Lamar Odom credits cockiness for Lakers’ success

Reporting from Toronto — 

It was as raw and as honest of a statement that one can get from an athlete.

And to his credit, Lamar Odom was more than willing to describe the attitude of the Lakers.

“We’re cocky. We’re cocky. We’re cocky,” Odom said. “So what? You know what I mean?”

Is it because the Lakers are the NBA champions?

Is it because the Lakers were the favorites to win the title when this season began?

Is it because the pundits have said the Lakers have the best talent, the deepest team and perhaps the best player in the NBA in Kobe Bryant?

Yes, Odom responded, it’s all that.

Even so, Odom knows the Lakers must constantly fight that cocky attitude.

“I think it’s just about pushing each other, holding each other accountable,” Odom said.

Odom was asked whether the cocky attitude has been an issue with the Lakers (33-10) when they lose.

“When you go out, you just want to play a certain way,” Odom said. “Sometimes, we think we can turn it up, play when we want. It happens. That’s the honest truth. That’s our team.

“You can’t leave anybody open. Adam Morrison, leave him open, he’s going to hit it. DJ Mbenga, you can’t leave him open. We’ve got a lot of talent.”

Losing does seem to have a positive effect on the Lakers.

Since they acquired Pau Gasol in February 2008, the Lakers have not lost more than two consecutive games.

“It’s like a wake-up call,” Odom said. “It’s like the champions need to be knocked out, or hit. In boxing you get knocked down or knocked out. In basketball, you get hit.”

The Lakers didn’t start a current eight-game, 13-day trip the way they wanted.

They lost the first game, to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Known for their execution in the clutch, the Lakers failed this time and wound up losing, which allowed the Cavaliers to sweep the two-game season series.

The Lakers came back to beat the New York Knicks on Friday. The Lakers play at Toronto today.

“It’s no big deal about a loss,” Odom said. “Last year, I think we had this trip and we won all the games, 6-0.

“We’ve got that target on our backs. Teams are going to play well and beat us. We had that horrible game in Cleveland. Now we’re 1-1. Now we put this [Knicks] game behind us and get ready for Toronto.”

How do the Lakers deal with that target?

“We’ve just got to be willing to play with effort and energy every night, know what I’m saying?” Odom said.

Artest answers

Ron Artest’s game has been noticeably off since he returned from a concussion that sidelined him for five games.

He has averaged 9.8 points and shot 41.8% in 10 games this month, dragging his season scoring average down to 11.6 points per game.

He hasn’t been sharp defensively, either, in case LeBron James’ 37 points didn’t prove the point Thursday in the Cavaliers’ 93-87 victory over the Lakers.

Artest wasn’t available for comment Saturday, but he answered via Twitter to criticism from fans.

“Did u forget how to play D?” one fan wrote. Another fan lamented that Trevor Ariza was no longer with the Lakers.

Artest replied that, “If it makes you feel better think how it would be with Ariza back in LA and if I went to Cleveland That’s all I could tell u.”

The Lakers and Cavaliers were interested in Artest in July, the free agent eventually signing a five-year deal with the Lakers.

He also gave medical reasons for his recent shaky play.

“I’ve been playing with plantar [fasciitis] on both feet,” he wrote. “And after the concussion . . . it’s been only two weeks. It will come back around.”

Artest probably meant it as a promise that his game would come back around. Plantar fasciitis, however, can often linger. It is defined as painful swelling on the underside of the foot.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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Mike Bresnahan contributed to this report.