Andrew Bynum arrives, Ron Artest still on his way

Andrew Bynum is no longer late to the party, but Ron Artest is still trying to find his way.

The big fiesta doesn't begin for another 10 days for the Lakers, though Bynum and Artest are having different experiences in exhibition play.

Bynum, never known for being first down the court, is trying to stay ahead of the ball, moving with better speed.

So far it has been so good to him, the Lakers' center averaging 22.3 points and shooting 59.5% in three exhibition games, looking more like the pre-injury Bynum than the post-injury Bynum who averaged only 6.3 points on 45.7% shooting in the playoffs.

Artest, on the other hand, is being nudged along by Coach Phil Jackson, who wants to see the team's biggest off-season acquisition take a larger role in the offense.

It was the first thing Jackson mentioned when asked what he wanted accomplished in the last five exhibition games.

"Getting Ron integrated," he said. "He still looks like he's standing around watching the other guys play at times, and he's not getting involved as much as I'd like him to be involved. I think that he's got to find his way in the post and do some things out there that exerts himself and puts pressure on his teammates to hit with the ball in the right spot."

Artest is averaging 8.3 points and shooting only 33.3% in exhibition play. He had seven points on two-for-eight shooting Thursday against the Sacramento Kings.

A scan of the box scores from last season's Western Conference semifinals shows that Artest definitely isn't shy about shooting. He was four for 19 in Game 4, four for 15 in Game 5 and six for 17 in Game 6 for the short-handed Houston Rockets against the Lakers.

"In different situations where it's time for me to be aggressive, it'll happen," Artest said. "As we become better as a team, I'll become better as a player. I'll get it right. It's preseason, too, but I understand Phil. He wants me to start getting it going now.

"I'm getting used to my teammates. I can adjust to any system."

Bynum missed 32 games last season because of a torn knee ligament but has looked fine while rapidly approaching his 22nd birthday.

"Last year after I got hurt, I was kind of behind the ball the whole time. I was struggling to get up and down the court," he said. "That's my new focus this year, trying to be in shape, trying to stay in shape and get up and down the court. It will give me the most opportunities."