Lamar Odom was virtually non-existent last night in the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Boston Celtics.

However, once he decided to assert himself, no one could ignore him.

Odom's star has been an uneven one, to say the least. Controversy followed him throughout his college and early NBA career. Experts have been befuddled how a player so talented could not find his way.

This year saw a change in role from starter to sixth man, a move that Odom has embraced gracefully and admirably.

Now, with center Andrew Bynum rehabbing another knee injury, Odom has been pushed back into the starting lineup.

In the first minute, Odom seemed to be setting the pace- driving to the hoop early and earning a quick trip to the foul line.

And then like Keyser Soze, he was gone. In the second and third quarters, Odom took one shot- total.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter, and he returned like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Hitting big shots in the post and getting to the foul line where the 61% shooting Odom surprisingly shot 7-11.

Including the last two that put the Lakers up by one and forced the Celtics into desperation.

Up next for the Lakers is Sunday's matchup against LeBron and the Cavaliers in Cleveland. If they shoot 58% from the line again, it may be a long night in Lakerland.

For now, Laker fans can soak in the sun that comes from going into the defending champs' house and coming away with a win without their starting center.

They can take pride in the fact that they've stopped another Celtics winning streak.

And they can be thankful that Lamar Odom found his game when it counted.
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