Yao Ming stands as a big obstacle in the Lakers’ way of returning to the NBA Finals.
Just not as big as Lamar Odom thought.
Though Yao is listed at 7-feet-6, Odom made him even bigger when discussing the Rockets center after practice Saturday.
“I’ve never played against a player that was 7-7 and so skilled,” the Lakers forward said. “He can really shoot. He has a high IQ for the game.”
When informed that Yao is actually 7-6, Odom laughed.
“Shoot, it doesn’t make a difference after that,” Odom joked, “7-7, 7-6, same thing. He’s tall.”
Finding a way to run their offense efficiently with Yao in the paint and trying to contain him are top priorities for the Lakers, who will host the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Monday night.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been impressed with the way Yao has increased his stamina to play more minutes. In four regular-season games against the Lakers, Yao averaged 15.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks while playing 33.8 minutes per game.
The Lakers swept the season series against the Rockets for the first time since the 2001-02 season, winning by an average of 13 points. During those four games, the Lakers averaged 102.8 points while holding the Rockets to 89.8.
That means little to the Lakers, who are aware that regular-season results don’t mean anything once the playoffs start.
Jackson noted that several key players from each team didn’t play each time they faced each other.
“I think they understand the regular season has a lot of parameters to it,” Jackson said. “There’s a lot that goes into the regular season that doesn’t match up in the playoffs. This is a whole new ballgame now.”
The Lakers haven’t played since finishing off the Jazz in Game 5 of their first-round series last Monday.
The time off has given the players an opportunity to rest and has been especially beneficial for Lakers forward Luke Walton, who is nursing a sprained ankle but may be available to play this series.
Center Andrew Bynum spent the downtime preparing for Yao in hopes of bouncing back from a subpar performance against Utah. Bynum got into foul trouble and averaged 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in that series.
But Bynum, who missed 32 games during the regular season with a torn MCL in his right knee, will likely be inserted into the starting lineup Monday.
“Andrew looks good,” guard Kobe Bryant said. “It’s about him kind of getting his rhythm more so than anything else.”
