Spotlight on Kobe Bryant: Sure, his scoring numbers are down, but he's arguably in the best place he has been in his career - the No. 1 option on a team with many options. With Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom, Bryant doesn't have to score 30 for Los Angeles to win (he entered Thursday averaging 24.3). Meanwhile, his turnovers are down and his leadership is peaking. ------------- NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: Center Nene leads the NBA in field-goal percentage (.654), and he's not just scoring in the paint - the big guy hit numerous midrange jumpers in Wednesday's win. ? Carmelo Anthony scored just 13 points in Denver's Nov. 1 loss to the Lakers. ? PETA has written a letter to Nuggets management, requesting that the Nuggets no longer use live animals during skits with the team's mascot, Rocky. PETA received complaints after Rocky used baby tigers and kittens to interact with the fans at a Nov. 7 home game, according to a PETA representative. Lakers: Entering Thursday, Lakers' opponents shot just 41.5 percent from the field, the worst of any Western Conference team's foes. ? Entering Thursday, Pau Gasol, the Lakers' center, was averaging 17.6 points per game, the same amount he averaged as a rookie. In his eight seasons, he never has averaged less than 17.6 but never more than than 20.8. ? Also, Gasol averages 10.1 rebounds per game, and if that holds up, it will be the highest average of his career.
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
