Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant's Run Exemplifies Unmatched Will for Perfection

Criticize Kobe Bryant all you want about the number of shots he takes per game.

Sure, it can get quite annoying for a Lakers fan when Bryant tries to take over a game and he absolutely fails like he did against Denver a week and a half ago or on Christmas against Chicago.

However, Kobe generally uses these failures to motivate himself for next time. He's never fazed by adversity and he has amnesia when it comes to bad games. 

He's now had two consecutive 40-point games. Ever since his debacle in Denver, where he only made six out of his 28 attempts, Bryant has averaged 36.7 points per game and the Lakers are 5-1. 

That being said, last night Kobe showed signs of the guy who tries too hard, when he hit a brick on a potential game-winning shot at the end of the fourth. He also missed a big shot which Andrew Bynum cleaned up in overtime.

It's not always going to be perfect, but most of the time, Kobe's going to be successful. That's what he has shown in the last six games.

He's also shown, for the millionth time, how much he detests failure. The way he has exploded in the last six games has been remarkable. He hasn't looked like the old cripple many have portrayed him to be. His killer instinct has been exemplified through his dynamic dunks. It's amazing to see Kobe have that kind of passion left in the tank. With a banged-up wrist, he's completing reverse alley-oops.

He is what he is. He's going to be a "ball hog," but he is well aware that it's best for the team. 

Kobe's desire to take over can be best compared to Brett Favre's. He's going to throw that interception once in awhile and drive fans nuts, but most of the time he's going to make the play. 

That's how Kobe is.

Nothing has changed this season from the opener against the Chicago Bulls until today. Kobe still tries to have control of the ball most of the time. Nothing has changed except the results. 

Is he more focused? Is he more driven by the criticism? Is his wrist feeling better?

Who knows?

Perhaps it's his presence of mind to step up his game with Josh McRoberts out with injury and Andrew Bynum struggling. 

Before McRoberts hurt his big toe in Denver, he was providing a major impact for the Lakers on both sides of the ball. He works hard. He gets rebounds. He's a team player. 

His absence has made Bynum's job more difficult. Despite being the hero at Utah, he didn't have a particularly good game. He hasn't had 10 rebounds in the last two games. He's shot 38.6 percent from the field in the last four games, which is atrocious for a big man. 

Kobe sees this and he knows he has to pick up the slack. When he knows he has to make up for other players' struggles or injuries, he kicks it up a notch like he has in the last six games.

He still needs some help, and he's been getting it from Pau Gasol, who has been stellar during the Lakers' win streak.

It seems like the nights when Lakers fans bang their heads on the table saying, "Stop shooting, Kobe!" are when guys like Bynum and Gasol are stepping up huge for the team. Rather than utilizing his teammates more efficiently, Kobe still tries to take over, even though it's not his best night on the floor.

Kobe knows basketball games are won based on team efforts and, more times than not, he senses when it's not his night on the floor and tries to help his team in other ways like he did in Game 7 against the Boston Celtics. 

That being said, he's still Kobe. He's going to have that inner burn to put up 40 every night, and it's a blessing for Lakers fans that he's showing that has plenty left in the tank.

Follow Andre Khatchaturian on Twitter (@AndreKhatch)