Time for Lakers to hit the road again

REPORTING FROM MIAMI

As if the Lakers didn’t already pay enough dues in January for a home friendly schedule in November and December, now comes the really fun part.

It’s commonly known as the month of March, but in Lakers circles, it’s just The March.

The rest of this month will show 11 road games surrounding three home games, the fun beginning Thursday in Miami, part of a three-game trip that also runs through the surprisingly treacherous confines of Charlotte and the Orlando arena where the Lakers won their 15th NBA championship nine months ago.

The Lakers are ready to roam … they think.

“On the road it’s a different style of play, a different game entirely,” Kobe Bryant said. “We can’t take the game we play here at home and take it on the road. We’ll have to adjust a little bit. You’ve got to keep your energy up, obviously keep the intensity, but on the road you really have to execute.”

The Lakers (46-15) haven’t done much executing on the road, going 9-8 since late December, including a peculiar four-game road losing streak, their longest such skid since March 2007.

After playing a Miami team that has been uneventful and generally unimpressive this season, the Lakers play Friday in Charlotte, their East Coast version of Portland in recent seasons.

The Lakers are 2-3 in Charlotte since the Bobcats’ franchise was created even though the Bobcats have never made the playoffs.

On Sunday, they’ll play in Orlando, where they went 2-1 in the NBA Finals last season, winning Games 4 and 5 to close out the series.

“We’re excited,” Bryant said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge of getting out there. Here we go. There’s some big challenges to be playing in hostile environments, sold-out crowds. It’ll be fun.”

The Lakers also had 11 road games in January. They played 17 of their first 21 games at home.

What about Bryant?

Since an efficient return last week against Memphis — 13-for-19 shooting — Bryant has shot 34.3% in four games, making only 24 of 70 shots.

He made amends for a five-for-14 performance Tuesday against Indiana by going to the free-throw line 15 times (and making 14).

That type of contact often comes with a cost, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

“I think it can be brutal. I think it can be injury-prone, so you’ve got to take care of yourself when you go to the basket a lot,” he said. “But I think he found a way to play [Tuesday], which was good.”

Bryant hadn’t taken 15 free-throw attempts since a Jan. 6 loss to the Clippers. “That’s kind of how you get your rhythm back, get to the free-throw line a little bit,” Bryant said.

Hey, thanks

Ron Artest has been effusive in his praise for Bryant since signing with the Lakers in July. Now Bryant is returning the verbal admiration.

He said Artest “earned his money” last Sunday by shutting down Denver forward Carmelo Anthony. Then came Artest’s effort Tuesday against Pacers forward Danny Granger, who had nine points on two-for-nine shooting.

“That’s why he’s here, to put guys in a straitjacket,” Bryant said.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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Times staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report.