Kobe scores 48 and hits the game winner in OT

L.A has finaly done it. Entering this season, most of analysts didn't rank the Lakers very high in the standings. With all the Kobe trade talks and no major moves during the offseason - except the return of Fisher- L.A was a 7th or 8th seed for sure.

But after 35+ games, L.A is number 1 in the West. Who could have imagine a better scenario....BUT who could have though that in the same time, the team would lost his promising lethal weapon for about two months.
Bynum is out and like I said yesterday, don't expect Kobe to average his 26pts like he as done since the beginning of the season.

Last night, playing for the 2nd time in as many days, Kobe scored a season high 48pts and captured his effort by hitting the game winner with 4 seconds remaining in OT. L.A won 123-121 in Seattle, its seventh straight victory.

Kobe made 21 of 44 shots in his 87th 40pt game of his career - tying Elgin Baylor for the 3rd most ever. Odom had 14rbds & 7asts but missed 12 of his 15 shots, finishing with only 6pts. Brown moved into the starting lineup for Bynum and Turiaf served as his backup. Both combined for 24pts 12rbds & 3blks - similar to Bynum's numbers in the last games.

The Lakers wil try to figure out how to stay on top in the standings as they'll play sequentially vs Phoenix, Denver, San Antonio, Dallas and Cleveland, before playing nine straight games on the road.