Missing Piece=Kobe Time

There's certainty amidst doubt.
Kobe Bryant will pick up his scoring while teammate Andrew Bynum recovers from a torn MCL. That's what he does.
But is it enough?
Last season Bryant dropped 48 points the game after the Lakers' big man sprained his left knee and missed the remainder of the season. This year he went for a Madison Square Garden record 61, including a perfect 20-of-20 from the line in a 126-117 Lakers win.
His average rose from 27.0 PPG with Bynum in the lineup to 29.3 without a year ago. A similar climb should be expected this go-round as well.
For the most part, the Lakers have coped fine minus Bynum's presence in the center. They won at roughly a .700 clip in 2007-08 regardless of who manned the middle.
At 38-9 in 2008-09, the Lakers' competition is virtually non-existant. San Antonio is closest, sitting 5.5 games back (32-14). Winning seven out of 10 the rest of the way should secure the No. 1 seed.
Where the injury will matter is if Bynum, like a season ago, cannot fully recover, find a rhythm and contribute come playoff time. It was Kobe versus the Celtics in the NBA Finals. That -- and blinks from Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and the rest of the Lakers -- simply won't do.
Bynum brings a big body that isn't intimidated or timid. He doesn't need to score to make his presence felt.
Against West and the best the East has to offer in Boston, Orlando and Cleveland, the Lakers are going to need him back if they want a 10th NBA Championship.