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Andrew Bynum, who scored 14 points in the Lakers' series-clinching win over the Rockets on Sunday, will be counted on to bring a solid effort against the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.

That will come in handy against the Nuggets, who have a larger frontcourt led by 6-11 Nene, 6-10 Chris Andersen and 6-9 Kenyon Martin, along with 6-8 Carmelo Anthony.

But the big news Sunday is that the Lakers were able to locate young Bynum without the help of law enforcement. He had been a non-factor until Sunday, when he scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds in 22 minutes. More important, he bolstered the Lakers’ interior defense, swatting two shots and altering others.

If Bynum can bring that effort against Denver, and maybe even more, the Lakers will officially be improved over last season.

“The reality is he’s a clean-up guy,” Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said. “He has to clean up on the boards, take passes from drivers to the basket. What we want him to grasp is his attention to defense and how he can change the defensive makeup of our team.”

After a playoff series like this one, the team that is vanquished is usually asked about the prospects of the victor down the road. Usually the head coach of the other team is grumbly, and this was no exception.

When asked what he would say to the Nuggets about the Lakers, Rockets coach Rick Adelman said, “I don’t think we have to say anything. They’ll watch the game. They have size, and it won’t be as easy (for the Lakers) with the size they have.”

But Battier had a different outlook. “It’ll be interesting,” he said. “I think the Lakers have to be the favorites. I just don’t think Denver has been tested yet. New Orleans was kind of coming apart. Dallas is a markedly different team than they were. It’ll be interesting to see how Denver reacts when it faces adversity for the first time.”

There is no rest for the split personality. The Lakers will have a full day on Monday, and then Game 1 of the Western Conference finals takes place Tuesday night. “Our preparation will be limited,” Jackson said. “We’ll have to go on emotion and a gut level and the home court that first night.”

They’re up. They’re down. They’re up again.

They’re the Lakers. They don’t do normal.

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Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Not in his house

Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

CSN: Rondo's big-game DNA shines  |  Highlights

CSN: You may not see it from start to finish, but when the game — or in this case, postseason life — is on the line, you see just how good Rajon Rondo can be.

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