Underneath Kobe Bryant's snarling on-court persona lies an appreciation for opponents who display the same feistiness. 

Months after the two exchanged elbows, pushes and expletives in the 2009 Western Conference semifinals, Bryant welcomed Ron Artest to the Lakers. Months after former Orlando Magic forward Matt Barnes pretended to inbound a pass toward his face, Bryant's frequent text messages persuadedhim to sign with the Lakers in the 2010 off-season. Four years after former Phoenix forward Raja Bell clotheslined him, Bryant offered to pick him up in his helicopter two summers ago and recruit him to the purple and gold.

OK, so not every player who seems fixated with practically hitting Bryant on the court with a 2-by-4 ends up with the Lakers. Bell ultimately signed with the Utah Jazz. But these very qualities provide the same reasons why J.R. Smith would make a perfect fit for the Lakers. The main reason: It passes Bryant's approval and makes his job easier. 

Who knows whether this will actually happen. The Times' Mike Bresnahan reported Coach Mike Brown talked with Smith about possibly joining the Lakers, but highlighted Smith's Twitter page that listed New York, Chicago, Indiana, Orlando and the Clippers as possible candidates. Bresnahan also noted the Lakers can  offer only  him a portion of the veteran's minimum,  less than $1 million, since they're over the salary cap and spent their entire mini-midlevel exception on Josh McRoberts. 

Though adding Smith to the roster would hardly be as important assecuring Deron Williams or Dwight Howard, it  doesn't reek of desperation either. The Lakers lack someone to back up Bryant at shooting guard on a consistent basis. Steve Blake is more suited to point guard. Andrew Goudelock has shown some spurts. And for unknown reasons, Devin Ebanks played at that position very little despite the front office's  instructing him to prepare for that role.  

Giving Smith that role would realistically relieve Bryant of some of his 38.3 minutes-per-game average, third highest in the NBA. Smith's hard-nosed defense would give the Lakers more backcourt help in defending those pesky quick guards. He'd give Brown another option at small forward, a position facing little success with Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes. And more important, Smith would relieve Bryant of  defensive and ballhandling duties that only add to his fatigue. 

Granted, Smith presents some of the same negative qualities of Barnes and World Peace, such as trigger-happy tendencies and overly aggressive fouls. But in the short term, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The Lakers just better hope the Clippers don't latch onto Smith first.

RELATED:

Free agent profile: J.R. Smith

J.R. Smith talks with Lakers; free agent could fill multiple roles

-- Mark Medina

Photo: J.R. Smith. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

In fewer than two months, Lakers forward Devin Ebanks went from a starter to a D-League player.

The Lakers formally assigned Ebanks Wednesday to the D-Fenders, their Development League affiliate, after averaging only 2.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 12.6 minutes through 12 games this season. 

Lakers Coach Mike Brown initially envisioned Ebanks in a much different role. After granting him the starting small forward spot over veterans Matt Barnes and Metta World Peace for the first four games, Brown demoted him to the third small forward because of inconsistency involving his shooting, defense and confidence. Still, Brown and Ebanks' teammates alike have raved about his work ethic, athleticism and potential.

That hardly translated, however, into Ebanks' ensuing eight appearances. He logged double-digit minutes in only two of those contests, posting a combined six points on one-of-six shooting. The rest of his appearances only came in garbage time. 

Ebanks played with the D-League's Bakersfield Jam last season, averaging 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.50 steals in 27.7 minutes through six games. Ebanks' latest assignment marks his first one this season. Under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, teams can send a player to the D-League up to three times a season.

RELATED:

Matt Barnes and Devin Ebanks support each other

Kobe Bryant remains high on Devin Ebanks

Devin Ebanks values Kobe Bryant's mentorship

--Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Blazers guard Jamal Crawford attempts a layup against the defense of Lakers forward Devin Ebanks in the fourth quarter Thursday night in Portland. Credit: Steve Dykes / EPA / January 5, 2012

Game stories

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan highlights the Lakers' struggling offense in their 86-78 victory Tuesday over Atlanta.

--The Atlanta Journal Constitution's Michael Cunningham details the Hawks' shooting struggles.

--The Daily News' Elliott Teaford focuses on the Lakers' improved second half.

Notebooks

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan focuses on Mike Brown's conversation with Metta World Peace about his frustration that Brown is a "stats guy."

--The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding highlights Kobe Bryant's high volume of minutes.

--The Daily News' Elliott Teaford details Brown's conversation with World Peace.

Sidebars

--I explain why Bryant plans to make adjustments on what will give him better looks at the basket.

--ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin also details Brown's meeting with World Peace.

--Sports Illustrated's Britt Robson ranks the Lakers at No. 8 overall.

Columns

--The Times' Bill Plaschke remains bored with the Lakers.

