Odom says he’s starting Game 3
Lamar Odom(notes) said he expects to start Friday night as the Los Angeles Lakers try to climb back into their Western Conference semifinal series with the Dallas Mavericks.
Odom said after Friday morning’s shootaround at American Airlines Center that he expects to replace Ron Artest(notes), who was suspended for hitting Mavericks guard J.J. Barea(notes) in the head with his forearm at the end of the Lakers’ Game 2 loss. Odom said he last started at small forward when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2002-03 season. The Lakers have rarely played Odom, center Andrew Bynum(notes) and power forward Pau Gasol(notes) together.
More From Marc J. SpearsPlayers-only meeting unites Thunder May 4, 2011 Bin Laden's death spurs memories for Durant May 2, 2011 The Lakers enter Game 3 trailing the Mavericks 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
“I haven’t played small forward in a couple years now, but it makes no difference,” Odom said. “It’s not like they play a lot of isolation ball with their small forward anyway and you’ll, defensively, be on an island or anything like that.
“[My] role won’t change. It’s Game 3
