News and notes

ATLANTA -- The Lakers' renewed commitment to defense during their seven-game winning streak had reporters clustered around assistant coach Chuck Person today at practice at Philips Arena. Person inherited the job as defensive guru that was essentially left open after Kurt Rambis departed to coach the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2009. Person called center Andrew Bynum "the captain of the defense."

Here's something to think about in the wake of Sunday's blowout victory over the Spurs: the Lakers have road victories this season at San Antonio, at Oklahoma City, at Denver, at Boston, at New York, at New Orleans, at Portland and at Memphis. That's not bad.

Here's something else to chew on: the Lakers need to go 12-6 in their final 18 regular-season games in order to match last season's record of 57-25. That's good, too.

Kobe Bryant is 12 points shy of tying Moses Malone for sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 27,409. ... The Lakers have lost three in a row against the Hawks in Atlanta. ... The Lakers beat the Hawks by 24 points Feb. 22 at Staples Center.