NBA Playoffs 2012: Los Angeles Lakers Are Peaking at Right Time

The Los Angeles Lakers may be playing their best basketball of the season without Kobe Bryant.

Without (intentionally) starting a controversy here, when the Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks in overtime Sunday, they moved to 4-1 without their superstar. 

This four-game winning streak could not come at a better time. With five games left the Lakers are battling their crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers to preserve their Pacific Division supremacy.

The Lakers now hold a one-and-a-half game lead on the Clippers with just over a week to go in the season.

As long as the Lakers can stay hot, look for them to make another deep postseason run.

It's a bit of a novelty that the Lakers are playing better without their team leader and best player.

This year Kobe has scored a league best 28.1 PPG to go with 4.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds per contest. Despite predictions that Bryant would slow down in his 15th season, he has taken a larger role than ever in the offense, averaging 23 shots per game, his highest mark in five years.

The Lakers are playing well without Bryant not because there are more shots to go around, but rather because they are being forced to come together as a team.

Andrew Bynum is becoming the dominate force he was always destined to be, averaging 20.4/12.8/1.6 over his last ten games with a 30 rebound outburst against the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs. 

Pau Gasol is also averaging 20 and 10 during this stench, and the Lakers' seven-footers are starting control the paint. 

Although most Laker fans were sad to see Derek Fisher go, Ramon Sessions could be a reason the Lakers are a contender in the Western Conference. 

In 18 games with the Lakers, Sessions has averaged 14 points and almost seven assists. Unlike Fisher he has ability to create and facilitate off the dribble.

The Lakers were crushed by the Phoenix Suns 125-105 on the road in the first game Kobe missed, but since then the Lakers have rattled off four straight wins including an impressive road victory over the Spurs.

No, Gregg Popovich was not resting his players again—he'd done that the night before. The Lakers actually went on the road and beat someone.

The team has struggled on the road this year, posting a 14-16 mark. At home, however, the Lakers are a different team, winning 25 out of 31 at Staples Center.

They have three road games left including one more in San Antonio with stops in Golden State and Sacramento.

Yet the biggest test may be at home April 22 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers have lost both of their previous matchups against the West's best team and a win could increase their momentum going into the playoffs.

Bryant may also be back for that Sunday game. Reports say the Laker star will be back before the end of the year.

So the Lakers have won four games in a row, and seven out of their last nine, but don't be ready to crown them NBA champions.

The Lakers are no longer the kings of the Western Conference and despite their recent success are not playoff favorites.

That being said the Lakers are hitting their stride at the right time and playing great team basketball without their star player. Once Kobe gets back it's unclear if the offensive dynamic will change, but the team now has the confidence to win without him.

One bonus for the Lakers is they have playoff and NBA Finals experience. Aside from Bryant, Gasol and Bynum both have big game experience, and the same can be said for Metta World Peace.

Since Bryant's absence, the 12-year veteran has been a catalyst on offense averaging 17 PPG, well above his 7.4 average.

So are the Lakers poised for another NBA championship? Realistically no, but with the team playing well and Bryant returning from injury, the Lakers have a fighting chance to make the conference finals.