Monday’s big number: +12

That’s the first quarter point differential for the Lakers in five games since Pau Gasol returned from him hamstring injury. Don’t get hung up on the fact only one in that quintet of opponents- the 9-8 Oklahoma City Thunder- is currently above .500. It doesn’t diminish the trend. (Raise your hand if you spent much of last season complaining the Lakers too often played down to their competition…) Early leads change the tenor of a game completely, both from a strategic (chasing points often means changing the offense, taking more chances defensively, and so on, creating a position of weakness)…