Odom Play, Timing Are Good Lamar Odom has strung together some of his best games as a Laker, his timing impeccable, if not downright necessary, with the team trying to make it past April 19. He is averaging 20.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists over the last six games. "The biggest change in this ballclub now is the play of Lamar," Kobe Bryant said Monday, when Odom had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists in a 105-97 victory over Boston. "He's really understanding the fluidity and how to execute the offense. He's gotten more comfortable and, as a result, he's more consistent. That gives us a big, big boost." -- Los Angeles Times Heart Attack Near, Phil Jokes The Lakers are trying to kill Phil Jackson. OK, not literally, but with their inconsistent play. Jackson said losing so many close games has been "excruciating." "We're on the path to trying to give the coach a heart attack on the bench. Either that or a stroke," joked Jackson, who had an angioplasty in 2003 after having heart problems. "They're doing a good job of it. These players are trying to exasperate me. I've told them many times, one of these days they are going to look up and I won't be there on the bench." -- Riverside Press-Enterprise Bryant, Jackson: Men On A Mission Phil Jackson put the Western Conference powers-that-be on notice before the game, when he said he was quite comfortable with the current playoff situation, which could have the Lakers playing the Spurs, Mavericks, or Suns in the first round. ... ''You saw our games against San Antonio and Dallas," Jackson told an apparent apostate of the LA traveling media. ''We play well with them. We still have two games left with Phoenix. So we have some sense of confidence against the teams that are bracketed against us if the playoffs were to start today." Asked about Jackson's comment, Kobe Bryant shrugged. He doesn't care about the opponent, as long as they play somebody. ''I'm comfortable with whoever," he said. -- Boston Globe
