Kobe Bryant Scores 60 Against Memphis

All it took was Phil Jackson to tell Kobe to unleash and take them to the playoffs, and Kobe Bryant has unleashed the fury. After a conversation about a week ago in which the Los Angeles Lakers' head coach Phil Jackson told Kobe Bryant to stop playing team ball and lead them to the playoffs, Kobe Bryant has done just that.

Kobe Bryant became just the fourth player in NBA history Thursday night to have scored three 50-point games in a row as he dropped 60 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. He joins the list with NBA legends Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. So what does this mean?

There is no question that Bryant is arguably the best player in the NBA right now. There is no other player that can turn it on like him when it counts. He can adjust his game to the type of opponent that is guarding him and take control. If a bigger guy is guarding him, he can quickly drive past them. If a smaller guy is guarding him, it is nothing to shoot over. He is simply unstoppable.

It all started a few nights ago when he scored a season high 65 points against the Portland Trailblazers, which lead many people to say it was against the Trailblazers. He followed that performance up with a 50 point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Again, a team that has a sub-500 record the critics say. Then Thursday night he drops 65 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Is he the greatest scorer to ever live?

There is no doubt that he is doing this against sub-500 teams, but to score 50+ three straight games is unreal. Not to mention that the Lakers are on a three game winning streak since Bryant's outbursts, which helped end a 7 game losing streak.

What is even more amazing is that Bryant isn't doing this by shooting 60 times a game. On Thursday, he shot 20-37 from the field, including 3-7 from the three-point line and 17-18 from the free-throw line. These are the kinds of numbers coaches dream about from players.

So how long can Kobe keep this barrage of performances coming? For the Lakers' sake, hopefully for at least another 14 games to the lead them to the playoffs. Aside from Kobe Bryant, there hasn't been much of a performance from any other player.