Lamar Odom To Start For Suspended Ron Artest

There was speculation earlier today that Shannon Brown would start for the shorthanded Lakers in their pivotal Game 3 tonight, but word has surfaced that Lamar Odom, who was crowned NBA Sixth Man of the Year, will fill the hole. While Head Coach Phil Jackson is mum on the issue, Odom has said he will start. From the LA Times: “Lamar Odom, who practiced with the Lakers starting unit Thursday and at shoot-around Friday, said: ‘As far as I know I am [starting].’ Artest was suspended for one game by the NBA for his flagrant foul on Mavericks guard Jose Barea in Game 2 Wednesday.”