Editor's Note: Lakers Are On Loss-Watch

While the Los Angeles Lakers are nowhere near thrilled that Andrew Bynum could miss up to three months before returning thanks to a knee injury, it could provide the boost that they need. With Bynum, the Lakers fell apart late in games and did not take many opponents too seriously, leading to close games. Just look at LA's games against Indiana, Sacramento, and Charlotte. Now that Bynum is down though, the Lakers might just play every game like there is a legitimate chance of losing. They can bleed, and they know it. And more importantly, their enemies know it. But this is actually the Lakers' advantage. Teams don't have the benefit of surprise to help them out. LA can put their pedal on the metal and not take it off in the fourth. And with roadies in Boston and Cleveland coming up, this proves to be no better a time to see how seriously the Lakers can play without their star center or a 61 point masterpiece from Kobe. All it takes is a new view of their opponents.