DALLAS -- With Lamar Odom set to be on the Dallas Mavericks inactive list for the rest of this season, there are some capable players standing in line to take the 6-10 power forward's place.
Odom's departure means more playing time for Yi Jianlian and Brian Cardinal, and possibly for Brandan Wright. It's just another line of adjustments the Mavs have to make in their quest to repeat as NBA champions.
"We've been adjusting all year,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "I really feel that we have other guys that are ready to step up.
"We've got guys that are resourceful and have seen their share of change over the years, so we've just got to do it.''
Yi has played in 26 games and averaged 2.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game, and Cardinal has played in 39 games and averaged 1.1 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.9 minutes. Meanwhile, Wright, who is the Mavs' third-string center, also may have some power forward potential.
Wright has played in 40 games and averages 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game. Carlisle said he played Wright at power forward at stretches this season, and he may revisit it.
"This morning we looked at the film in those stretches,'' Carlisle said. "There's some adjustment, but we're not going to re-invent our style of play.
"There's got to be a few tweaks if he plays that position, and we'll go from there.''
-- Dwain Price
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