Sunday night's 112-99 win over the Toronto Raptors provided a glimpse at what both makes the Lakers arguably the best team in the league, along with their (relative) weaknesses.  When it comes to the latter, a trapping D currently in practice can effectively force teams into taking jumpers from distance, but those lower-percentage shots gain traction when no rotating defender arrives to close out. For example of this phenomenon, take a look at the third quarter, in which six of eight Toronto three-pointers went down.  The Lakers also fall a little too in love at times with the alley oop and Hail Mary passes, which are certainly more fun than dumping the ball inside, but they're also more likely to result in one of the 19 turnovers converted into 17 Dinosaur points. 

And specifically on a night like this evening, where the opponent's best interior defender (Jermaine O'Neal) is nursing a sprained ankle, it's basically mandatory that the ball end up in either Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol's hands on the low block or the mitts of a posting/driving Kobe Bryant for a kick out, because the Raptors were at a distinct disadvantage around the hoop.  "We went inside in the first quarter and we kind of forgot about it," admitted Bynum. "At the start of the second quarter, Pau was able to get off.  Then in the third quarter, they started finding me inside."

This would be the part where we talk about the Lakers' strengths.

No Jermaine O'Neal in the starting lineup tonight for Toronto, as he's dealing with an ankle problem.  Interestingly enough, Coach Phil Jackson said it actually puts more pressure on the Lakers, since it forces the Raptors to go small and stretch the floor ... something that hasn't necessarily agreed with the purple and gold.  We'll see how it goes.

A 14-1 record would qualify as such a feeling for Lakers fans, and it's a clip within their collective sights as the purple and gold prepare to square off with their Torontonian guests (6:30 p.m. PST).  A trip to L.A. equals some posh double-bathroomed living for the Canadian ballers, but it doesn't change the fact that tonight's contest kicks off a tough Western voyage, one requiring the Raptors to knuckle down and get some stops from the jump. Which works out fantastic, since the Lakers aren't willing to let a nearly unbeaten record cancel out the value of burying an opponent early.  That would mean neutralizing MVP candidate Chris Bosh, a task likely divvied up between Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. 

How Drew handles his end of the bargain remains to be seen, but any shortcomings wouldn't appear the result of injury.  The bone spur in Bynum's foot didn't feel any worse after a Friday victory over Dallas, and yesterday's cautionary practice holdout should leave him ready to rock and roll.  Not to mention play through some considerable pain in a considerably mannish way.  Solid credentials for a guy many think can help revive the big man era.

OTHER NOTES:

• N.Y. needs LeBron James, not the other way around.
• The big dog is being fed, but is the litter going hungry?
• It's hard to lap Zeke when it comes to ineptitude, but Walsh/D'Antoni may have been up to the task with their Marbury blueprint. Is an end to the madness coming soon?
• Shaun Livingston is working his way back.

The Dallas Mavericks came into Staples Center on Friday night riding a five-game win streak and heaps of confidence after a terrible start to the 2008-09 season.  They shot the lights out early, pushed the ball up and down the floor, got their bench (particularly Jose Juan Barea) involved, used their point guards (particularly Jason Terry) effectively, and caused L.A. fits.  Unfortunately for Dallas, despite all that they weren't able to pull away, and once the Lakers started rolling in the second half, the Mavs couldn't keep up.  The result: A 114-107 win for the home team, running their record to a league-best 13-1.  It was a combination of Kobe Bryant (23 of his 35 in the second half), Trevor Ariza, and defensive effort that triggered L.A.'s run, as they held the Mavericks without a field goal for more than six and a half minutes at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth.  No surprise Ariza played a big role in the defensive stand.

And as the box score notes, they did it all without fouling -- the Lakers were whistled for a mere eight personals all night, keeping Dallas off the line and forcing them to make shots from the field.  Want some more positive news to kick off your Saturday?  Andrew Bynum was able to take the floor despite a loose bone spur in his right foot, and put in a solid effort.  Chris Mihm, though, was sidelined after turning an ankle at practice Wednesday. 

