LOS ANGELES -- It's not that Lamar Odom improved so dramatically. All that's happened is a resetting of the scale on which we measure him. No longer do we judge the gap between expectations and accomplishments. Instead of criticizing Odom for what he is not, we simply acknowledge him for what he is, a guy who helps his team win in a variety of ways.

When he entered the league in 1999, the combination of that 6-foot-10 frame and slick ballhandling skills prompted visions of nightly triple-doubles. When that didn't materialize and his off-court problems overshadowed his on-court progress, he was considered a disappointment.

So maybe he didn't go for 20, 10 and 10 every night. Is there really anything so bad about a guy who's averaged 14.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists for his career? There's no way he could be called a bust. But the exact term for him remains difficult to define.

He's quietly become one of the best rebounders in the league, finishing in the top 10 in that category three times in the past seven years. Still, it's impossible to view him as a rebounding specialist, a left-handed Dennis Rodman.

What makes Odom so distinct is that he does a little of everything. In the first few possessions alone in the Lakers' 107-83 victory over the Warriors on Sunday night, Odom had a bucket off a low-post spin move against David Lee, set up a Pau Gasol jumper with a pass, freed Kobe Bryant for a shot with a screen (which drew an appreciative back-pat from Bryant) and knocked down a 3-pointer. He also snared a one-handed rebound, and poked a ball away from Lee.

He had a double-double by halftime and finished with his third double-double in as many games for the Lakers this season, with 16 points and 14 rebounds (with four assists as well).

So how does he define himself?

"A player who does the intangibles," Odom said. "Arguably one of the most versatile players in the league, and hopefully I can go down as one of the most versatile players to ever play the game."

Ever? Well, it's tough to think of too many in this league who have done as many things for as long as Odom. Last season he became the eighth-fastest player to reach the plateaus of 6,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists, reaching the milestone in his 717th game. The seven ahead of him: Larry Bird, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. There's a lotta history in those names.

He has shuffled from the starting lineup to the bench and back depending on the availability of Andrew Bynum and Gasol, or Phil Jackson's whims.

"Being able to adjust is my strength," Odom said. "I feel like I've always adjusted well. If you're an intelligent basketball player, you're going to be able to find your space."

Where's his spot? That's another thing that makes him hard to pin down. He came into the league as the primary ball handler for the Clippers, was the axis of the offense in Miami and after initially struggling to mesh his game with Bryant's, found himself playing perfectly off Gasol when the Spanish center arrived three seasons ago.

You won't win a championship with Odom as your best player and it might not happen if he's your No. 2. But we can say he played a vital role in the Lakers' last two championship teams and was essential to the world championship Team USA captured this summer.

His offseason work with the national team spun perfectly into Lakers training camp, as Odom was one of the sharpest and best-conditioned players in scrimmages. Now he's off to what's looking like the best season start to his career. And yet he fully expects to return to the bench, when Bynum is ready to play again.

Just another move to help the team win.

Dimes past: October 27 | 28 | 29

Elias Sports Bureau

The Mavericks posted a 99-83 win over the Clippers at Staples Center, displaying something not often associated with recent Dallas teams: balance. The 16-point margin of victory was the largest in team history in a road win in which no player scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, or recorded 10 assists.

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