Phil Jackson defends Andrew Bynum (Web links)

--The Times’ Mike Bresnahan explains why former Lakers Coach Phil Jackson isn’t worried about Andrew Bynum’s recent behavior.

Game stories

--The Times’ Bresnahan highlights Metta World Peace’s errant inbounds pass that almost cost the Lakers’ 93-91 victory Monday over the New Orleans Hornets.

--The Orange County Register’s Kevin Ding explains how the Lakers chipped in while Kobe Bryant remained sidelined.

--The Times-Picayune’s John Reid explains how the Hornets coughed up a fourth-quarter lead.

--The Daily News’ Elliott Teaford mentions how the Lakers struggled to win without Bryant.

Notebooks

--The Daily News’ Teaford mentions how Lakers Coach Mike Brown has no problem sitting Bryant so he can recover from his shin injury.

Sidebars

--The Orange County Register’s Janis Carr has a photo slideshow documenting Lamar Odom’s downfall.

Columns

--The Times’ T.J. Simers believes Bynum’s starting to behave like Kobe Bryant, and he argues that’s not a good thing.

Blogs

--Ball Don’t Lie’s Dan Devine highlights Metta World Peace’s horrible inbounds pass.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers’ win over New Orleans.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Dave McMenamin highlights five ways the Lakers are different without Bryant.

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

--Silver Screen and Roll’s Actuarially Sound explains how the Lakers overcame a fourth-quarter deficit.

--Forum Blue and Gold’s R.R. Magellan provides the good, bad and ugly in the Lakers’ win over the Hornets.

Tweet of the Day: “The pass was not dumb.. Only one guy would make that pass.. Metta., did it work ?? Yes... Metta Man is a super hero...agree??” -- MettaWorldPeace (Lakers forward Metta World Peace)

Rick Friedman, Reader Comment of the Day: “We’re bagging on Menta [sic] because he didn’t even wait until Barnes got clear. That pass was closer to Smith than to Barnes and it was near the top of the key of New Orleans’ basket. If Barnes hadn’t turned on the jets and gotten to the ball first Smith would have had a decent shot attempt. The single dumbest play I’ve ever seen in basketball. “ -- CornerJ