Devin Ebanks

With Kobe Bryant (foot) a game-time decision Tuesday, guard Jodie Meeks appears to be Lakers Coach Mike Brown's pick to start the season opener against the Dallas Mavericks. Meeks signed a two-year deal for $3.05 million this summer to play for the Lakers. The second season is a team option. Over the course of the preseason, Meeks has found a groove from behind the arc (45.8%) but was dismal from two-point range (4.8%). Brown had Meeks practice with the starters Monday. His teammates seem confident in the 25-year-old guard.

Lakers Coach Mike Brown said he reserves the right to adjust his rotation throughout the season. Heading into the opening week, the Lakers have a total of 15 players. The starting lineup is clear: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. Nash will be backed up by Steve Blake with sparse minutes going to Chris Duhon and Darius Morris. It will be up to Blake keep that position over his fellow point guards. Bryant also has three backups. Brown has alternated between Jodie Meeks and Devin Ebanks, but it appears Meeks will start Tuesday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Times' Mike Bresnahan sizes up the opening-day roster (statistics from 2011-12 season): Lakers' roster 2012-13 GUARDS: No. Player Yrs Ht. PPG RPG APG 5 STEVE BLAKE 10; 6-3; 5.2; 1.6; 3.3; Overcame dual threats of spike strip in beach parking lot and newly acquired Chris Duhon to retain second-string point guard status. 24 KOBE BRYANT 17; 6-6; 27.9; 5.4; 4.6; The first minute of the Lakers' opener marks the 59,659th of Bryant's career, including playoffs.

Before the regular season starts, NBA teams have to cut their rosters down to a maximum of 15 players. The Lakers currently have 16 players, 13 guaranteed, so at least one additional cut is a lock. It can be rare for a team to let go of a player on a guaranteed contract.  Recently the Cleveland Cavaliers waived guard Kelenna Azubuike and the Orlando Magic released former Lakers forward Christian Eyenga. Given that the Lakers are deep into the luxury tax, it would seem unlikely for the Lakers to trim a player whose salary is also taxed.  If the Lakers cut seldom-used forward Earl Clark, the team would still owe him his full $1.24 million plus $1.24 million in luxury taxes.  Clark is currently recovering from a groin injury.

The Lakers signed guard Jodie Meeks this summer with hopes that he'd help stretch the floor with his outside shot. The results have been mixed for Meeks, who averaged 5.9 points a game while shooting only 26.7% from the field.  He also shot a team-high 45.8% from three-point range but inside the arc he converted a dismal one of 21 attempts. "It just takes a little bit of time getting used to the system and my role coming off the bench," said Meeks.  "I'll figure it out. " Coach Mike Brown has alternated between Devin Ebanks and Meeks at shooting guard behind Kobe Bryant.

Once again Kobe Bryant sat out Lakers practice Saturday with a bruised foot. Once again he watched practice and received treatment. Will he make it opening night Tuesday at Staples Center against the Dallas Mavericks? "I don't know," said Coach Mike Brown. "It wouldn't surprise me if he did. " Bryant hurt the foot last Sunday in a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, sitting out the final two exhibitions as the Lakers went 0-8. Teammate Pau Gasol echoed Brown's sentiment.

Kings 94, Lakers 82 (final) The final quarter was of little consequence.  The game was decided in the third quarter. What stood out for the Lakers was the activity and energy of Jordan Hill. Andrew Goudelock made his last attempt to impress the team, scoring nine points in the final 2:34.  Goudelock and rookie Darius Johnson-Odom both have non-guaranteed contracts and might not make the final roster. Rookie Robert Sacre seems a lock to be with the Lakers on opening night.

According to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com , Kobe Bryant will miss the Lakers' final two exhibition games. The All-Star guard was day-to-day before Wednesday night's exhibition against the Clippers. After practice on Tuesday, Bryant said that his foot was in enough discomfort from a bruise that he would probably not play even if it were a regular-season game. The Lakers also play Thursday night in San Diego against the Sacramento Kings. Trudell notes that Bryant "will be re-evaluated over the weekend to check his status in advance of Tuesday evening's season opener against Dallas.

Deconstructing Dwight, Part 1 of dozens of chapters to come, undoubtedly. The Lakers center took the court Sunday for the first time with his new team and showed exactly why he was different from Andrew Bynum. Markedly. Dwight Howard has instincts that his predecessor has rarely shown, scoring five times off alley-oop passes and teammates' missed shots in an exhibition game against Sacramento. Unlike Bynum, Howard's not a guy who needs the ball in the post, though he showed a left-handed hook shot against the Kings.