Statistics Not Too Far Off

The Lakers’ retooled inside game will continually be held up to standards of past success, a comparison that yields mildly intriguing statistical results, albeit 12 games into the season.

Last season, Shaquille O’Neal and Karl Malone combined to average 34.7 points and 20.2 rebounds during the regular season. Throw in Devean George, who started a majority of the games at small forward, and the starting frontcourt averaged 42.1 points and 24.2 rebounds.

So far this season, Chris Mihm, Caron Butler and Lamar Odom are averaging 41 points and 21.1 rebounds.

Their performance, along with the return of Vlade Divac from a back injury, was enough to send Brian Grant to the injured list Tuesday. Grant is out indefinitely because of tendinitis in both knees.

“This is the first time in four years that I’ve been on a team that’s had so much talent from one to 15 and having the areas that I play well-covered as far as Vlade, Chris, Slava [Medvedenko], Brian [Cook],” said Grant, who spent four seasons with the Miami Heat before being traded in the O’Neal deal. “I was looked upon to have to be out there and guard big guys [in Miami]. Now I’m in a situation where you’ve got five guys almost that play the same position.”

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Odom continues to rebound effectively, averaging 10.3 a game, and, at the same time, keeps deferring to his teammates, at least in name.

Odom, who has made it a habit to refer to the Lakers’ top player as “Mr. Bryant,” came up with a new one after Tuesday’s game.

“We have a lot of versatility when it comes to scoring, whether it is Chris Mihm in the inside, Mr. Cook coming off the bench giving us his jump shot, Caron, of course Kobe, and myself,” he said.

Cook is averaging 6.2 points in 15.8 minutes.