Odom Injury Forces Shorter Rotation

Lamar Odom won’t play tonight against the Lakers, which doesn’t help the Clippers’ chances for a victory, but does give Coach Alvin Gentry the shorter bench he has been seeking.

Gentry used only eight players in Monday’s victory over the Denver Nuggets, down from the customary 10 he has employed for most of the season.

Once Odom’s sprained right wrist is healed, it’s possible that one (or more) of those eight also will be on the bench.

The players seem to sense that playing time will be tougher to come by, which Gentry hopes will produce increased competition for minutes. Gentry was pleased to see shooting guard Eric Piatkowski record a career-best nine assists in an off-shooting game Monday.

“He didn’t shoot well,” Gentry said of Piatkowski’s missing eight of 11 shots in 40 minutes. “The floor still opened up with him out there.”

Piatkowski could well be one of the players whose playing time diminishes, although nothing has been determined.

“Everybody is so talented and wants to play a lot and probably deserves to play a lot,” Piatkowski said. “There’s a logjam at my spot with Corey [Maggette], Q [Quentin Richardson] and myself. When things are going well and you’re playing a lot, it’s great. When it’s not, you’re depressed.”

*

Maggette, who did not score in 17 minutes Monday against Denver, will try to guard Kobe Bryant of the Lakers tonight.

Maggette drew the defensive assignment in the Lakers’ victory Nov. 20 against the Clippers.

*

Gentry climbed onto his soap box Tuesday, delivering more praise for Elton Brand, who had perhaps his finest game as a Clipper on Monday. Brand, acquired on draft day from the Chicago Bulls, had a season-best 31 points and took 14 rebounds.

“His game is blue collar, but he’s got tons of talent,” Gentry said of Brand, averaging 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds. “You can’t play on guts alone. To go out and average [about] 20 points and 10 rebounds in the West tells me that he’s not only a hard worker, but he’s also talented.

“Obviously, I think he can be a franchise player. Not many guys average 20 points and 10 rebounds. There’s Shaq [O’Neal] and Tim Duncan and not too many others who fit into that category.”

TONIGHT

Lakers at Clippers, 7:30, Channel 9, TNT

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570), KXTA (1150), KTNQ (1020).

Records--Lakers 28-10, Clippers 21-21.

Season series--Lakers, 2-0.

Update--The Lakers lead the all-time series, 114-37, and hammered the Clippers, 110-80, in their last meeting Dec. 14. They also won, 98-93, Nov. 20. The fourth game of the City Series is March 15. The Clippers are 31-10 in home games at Staples Center since Feb. 1, the seventh-best record in the NBA.

Tickets--Sold out.

Elliott Teaford