ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom, sidelined since the start of training camp after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder, could miss the first two weeks of the season.
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"It could be five games, it could be one or two games. We don't know," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Tuesday night before a game against the Utah Jazz at Honda Center.
Last year, the Lakers began the season without Kobe Bryant in the lineup.
"It'll just be until Lamar's able to play and keep up with the game, and that may take a little bit of time," Jackson said. "But we've been without him since we started training camp, so we have a way to play. Last year we played without Kobe and won our first two games of the season. So we know that there's a way to patch this up if you're ready to play."
Odom was limited to 56 games last season due to a sprained right knee and a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
"I know Lamar's anxious to play, and he wanted to play in the opening game, but the consensus is to give him a little more time," Jackson said. "I mean, he's on the court and active with us in almost everything but the serious contact we get into.
"He did have a little bit of drill sequence two or three weeks ago where he got into some physical contact, and it was still evident that he wasn't ready. So we backed off at that time considerably. But he's still getting his running in and his shooting in, so I think it could be just a simple step to go back on the court and get back in the swing of it."
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