Lakers finally start LeBron James at center, and he rewards them with a triple-double in victory over Rockets

LeBron's production without a traditional center on the court this season has been terrific

The Los Angeles Lakers are under .500 and scraping the bottom of the basketball barrel for a win right now. They finally got one on Tuesday -- 132-123 over the Houston Rockets -- to snap a five-game losing skid. 

LeBron James posted a triple-double. So did Russell Westbrook. Carmelo Anthony and Malik Monk combined for 49 points while hitting seven of their 15 3-pointers. 

Take this with a big grain of "it was against the Rockets" salt, but the Lakers (17-18) got good looks all night. The floor was about as spaced as a Lakers lineup can be in support of Westbrook and James, the latter of whom got his first official start of the season at center. This will not be a viable option once Anthony Davis returns, but right now, LeBron and Russ without a big man on the court is very clearly the best option.