<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>SEATTLE -- Kobe Bryant reached the end of this trip down memory lane in a familiar way: dribble left, pull-up jump shot, winning bucket. And along the lines of past glory, these Lakers now have a share of the Western Conference lead, tied with Phoenix. Putting together a myriad of components from his greatest efforts, Bryant lifted the Lakers to their 17th victory in 20 outings a 123-121 overtime victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Monday night. It came as a uniquely critical moment in the Lakers' season, on the same day the club found out emerging center Andrew Bynum would miss a minimum of eight weeks because of a left knee injury. Bryant finished with 48 points after consecutive 37-point outings. He played the three games in four nights with his congested lungs burning from an upper-respiratory infection. Bryant has maintained scoring barrages for the entirety of the past two seasons, so could he revive it for eight weeks without Bynum? Bryant isn't planning it, saying he sensed his team "deflated" for this game by the news about Bynum. "I tried to be a lot more assertive," said Bryant, whose 44 field-goal attempts came up three shy of his career high set in November 2002. Bryant hit two difficult shots in overtime to bring the Lakers back from a four-point deficit then went to his longtime favorite move for the winning bucket with 4.3 seconds left in overtime. It was an 18-footer over Seattle rookie Jeff Green, who then tilted his head back in disbelief and sighed. Green had done the same thing, searching the heavens for help, after Bryant's tying bucket. Trying for a tie, Seattle's Nick Collison missed an open 18-footer as time expired. BYNUM'S SLACK Although Kwame Brown is still somewhat limited from his recently sprained left knee, he will "take a big load of playing time," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. Ronny Turiaf will be the backup center at least until Chris Mihm proves he is healthy. Mihm is committed to shockwave therapy on his sore right ankle and is expected to be out at least another two weeks. With Vladimir Radmanovic (ankle) likely to return Thursday against Phoenix and assume the backup power-forward spot, Turiaf will be able to concentrate mostly on playing center. Although effective at setting picks for Bryant, Brown is extremely limited on offense. Midway through the first quarter Monday night, Bryant drew two defenders and Brown was left alone but was reluctant to flash toward the basket and Bryant just held the ball before missing a difficult shot. OFFSEASON OUTLOOK Bynum had been on track to making the Lakers' offseason decision on a possible five-year, $75 million contract extension easy. The Lakers will still probably extend his deal, but now Brown will get a chance at increased playing time to earn a better contract, too. Brown will take a substantial pay cut from his current $9.1 million salary wherever he lands. The Lakers also will likely have Mihm on the roster next season unless his ankle improves and he performs so well that he chooses not to exercise his $2.5 million option to return.</div> Source: MSNBC
Odom won't, that's for damn sure even though he'll be told to. I think someone unexpected will pick up some missed slack, or a mixture of people. But I think were going to suffer the loss of Bynum fairly hard with the lackluster efforts from Odom and the in-efficiancy of Kwame.
