He's back up to full speed this season after partially dislocating his kneecap in January, but Bynum's numbers haven't been mind-blowing despite another fast Lakers' start.

He came into Saturday's game averaging a modest 12.7 points per game, while grabbing a respectable 8.9 rebounds. Both are below his 2007-08 numbers.

But with the Lakers again the early class of the Western Conference, his presence in the middle alongside fellow big man Pau Gasol has been meaningful in other ways.

Bynum's had enough of an impact that he's still considered one of the league's burgeoning young stars still put him in that category.

"I think Andrew Bynum is going to be one of the best centers in this league," Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said of Bynum. "I think the biggest reason for L.A.'s defensive improvement is the fact that they've got Bynum back. I think they missed him a great deal in the playoffs last year."

Whether or not having Bynum on the floor would have produced a result different than the Lakers' 4-2 Finals' loss to the Celtics is debatable.

Bryant said the emotions of losing that series was a needed spark heading into this season.

Bynum went right at Orlando's Dwight Howard Saturday, but was forced to the bench just over a minute into the game with two fouls.

He didn't do much better in the second half and finished with just three points and one rebound in 11 minutes of action. Meanwhile Howard found his way and tossed in 18 points and 12 boards. Howard even helped seal Orlando's 106-103 win.

"Early fouls, I did it to myself," Bynum said afterward. "I can't put myself in that kind of position . . . I'll keep getting better, though."

The early season big-man matchup might have been subdued this time, but veteran Lakers' guard Derek Fisher thinks that Bynum will have a bigger impact moving forward.

"He's kind of one of those guys that almost no matter who we're playing against, he can be our advantage or our X-factor," Fisher said.