Beating the Charlotte Bobcats by one point isn't a true barometer of where the slow-starting Los Angeles Lakers are at the moment. Neither were the wins they recorded in their previous two games, against the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers and NBA-worst Washington Wizards, following a four-game skid that tested new coach Mike D'Antoni's patience -- and his up-tempo offense. All it means is they can beat the worst of the worst. The real test comes in their next two games against a couple of vastly improved clubs, the Golden State Warriors on Saturday and New York Knicks on Christmas Day. Kobe Bryant scored four of his 30 points in the final 1:26, and the Lakers had to overcome an 18-point third-quarter deficit to beat Charlotte 101-100 on Tuesday night, handing the Bobcats their 12th straight loss.
