LA Lakers: Is Kobe Bryant Playing the Best Defense of His Career?

According to some NBA fans and analysts, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has spent the past few seasons earning NBA First Team All-Defense awards based on reputation alone, but how would those same critics explain Kobe and the Lakers defense this year?

The Lakers are fourth in the league and first in the West in points allowed at 90.8 per game, and they they are tied for first in the NBA when it comes to opponents' field goal percentage at 41.7.

Rebounding is another important defensive measure, and the Lakers are currently first in the league at 45.2 per game, which is only a tenth of a rebound off the Indiana Pacers' leading pace.

Lakers head coach Mike Brown has yet to find an offensive rhythm in his first season with the team, but his defense certainly has.

And Bryant deserves plenty of credit for the feat.

We may never again see the energetic and athletic version of Bryant who was a terror in the passing lanes during his early years, but Bryant circa 2012 is just as determined as his younger self, and much wiser.

Before age and knee injuries began to take their toll, Bryant was one of the league's most opportunistic defensive players, and he had the foot speed and fundamental talent to back it up.

Bryant's foot speed has diminished but the fundamentals are still there, and in the face of fading physical attributes Kobe has found a way to compensate by relying on his skill and instincts.

The 2012 version of Bryant cannot rely on his athleticism to bail him out of defensive situations, so he doesn't take as many gambles as he once did.

However, Bryant still has impeccable footwork and defensive technique and he has fully embraced Brown's philosophy, at least on the defensive end of the floor.

Of course critics will point at the Lakers mediocre 15-12 record and offer instances like the Lakers' recent loss to the New York Knicks to prove that Bryant is still an overrated defensive player.

Bryant did get beaten off the dribble a few times against the Knicks, most memorably by point guard Iman Shumpert in the fourth quarter of a tight game, but you can't point to one defensive mistake while refusing to acknowledge Bryant's complete body of work.

The Lakers are not a mediocre team because of their inability to prevent opponents from scoring.

The Lakers' main issue is they can't create enough consistent offense of their own.

The Lakers are eight points per game below last season's scoring average, and while their problems are rooted on the perimeter, you can't blame Bryant.

Bryant and center Andrew Bynum are the only Lakers who seem to completely grasp Brown's offensive schemes. This is illustrated by Bynum's career numbers so far, and the fact that Bryant currently leads the NBA in scoring.

The point guard position has been the Lakers Achilles' heel this season, and until they find someone who can consistently penetrate the opposition's defense while simultaneously establishing a flow to the offense, the results will likely be the same.

The Lakers have managed to become even better defensively than last year, despite their obvious issues at the lead guard position and their improvement begins with a motivated Bryant on the perimeter.

Unfortunately, Bryant can't effectively guard both backcourt positions and initiate the Lakers offense. Unless management can find a solution to this dilemma, one of the best defensive seasons of Bryant's career could be wasted.