Jordan Hill fuels the Lakers defense against the Kings. (GETTY IMAGES)

Jodie Meeks and Pau Gasol scored a team-high 19 points as they led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-100 victory over the Kings Friday night in Sacramento

“We have had different guys that have stepped up for us this season,” Mike D’Antoni told Time Warner Cable Sports Net’s John Ireland.

The defense really stepped up in the final quarter after L.A. trailed, 87-81, entering the final quarter. The Kings scored just 13 points on 3-for-16 shooting in the fourth. Jordan Hill had blocks on back-to-back plays and the Lakers had five of their seven blocks in the quarter as the defense tightened up. L.A. also swiped 10 steals.

Nick Young added 14 points off the bench, Steve Blake chipped in with 13 points and 10 assists, Wesley Johnson scored 13 points and led a strong defensive effort with five steals, Robert Sacre added 11 points in his first start of the season and Hill had seven points and nine rebounds off the bench.

The Lakers made 37.5% (12 of 32) 3-pointers and Meeks converted on five of seven outside shots.

Kobe Bryant is expected to make his much anticipated return this season on Sunday against Toronto after being out for nine months with an Achilles injury.

“We are getting these young guys some experience and chances to show what they can do this season,” D’Antoni said when asked how Bryant’s absence has impacted the team.

DeMarcus Cousins and rookie Ben McLemore scored 20 points each for Sacramento. Cousins also added 11 rebounds, four assists and steals while McLemore contributed six rebounds and two steals.

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @djroxalot.

Zach Randolph’s late basket lifts Grizzlies over the Lakers. (GETTY IMAGES)

Zach Randolph made a 3-foot basket with 16 seconds left to give the Memphis Grizzlies an 86-83 lead on their way to an 89-86 win against the Los Angeles Lakers Friday at Staples Center.

Randolph scored 14 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies outscored the Lakers, 26-20, to get their first win of the year on the road (1-3). Memphis improved to 4-5 overall.

“I thought we played as hard as we could, ” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said at his postgame press conference. “Zach hit some big shots, I’ve known him for 10 years and he’s a load.”

Jodie Meeks pumped in a season-high 25 points for L.A., dropping to 4-7 with the loss. He made 10-of-16 field goals, including 5-of-9 on 3-pointers.

“We got the shots we wanted,” he said to Time Warner Cable SportsNet’s Jon Ireland. “Steve did a great job of finding me, I tried to move a lot without the ball. Just a lot of hard work and dedication [on my part].”

Meeks was just 1-of-5 for three points in the Lakers’ 111-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. But, he has the mindset of a shooter and scorer. He was on fire from the field against Memphis’ Tony Allen, who has a reputation as one of the strongest defenders in the NBA.

“We don’t have Kobe, we have to find a way to score,” D’Antoni said. “He’s not going to be here for the near future.”

Nick Young scored 18 points, Jordan Hill added 10 points and five rebounds, Pau Gasol chipped in with 10 points and 13 rebounds, but he continues a season-long struggle shooting the ball. He converted just 4-of-12 field goals and is making just 39% on the season. Steve Blake scored 9 points, dished out 10 assists, grabbed seven rebounds and had two steals.

Hill and Williams spearheaded a strong defensive effort. Hill and Williams blocked three shots and snagged a steal. It was the Lakers’ best defensive effort all season, albeit in a loss.

“The defense played well,” D’Antoni said. “They played better, there were just some little things that separated the two teams tonight.”

Marc Gasol added 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and three steals. Allen scored 12 points.

Darren Jacks is a regular contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @djroxalot.

1-Trade Pau Gasol and a first-round pick to the Hawks for Kirk Hinrich and Josh Smith.

Why the Lakers should do the deal: They get a younger PG with Hinrich who is just 31 and hardly washed up. Hinrich isn’t the fastest PG in the league, but he is a solid veteran and a respected defender. He is the son of a coach and has a high basketball IQ and would be a good player for Mike Brown in his halfcourt system. Hinrich is also a pass-first player and Kobe Bryant wouldn’t have a problem playing with him. He is also a capable outside shooter, making 37.8% of his 3-pointer’s in his career, and last season he made 39.9% between Atlanta and Washington. His career assist-to-turnover ratio is 2.6, which is solid for a PG and an drastic upgrade over what L.A. has this season.

Josh Smith is a younger and more athletic PF than Gasol. He plays great defense and would be a solid third scorer behind Kobe and Andrew Bynum. He can post up, but he can also step outside and hit the three as well.

Pau Gasol has been the subject of trade talks the last four months. (GETTY IMAGES)

Why the Hawks should do the deal: Hinrich has fallen out of favor in Atlanta with Jeff Teague playing well. They are looking to move his contract. Smith needs a change of scenery and Gasol gives the Hawks a top-five PF who could team with Al Horford (when he returns from injury) and give them a better 1-2 punch in the frontcourt.

2-Trade Bynum to Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala and Spencer Hawes.

