Kobe Bryant’s shin injury, Lamar Odom leaves Dallas [Web links]

--The Times’ Mike Bresnahan reports that Kobe Bryant’s tenosynovitis in his left leg doesn’t seem like a long-term injury, but the Lakers can’t afford for him to be out. That’s because the Lakers (35-22) only hold a half-game lead over the Clippers (34-22) for third place in the Western Conference standings.

--ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reports that the Dallas Mavericks and Lamar Odom mutually parted ways.

--ESPN Dallas’ Jeff Caplan mentions Odom’s heart always remained in Los Angeles.

--Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Devine hopes Odom can bounce back from a disappointing season.

--The Orange County Register’s Kevin Ding argues that Andrew Bynum has a long way to go before leading the Lakers.

--ESPN Los Angeles’ Dave McMenamin highlights Pau Gasol’s belief that the Lakers need to play with more urgency.

--The Daily News’ Elliott Teaford mentions that Bryant’s status for the Lakers’ game Monday against New Orleans remains unknown.

--Silver Screen and Roll’s wondahbap highlights Bryant as the Lakers’ player of the week.

--Forum Blue and Gold’s Emile Avanessian reviews Magic Johnson’s Broadway show.

Tweet of the Day: “Odom wasn’t waived but if he were he’d be ineligible to play in the playoffs for another team anyway since we’re past the March 23 deadline.” -- ArashMarkazi (ESPN Los Angeles’ Arash Markazi)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: “As a huge fan of LO and his game I can’t help but day dream about him coming back to the Lakers for the vet min next season. As a realist and cynic I can’t see anyway either party actually agress [sic] to that deal. As a life long optimist there’s small part of me that will hope anyhow. Hope he finds some peace and stability,” -- Jamie Sweet