First things first: If you're looking for a little reading for the weekend, check out this Sunday's LA Magazine (the magazine of the LAT) for an in-depth interview with Magic Johnson about his life in business after basketball, and what he learned from Jerry Buss.  The cover art (left) is pretty cool, and it'll be all shiny and glossy-like.

Moving on...

Tonight's game -- FOR WHICH THERE WILL BE NO LIVE BLOG/GAME THREAD, AS WE'RE STILL IN THE LOU --against Dallas provides a better test for the Lakers than folks might have thought, oh, 10 days ago when the Mavericks were still mired in a hole. Five straight wins indicate things are turning around.  Josh Howard could be back in the lineup, which obviously makes a big difference, but more important, Dallas' big shots are finally behaving as such.  Dirk Nowitzki has overcome his brick-itis, and Jason Terry is hot. 

As the Lakers faithful emerge from their collective Thanksgiving food comas, the big news is center Andrew Bynum and the bone spur in his left foot that has apparently, like General Radchenko in "Crimson Tide," gone renegade and is now floating around unchecked.  In the movie, that meant the threat of global nuclear catastrophe.  In this case, the loose spur is causing pain and inflammation to L.A.'s young center (you decide which is worse). At this point, Bynum is considered day to day and will be evaluated before tonight's game against the Dallas Mavericks at Staples.  Big D, after a brutal start, seems to be righting the ship, winning five straight to reach the .500 mark, thanks in part to a surge in performance from Jason Terry.

If Bynum is unable to go -- or even if he's fine -- the Lakers still ought to make sure the ball gets down low, particularly in the hands of Pau Gasol.  Offensively, L.A. would certainly survive a limited Bynum, but on the other end could pay a price, as the center has been a key part of Kurt Rambis' defensive overhaul of the purple and gold.  (Here it is, for the visual learners among you.)

In other news:

• Apparently, the relationship between Stephon Marbury and the Knicks wasn't actually over.  Now it is, though.  And it's probably curtains for Starbury's Facebook friendship with Mike D'Antoni.
• Should the Clippers be so inclined, the Bulls would be interested in Chris Kaman.
• AI's Turkey Day didn't include practice ... except for the rest of the Pistons, it did.  Oops.
• Like Lamar Odom, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko has settled well into a sixth-man role.
• Video games are increasingly part of the scouting process.

Hey folks.  Here's the link to this week's podcast on 710 ESPN.com, recorded on Tuesday.  We talk about The Eye of the Tiger (a popular blog issue!) with a genuine Celtics fan, and get into some Thanksgiving themed Lakers talk. 

Best from us to you on one of my favorite holidays.

BK

Hey folks.  We're in the air this morning, heading back to the Midwest for Thanksgiving.  As such, there will a) be no Extra!, b) not be much by way of updating until the afternoon (though we'll notify the mothership), and c) won't be a Purple, Gold, and Blue (though we did get into the ESPN studios Tuesday to get another podcast in the can, so those among you who for whatever odd reason just can't live without our yammering should be good to go... why you can't live without it being an entirely different and far more important issue).

Thanks!

BK

I've never churned butter or made cheese or milked a cow or participated in any other activity that likely occurs daily on a dairy farm, but that doesn't mean I'm unfamiliar with the notion of cream rising to the top.  And that, in essence, is what we saw Tuesday night at Staples as the Lakers endured a rough first quarter before asserting themselves, slowly at first and then with authority after what was apparently a very inspiring halftime pep talk.  The final score?  120-93, fueled by a great effort from the second unit and a monster night from LA's bigs, who found more mismatches inside than a long neglected sock drawer.  (I'm gonna let that marinate while I decide if it makes sense...)

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum combined for 41 points on 15-21 from the floor, and the four principle members of the bench chipped in with 48 points, 18 boards, eight assists, seven steals, and only two turnovers.  As a group, the Lakers shot 50.6% from the floor, despite a terrible shooting night from Kobe, who missed six of his first seven and finished 5-17. 

Not that it mattered much.  Breakdown below.

Keep an eye on that Devin Harris.  He's a shifty little fella.