DENVER — It's not like the Lakers to have story lines of internal conflict -- oh wait, yes it is.
This one might be minor compared with Shaq vs. Kobe, or Magic vs. Paul Westhead, but there's something going on between Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Coach Phil Jackson, and it's entirely unspoken.
The root of it is pretty simple: Bynum wants to play more, and Jackson wants him to play more defense.
Bynum never returned after being yanked from Game 2 of the Western Conference finals with 7:14 left in the third quarter Thursday night.
It had nothing to do with foul trouble. He had only one. And he had no turnovers in the Lakers' 106-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Jackson didn't like that Bynum failed to hustle downcourt after not getting a pass in the post on a Lakers possession. Denver center Nene, left unguarded at the other end, made a layup and was fouled by Kobe Bryant for a potential three-point play (he missed the free throw).
Lamar Odom quickly checked into the game. Bynum checked out for the rest of the night, finishing with nine points on four-for-eight shooting in 18 minutes.
Jackson has been frustrated by Bynum's lack of defense and rebounding, though he declined to speak in depth about him after Friday's practice.
Jackson said Bynum didn't return in the fourth quarter because the Nuggets went with a smaller lineup and that there were no guarantees of more playing time for Bynum tonight in Game 3.
"I don't know," Jackson said. "We'll see what this next game brings."
Bynum was slightly more outspoken, in his own way.
"There's nothing to be said," he said. "I've just got to go out there and play if I'm called upon. I'm here to do what they want me to do. If that's what my job is to be, then I'll do it."
Bynum said he was more disappointed than angry and would talk to Jackson about his feelings only "if he approaches me."
Would he ever approach Jackson?
"Nah. It's not really my place," Bynum said. "It's for him to decide what's going on."
These haven't been the best playoffs for Bynum, who is averaging 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 fouls in 15.7 minutes a game. He went scoreless in three games of the Houston series, two of them with Yao Ming sidelined because of a broken foot.
Bynum made four of eight shots and one of three free-throw attempts in Game 2.
