Jackson doesn’t see Suns cooling

OK, now that Lamar Odom is back, the Lakers are ready to challenge for ... second place?

The Lakers led the Pacific Division, half a game ahead of the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 12 when Odom was hurt. The Lakers then went a surprising 12-9 without Odom, but the Suns went an even more surprising 20-2 to go seven games up.

“With the momentum they’ve created this year, it’s really hard to see that waning or ebbing,” Coach Phil Jackson said of the Suns before Friday’s game.

“They’ve done the right things. They’ve created the right situation. Both they and Dallas are a level above the rest of the league right now.”

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Jackson, informed he’s a candidate for coach of the year: “Oh, bury it, please.

“Why? Because they’d give me a trophy with Red Auerbach sitting on the bench.”

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Continuing to suggest irritation with Kwame Brown’s birthday-cake incident, Jackson was still zinging his injured center.

Asked about Brown’s status, Jackson said, “He’s still out of jail. No, take that back. I totally take that back.”

As far as Brown’s sprained ankle, Jackson said he doesn’t think he’ll be ready to play against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

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Charlotte rookie Adam Morrison, the No. 4 pick in last spring’s draft, started Friday’s game with a 13.3 scoring average and a 37% shooting percentage, but the Bobcats are happy with him.

Said Coach Bernie Bickerstaff: “He’s a rookie.”

Morrison, known for his fiery temperament, was described as a major trash talker on the pre-draft circuit. The Bobcats are trying to tone that down.

“We talked,” Bickerstaff said. “[I told him] be a rookie. Be quiet. But he is who he is, so that’s not going to last that long.

“But you know, it’s always been the old adage in the NBA, you never give anybody else any reason to whip you, other than the game. So it’s not a bad idea to be quiet. It saves some pounding on you.”

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mark.heisler@latimes.com