--The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding remains encouraged with the Lakers' progress.

--Fox Sports West's Joe McDonnell argues Pau Gasol continues to shed the soft label.

Blogs

--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers' win over Atlanta.

--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell  provides a running diary of the Lakers-Hawks game.

--Forum Blue and Gold's R.R. Magellan breaks down the good, bad and ugly in the Lakers' win over Atlanta.

Tweet of the Day: "Jeremy Lin can score on anyone without a ProbLIN." -- MettaWorldPeace (Lakers forward Metta World Peace)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: "The team had better do something. Empty seats in the Staples Center show that fans are becoming unhappy. Every week we get a new carrot to hope about, every week we are disappointed. You would think that the front office would sign someone just to keep the fans happy and to fill seats. How the mighty have fallen." -- Jay Taylor

-- Mark Medina

Photo: Lakers center Andrew Bynum, left, hauls in a pass in front of Atlanta forward Marvin Williams during the first half of Tuesday's game. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Associated Press / February 14, 2012

Storming out of the players' lounge, Lakers forward Metta World Peace yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Linsanity!!!"

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin had just hit a game-winning three-pointer at the top of the key with half a second to play, lifting his team to a 90-87 victory over Toronto at Air Canada Centre. Apparently, Lin's sixth consecutive game in which he scored at least 20 points also lifted the spirits of another high-market NBA team 3,000 miles away.

"Every Laker watching that game was rooting for Jeremy," World Peace said after the Lakers' 86-78 victory Tuesday over the Atlanta Hawks. "Everybody is really happy for him. I was about to say I'm ... happy, but I didn't say it. I'm Metta World Peace and I don't talk like that."

But he did talk in giddy tones. World vowed he'd buy Lin's jersey and try to become his agent, a believable claim considering the enigmatic Laker often tweets about the new Knicks' star. Lakers center Andrew Bynum argued that the NBA should allow Lin to play in Orlando next week during NBA All-Star weekend. And a week after he proclaimed not to know who Lin was, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant admitted relishing seeing Lin score the game-winner in an isolation set against Toronto, only three days after he had scored a career-high 38 points against the Lakers.

"He's playing extremely well," Bryant said of Lin. "I don't see it as a fluke. Watching him play against us and watching him tonight a little bit, he knows what he's doing. I don't think it's an accident by any means."

The Lakers' frustration over their inability to guard Lin last week subsided at least for one night. That, is until, a reporter informed Bryant that the Lakers had tried pursuing Lin, leading the Lakers' star to lament, "They don't tell me anything here. You guys know more [stuff] than I do."

RELATED:

J.R. Smith talks with Lakers; free agent could fill multiple roles

Lakers absorb Kobe Bryant's shooting struggles

Lakers break down 86-78 victory over Atlanta Hawks

— Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Smith could help them at small forward and also provide backup support for Kobe Bryant at shooting guard.

Smith, 26, has played in China since the NBA season began. He signed with a Chinese pro team during the NBA lockout and was obligated to honor the contract until this month.

There are some problems for the Lakers as far as Smith. They can offer him only a comparatively small salary of less than $1 million, a prorated portion of the veterans' minimum, because they are over the salary cap and spent their entire mini-midlevel exception on Josh McRoberts. Smith made $6.8 million last season with Denver.

There are several other teams pursuing Smith. He listed them on his Twitter page: New York, Chicago, Indiana, Orlando and the Clippers.

Just the same, Smith seemed somewhat eager about the Lakers, writing on Twitter that he "Just had a great talk with Coach Brown!"

Smith averaged 12.3 points and 23.9 minutes last season for Denver. He shot a solid 39% from three-point range.

Brown has tried three players at small forward this season: Metta World Peace, Matt Barnes and Devin Ebanks. The Lakers also don't have a true backup for Bryant, using point guards Steve Blake or Andrew Goudelock to spell him at times.

RELATED:

These Lakers really aren't his type

Acquiring Gilbert Arenas is better than no move at all

Lakers take unfamiliar path to victory as Kobe Bryant struggles

-- Mike Bresnahan

Photo: J.R. Smith, then with the Denver Nuggets, battles for a loose ball with Lakers Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant in 2010. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Bynum's 15 points on seven-of-10 shooting and 15 rebounds against Atlanta aside, Bryant's poor shooting means he'll need to further evaluate his shot selection because the Lakers' success will depend on it.

"Teams are locking in on me a lot more," said Bryant, who has shot 37.1% in the last seven games despite claims that the torn ligament in his right wrist has healed. "We'll look at that. We'll free me up a little bit more. Get some more screens. Get me some more easy looks so I don't have to look at traps all night."

