"They're playing very well," says Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo. "You can make any team (the hottest) the further back you go, but these guys have sustained it probably longer than anybody right now. They're playing very well."

The cynical point of view is that the Lakers were off to a similar start this time a year ago; their 23-11 record through 34 games was identical. By season's end, however, L.A. fought just to make the playoffs at 42-40. Their season ended in a five-game playoff loss to the Suns.

What makes 2007-08 different? In part, the start hasn't quite drawn so much on a home-heavy schedule. Last year, the Lakers played 20 of their first 34 games at home. This year, the split was just 18-16 in terms of home games (now it is 20-16). More important is the balance the Lakers have demonstrated in terms of offense and defense. Lastly, the Lakers aren't just beating opponents, they're dominating them. Their first five January wins came by an average of 19.4 points per game, including a 29-point blowout at New Orleans on Wednesday.

Defense has been a major difference for the Lakers this season. Last year, Los Angeles finished the season ranked 24th in the NBA in Defensive Rating, the second-worst defense amongst playoff teams and easily the worst defense of Head Coach Phil Jackson's illustrious career. The Lakers have improved dramatically at the defensive end this season, jumping all the way to seventh in the league in per-possession defense. That's good enough to make them one of four teams in the league ranked in the NBA's top 10 in both Offensive and Defensive Rating.

A lot of the improvement has come at the point, where indifferent defender Smush Parker was allowed to walk as a free agent, ending up in Miami. The Lakers replaced him by bringing back veteran Derek Fisher, a key part of the team's three consecutive championships at the start of the decade. Fisher and youngster Jordan Farmar give the Lakers a pair of capable defenders at the point.

Kurt Helin from indispensable Lakers blog Forum Blue and Gold also cites a couple of other reasons for the improved defense.

"Another factor is the Lakers interior defense has improved," he wrote recently. "The energy of Ronny Turiaf, the maturity and improving defense of Andrew Bynum and the post defense of Kwame Brown (when healthy) have given the Lakers a boost in the defensive paint. ... Finally, credit needs to go to the coaching staff, which clearly refocused on defense. The Lakers rotations are quicker, the team is playing the pick-and-roll better and there just seems to be more of a focus on the defensive end of the floor."

The impressive aspect of the increased focus on defense for the Lakers is that it has come without a drop-off on offense. In fact, L.A.'s Offensive Rating is fifth in the league - an improvement over the last two seasons, and it's come with the Lakers finding greater balance on offense. All-Star guard Kobe Bryant remains as dangerous an offensive force as exists in the NBA, but Bryant is no longer being asked to carry the same kind of load. He's using 32.4% of the team's possessions while on the court this season, down from 33.8% last year and 39.0% the year before. His scoring average has taken a corresponding dip to 26.7 points per game, a drop of from 31.6 ppg last year and 35.4 ppg in his dominant 2005-06 season.

A big reason for the better balance is the progress of third-year center Bynum. At 20, Bynum has emerged as one of the league's best centers, posting 18 double-doubles. Since moving into the starting lineup, Bynum has averaged 14.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. And his 63.6% shooting leads all qualified NBA players.

Alas, the Lakers will be without Bynum's services tonight. He injured his left knee in yesterday's 100-99 win over Memphis at the STAPLES Center and stayed behind when the team traveled to Seattle to undergo an MRI. Bynum's injury was initially diagnosed as a sprain, but the Lakers will know more after the MRI. (Update: The Lakers announced this afternoon that Bynum suffered a subluxation of his left patella as well as a bone bruise and will miss the next eight weeks.) While the Lakers have enough depth to overcome an injury up front, with Brown and Gonzaga product Turiaf stepping into larger roles, Bynum has clearly been the team's best big man this season.

The news on the injury front is much better for the Sonics, who expect to get Luke Ridnour and Chris Wilcox back in the lineup tonight. The focus for the Sonics will be on reviving an offense that has slumped since the start of 2008. The Sonics worked on pushing the ball and getting into sets quicker during Sunday's practice, as Carlesimo wants to see the team have more time on the shot clock to run plays. Getting into a quicker game should be doable against the Lakers, who play at the NBA's fifth-fastest pace, just ahead of the Sonics.

KEY MATCHUP
	Lakers forward Lamar Odom played small forward when he first returned to the lineup from off-season shoulder surgery, but is back at the power forward spot he has manned in the past. With more of the offense running through Bynum in the post, Odom's scoring is down this season. He's topped 20 points just three times, though one of those came in the first head-to-head meetings between these teams. In Bynum's absence, the Lakers will likely feature Odom more tonight. Wilcox put up 18 points and seven rebounds in that game and has thrived in the up-and-down style of past Lakers-Sonics matchups.

The Lakers nearly let the Sonics back into their matchup Nov. 27 at the STAPLES Center. The Lakers outscored the Sonics 31-19 in the third quarter to wrest control of a game that was all square at halftime. Los Angeles maintained a double-figure advantage most of the fourth quarter, but the Sonics summoned their will for a late rally. Kevin Durant scored 12 points in the final 6:05 of the game, including a three-point play to get the Sonics within five, but two Bryant free throws essentially sealed up a 106-99 win for the Lakers.

Bryant had a strong game, scoring 34 points on 12-of-22 shooting, but it was Odom whose play was key for the Lakers. Odom, who recently publicly criticized his own play, scored 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting and grabbed eight boards. The Sonics answered with a big bench performance in the first half. Earl Watson paced that run with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. However, Seattle ended up shooting 41.8% from the field and left several points at the free-throw line, missing 10 of the team's 28 attempts. Durant finished with 25 points for the second straight game, shooting 10-for-19 from the field, while Wilcox scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half. Kurt Thomas pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds.

Kia Surprising Stat

INJURIES

Sonics - Guard Luke Ridnour (tightness, left quad) and forward Chris Wilcox (dislocated right pinky finger) are probable. Forward Nick Collison (right quad contusion) is a game-time decision. Center Robert Swift (tendinitis and contusion, right knee) is out.

L.A. Lakers - Guard Kobe Bryant (viral upper respiratory infection) and center Kwame Brown (moderate left ankle and left knee sprains) are probable. Guard Sasha Vujacic (sprained left ankle and back spasms) is questionable. Forward Vladimir Radmanovic (sprained right ankle) is doubtful. Centers Andrew Bynum (left patellar subluxation) and Chris Mihm (right ankle bursitis) are out.

For more analysis before tonight's game, listen to the Sonics Pregame Show starting at 6:30 on KTTH 770 AM.