Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE
Hard to believe Kobe Bryant can fly under the radar but he is. Of course he just happens to be the best player on a .500 team so its not like we’re talking about a team with title hopes or anything…oh right…we are…
The Lakers very public struggles have certainly overshadowed what could be the best season of Kobe Bryant’s storied career.
Through 12 games Bryant is assaulting the league the most refined and efficient effort we’ve seen from him. Amazingly Bryant is top’s in scoring while shooting an unheard of 53% from the field. Doubt that will keep up but if so it would be far and away the best he’s ever shot the ball. Same goes for his 41% clip from deep and an astounding 87% from the foul line.
Perhaps even more impressive than Bryant’s refined ability to score is his emergence as a true play maker. In 7 of 12 games this season Kobe has tallied 5 or more assists including 11 dimes during his 18th career triple-double. Bryant has really upped his game in the absence of Steve Nash.
Of course there is only one thing that matters when it comes to Kobe and that’s winning. All his inspired efforts will continue to go unnoticed if the Lake Show can’t start stringing together W’s. This team isn’t good enough to sneak into the playoffs and shock the world as an 8 seed. Currently that’s the exact battle the Lakers find themselves in with a 6-6 record, jockeying for position at the bottom of the Western Conference playoff ladder.
You’d expect that to change once this coaching change has time to settle. You’d also expect some MVP love to come Kobe’s way if his play can inspire this team to turn things around in epic fashion. Bryant will surely settle for another ring over another MVP any day. If that happens it will be impossible to ignore what could do down as Bryant’s best ever year of ball.