Kobe Bryant defends Bynum’s effort in loss to Denver [Web links]

Game stories

--The Times’ Mike Bresnahan highlights the Lakers’ various struggles in their 99-84 Game 3 loss Friday to the Denver Nuggets.

--The Orange County Register’s Kevin Ding criticizes the Lakers for not putting up much of a fight.

--The Denver Post’s Benjamin Hochman credits Ty Lawson and JaVale McGee for their efforts in the Nuggets’ Game 3 win over the Lakers.

--The Daily News’ Elliott Teaford explains how the Lakers tried to overcome a 24-point deficit.

Notebooks

--The Times’ Bresnahan notes that Metta World Peace has three games left on his suspension.

--The Orange County Register’s Ding explains how World Peace has still stayed involved with the team.

--The Daily News’ Teaford talks to Pau Gasol about how his focus sharpened because of his uncertainty about getting traded.

Sidebars

--The Times’ Ben Bolch explains how Gasol became more of a shooter in the Lakers’ Game 3 loss to the Nuggets.

--The Denver Post’s Adrian Dater credits Bynum for scoring 18 points after a scoreless first half.

--The Denver Post’s Chris Dempsey highlights Arron Afflalo’s improved shooting.

Columns

--The Times’ Bill Plaschke faults the Lakers for lacking much effort in their Game 3 loss to Denver. He also highlights Kobe Bryant’s comments where he mostly faulted the Lakers’ three-point shooting instead of Bynum’s poor play.

--The Denver Post’s J.A. Adande credits McGee and the Nuggets for their high energy.

--Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick praises Mike Brown’s coaching job with the Lakers.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Dave McMenamion argues the Lakers can’t afford for Bynum to have off nights.

--Fox Sports’ Billy Witz remains concerned with Bynum’s behavior.

Blogs

--Ball Don’t Lie’s Kelly Dwyer analyzes Lawson’s impact.

--Ball Don’t Lie’s Eric Freeman muses at how intense McGee’s mom was on the sideline during the Nuggets’ win.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers’ loss to Denver.

--Lakers.com’s Mike Trudell provides a running diary of the Lakers-Nuggets game.

--Silver Screen and Roll’s C.A. Clark blames the Lakers’ loss on laziness.

Tweet of the Day: “Plaschke “affectionately” called Kobe a word similar to 1 NY Daily News used to describe Amare this week. Kobe just laughed.” -- jadande (ESPN.com’s J.A. Adande)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: “Just watched the Lakers lose to Denver. It was a pathetic and lackluster effort from start to finish. It looked like a regular season game in which the Lakers appeared bored and dispirited. Neither Andrew Bynum nor Paul Gasol seemed ready play. I don’t know if Mike brown really had the entire team ready to play. The rookies on Denver’s front line had their way. Lawson just rammed the ball down the throats of the Lakers play after play. I guess better to lose to Denver now because OKC will embarrass them in round two just like their doing to Dallas.” -- tjeastrich