Mavericks vs. Lakers: Kobe Bryant's Hot Streak Is Bad Sign for Los Angeles
Kobe Bryant has been dominating the league for the last week with four consecutive 40-point games. He will get a chance to showcase his abilities tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers host the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. His streak should not have fans or teammates smiling.
There seems to be some thought out there that Bryant's recent string of 40-point games is his way of showing that he is better than the seventh-best player in the NBA, and he even made a point of addressing that in a post-game press conference on Jan. 12.
It is great bravado by Bryant, and it gives us plenty to talk about, but it is not something that should get the masses excited.
Remember the last time that he decided he was going to carry a team all by himself? It was 2005-06, when he had 27 40-point games. The team finished the regular season 45-37 before being eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.
This year's Lakers team is headed to a similar fate if Bryant keeps chucking up shots just to prove that he is still the best player in the NBA.
Despite his heroics on the court, the Lakers are 3-1 during the streak. But they have only won by a total of 24 points and have yet to break 100 points.
Opposing teams, especially smart ones like the Mavericks, understand that the Lakers can't hurt them if Bryant is taking 25-30 shots every night because no one else is going to be able to touch the ball enough to support him.
Bryant has made his statement, and we all recognize him as one of the best players in the history of the league, but for the sake of the Lakers this year, he must integrate his teammates more often. He can still average 30 points per game just to show that he can.
If he is still scoring 40 points per game at the end of the month, the Lakers are going to be in serious trouble. Everyone on the team has to step up and take pressure off Bryant, and he has to have enough faith in them to let them make plays.
Being the most dominant player in the NBA is nice, but if you don't have enough trust in the team surrounding you, there is no way that you will win a championship. At the end of the day, that is all Bryant should be concerned about, not making statements to the media.
