Kobe Bean

The Lakers as a whole have not looked particularly good, let alone historic-level good as some anticipated. Sunday against the Detroit Pistons helped, but was far from an impressive showing.

Dwight Howard has put up some terrific numbers, but he is not nearly as explosive as he was early last season. He also is a step slow. And while he physically looks like Adonis, Howard is clearly out of shape. Despite all that, he’s averaging 23 and 10 and shooting 69 percent.

Steve Nash looked like anything but Steve Nash in the two games before his injury. There’s been calls for Mike Brown’s head on a stake. There’s been hullabaloo over handing the keys of the car over to Nash who from 2002 to 2010 orchestrated the NBA’s best offense.

And while I recently wrote the obituary of Seven Seconds or Less, Nash will adapt to the Princeton offense. When that point comes, the pick and rolls will follow.

I understand why people want that. A big part of me wants that (and I promise you we will get that this season). But let’s not forget that Nash is 38-years-old and has never won a championship as the focal point of a team. Talk about his ability to carry mediocre talent (last year’s Suns squad), or quibble about unfair suspensions, Robert Horry, rotten luck, or what have you, but Nash hasn’t even been to the Finals.

That’s fact.

On the other hand, Kobe Bryant has. Seven times. And on five of those trips he came home with a ring.

No one should forget that Nash was brought in to make life easier on Bryant. In return, Bryant now shoulders the burden of leading Nash to the promised land.

So far, he’s living up to his end of the bargain.

This is the Bryant we’d always hoped for—efficient. And he’s not only efficient, he’s Kobe Bryant efficient. Meaning, otherworldly.

Check his percentages: 59 from the field, 53 from beyond the arc, and 95 from the line.

He’s hitting spot-up threes. He’s moving brilliantly without the ball. He’s backdoor cutting for layups (Gasol is fantastic at hitting guys on the move). He’s even crashing the offensive glass. About the only complaint with Bryant (and it is a big one) is his unusually high turnover rate.

Part of that is adjusting to new teammates. Part is adjusting to a new offense. But when those parts are figured out, this version of Bryant—who will most likely see his minutes drop once Nash returns, could average 27 points in only 32 minutes of action.

The percentages will undoubtedly fall, especially from outside.

But then again, this is Bryant we’re talking about.

Bryant with Nash, Howard, and Pau Gasol.

What if his percentages don’t fall?

Lakers fans need to relax. This team is going to be filthy good.