While Team Plays, Odom Trudges Along

Lamar Odom spent another day and night of tedium. He shot baskets with his teammates hours before the doors to the Rose Garden opened to the fans Friday. He performed all the pregame rituals his teammates did, but with one noteworthy difference.

While the rest of the Clippers dressed in their red road uniforms and played against the Portland Trail Blazers, Odom finished his workout, showered and changed into street clothes to watch his teammates play their ninth game of the season.

“I want to play bad,” Odom said. “I want to play some basketball.”

Because of a sprained right ankle and a sprained right wrist, he hasn’t played since going on the injured list Jan. 24. He has had surgery on his wrist and re-injured his ankle since last season ended.

Although Odom is eager to move up his return date, it’s expected to be Christmas before he is fit to play. Odom originally injured his wrist in a fall during a game Dec. 16 against the Detroit Pistons.

“I feel like a baby learning to walk,” he said. “If it were just my wrist, I would be ready to play. But my ankle is not there yet. It’s definitely getting stronger. I’ve started running again. I’m doing everything on the court now. I’m not babying it. I’m off the [stationary] bike and the treadmill.

“I’m diving right in.”

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Trail Blazer guard Jeff McInnis, on leaving as a free agent after being the starting point guard with the Clippers for two seasons: “I’m not the first and I’m sure I’m not going to be the last. I felt it was all good when the season ended. Then when I left they said so many bad things about me. Looking back, I don’t know what kind of relationship we had.”

McInnis signed with the Trail Blazers after it became clear the Clippers intended to pursue Andre Miller last summer.

“There are good fans here,” McInnis said. “They boo you if you’re not playing well. Just like it was in L.A.”

McInnis said playing a reserve role has been an adjustment, but he’s not about to complain to Portland Coach Maurice Cheeks.

“I’ve got to work for it,” McInnis said. “Damon Stoudamire is a good player. Hey, I’ve been in the CBA. I worked hard to get here. It’s a tough situation.”