Why the Lakers should do the deal: Jim Buss really likes Bynum and may not be willing to do it, but this gives the Lakers a lockdown defender in Iguodala. Iggy is also a very good player to run the offense through at the point forward position. He made the All-Star team in the East this season and is averaging 5.4 assists per game. His versatility has been compared to Bulls great Scottie Pippen. Iggy’s playmaking skills will mesh well with Kobe and Gasol, and he’s also a good third scoring option. He’s averaging 12.5 points, but making a career-high 38% on 3-pointers – a definite need for the Lakers because they’ve been awful shooting threes this season. Hawes is a slight downgrade from Bynum, but he is a solid rebounder and passer for a big man. Before getting hurt, he was having a solid season.

Why Philly should do the deal: They get rid of Iguodala and move Evan Turner to the starting lineup. Turner, the Sixers’ first-round pick in 2010, hasn’t been getting much playing time because he has Iguodala in front of him. Bynum is an improvement over Hawes and he’s from New Jersey so it’ll be a homecoming for him. With Elton Brand declining, it makes sense for Philly to upgrade the center position and become better in the low post.

3-Trade Gasol, Luke Walton, and Andrew Goudelock to Philadelphia for Elton Brand, Lou Williams, and Jodie Meeks.

Why the Lakers should do the deal: PG is L.A.’s biggest weakness and they get a fast young PG in Williams. Williams helps L.A. against the quick PGs in the West such as Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Russell Westbrook. Dealing Gasol opens up more shots for Bynum.Meeks is a solid outside shooter that can provide some depth. Getting rid of Walton’s contract would be a huge victory for the Lakers.

Why Philly should do the deal: Losing Williams would be a blow to the Sixers’  backcourt, but they still have starting PG Jrue Holiday and an up-and-coming in Turner. Gasol is a significant upgrade over Brand.

Darren Jacks is a contributor to OneManFastBreak.net. Send him an email to djroxalot@hotmail.com.

Former Philadelphia 76ers star Doug Collins (second from right) has the Sixers off to their best start in 10 years. (US PRESSWIRE)

Philadelphia has been a tortured city when it comes to its sports teams. The Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup final in 2010 and have not won since 1975; a loaded Phillies squad was a heavy favorite to win the 2011 World Series but got eliminated in the first round; and the “Dream Team” Eagles and all its expensive free-agent acquisitions finished a disappointing 8-8 in the NFL.

But have no fear Philly fans because the 76ers are about to embark on a very special season. The Sixers are off to their best start in 10 years, which was also the last time the team went to the NBA Finals. Winning a championship may be a bit far-fetched at this point, but the 2011-12 Sixers are at least showing signs that they are on the rise and ready to fill the huge void after Allen Iverson left town.

There are several reasons for the Sixers’ fast start, but the No. 1 reason has been their defense.

The team has bought into Doug Collins’ defense-first philosophy. Philadelphia is currently holding its opponents to under 86 points per game and 39% from the field. Defense has created more opportunities on offense as the Sixers are averaging 101 points per game and six players are averaging double figures in scoring. And the team’s leading scorer, Lou Williams, doesn’t even start.

Before Collins took over two seasons ago, the Sixers were an underachieving team that didn’t have an identity. They relied on a lot of isolations and forced shots on offense and gave up too many easy shots on defense. But 60-year-old Collins, who was the Sixers’ first overall selection in the 1973 draft, has managed to bridge the generation gap between his old-school ways and his new-school players that the foundation of a championship run starts with a solid defense and balance on offense.

“To me, it doesn’t matter if it’s Andre [Iguodala], Thad [Young] or Spencer [Hawes] stepping up, we’re a team,” said veteran forward Elton Brand, who is only averaging nine points a game but has bought into Collins’ balanced approach. Brand has benefited from the recent play of center Spencer Hawes, who could challenge for Most Improved Player of the Year in 2012. Hawes, who allows Brand a respite on defense, leads the team in rebounds (9.1) and blocks (1.8).

Another player who has bought into Collins’ concept is Andre Iguodala, arguably the Sixers’ best all-around player. Iguodala has accepted the role of defensive stopper, a position he embraced while on the 2010 U.S. national team that won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

With Iguodala, Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young, the Sixers have three players who are averaging close to two steals per game, and creating turnovers plays a big role in triggering fast-break opportunities especially for a team loaded with greyhounds who thrive in the open court.

Young is part of a very active Sixers bench, which also includes leading scorer Williams, sharp-shooter Jodie Meeks and last year’s first-round pick Evan Turner, that have given teams fits because there is not a lot of dropoff between the starters and the bench, and the reserves often are the ones building the leads.

“Their bench is their strength and gave them a huge lift,” said Sacramento Kings coach Keith Smart, whose team lost 112-85 to the Sixers on Jan. 10. Kings guard Tyreke Evans concurred: “They have a great bench. They just put a whipping on us.”

Miami remains the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, but Philadelphia is a team that could make waves in the Atlanta Division and become a huge threat in the playoffs.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastbreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.