Lakers Odom suspended Dec. 30 for flagrant foul against Celtics

Lakers forward Lamar Odom was suspended  Dec. 30 after he threw himself into Celtics’ guard Ray Allen and knocked him to the floor during the fourth period of the Sunday night match up at the Staples Center in LA, according to an article published Tuesday, Jan. 2, on the Los Angeles Times’ official Web site.

“We’re disappointed,” Lakers spokesman John Black said. “We don’t think he would do anything to ever intentionally harm another player. We’re going to be missing one of our best players for Friday’s game, but the league made its decision and we will accept it, even if we disagree with it.”

The Lakers, who fell to the Celtics 110-91, did not practice Monday or Tuesday and have yet to announce who will play for Odom during this Friday’s game, when LA will face off against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to the article. Odom’s suspension, though just for one game, will also lose out on $120,441 in pay for the game, the Times reported. For now, with Odom sitting out, the Lakers game plan is simply to keep focused on defense  - something Lakers  star and team captain Kobe Bryant openly admired about the Celtics after LA’s loss to Boston on Sunday.

“For us, we kind of talked about it,” Bryant said. “To get to that next level, that next tier of teams — San Antonio, the Celtics and so forth — we have to work twice as hard. We’re not there yet, but I’m confident we will get there.”

With that type of determination, the Lakers will undoubtedly continue to do great things this season, and you shouldn’t miss out on any of the action  - get a pair of Lakers tickets right now at Stubhub.com.

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