The Lakers were able to easily handle the Memphis Grizzlies last night (albeit after a close first half) despite their lack of size due to injuries to both starting center Andrew Bynum and starting power forward (and reigning all-star) Pau Gasol.  Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 41 points on a night that saw him shoot over 50% while torching an undersized and obviously over matched O.J. Mayo.  In what appeared like it could be a trap game (Lakers dressed only 11 players and not one legitimate 7 footer against a team that, while it will end up near the cellar of the NBA, doesn’t lack size), the Lakers were able to dictate the tempo and style of play, forcing it into a guard-lead game and away from the inside power game which would have given the Griz an advantage (with Z Bo, Gasol and Gay against an undersized front line of Odom, Artest and DJ Mbenga).

The Lakers hope to get Pau Gasol back for their next game this Sunday, which would be his season debut after missing the first six games of the 2009 regular season with a lingering hamstring injury.  Bynum is less certain, though the strained elbow he injured at the end of the team’s last gane against Houston appears to be improving.