Kobe Bryant and 10 Burning NBA Players Ready to Light the League on Fire

We all know that Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has been lighting teams up as of late, and the way he's playing, he will continue to do so.

In the last five Lakers games, Bryant has averaged 36.6 points per game, easily the most in the NBA in that span. Miami's LeBron James is second to Bryant, averaging 28.4 during the same span.

While we know what to expect from those two superstars, let's take a look at some other guys that are on a hot streak and ready to light the NBA up. Some have been hot all season long, and some are just riding a hot streak over the past week or so.

Let's take a look at who's ready to light the NBA on fire.

Monta Ellis

Ellis has been doing it all season and can score on anyone. During the Warriors' past five games, he's averaged 28 points per night and will keep riding that streak into his first All-Star appearance.

Josh Smith

Smith is very hot for the Hawks. He's averaging just a shade over 16 points per game, but in his last five games, he's dropping it in at a 24 points-per-game clip.

With no Al Horford in the lineup, Atlanta coach Larry Drew is going to need increased production from Smith.

Dwight Howard

Howard's been held under 20 points in six of Orlando's 11 games this season, but you wouldn't know it after his 45-point outburst against the Golden State Warriors Thursday night. Howard is on a five-game stretch in which he's averaging close to 24 points per night.

I'd expect Superman to get things rolling again.

Tyreke Evans

In Sacramento's first six games of the season, Tyreke Evans scored over 20 points just once and had games of four, nine and eight points.

Since then, though, he's been very hot and has averaged 21.2 points over his past five contests. He's starting to regain his form from his rookie season and could turn this streak into a decent 2012 season.

Russell Westbrook

Kevin Durant is averaging 25.0 points per game during the Thunder's last five-game stretch, but it's point guard Russell Westbrook that has gotten hot.

Westbrook was up and down during the Thunder's first seven games of the season, averaging slightly under 17 points per game. But he has since caught fire and averaged 21 points per night over his last five, including games of 25, 30 and 22 in three of his last four.

Chris Bosh

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are consistent contributors to the Miami Heat attack, but they also need solid production from Bosh, and the Heat are getting it.

He was averaging slightly over 15 points per game before Miami's recent five-game stretch that has seen him average 20.6 per night and raise his season average to 19.4 per night.

Al Jefferson

Jefferson scored only 11 points in Utah's loss to the Lakers on Wednesday night. But before that, he was on a five-game stretch that saw him average close to 23 per night.

His 18.7 points-per-game average so far is better than his 15.9 for his career and is just going to keep increasing if he plays at this level.

Greg Monroe

Monroe averaged just over 10 points per game as a rookie, but he appears ready to take his game to the next level after a 32-point outburst Thursday night.

He's averaging 18.4 points during his recent stretch, and if Detroit keeps feeding him the ball, he could be in for big things.

Kyrie Irving

With all of the Ricky Rubio talk, Irving is quietly lighting things up.

He's scored a solid 18.6 points per game during the last five games, which include three consecutive 20-plus-point games.

Rudy Gay

Gay could be rounding back into form after his 26-point performance against the Knicks on Thursday.

He's averaged right around 20 per contest during the Grizzlies' last five games, and Memphis really needs him to step up on the offensive end.