The San Antonio Spurs allowed Andrew Bynum to get 30 rebounds Wednesday night in a clear statement about the Lakers' size.
The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Lakers 112-108 in overtime Sunday, and it's becoming clearer, with Kobe Bryant resting his sore left shin, that the Lakers' size remains daunting to Western Conference opponents.
"They're tough," Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki said after allowing 15 offensive rebounds to the Lakers. "I think they're No. 1 in the league. They've got a bunch of big guys. (Pau) Gasol is obviously long, Artest (Metta World Peace) is coming every time, and (Matt) Barnes is a great offensive rebounder. So they've got basically four guys coming in there every time."
The Lakers have gone bigger later in the season by benching rookie guard Andrew Goudelock and playing World Peace and Barnes more often. Lakers coach Mike Brown also went more with active Josh McRoberts as his big-man backup Sunday instead of shooting specialist Troy Murphy.
Brown said after the victory Sunday that Bynum's effort is a key, with the next challenge Tuesday night again against the Spurs.
"I enjoyed watching him more today than any other night because of his dominance, or presence, in that lane on both ends of the floor," Brown said. "Every rebound he got, he went and got."
NOTES, QUOTES
Kings might become neighbor after all
--The Lakers would prefer the Sacramento Kings not move into the Southern California market, but with problems arising regarding keeping the Kings in Sacramento, the possibility of them moving to Anaheim has risen anew. Councilwoman Lorri Galloway told The Orange County Register that she had spoken recently with Kings co-owner George Maloof: "I personally reminded him that Anaheim wouldn't charge any pre-development fees."
--Lakers coach Mike Brown skipped the Lakers' victory Friday night at Staples Center over the Denver Nuggets because of personal reasons. John Kuester led the team in Brown's absence. Brown said Saturday about leaving just before the game: "It was one of those instances when it was time to be with the family, and it was the right thing for me to do, which was to leave."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't see that out of him." -- Pau Gasol on Kobe Bryant becoming a coach someday.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Kobe Bryant told ABC sideline reporter Heather Cox during the broadcast of the Lakers-Mavericks game Sunday that he will "definitely" be back in action before the playoffs start in two weeks. Bryant has missed the past five games.
--C Andrew Bynum played Sunday against Dallas despite an upper respiratory infection. He looked sluggish from the start and missed his first five shots. He finished with a shoddy shooting line -- 9-of-24 from the field -- but he still managed 23 points and 16 rebounds.
--F Matt Barnes offered an honest perspective of the Lakers, saying: "When we play hard, we're a tough team to beat. We're so talented, but sometimes we're lazy. When we're lazy, we allow teams to do stuff that shouldn't normally happen."
