The Lakers are still struggling to find consistency but thanks to the heroics of Number 24, they've been able to fend off the Portland Trailblazers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Phil Jackson told Kobe he needed to be more aggressive at the start of the games, rather than trying to facilitate in the first half and then taking over offensively in the second. This game plan hadn't been working so well, as Kobe was being too passive, which caused the Lakers to fall behind early and then they would have to rely solely on Kobe to bring them back in the second half (which we've all seen him do repeatedly). However, the leads were becoming insurmountable - even for the great Number 24.
Kobe responded pretty well to Phil's demands, to say the least. He lit up Portland for 65 points in a 116-111 win. He followed that stellar performance with a 50 point effort against the T-Wolves in another Lakers win. If you're counting, that's 115 points in two games. That's the third highest point total over a two game span in the last 40 years. Only Michael Jordan's 118 (1990) and Kobe's 118 (last year) are better. The awe-inspiring performances this weekend earned Kobe the Western Conference Player of the Week honors.
Here are some of his stats over the past three games:
Points per game - 46.7
Field Goal Percentage - 52.7%
3 Point Percentage - 46.2%
Free Throw Percentage - 88.2%
Oh, and by the way Kobe has earned his reputation back. Don't believe me? Well, millions of fans in the US suggest otherwise as Kobe's jersey is the number one seller in the States. Not too surprising, right? How 'bout this one. He also has the number one selling jersey in China. That's right, China! Not even their benevolent giant Yao Ming could surpass Kobe's popularity.
Next up for Mamba, the woeful Memphis Grizzlies, owners of the worst record in the NBA. Do I smell another 81?
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