LOS ANGELES — Lamar Odom just can't help himself when it comes to the sweet stuff. He loves candy.

He even credits his consumption of sugary treats for fueling his double-double performances in Games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference finals that helped the Los Angeles Lakers close out Denver and reach the NBA finals.

"It's funny because the games I played well were the games where I ate candy for breakfast," he said, grinning. "It's the reason why I got double digits in points and rebounds. I guess I'm going to have to eat candy for breakfast in order to play well."

That idea is appalling to Dr. Daniel Amen, a child and adult psychiatrist in Newport Beach who wrote an essay tying together Odom's candy consumption and erratic play in the postseason.

"This is bad news for the Lakers," wrote Amen, an admitted Lakers fan. "I've been telling my patients for years that sugar acts like a drug in the brain. It causes blood sugar levels to spike and then crash, leaving you feeling tired, irritable, foggy and stupid. Eating too much sugar impairs cognitive function, which may explain why Odom doesn't always make the smartest decisions on the court."

Odom's performances had been up-and-down until the final two games against the Nuggets. Of course, he was bothered by an aching back, which might have had something to do with it.

"I guess he's wrong, even though he's a doctor," Odom said.

He said he consumed "a whole plate of jellybean Starbursts" to start off those two game days last week.

"If I told anyone, the first four games I didn't eat candy, the last two I did, what would you tell me to do?" he said before supplying his own answer. "Keep eating candy."

Kobe Bryant seemingly endorsed the idea, too, saying, "Whatever works."

Odom's personal assistant procures his candy stash, shopping for Twizzler bites, Gummy Bears, Hershey's white chocolate cookies and cream (Odom's favorite), Lifesavers, and something the star forward refers to as "peachy sugarcoated rings," among other goodies.

Needless to say, the treats are a huge hit with the 29-year-old player's two young children, who probably think every day is Halloween at their house.

"If your dad always has candy, how cool is he?" Odom said. "Coolest dude in the world. My kids think I'm cool."

The downside to this sweet story?

"People making it like I sit there and eat a whole plate of candy before I play a basketball game," Odom said. "I don't think anyone could do that."