Lakers’ new coach helps Kobe reclaim throne

In Kobe Bryan’s initial meeting with Mike Brown, he cautioned the Lakers’ newly hired coach “not to pull back,” to coach him “like everyone else; otherwise the players will turn on you,” Bryant told me during dinner in Los Angeles just before Christmas.

Bryant said he’d heard Brown didn’t yell at LeBron James and acknowledged Phil Jackson didn’t yell at him.

“Phil coached everyone different because he’s Phil. His rings gave him license to do that. Pat (Riley) and Pop (Gregg Popovich) also have earned that right; nobody else,” Bryant said of his former coach.

Brown now has coached Bryant, floppy (right) disc aside, to four straight efficient 40-point (31, 31, 31 and 28 attempts) and eight-of-nine 30-plus, out-of-wedlock productions.

In his 16th season, the 33-year-old Bryant leads the NBA (31.2) in scoring. He is the oldest in league history to do what he’s in the midst of doing. What’s more, his weapons of construction have amassed 111 40-point-or-more monuments.

Only fellow Philly native Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged an unthinkable 50.4 in the 1961-62 season, and Michael Jordan compiled more.

Alas, they look “a lot better when you win,” pithily reasoned esteemed telecaster Ralph Lawler moments before my Hedge Clippers--and his, I suppose--splintered LA Lore’s victory march at five, 102-94.

Win or lose, the Paul-y Pavilion hallway throwdown was as rasping and riveting as it gets without the consequent fear of fines and suspensions. There were four individual technical fouls whistled and plenty of provocation for more. Only conscientious objectors left the court not pockmarked with powder burns and blood on their risers.

Chris Paul left with his left hamstring hurting, mentally anguished and 33 points, six assists and one turnover to his credit. Counting Wednesday’s contribution to Miami’s demise, that makes 60 points, 17 assists, 10 rebounds and 6 steals in his last two outings

Unfortunately, the likelihood Paul will be available for duty any time soon is remote. He pulled up lame with 4:01 remaining after burying a 12-foot fallaway jumper over Andrew Bynum and Darius Morris. However, I saw him grab the back of his leg on the previous possession following a slick feed to Blake Griffin.

For the time being, the injury is being described as a “strained hamstring” by team trainer Jasen Powell. Perhaps Paul could have returned had the verdict been in doubt. He told the coaching staff he was ready. Powell wisely talked him down, saying it was in his best interests not to play.