Odom has Stepped Up as Sidekick

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES ? Back in the era of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers were a two-headed monster because both superstars insisted on claiming individual greatness to go with the team success. When Bryant wasn't at his best, O'Neal would be, and vice-versa.

For these Lakers to be anything close to comparably successful, Bryant has to have that kind of help, especially now that Coach Phil Jackson said of Bryant: "He's tired."

Lamar Odom might be tired, too, but he's quietly improving when it matters most. Odom keyed the Lakers' 92-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night at Staples Center. He had 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, scoring nine consecutive Lakers points in their second-quarter surge while Bryant rested.

"I'm ready to go home and go to sleep," Odom said afterward.

With the Lakers not having obtained a player such as Ron Artest, whose Sacramento team beat the Lakers on Tuesday night - and not yet having gotten someone like Kevin Garnett - whom the Lakers beat Wednesday night - it's up to Odom to be Bryant's full partner.

And although Odom has doubts about the Lakers defense, he has become increasingly confident about the offense, especially his offense. In an ESPN.com chat Wednesday afternoon, Odom sounded an optimistic note for the near future.

"Another year or two with Kobe in this offense, we're going to be competing for a championship," he said.

Jackson said recently his main reason for optimism this month has been Odom's development: "I like the way Lamar has been fitting into the offense, using his skills and talents."

Jackson said Odom's rib injury in February "took him out of the rhythm of where he was, so he lost his space." But Odom since has resumed his progress in the triangle offense. Even in the loss at Sacramento, Odom hit his first six shots while Bryant again struggled. And Odom stayed positive even after the Kings took seventh place from the Lakers.

"We didn't fall down to 10th place," Odom said late Tuesday night.

Then with the Lakers looking lifeless and down, 26-17, Odom put on that second-quarter surge after Luke Walton started the period with two baskets. And although Bryant (25 points), Walton and Smush Parker scored the Lakers' final points, no basket was bigger than Odom's with 1:57 left.

The Timberwolves led, 84-81 - their largest lead of the fourth quarter - and the Lakers came out of a timeout with a play for Bryant to get the ball. But Bryant was blanketed.

Odom, however, did not force it to him, instead posting up and scoring on a 13-foot turnaround.</div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">what does blanketed mean</div>

It means the defense was covering him like a blanket.