All three sat out Monday's home loss to Portland.

The Lakers have noticed.

"There's a lot of motivation," guard Shannon Brown said. "We know their situation. We know they're trying to get home court. They've been playing well all year. If we can catch them and get home court, that'll be the best thing."

It would require a complete collapse by the Spurs, though the Lakers haven't been this close to them since losing three in a row at the end of November.

The Lakers (53-20) have won a well-documented 15 of 16 since the All-Star break, when they trailed San Antonio by nine games. The 15-1 surge also has allowed them to pull even with Chicago for the NBA's second-best record.

San Antonio's next four games are against teams that are in the playoffs or in the hunt: Boston, Houston, Phoenix and Atlanta. The Spurs (57-17) also play the Lakers at Staples Center on April 12.

Duncan's injury is being called day-to-day, but it seems more week-to-week. Ginobili could not finish Sunday's loss to Memphis and Parker joined them on the sideline Monday.

It was Parker who tried to sound in control after the Spurs fell to Memphis.

"We don't have time to worry about [injuries]," he told reporters. "Timmy is not coming back any time soon, so we just have to keep playing and make sure we pound that rock. Hopefully, it will go our way."

Not all the Lakers are showing interest in the Spurs.

"It doesn't matter to us whether we catch them or not," Kobe Bryant said. "We try to win every game. If we catch them, so be it. If we don't, so be it."

Before the Lakers took the court Sunday against New Orleans, Derek Fisher walked past a TV in the locker room just as Memphis was finishing off San Antonio. Fisher showed no expression. In fact, he didn't even stop.

For what it's worth, the Lakers trail the Spurs in the season series, 2-1.

For all the criticism heaped upon them before the All-Star break, not to mention the angst of a fan base that yelped with every surprising loss, the Lakers are now on pace to surpass their victory total from last season (57).

They could even hit the impressive 60-victory plateau, which would give them a better record than they had in the last two steps of their "three-peat" in the early 2000s.

The Lakers face a more immediate threat this week, a Dallas team that doesn't seem to realize it's been without Caron Butler for almost three months.

The Mavericks (52-21) are only a game behind the Lakers for second in the West. The teams play each other for a third and final time Thursday at Staples Center.

The season series is tied at 1-1, with Thursday's winner owning the first playoff tiebreaker.

"We want to secure our spot, so beating them would pretty much do that for us," Andrew Bynum said.

Bynum back into the mix

After snapping a four-game losing streak with a 113-80 drubbing of the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers held a practice session on Saturday morning at the team’s El Segundo facility.




Playing center in the absence of Andrew Bynum (knee), Pau Gasol, bothered by a tight left hamstring, pushed through the discomfort and didn’t make things any worse en route to 16 points, five rebounds and five assists in three quarters of work.



“He did all right,” said Phil Jackson. “We’re still concerned, but it’s OK, he played under 30 minutes and that helped.”



Rookie Derrick Caracter, the lone backup big man for the Lakers until Bynum and Theo Ratliff return, had his best game as a Laker in relief of Gasol, scoring 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and snagging four rebounds while blocking two shots in 21 minutes.

Nonetheless, the team is more than eager to get . The 7-foot space-eater has increased his activity level with each practice, starting a few weeks ago with solo cardio exercises and accelerating all the way to a full contact five-on-five game with teammates on Saturday morning.



“He said he tired, which is natural, that’s going to happen,” said Jackson. “He said there was just one moment where he had a little twinge, but other than that he was OK … His conditioning is kind of the issue right now, and it’s timing more than anything else.”



It’s been customary for the Lakers to simply see how Bynum feels the day after a workout, and respond accordingly as far as what he does the next day. The team will take Sunday off, but if Bynum doesn’t have any set backs, soreness or swelling on Monday, he’ll get right back after it. It’s worth noting that the 23-year-old big man has yet to have a set back throughout his rehabilitation.



In other big man news, Ratliff resumed cardiovascular activity on the Alter G treadmill, but remains a few weeks away from playing.

Chick Hearn: Remembering a Legend

In August of 2002, the Los Angeles Lakers lost a cherished family member with the passing of Chick Hearn. More than an announcer, Chick embodied the spirit and determination that have made the Los Angeles Lakers champions nine times over. The Lakers lone play-by-play voice since the team moved to Los Angeles prior to the 1960-61 season, Chick was the Lakers for the better part of four decades.

With his words-eye-view of the game and colorful chickisms making his broadcasts truly one of a kind, it is a streak of unmatched proportions that will perhaps be Chick's lasting legacy. Beginning in Las Vegas on November 20, 1965 with a 133-117 victory over the San Francisco Warriors, Chick went on to broadcast 3,338 consecutive regular and postseason games, with the streak culminating in a 101-85 victory over the same Warriors on December 16, 2001. Two days later Chick underwent surgery to replace the aortic valve in his heart. The surgery was a success and Chick was expected to make a full recovery.



Anticipating a return to the broadcast booth on March 1, Chick was again befallen by bad luck as he suffered a hip fracture in a fall on February 17. This additional setback would force Chick to undergo a second surgery and more rehabilitation. Again, however, he persevered and on April 9th, returned to the booth to broadcast the Lakers 112-82 victory over the Utah Jazz. Shortly into the broadcast of a game that began with the sellout crowd of 18,997 giving Chick an extended standing ovation, the legendary announcer gratefully exclaimed, "this is the happiest I've been since I married Marge!"

Chick, along with his announcing partner of 15 years, Stu Lantz, broadcast the Lakers final five regular season games and each of the Lakers 19 playoff games. With Chick returning to his familiar position behind the mic, the Lakers season culminated on June 12 in New Jersey with their third consecutive NBA championship.

The refrigerator door might have closed for the final time on that June evening as the Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets, but Chick will forever be remembered for the fervor and passion that he brought to each and every Lakers broadcast

2010 Championship Ring

The Los Angeles Lakers are commemorating their 16th NBA Championship with a ring that has a few touches that have never before been seen in a sports ring.




Each and every ring is adorned with a piece of the actual ball used in game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals.



The two Larry O'Brien trophies representing the back to back titles are made from a custom batch of 16kt gold.



16 oversized round brillant white diamonds indicate the 16 championships the franchise has won.



Each player is immortalized with a three dimensional sculpture of their face on their respective rings.



The final score of the Lakers 83-79 game seven victory over the Boston Celtics is represented on the side of the ring in scoreboard fashion.

Six Lakers On NBA All-Star Ballot

 Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum were named to the 2011 NBA All-Star ballot, which was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in Los Angeles, the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2011.

                      

Lakers Cruise Past Kings

The Lakers put a halt to their four-game losing streak Friday night, topping the Kings 113-80 at home. Kobe Bryant led six Los Angeles players in double figures with 22 points in just 26 minutes. The reserves combined for 52 points on the night.