Backups show they’re worthy amid injuries

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson would look down the bench last season and call on Devean George, Luke Walton or Brian Cook to enter the game. Not too many options among a group of reserves that had four rookies.

Then came this season’s rash of injuries to the starters, followed by an incalculable dose of support from the backups.

“That’s what you have a bench for in this game,” Jackson said. “We didn’t expect some of these [starters] to be out 20, 15 games, but here we are. Our bench has sustained itself and helped us get to where we’re at.”

Andrew Bynum and Cook were reserves when Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom went down, but they have done more than fill space. Bynum has continued to grow, most recently taking a career-best 15 rebounds in a 108-103 victory Monday over Golden State.

Cook, who will be replaced as a starter by Odom tonight against Charlotte, also had his moments this month, scoring 25 points in a victory over Miami and 26 in an overtime win over Sacramento.

Maurice Evans, acquired for a second-round draft pick on draft day last June, is averaging 11.7 points this month and has played well defensively. Sasha Vujacic has looked more confident and helped beat Dallas with a 16-point effort. Ronny Turiaf has been his usual bound-toward-the-basket self, providing energy and effort. Jordan Farmar has shown speed and good court sense in his rookie season.

Even Vladimir Radmanovic, who has had an otherwise forgettable season, made a three-pointer from the corner in the final seconds of regulation to help force overtime against Sacramento.

“It was extremely important for us to be more aggressive on offense, not only to help our team but for our confidence,” Evans said. “When those guys come back, we can still maintain that same intensity and be that much better of a team.”

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Tonight brings another team with a decidedly losing record, the most dangerous opponent for the Lakers.

The Charlotte Bobcats (14-27) beat the Lakers in triple overtime last month, 133-124, adding to the Lakers’ problems against inferior teams. They have lost to Memphis, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, Milwaukee and New Orleans (twice).

“The way we’ll have to measure ourselves is how we perform against the so-called lesser teams because Dallas and Phoenix and the teams that are elite, they don’t play down to their level,” Kobe Bryant said. “They go in there, they take care of business and they get out. That’s something that we have to learn how to do.”

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Bryant was voted a starter at the All-Star game, receiving 2.14 million votes and finishing third overall behind Cleveland forward LeBron James (2.52 million votes) and Houston center Yao Ming (2.45 million). The All-Star game, which will be Bryant’s ninth, is Feb. 18 in Las Vegas.

“It’s always fun to play in an All-Star game, especially when fans vote you in,” Bryant said. “Hopefully, I can go out there and put on a good show for them.”

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Turiaf, a French citizen, did not practice Thursday because he lost his passport and had to obtain a new one, Jackson said. The Lakers play in Toronto toward the end of their upcoming eight-game trip.

TONIGHT

vs. Charlotte, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570; 1330.

Records -- Lakers 27-15; Bobcats 14-27.

Record vs. Bobcats -- 0-1.

Update -- The Bobcats beat Atlanta convincingly in consecutive games last week, but went back to their losing ways with a 105-84 loss Monday to Toronto and a 102-92 loss Wednesday to Detroit.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com