Lakers a Better Defensive Team Without Kobe Bryant

If you're looking for a silver lining to Kobe Bryant's late-season injury, then here's a small one: The Los Angeles Lakers are a better defensive team without him.

That may be small comfort to a team that desperately misses Kobe's offense, but it's the best it can get after losing its best player. The Lakers offense has gone down the tubes, but at least the defense has stepped up.

Kobe has long been considered a lockdown wing defender and, in spurts, he still was this season. But those spurts were pretty rare, and he hurt the Los Angeles defense on more nights than not. ...

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