TNT's Charles Barkley says that no other team in the NBA has a third-best player better than the Lakers' versatile Lamar Odom. . . .
Fans of the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs probably would disagree, Odom's stellar productivity in Pau Gasol's absence notwithstanding. . . .
Ray Allen, the Celtics' third-leading scorer, is an eight-time All-Star. . . .
Manu Ginobili, not even a starter, is the Spurs' leading scorer. . . .
With Elton Brand and Chris Kaman possibly returning for the season's final days next month and the Clippers' last six games against playoff contenders, Coach Mike Dunleavy's lottery-bound team might actually have a say in determining who finishes where in the Western Conference standings. . . .
The clock is ticking on O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Taj Gibson, Darren Collison and all other non-senior college basketball players, who have until April 27 to make themselves available for the NBA draft. . . .
Next season, by the way, don't be surprised to hear Ralph Lawler alter one of his signature calls to exclaim, "Oh me, oh Mayo." . . .
NBA forward turned jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale is set to release his eighth album, "Rebound," in June. . . .
Previous album titles have included "Power Forward" and "Hang Time," but "Rebound" refers as much to his recovery from bone cancer as basketball. . . .
Taking a page out of Shaquille O'Neal's book, Memphis Coach John Calipari says of the Tigers' misadventures at the free-throw line, "We'll make the free throws we're supposed to make," as if some are not supposed to be made. . . .
Speaking of O'Neal, it's worth noting that, while "the Diesel" pulled down as many as 20 rebounds 18 times in eight seasons with the Lakers, Wilt Chamberlain averaged nearly 23 rebounds in his 14-season NBA career. . . .
Tyler Hansbrough-led North Carolina, the first team since Loyola Marymount in 1990 to score more than 100 points in each of its first two NCAA tournament games, averaged 110.5 points in victories over Mount St. Mary's and Arkansas. . . .
Bo Kimble and Loyola Marymount averaged 130 points against New Mexico State and Michigan. . . .
North Carolina Coach Roy Williams, once rumored to be a candidate to replace Steve Lavin at UCLA, is no stranger to the Southland. . . .
