L.A Lakers: Will Kobe Bryant's Injured Ankle Be an Issue Down the Stretch?

It didn't take long for the Los Angeles Lakers to erase the bad taste of a six-point loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday night, as they took their frustrations out on the Dallas Mavericks 96-91 Saturday evening.

The Lakers seized the lead from the Mavericks in the second quarter and never trailed again, but the bigger story may be the ankle injury suffered by star guard Kobe Bryant.

Bryant rolled his ankle early in the game, and he did return in the third quarter, but he was less than impressive in his efforts.

Bryant finished the game shooting 6-of-20 from the field with 16 points, and although he did contribute in the fourth quarter, it's clear that he was uncomfortable on his ankle.

Thank god for Andrew Bynum.

Some of Bryant's biggest games have been against the Mavericks, and some observers were expecting Bryant to stamp the beginning of the Lakers' three-peat march with this game.

Instead, Bryant's extra night of shooting after the Miami loss didn't pay off early, and the ankle injury robbed Bryant late.

But it really didn't matter, because on this night Bynum was the best player on the court.

The Lakers oft-injured center scored 22 points and collected 15 rebounds while dominating the paint and illustrating his value to the Lakers when healthy.

And the Lakers may need a healthy Bynum because there is no telling what the extent of Bryant's injury may really be.

Bryant did return for the third quarter, but that's just the type of player he is.

I also happened to see Bryant's ankle incident several times on instant replay, and if he was lucky to get off with only tweaking it, then the Lakers should thank their lucky stars.

The last thing the Lakers need at this point of the season is a nagging injury to their best player, but if there is any consolation, it is found in the fact that Bynum is playing his best basketball of the season.

Forward Pau Gasol gets most of the credit as the Lakers' No. 2 option, but Bynum makes the game easier for Gasol, and he is no slouch on either end of the court.

Against Dallas, Bynum was quicker in the post offensively, and his size bothered the Mavericks on the interior.

Bryant seemed fine at the conclusion of the game, and it's hard to picture him missing any time right now unless his leg just falls off.

But ironically, a healthy Bynum could give Bryant the time he needs to prepare for the postseason.

Bynum, along with Gasol and Lamar Odom, form the strongest frontcourt in the NBA, and they have the experience of two NBA championships to validate them.

Bryant is without question the leader of the Lakers, but the team is at its best when a healthy Bynum and Gasol are roaming the paint.

The Lakers are 9-1 since the All-Star break, and Bynum has averaged more than 12 rebounds per game during that period. His scoring has also picked up.

Bryant may need to reduce his minutes even more in light of his new ankle injury, and a healthy Bynum could make it a little easier for him to do it.