Kobe Bryant praised for how he handled benching

--As much as it was hard for him to write, The Times’ T.J. Simers praises Kobe Bryant for how he handled sitting in four of the last six minutes of the Lakers’ 102-96 loss Sunday to the Memphis Grizzlies.

--The Times’ Mike Bresnahan talks to a few players, who indicate Bryant was quiet immediately after the game.

--The Orange County Register’s Earl Bloom also praises Bryant for not casting blame on Lakers Coach Mike Brown for benching him.

--Fox Sports ranks the Lakers at No. 6 overall.

--Ball Don’t Lie’s Kelly Dwyer argues the Bryant bench situation could turn into a positive thing.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Brian Kamenetzky believes Bryant isn’t going to lose his cool over this.

--Basketball Reference’s Neil Paine does a little number-crunching analyzing what the Lakers would look like with Chris Paul in the lineup.

--ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reports Derek Fisher is earning $2.3 million to play for the Thunder.

--The Daily News’ Elliott Teaford mentions the various issues the Lakers have to sort out.

--Silver Screen and Roll’s C.A. Clark believes the Bryant benching is a turning point, but isn’t sure to where.

--Forum Blue and Gold’s Darius Soriano argues the Lakers still remain a top-heavy team.

Tweet of the Day: “The real question, of course, is why Mike Brown didn’t sit Kobe in a few early-season blowout losses that were clearly over.” -- ZachLowe_SI (Sports Illustrated’s Zach Lowe)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: “We don’t know why Brown did what he did. It will come out. Be patient. Then comment. “ -- phendrickson1