Empty the Bench

In a crushing blow to the Laker’s title hopes, Kobe’s sidekick Lamar Odom has been diagnosed with a torn labrum and will miss the remainder of the season. The Lakers have been a veritable infirmary all year long, but they were hanging in there admirably in the very tough Western Conference. Center Kwame Brown had finally returned over the weekend after missing over a month, and the expected return of Luke Walton would have made the Lake Show healthy for the first time all year. Though the diagnosis won’t be official until later today, there is very little chance Odom sees the floor again this season. This is obviously devastating news for all Lakers fans and fantasy owners of Lamar Odom. The Laker’s season is essentially over.

Lamar Odom wasn’t here – and probably won’t be playing anywhere again this season, if you read into Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s pregame allusion to “season-ending injuries.”

You will not be able to replace Lamar’s production at this point in the season, especially with the trade deadline likely this week in most leagues. You can, however, do what the Lakers intend to do and lean on Mo Evans and Luke Walton. Both will be counted on heavily to replace Odom’s scoring, and both could be free agents in your fantasy league. Walton should be back from the severely sprained ankle within a week, and could resume the strong level of production he had during the season’s first month when Odom was also on the sidelines. Evans is currently day-to-day, but he should also return to action this week. Brian Cook has been playing extended minutes the last few games as well (22 points, 14 rebounds, 4 3-pointers last night), and he could be worth a look in deeper leagues. For Kobe, expect the scoring to take a jump. The Lakers will need him to produce in a big way, and he’s very capable of delivering.

On a more positive note, the best center in the NBA is set to return to action for the Houston Rockets tonight versus LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yao Ming was added to the active roster on Sunday, and will see the court for first time since breaking his tibia on December 23rd. Much has been made of the annoyance a bulky brace on that knee is causing Yao in his rehab, so expect a period of adjustment for the big guy.

Clanton attended both Yao’s workout before Saturday’s game on the Toyota Center court and his additional running on the practice court. Clanton also watched Yao work out Sunday before giving the go-ahead for him to play.

“His workouts have been tremendous,” Dawson said. “They were kind of blown away. Clanton was really impressed. So we’re going ahead as scheduled. He will be on the active list.”

He should get comfortable with it though, and in a week or so we could be seeing the same Yao that was averaging 26 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks on 52% FGs, 87% FTs and had scored 30+ points in three of four games before the injury.

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1. Fantasy Update: Yao Ming Set to Return


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3. Kobe Bryant Beats Down Yao Ming


4. NBA Photo Friday – Yao Ming to Star in the New Jean-Luc Godard Film Garçon Perdu


5. Welcome to the Conference Finals, Lamar