Kobe scores 29pts as L.A finishes road trip with 7-2 record

Bynum down eight weeks. Then Kobe scoring 46pts to beat a lottery type team (Seattle). Plus L.A dropping four of five against possible contenders. No, this road trip was not the kind of test L.A was looking for to replace itself in the top of the playoffs race. A Wild trip: 14 days  9 games  8 000+ miles to go. 
Los Angeles failed to win the first game at Detroit despite Kobe's 39pts but a career high 11 tunovers. 

THEN, the big news. Pau Gasol is now Kobe's teammate... that's no longer the case for Kwame Brown. Kobe responds to the blockbuster trade by ripping the Raptors for 46pts and outscoring the Wizards in the 1st quarter two days later. 

Then here came Gasol. Quickly finding his role in the Lakers' attack, he scored 24pts in a 15pt win at New Jersey despite Kobe recording only 6pts due to a finger injury. An injury which will lead to a costly turnover by KB in the loss vs the Hawks. Fortunately, it will be the last. Playing with a dislocated finger, Kobe lead L.A to fourth straight wins, scoring 36, 33, 31 & 29. Gasol averaged 19pts & 8rbds since joining his new team. 

Finishing the longest trip in franchise history with a wopping 7-2 record, L.A is now 3rd in the West. Entering the all star break, L.A is 35 - 17 - compared to a 30-24 record at the same time last year. If Kobe's finger goes well and with Bynum in the lineup again in a couple of weeks, L.A can truly compete for the championship fo the first time since Shaq left.