why aren't players more aware of the shot clock?

yesterday nite was a fantastic/horrible game between kings and lakers, depends on which side you are on. after a ridiculous shot by kobe (what's new?) and his assist to a lamar odom 3, kings looked dead in the water, down by 5 with 30 seconds to go.

odom then inexplicably drove the lane and promptly got charged with an offensive foul, with 12 seconds left on the shot clock. huh? why didn't he just hold on to the ball so that the kings wouldn't even have enuff time to make shots to catch up? right then and there i knew kings would pull thru, with bibby and brad miller popping in two 3s to tie the game. with 4 seconds left, odom shot a 3 and kobe didn't even get to touch the ball. no wonder he's pissed.

this reminds me of the colts/steelers game when the steelers coulda just knee three times and have the game over. instead jerome battis had that amazing fumble that coulda lost the game for them. i don't understand how these professional athletes can be so lacking the attention for the shot clock.