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Kobe Bryant seems to be as unstoppable as ever so far this season.

Kobe Bryant’s motor never really slows down from maximum rev. After the Lakers won the title in five games against Orlando, he was primed for the first game against the Clippers to start the new season. Thus far he is averaging 29.5 points, he is shooting 49 percent from the field, and he is as freakishly unstoppable as ever. In fact, it’s almost looking as though he’s tearing teams apart with more ease than before.

All you need to know about Gasol is that after his layoff with a nagging hamstring injury, he was expected to play about 15 to 20 minutes upon his return to the team on Nov. 19 at home against Chicago. Instead, he toiled for 35 minutes, posting 24 points and 13 boards. It took him about five seconds to blend in again.

Gasol added to Bynum in the post gives the Lakers a one-two scoring punch in the frontcourt that is extremely difficult for teams to defend, given that both are 7-footers who can tie their own shoes. Add Artest to that duo, plus reality show hubby Odom off the bench, and it represents a formidable challenge for opponents.

What will make the difference for the Lakers in the long run is defense. In recent years the Lakers’ identity has not been associated with the term, although they did a commendable job in the playoffs last season. Defense is effort, concentration and communication. And defense is usually the category that gets replaced by lethargy in many defending champions.

These Lakers, though, are ninth thus far in the NBA in points allowed, giving up an average of just under 96 points per contest. They are also sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 103.8 points per game. When a team can hover among the top 10 in both categories, that means it is committed to doing what it takes.

There are pitfalls, to be sure. The Lakers can’t afford an injury to one of their key players, including Bynum, who is playing All-Star-caliber ball this year (18.3 points, 10.3 rebounds per game). And the road beckons: They have a five-game Eastern swing in about two weeks, and in late January they embark on an eight-game jaunt that includes stops in Cleveland and Boston.

But the early returns are in, and they’re indicating that the Lakers are taking care of business. According to plan.

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