LAKERS NOTEBOOK: LOSS OF BROWN WILL HURT INSIDE.

Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer

The loss of Kwame Brown to a severely sprained left ankle will cost the Lakers more than just their starting center for the better part of January.

It also will cost the Lakers their top post defender and rebounder at a time when they can least afford it.

The Lakers have gone 5-5 since forward Lamar Odom suffered a sprained knee ligament Dec. 12 at Houston and have missed him the most when it comes to defense and rebounding.

They have given up an average of 106.2 points on 47 percent shooting without Odom. Three of the games have gone into overtime, but the Lakers still are allowing 100.1 points in regulation.

In addition, the Lakers have been outrebounded in seven of 10 games without Odom. Brown has averaged 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds this season but can be a force inside, totaling 11points, 15 rebounds and fiveblocks in Friday's loss to Charlotte.

``Obviously we're going to be missing a huge punch inside,'' Kobe Bryant said, ``But I think that guys will have to step in there and step up and meet that challenge. ... We'll just have to try to plug in that void.''

Brown underwent a CT scan and MRI exam Monday, both of which came back negative for a fracture. He rolled the ankle in the third quarter Sunday when he blocked Andre Miller's shot in the lane only to come down on Miller's foot.

The Lakers said Brown would be re-evaluated in 10 days to two weeks.

There is no timetable for his return, but the Lakers saw Bryant miss exactly a month with a similar injury two seasons ago, and center Chris Mihm missed five-plus weeks last season.

``Kwame, he's built like a horse, so hopefully he'll be able to get back quicker than most people,'' Luke Walton said. ``He's a strong guy, so hopefully he'll be able to stay healthy once he gets back.''

Brown is often referred to as one of the NBA's strongest players and has a unique combination of size and quickness. He helps the Lakers match up against the likes of Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, because he plays physical defense inside.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson will have to decide between starting teenage center Andrew Bynum or second-year forward Ronny Turiaf in Brown's place. Bynum started 14 games earlier this season while Brown recovered from a shoulder injury.

The 19-year-old averaged 8.5points and 6.3 rebounds as a starter, but Jackson has grown accustomed to bringing Bynum off the bench.

Turiaf is an energy player but suffers from soreness in his hips that limits what he can do.

``I think that I can start in the NBA and play big minutes for my team,'' Bynum said. ``It doesn't really matter to me. The only thing is when you start, you're in the game, you get those extra minutes that you're out there. ``Sometimes, when you're not a starter, you come off the bench, you don't play for about an hour.''

Bynum was referring to leaving early in the second quarter and not returning until the end of the third quarter.

Turiaf might fit better with the starting five and Bynum with the second team, where he would likely get more touches. Jackson has talked before about Bynum having an advantage in facing undersized big men coming off the bench.

``I will play as hard as I can,'' Turiaf said, ``Regardless if I'm starting, if I'm playing two minutes, if I'm playing 30 seconds. That's what I do.''

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The Lakers' Kwame Brown goes down after spraining his ankle against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images