Despite Benching, Jackson Has Confidence In Brown Kwame Brown was benched in the second half of Sunday's loss to Boston because he did not do a few things on Jackson's checklist, namely "going after the ball, being energetic, defensively being active, and running the court, and looking for offensive rebounds, and doing those things that make a difference in the energy level of the defense," Jackson said. Jackson spoke with Brown on Monday, not so much to hammer home the above, but, in Jackson's words, "I just wanted to get back to him and tell him, 'I haven't lost confidence in you.'" -- Los Angeles Times Odom Snubbed By USA Basketball Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who started on the United States team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, learned this week that he was not invited to take part in USA Basketball's training camp this summer. Odom met with USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo in Phoenix on Jan. 20. He said he learned the news through a letter sent to his agent, Jeff Schwartz. The 25 invited players are scheduled to be announced Sunday. "It was their decision," Odom said. "Of course, I would like to (play). If not, more time with the kids." -- Los Angeles Daily News
