Lamar Odom: You can’t compare Clippers to Lakers -- not yet

Lamar Odom was heartbroken when the Lakers nearly traded him to the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul.

That deal fell apart, and through subsequent twists and turns, Odom and Paul now find themselves together with the Clippers.

While the Clippers are 6-2 (three games ahead of the Lakers), Odom, dealing with a minor knee injury, is averaging just 1.4 points in 11.6 minutes a game.

It’s historically rare for the Clippers to lead the Lakers in the standings, but this might be the best team the Clippers have fielded.

However, “we can’t compare what the Lakers have done to what the Clippers are trying to do,” Odom said. “See, ‘done’ and ‘trying to do’ are two different things.”

The Lakers are struggling through an injury to Steve Nash (leg) and a coaching change, but, as Odom noted, both teams have 74 games left to play.

“Eight games, nobody is mathematically the champion,” Odom said. “It’s a long season. We can’t listen to critics, whether we’re doing bad or we’re doing the best.”

The Lakers and Clippers aren’t scheduled to meet again until Jan. 4, a Clippers home game.

ALSO:

Lakers, Mike D’Antoni all about pace

Can Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni get anything out of Meeks or Ebanks?

Kupchak: Lakers didn’t want coaching hire based on public pressure

You can email Eric Pincus at [email protected].

twitter.com/@EricPincus.