Kobe's scoring binge

(Brief article from 2006-2007 season, when Kobe was tearing it up...)

Kobe extends 50 point scoring streak to 3 games

Portland and Minnesota felt it. Now it was time for Memphis to handle the unquestionable truth: When Kobe is on fire, there’s little you can do about it.

After taking the foot off the accelerator during last year's playoffs against Phoenix--and earlier this season as well, it appears Kobe is once again putting his cape on and carrying the Lakers on his back: A modern day Atlas holding Los Angeles on his shoulders.

Considering the output of his last 3 games (65 points on 23-39 shooting against Portland, 50 on 17 makes out of 35 attempts vs. Minnesota and, for good measure, 60 yesterday against Memphis, converting 20 shots from 37 tries), all the hoopla surrounding the early season talk about Kobe becoming more of a facilitator than a scorer is beginning to wane.

As we get closer to the playoffs, Mr. Bryant is shooting for the basketball history books. Let's analyze in more detail his torrid streak:

1) His 3 straight games of 50-plus points is a plateau that had only been conquered by three athletes. You may have heard of them: Elgin Baylor, Wilt and Mike. Now he only needs to have 11 more of these streaks to tie Chamberlain for the all-time mark of 12 times scoring 50-plus in 3 successive games. That’s a testament to how unstoppable a force Mr. Chamberlain was.

2) His newest 60 point effort gave him 4 for his career, tying him for 2nd all-time with his Airness himself (Wilt is far ahead with an astonishing 32). Considering Kobe is only 28, he should edge past Mike in no time.

3) It would only be natural to enquire how well is he doing in the career 50 point game department. How about a grand total of 17 in the regular season (and counting), second only to, yes, you guessed it, Wilt the Stilt--who has over 100, and Air Jordan—with a little more than 30 such extravaganzas.

The good news for the Lakers is that Kobe's torrential deluge of points has coincided with Jack Nicholson's favorite basketball squad posting 3 straight wins, a much needed renaissance after having lost 7 in a row. Considering that Los Angeles is 12-5 when Kobe unleashes a 50 point effort (and 5-1 this year) it's sure to be a good bet to expect more of the same in the remainder of the season.

Taking into account he has averaged 43.8 points in the 5 games following a 50-plus output so far this season, it might not be illusory to expect him pulling out another half century effort out of his trick bag in tonight's game against the Hornets.