Jackson says Bryant is brutally honest

OAKLAND — The Lakers hit the road next week, stopping in Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia and New York, a steady diet of big-market cities with big-name reporters with big-picture questions about the Lakers and Kobe Bryant.

Or more likely, Bryant . . . and then the Lakers.

Coach Phil Jackson presented the latest glimpse into Bryant’s mind-set when asked for his recent interpretation of Bryant’s demeanor toward teammates.

“I haven’t interpreted anything,” Jackson said neutrally.

Really?

“I do know that he’s been barbaric on some of his teammates that need that type of activity and he’s been encouraging to guys that need encouragement,” he said. “There’s a lot of things he’s doing differently.”

Jackson was then informed that the definition of barbaric was “savagely cruel or exceedingly brutal.”

Jackson paused, briefly, and almost smiled.

“Brutal’s good,” he said.

One player with whom Bryant has bonded on the court is Andrew Bynum.

It’s now common for Bryant to drive toward the basket and throw the ball in the general vicinity of Bynum, often leading to easy points.

It’s not quite the Brian Shaw-Shaquille O’Neal “Shaw-Shaq Redemption” of years past, but it’s not brutal, either.

A day after getting ejected from his first NBA game, Bynum was composed when approached in front of his locker, nothing like the angry, gesticulating 7-footer who stalked off the court in the third quarter of Thursday’s victory over San Antonio.

Just the same, Bynum wondered why he was hit with two technical fouls after disputing a charging call.

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