The Lakers went back to practice yesterday, and with Pau Gasol still nursing his strained hamstring, Lamar Odom will get the call at power forward against the Phoenix Suns tomorrow night.

No. 7 though, will get some company in the frontcourt on Thursday.

Center Andrew Bynum is expected back in the starting lineup. LO told NBA.com that Bynum looked "sharp" in practice yesterday.

KNOWING WHAT IT TAKES
The Lakers are off to a phenomenal start, and No. 7 feels it’s the team’s championship experience from last season that’s helping them win tight games:

"Experience helps. It's the best teacher of them all. Right now we feel like we have the experience - focus," Lamar told Hoops World. "Those are games last year I think we would have dropped . . . learning how to win ugly is good for this team."

CARING ABOUT KAREEM
Like the rest of the world, the Lakers were shocked to hear the news about that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

LO, when asked about the news, had some heartfelt words for the former superstar.

"Kareem doesn't make a big deal about things," Lamar said. But we're all concerned and we all wish him the best."

You can see Lamar's words for the Lakers legend here at the 1:31 mark of the video.

BENEFITS OF THE SIXTH MAN
A lot has been made in the national media over veteran point guard Allen Iverson leaving the Memphis Grizzlies after being asked to come off the bench.

AI is upset about not getting the starting nod on a young team.

Kurt Helin, of NBC Los Angeles, points out that the last game AI played in was against a team that uses a talented player in a similar way:

"A number of contenders—the Lakers with Lamar Odom, the Spurs with Manu Ginobili, to name two—bring guys who could start off the bench. If you bring in All Stars and put them against second string guys, you have an advantage."

WHAT ARE ODOM’S ODDS
The Los Angeles Times spent the off day handicapping each Laker's odds for making the All-Star team. Here’s what they had to say about the Package:

"Odom's quest is the most uphill. He's not a scorer by nature. He's still seen by some ‘underachiever.’ It's tough for a sixth man- even one as critical as Lamar- to make the All-Star team, and those not paying attention will still consider him a sub even while he's currently acting as a starter. None of these factors scream ‘no break in February,’ particularly when he's only a borderline candidate to begin with."

Still, the Times noted that LO has a bit of celebrity buzz going on that might help his cause.

NEXT UP
The Lakers take on the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night at 7:30 PST. The game is on TNT.

RELATED ARTICLES
Iverson will not go quietly into the night (NBC Los Angeles Nov, 10, 2009)
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/Iverson-Will-Not-Go-Gently-Into...
Lakers on the All-Star ballot, Odds, ends, and strategies (L.A. Times, Nov. 10, 2009)
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/11/the-lakers-and-the-alls...
Phoenix Suns going back to basics (L.A. Times, Nov 11, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-nba-notes11-2009nov11,0,3590824,ful...
Lakers Practice Report 11/10/09 (NBA.com Nov. 10, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/091110practicereport.html?rss=true
Lakers Surviving Injuries (Hoops World Nov. 8, 2009)
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14270

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