Those traps entailed Atlanta throwing double and even triple teams at Bryant by the likes of Joe Johnson, Jeff Teague, Tracy McGrady and Kirk Hinrich. That forced Bryant to finish one of 10 from the field in the first half, mostly on 20-foot jumpers.

Bryant improved in the second half with a four-of-eight clip that involved two drives to the basket and two 20-foot jumpers, but he said the only difference was that after halftime "I just made them."

With Bryant's league-leading average of 28.7 points and 24.1 field-goal attempts per game, the Lakers star's play has largely determined, for better or for worse, the teams success. This time, it didn't.

"He's going to find a way," World Peace said. "He's figuring out what everybody is doing out there on the court, when guys will be out there, and who he has, and what guys can do. He just figures it out and gets it done."

A similar transformation took place after Bryant went six-of-28 from the field in the Lakers' New Year's Day loss to Denver. Bryant found his shots more off the ball en route to elbow and baseline jumpers instead of isolation sets, an effort he believes he can replicate.

Of his shooting trouble, Bryant said, "This doesn't faze me one bit."

--Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, right, is guarded by Atlanta's Joe Johnson during the first half of Tuesday's game. Credit: Michael Nelson / EPA / February 14, 2012

Lakers forward Pau Gasol

Lakers forward Metta World Peace

Lakers guard Andrew Goudelock

--Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

On one play, Bynum performed an up-and-under en route the basket. On another, he spun baseline using sharp footwork. He remained patient passing out of double teams and established post positioning immediately after kicking the ball out to the perimeter.

As for Gasol, he started off fairly aggressively against Atlanta forward Josh Smith. But several of his missed shots came off easy looks at the basket. Fortunately for the Lakers, he still found ways to contribute by converting on putbacks, facilitating and even hitting a three-pointer en route to a team-leading 20 points on nine-of-22 shooting, after shooting four of 14 in the first half. 

2. Kobe Bryant overcame poor shooting start. Bryant's 10 points on five-of-18 shooting marks a seven-game stretch in which he has shot below 50%. It's easy to say this points to his torn ligament in his right wrist. Perhaps it does, but it's likely no more painful than when it was when he shot at a prolific rate. The most visible reason for his one-for-10 first-half clip against Atlanta pointed to his shot selection. Many of them came off runners or deep three-pointers, some of which happened deep in the shot clock. In the second half, Bryant's four-of-eight mark from the field came off more fluid ball movement and more drives to the basket.  

3. The game initially looked ugly.  Hardly any of the 18,997 fans at Staples Center paid much attention until the Kiss Cam flashed on the scoreboard. Hardly any of the Lakers arrived with energy fresh off a six-game trip. Hardly any of the undersized Hawks provided much, with flimsy interior defense and horrific outside shooting. A stronger second-half effort and some highlight worthy plays described below masked that a little bit. 

4. Andrew Goudelock emerges again. Goudelock joked that his rookie duties remained minimal during the Lakers' six-game trip because he didn't make too many mistakes. If anything the Lakers should start running errands for him. His 10 points on four-of-six shooting proved timely considering the Lakers' poor outside shooting. It also relieved some of the problems plaguing the backcourt. It's definitely no coincidence that Goudelock scored most of his points at shooting guard while Steve Blake ran the point. That allowed him to move off the ball with more rhythm. 

5. Matt Barnes and Metta World Peace look solid at small forward. Most nights, Brown shuffles this unit in and out because of inconsistency. Interestingly, after talking to World Peace during morning shootaround about his recent proclamations that Brown remains overly consumed with his poor statistics, World Peace played with more spring in his step. He punctuated that with a three-pointer to close the first half, a monstrous dunk off a Gasol pass and of course his one-handed slam through the lane en route to 10 points on four-of-seven shooting. Meanwhile, Barnes' seven points featured him getting open on backdoor cuts. 

RELATED:

Lakers inconsistent in closing out games

Lakers may have to attack point-guard deficiencies collectively

Five things to watch in Lakers-Hawks matchup

-- Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Kobe Bryant had 10 points and made only five of 18 shots as the Lakers improved to 12-2 at home. Pau Gasol also shot poorly, scoring 20 points on nine-for-22 shooting.

Andrew Bynum was their most consistent shooter, making seven of 10 shots and finishing with 15 points. He also had 15 rebounds.

RELATED:

Lakers inconsistent in closing out games

Five things to watch in Lakers-Hawks matchup

Lakers may have to attack point-guard deficiencies collectively

-- Mike Bresnahan

Photo: Lakers forward Pau Gasol, left, dunks during the first half of Tuesday's victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

California Sports was the Lakers' parent company from 1979 to 1999. 

"The Lakers would like to send their condolences to his wife, Marilyn, and their four children, Annie, Danny, Anthony and Monica," the team said in a statement.

-- Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com