Odom Shows Signs of Rounding Into Form

Lamar Odom’s line--10 points after making four of 11 field goals and two of two free throws, three rebounds and one assist--looked a little better in Game 2 than in Game 1. But he’s still not where the Clippers need him to be at this point in the season.

“It’s going to be a period of adjustment for everybody,” Coach Alvin Gentry said when asked about Odom’s return last week from an eight-game drug suspension. “It changes our rotation. It changes everything about our team. It definitely makes us better. [Odom’s return] is not anything negative. It’s just an adjustment.”

Odom had seven points and six assists in his first game back, a loss to the New Jersey Nets on Thursday. He seemed more relaxed and more into the flow in a 106-101 loss to the Jazz at Utah on Friday.

“He’s had some good moments and some bad ones,” Gentry said. “His conditioning is not where it should be. The thing for him now is to play with his emotions under control.

“We’ve told him there’s no reason to look back at what happened. In everything he does, he has to look forward.”

Odom played 27 minutes before fouling out against the Nets and he went 26 minutes against the Jazz. In each game, he played a reserve role.

Corey Maggette started in Odom’s small forward spot for the 10th game Friday and probably will do so again today, when the Clippers host the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Gentry has said he will continue to start Maggette for the time being because, in addition to everything else, Odom has been nursing a badly bruised left foot, suffered Nov. 3 against the Golden State Warriors.

TODAY

vs. Houston, 12:30 p.m.

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--Clippers 5-8, Rockets 7-6.

Record vs. Rockets--0-1.

Update--The Clippers have lost three in a row. They didn’t handle Rocket guard Steve Francis well in the teams’ first meeting Nov. 1 at Houston. Francis scored 32 points in the Rockets’ 98-92 overtime victory in the second game of the season for each team. Francis and starting forward Kenny Thomas did not play in the Rockets’ loss Friday to the Seattle SuperSonics because of injuries. Francis averages 21.3 points and Cuttino Mobley 17.3.

Tickets--(800) 462-2849.