Lakers’ Phil Jackson says he’s sticking with Andrew Bynum

Is Andrew Bynum heading to reserve status? Not likely.

The Lakers’ center has struggled since Pau Gasol returned from a hamstring injury, but Coach Phil Jackson remained resolute that the 22-year-old center would improve, nudging aside a reporter’s question about possibly inserting Lamar Odom in Bynum’s place in the starting lineup.

Bynum averaged 20.3 points and 11.8 rebounds a game when Gasol was out, but he’s been slow on defense, ineffective on offense and, putting a couple of important stats together, has not recorded a double-double since Nov. 17, a span of 19 games.

“I’m not worried,” Jackson said. “I think he will get it back. Right now, I think he’s recovering from a bout with a respiratory [infection]. That’s part of what I think is wearing on him.

“I like the way he played in the first quarter [Saturday at] Sacramento. He had good energy. He didn’t sustain it for the game, but I think there was a rebound or a return more to his vigorous activity that I appreciated.”

Bynum had another good first quarter Monday against the Phoenix Suns, collecting nine points and six rebounds. He didn’t do much after that, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds, making only four of 10 shots.

The Lakers went inside to Bynum and Gasol in the first quarter but moved away from it thereafter.

“We went over what we were supposed to do in shoot-around,” Bynum said. “It didn’t work.”

Artest stays home

Forward Ron Artest didn’t join the team in Phoenix after a neurologist in Los Angeles did not clear him to play.

“He’s still experiencing some dizziness,” Jackson said. “We’ll hope for [tonight].” The Lakers play Golden State tonight at Staples Center.

Jackson said he hadn’t spoken directly to Artest. “I usually need a translator when I speak to Ron on the phone,” he said.

With Odom starting in place of Artest, the Lakers’ reserves, already a struggling bunch, were even thinner, outscored by the Suns’ backups, 52-31.

Dissecting the Suns

Jackson didn’t mention Steve Nash or Amare Stoudemire when sharing his pregame thoughts on the small-ball Suns, instead focusing on a certain 37-year-old small forward.

“Grant Hill presents a problem for us,” he said

Seriously? Seriously. “We really don’t have anybody at that position that’s quite capable of backing up Ron and playing that spot except for Ron right now,” Jackson said.

Hill had only six points Monday, and in the end Jackson didn’t overlook the 35-year-old Nash, who leads the NBA in assists. “Let’s not put him in a rocking chair yet,” Jackson said.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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