EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Yao Ming stands as a big obstacle in the Lakers’ way of returning to the NBA finals.
Just not as big as Lamar Odom thought.
Though Yao is listed at 7-feet-6, Odom made him even bigger when discussing the Houston Rockets’ center after practice on Saturday afternoon.
“I’ve never played against a player that was 7-7 and so skilled,” the Lakers forward said. “He can really shoot, his passing ability.
“He has a high IQ for the game. He’s so wide down low, too. He’s hard to get around.”
When informed that Yao is actually 7-6, Odom laughed.
“Shoot, it doesn’t make a difference after that,” Odom joked, “7-7, 7-6; same thing. He’s tall.”
Finding a way to run their offense efficiently with Yao in the paint and trying to contain him are top priorities for the Lakers, who will host the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been impressed with the way Yao has increased his stamina to play more minutes. In four regular-season games against the Lakers, Yao averaged 15.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks while playing 33.8 minutes per game.
The Lakers swept the season series against the Rockets for the first time since the 2001-02 season, winning by an average of 13 points. During those four contests, the Lakers averaged 102.8 points while holding the Rockets to 89.8 points.
That means little to the Lakers, who are aware that regular-season results don’t mean anything once the playoffs start. Jackson noted that several key players from each team didn’t play each time they faced each other.
“I think they understand the regular season has a lot of parameters to it,” Jackson said. “There’s a lot that goes into the regular season that doesn’t match up in the playoffs.
“This is a whole new ballgame now.”
The Lakers haven’t played since finishing off the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of their first-round series last Monday.
The time off has given the players an opportunity to rest and has been especially beneficial for Lakers forward Luke Walton, who is nursing a sprained ankle, but may be available to play this series.
Center Andrew Bynum spent the downtime preparing for Yao in hopes of bouncing back from a subpar performance against Utah. Bynum got into foul trouble and averaged 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in that series.
But Bynum, who missed 32 games during the regular season with a torn MCL in his right knee, will likely be inserted into the starting lineup on Monday.
“Andrew looks good,” guard Kobe Bryant said. “Today he got a chance to get up-and-down. (We) played some 5-on-5 so it’s about him kind of getting his rhythm more so than anything else.”
Bryant will be featured in one of the intriguing matchups of the series, facing enigmatic Rockets forward Ron Artest. The mouthy Artest and Shane Battier will share the unenviable assignment of guarding reigning league MVP Bryant.
In a recent TV interview, Artest called Portland guard Brandon Roy “the best player I’ve played against.” When asked if he thought Roy was even better than Bryant and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, Artest reiterated his initial statement.
Bryant, who averaged 28.3 points against the Rockets this season, remained relatively quiet when talking about Artest.
“It’s fun,” Bryant said. “He’s obviously a great defensive player so I look forward to it.”
Odom anticipates an exciting battle between the two.
“I don’t think Kobe has anything to prove, especially offensively,” Odom said. “Ron is great at working off intimidation.
“He’s always been like that. That’s why he’s probably the best perimeter 1-on-1 defensive player in the NBA. I think they’re playing a tit-for-tat game, but Kobe is the best.”
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