As they got back to basics, L.A. not only began running circles around the Raptors, but showed just how many ways they can beat a team silly -- using their length to out-rebound Toronto, 54-36 (Bynum and Odom both snagged 10), racking a season-high 34 assists (everyone with at least six minutes of playing time had at least one), 51% shooting from the floor, and a bench talented enough to steam roll a nine-point lead at the end of the third quarter to 19 points after just six minutes of play in the fourth with Kobe and Pau on the pine. That, ladies and gents, is a team able to pocket winning box score after winning box score. Whenever up for playing at the top of their collective games, the metaphorical sky is the actual limit. 

The breakdown is below.

THE GOOD

As previously mentioned, Toronto sported a major weakness in the paint on both sides of the ball, one that needed heavy exploitation. Case in point A...

• Pau Gasol: While the Kwame Brown-exchanged forward wasn't always fed enough down low for my tastes (more on that later), he did prove that no matter where he decided to put up the ball, the Toronto personnel wasn't equipped to guard him.  Whether from just inside 20 feet, mid-range or putting back errant shots, Gasol went 10 for 17 en route to 24 points, chipping in nine rebounds (five offensive) just for the fun of it.  Throw in the guy's passing ability and it's easy to understand why good things often happen when he helps set the table.   

Case in point B...

• Andrew Bynum: Drew's first half featured just three attempts, a number I found considerably paltry.  The kid apparently agreed, because he hoisted another 10 over the next 24 minutes, his seven fourth-quarter points in particular helping to create separation between hosts and visitors.  Bynum's offensive display included short jumpers and spin moves down low, but he also did serious damage from point-blank range.  Pick-and-roll screens were slipped to receive textbook feeds from Kobe Bryant, misses were put back and sometimes the rock just got flat out slammed.  A sweet shovel pass from Sasha Vujacic (who enjoyed one of his best dishing nights of the season) set up the prettiest sequence, but the nastiest (in a good way) came when Jordan Farmar put up an alley that Bynum ooped upside Joey Graham's head.  Predictably, the Staples crowd went goony bird.
  
  It's also worth noting the work Drew did defending Chris Bosh, particularly when the All-Star was working his face-up game.  Playing away from the bucket isn't necessarily considered Drew's bread and butter, but Bynum more than held his own.  Shots from eight to 10 feet were successfully challenged, turnovers forced and drives to the basket were altered when the young center kept pace with his more polished foe.  And if you like what you saw, credit the Captain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with a big assist.  After watching Bosh draw a foul against Drew and can a 21-footer in his face in Toronto's early possessions, he gave Bynum some advice during the first time out.  Smiled Bynum, "Kareem was like, 'Make sure that you stay within the arm length of him and play his left hand, before he even makes a move, play him on to he left side.'  And it worked."   That Bosh finished the night four for 13 for an unimpressive 12 points wasn't entirely the result of Bynum's defensive ability, but Socks certainly had a hand in a lack of star power witnessed.
• Trevor Ariza: Another night of filling up a box score for the super sub.  14/6/5 and a block.

THE BAD

• Sam Mitchell's ability to "game plan" Kobe:  Granted, you're talking about a baller most coaches struggle to corral.  But dude, 21 points at the half on eight of 11 shooting, 23 in all (bear in mind, Mamba sat the final 13 minutes), and a 51-90 clip from the field for 136 points over the previous four games since "81."  Methinks another trip to the ol' drawing board may be warranted.  If, however, the plan was to make Kobe a "distributor" (as teams often have in the past), hats off.  Kobe's seven dimes represented a season high.  Mitchell's been rumored to reside on the hot seat.  Assuming the man enjoys being employed, he's lucky the Raptors only play the Lakers twice a year.
• Eyes often anywhere but inside: Judging by the box score alone, a night where Pau Gasol and Drew combined for 42 points would reflect an evening spent feeding the big dogs.  But that's why games aren't played on box scores (or whatever the saying is), because truth be told, Gasol was often making hay from outside and both got some cleaning up misses, as opposed to being set up with clean looks on the block and playing "inside-out."  Tonight, that was the equivalent of an ace in the hole folded. As time went on, the Lakers began remembering and using this advantage (coincidentally, they began pulling away too), but it should be a credo by this point.  Few, if any, teams have an obvious counter to the Lakers front court.  Every possession must include a paint touch or two, even if the shot eventually goes up from elsewhere.   
• Jordan Farmar: His set-up of Drew's monster dunk provided one of the game's unquestionable highlights, but Farmar was also at the center of more than a few lowlights.  Some quick shots off little ball movement (along with a very ill-advised post up fade away) and five turnovers merit mention, but mainly it was the Bruin continually a step behind whoever he was guarding.  When that's Jose Calderon, so be it.  A lot of fellas can't keep the pace with el PG de Espana.  But when it's whoever Roko Ukic is, that's a little discouraging.

THE "HUGE HAND" RECIPIENT

• DJ Mbenga: On a night where the crowd got them some free Mexican food, they applauded mightily the symbolic insertion of a home team's taco embodiment.   And where's the best place to serve tacos?  At a block party hosted by DJ Mbenga, who notched a pair in just three minutes. 

AUDIO

• Andrew Bynum: Download andrew_bynum_11.30.08.mp3
• Trevor Ariza: Download trevor_ariza_11.30.08.mp3

AK

QUOTES:

Pau Gasol, on Kobe Bryant continuing to get fourth quarter rest:
"It's really nice to have a big lead so that we don't need to be out there for the fourth quarter.  Other players can step up and our bench players can get some more minutes and some more flow.  It's a win-win for us."

On the team's performance of late:
"We expect to win every night, that's how good of a team we are and that's how good of a team we want to be and have to be.  Some nights it's not going to happen.  We're going to have some off nights and there's going to be some teams on the road that are going to be tough to beat.  We have great expectations and great ambitions.  We're going out there to win every night."

Chris Bosh, on the Lakers' defensive rotations:
"They come from that bottom spot and take every pass away except the furthest pass, which is in the corner and the backboard is in the way. I have two 7-foot defenders on me.  It was very tough."

Raptors coach Sam Mitchell on the Lakers' rebounding:
"I thought our guys were boxing out, but guys like Gasol and Bynum are just strong and were reaching over us and we couldn't come up with that key basket or that key stop when we needed it."

On Kobe Bryant and the improved Lakers:
"He knows that he is on a better basketball team.  He understands that he doesn't have to try to score every time down the court, that he has guys he can defer to and get the ball to.  But yet, he still knows, being Kobe, he knows the system that he can get his and get opportunities when he wants. But you know the way Gasol and Bynum played tonight, and some of their other guys, it was just tough (for us.)"

Phil Jackson, on the upcoming road trip:
"I think the tempo of the game changes.  We have to be more concerned about controlling the game with fewer turnovers, less fouls and (creating) fewer opportunities for our opponents."