LAKERS NOTEBOOK: KOBE PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

OAKLAND - The Lakers made official Saturday what had been expected since Kobe Bryant went down with a severe ankle sprain Thursday, sending Bryant to the injured list and activating rookie guard Tony Bobbitt to take his place.

Braynt did not accompany the Lakers to the Bay Area but his voice was definitely heard throughout the day, as he called Caron Butler three times before Butler even went out for warm-ups.

``It's a good thing when your leader's calling like that,'' Butler said, later adding: ``I got the Nextel, so it's free incoming calls.''

Bryant was reported to be doing better by Butler and coach Rudy Tomjanovich. He will be sidelined at least five games and 11 days by going on the injured list and will have his ankle reexamined Monday.

``He's doing better, he's doing his treatment, trying to get back right,'' Butler said. ``He wished us the best. Probably going to talk to him again at halftime.''

Tomjanovich elected to start 20-year-old rookie guard Sasha Vujacic in Bryant's spot. In one week, Vujacic went from not playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday to getting his first NBA start.

``He just can't try to go for home runs,'' Tomjanovich said of Vujacic. ``Just go in and do his job.

``This has been a couple-weeks process. I told him back then that we were looking for opportunities to play him. We didn't know that the circumstances would be what they are with Kobe going down.''

Vujacic went 1 for 7 against Cleveland on Thursday and said he was primarily trying to prove he could play defense. Tomjanovich and his assistants worked Friday with Vujacic on getting him to raise the ball higher in his shooting motion.

``Sometimes in these situations you can overdo it,'' Tomjanovich said. ``You can't have a kid have everything in his head. He's just getting his feet wet.''

Butler said he was looking forward to playing some shooting guard Saturday. Butler saw his first action at the position last month and had been working with Bryant to learn its nuances. He said it was different without Bryant but also good to hear his voice.

``He's not far away at all,'' Butler said. ``His presence's still felt. He's calling and making sure we're doing all right and preparing, getting ready to try and get a victory.''

--Add Bryant: If there is a silver lining to be found in Bryant's absence, it is that the plantar fasciitis in his left foot should improve as Bryant gets nearly two weeks to rest. Bryant has been battling soreness in the foot since the second week of the season.

Bryant will be eligible to return from the injured list for a Jan. 26 game against the Clippers.

--Welcome home: The Lakers play their next nine games at Staples Center, although they will be the designated road team when they face the Clippers. Their next road trip won't begin until Feb. 6, returning Tomjanovich to Houston.

Tomjanovich has spoken about holding serve at home and compares home losses against road victories to measure success. The Lakers went 3-3 during a homestand at the end of December. The timing is questionable with Bryant out.

``I wish we were at full strength,'' Tomjanovich said. ``It's tough, but that's the way it happened.''

--Also: Tomjanovich entered Saturday tied with K.C. Jones for 22nd place on the NBA's all-time victories list. Tomjanovich has 522 victories as a coach in his career.