LAKERS NOTEBOOK: BYNUM FRONT AND CENTER.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND  Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO -- A setback for one player is always an opportunity for another, so this month will be Andrew Bynum's chance to show the Lakers that he's ready to be a starting center in the NBA.

Bynum had that chance once before, when he started the first 14 games of this season, but inconsistency and conditioning issues put him back on the bench. Now, with Kwame Brown out for an extended period of time with a severely sprained ankle, Bynum is expected to return to the starting lineup Thursday.

Coach Phil Jackson didn't officially name a starting center, but said ``chances are good'' it will be 19-year-old Bynum, who played with the starting unit throughout Tuesday's practice.

``My body has to be ready to play that number of minutes,'' Bynum said. ``We had an intense practice with a lot of running, and I'm going to do some extra running by myself at home.''

No timetable has been established for Brown's return, but it would seem unlikely that he will return any time in January, which means the Lakers must fill the 27.5 minutes Brown has averaged.

Jackson publicly flirted with the idea of starting Ronny Turiaf at center, and power forward Brian Cook will also see some time there, but the bulk of the minutes will go to Bynum, if he can handle the task.

``We don't want him to get three fouls in the first six minutes, and then we're stuck,'' Jackson said.

Bynum has averaged 7.2points and 5.1 rebounds in 18 minutes.

Turiaf's playing time has been inconsistent, and Cook spent time doing post drills with the centers after Tuesday's practice.

Welcome back: The Lakers conducted their first practice with the old leather basketballs that were put back into league- wide use Monday, and players seem to unanimously support their return.

Luke Walton said he would take a ball home with him and dribble and shoot it around the house just to familiarize himself with the feel again, but there were no complaints about a midseason switch.

``I love it, it feels great,'' Kobe Bryant said, as a rack of the disgraced composite balls sat a few feet away. ``I've been playing with it for 10 years, so I don't think it will take too much time to adjust.''

Big return: Shaquille O'Neal, out since Nov. 12 due to left knee surgery, could make a dramatic return when the Miami Heat visit the Lakers on Jan. 15.

On Friday, the Heat begins a six-city, 11-day Western swing, that will end with the game against the Lakers. According to reports out of Florida, O'Neal is targeting that as a return date.

According to Miami coach Pat Riley, O'Neal's weight is down to less than 330 pounds, and he has less than 13 percent body fat.

Jackson ignited a minor controversy last month when he discussed O'Neal's work habits -- or lack thereof -- while he played for the Lakers, and O'Neal responded by referring to Jackson as Benedict Arnold.

``The funny thing is that a lot of our players didn't know what that meant,'' Jackson said. ``I thought, `What are they teaching in school these days?'''

December man: For the sixth time in his career, Bryant was selected as Western Conference Player of the Month. Bryant earned the recognition by averaging 30.8 points, 5.4rebounds and 5.4 assists as the Lakers went 10-6 in December.

-- Ross Siler contributed

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