L.A. Lakers Video: Watch Bryant and Odom Work the Alley-Oop in Game 2 Win

The L.A. Lakers are the two-time defending NBA champions, and last night, they finally played like it.

After an embarrassing Game 1 loss at the Staples Center, the Lakers rebounded by putting together a strong, well-rounded performance last night, defeating the New Orleans Hornets, 87-78.

Unlike Game 1, multiple players stepped up, especially on the defensive end, where they threw different looks at Chris Paul to try and slow him down.

Sure, you'll never totally stop Paul, but limiting him to 20 points and nine assists isn't terrible when you consider the numbers he put up on them in Game 1. However, the one guy who didn't step up was Pau Gasol, who yet again underperformed, posting eight points and five rebounds.

Luckily enough, the Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom, brought his A-game, putting up 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting along with seven rebounds. Two of those points came on this pretty alley-oop he and Kobe Bryant ran early on in the game.

Odom is the X-factor for the Lakers, and he showed why last night. There is no player that can truly guard his skill set, and he's such a dynamic player that he gives the Lakers an edge in every game they play. If he keeps playing like he did last night, there's no reason this team shouldn't be playing in the NBA Finals.

Now it's just time to wonder when Gasol is going to come around and start to assert himself on the low post.

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