Gasol an All-Star

Pau Gasol was selected as a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team today, the fourth time he’s been selected. Gasol joins Kobe Bryant, who was the leader in voting by the fans and will start for the 13th consecutive game. Lamar Odom did not get selected, however. Gasol’s stats were just a little bit better than Odom’s. Gasol went into tonight’s game against the Spurs averaging 18.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Odom was averaging 15.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Artest doesn’t want trade

Ron Artest denied a story posted on ESPN.com today saying he wished to be traded from the Lakers. “No, definitely not,” he said. “When you lose a lot of games, all the stories start coming out and all the turmoil starts coming out. That’s all a part of being the back-to-back champions. … I’m never frustrated. No matter what happens. … I feel the same way every day. I feel good every day. We’ve got a chance to win multiple championships here, so whether it’s a major story or a minor story, I’m not going to let it affect what we’re trying to do here. … Whatever happens, everything is all good.”

Asked what he did when he heard about the story, he said, “I just wanted to get some breakfast and go to practice. I can’t worry about it. We won (Tuesday over the Houston Rockets), but we didn’t play great, so we’ve still got a job to do here. We’ve just got to try to work towards another (championship) banner.”

Asked about his brother, Daniel, a frequent Tweeter, Artest said, “My brother, I love my bother. I spoke to him the other day. … I said watch what you Tweet. My brother is more frustrated that me because I’m not playing well. I keep trying to tell him I’ve grown. I’m not worried about that anymore. My brother wants to see me play and average a bunch of points and everything like that. So, he’s frustrated. It’s kind of funny.”

“I think he’s trying to get his media thing, so you’ll have to call him and interview him. … He’s, like, screaming for attention out there.”

Asked about his poor play this season, Artest said, “It’s not a problem. It’s about winning. We don’t have the best record in the NBA. It’s the same thing as last year. I came off a great season. I came here and my first words were, ‘I’m going to play a role.’ So, you know, it’s different. It’s an adjustment. It’s nothing that’s not worth the challenge. The playoffs, I had games when I had no points, then I stepped up in the big games. Time will tell what this season is going to be made of. We’re sticking together. We’re moving forward. That’s all that matters.”

Asked about his play in the last few games, he said, “I’ll let other people judge. I don’t like to make excuses. I got hit in the first quarter against Boston. Paul (Pierce) had 30 and all the media started saying how I can’t stop Paul Pierce. He’s a great player, I guess. … I’ve had a lot of good games against Paul. I’ve had good games. I think I’ve won the majority of the battle. I took a big hit. I never get hurt by anybody, but Shaq (O’Neal) accidentally kneed me in my thigh. I couldn’t move and I’m still feeling the effects. … Unfortunately, it happened in a big game on ABC on Sunday.”

When told Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he would be surprised if he wished to be dealt, Artest said, “We’ve got a great team. Just because you’re not comfortable doesn’t mean you’re not happy, you know? Obviously, when I was on other teams, I got a lot of touches. I’m playing with the greatest player (Kobe Bryant) in the history of the game. I’m playing with All-Stars. Hopefully, Lamar (Odom) is an All-Star. I don’t have a problem with looking bad on the court for the benefit of the team.”

Asked if he was happy in L.A., Artest said, “You’ve got to ask a better question than that. We’re having a great time here. That’s a horrible question. You’ve got ask something better than that.”

Asked if it’s been difficult to keep a positive outlook and fight some of the feelings he had when he was with Indiana, he said, “That transition has been made. It was a cakewalk. You all saw what I went through last year, with the bad games and the ups and downs in the playoffs and what happened? I rose above everybody. I started floating in the air while everybody started talking trash. I was floating and all you media guys was down here. I was floating like an angel above everybody. We rise above occasions. When an occasion rises above, and that’s what we’re going to do here.”

Odom on what All-Star selection would mean

Lamar Odom, during an interview with NBATV, had this to say when asked what being picked as an All-Star for the first time in his career would mean to him: “It would be an exclamation point on a long career. I love the game and it has done so much for me and my family. It’s shown me so many things and taken me around the world. I’ve won NBA championships and a World Championship last summer. I’ve dedicated myself to the game and to be named an All-Star, it would be pretty sweet.”

The All-Star reserves will be announced Thursday.

Lakers 114, Rockets 106 (OT)

The key to effective defense is chatter, according to Lamar Odom. He said after tonight’s overtime victory over the Houston Rockets that the Lakers aren’t talking enough on defense, calling out picks and advising each other on the whereabouts of the opposition.

“If you pass a park in my neighborhood (in New York City) and you see the guys playing 3-on-3, all you hear is chatter,” Odom said. “That’s what they call it in baseball. We don’t have any chatter right now and it’s hurting us defensively. …

“Yeah, communication, you know. Things are always better when you communicate. If you have a girlfriend, you know that. You know what I mean. We need to communicate with each other better. It just makes us stronger.”

Half: Lakers 54, Rockets 48

The Lakers needed a bounce-back game tonight against the Houston Rockets, and they were halfway to getting it. Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 16 points, replacing injured center Andrew Bynum (bone bruise, left knee). Kobe Bryant added 10 points, three rebounds and seven assists. Ron Artest and Derek Fisher scored nine points apiece. Kevin Martin had 12 points for the Rockets. The Lakers tried to end their two-game losing streak.

Bynum sidelined vs. Rockets

Andrew Bynum was ruled out of tonight’s game because of a bone bruise in his right knee. You can expect Pau Gasol to shift to center from power forward to replace Bynum and for sixth man Lamar Odom to join the starting lineup to fill Gasol’s spot. Bynum got hurt during Sunday’s loss to the Boston Celtics and did not practice Monday.