Armed with a favorable schedule to start the season, including just four games on the road until mid-December, the Lakers are poised to storm out of the gate in defense of their NBA Championship. With five wins in their first six, that is just what is happening. But Kobe & Company are not making bettors very happy, dropping their first five against the spread before Friday night's 114-98 win against the Grizzlies as 9-point chalk.