Kobe Bryant: 37 Shots, 1 Assist. He's Sounding Increasingly Delusional, Too

Kobe Bryant scored 39 points Tuesday in a narrow loss to the Phoenix Suns, but it took him 37 shots. Worse yet? Bryant finished with just one assist. It’s difficult for a player to take 37 shots and have just one assist – the feat has only been accomplished six times in NBA history.

Five of them lost.

Kobe thinking he can will the Lakers to victory by jacking up shots and leading the NBA in scoring is very 2006-2007. That was the year he averaged an NBA-best 31.6 ppg … and the Lakers were bounced in the first round by the Phoenix Suns. A year before, he scored 81 points in a regular season game against Toronto, averaged 35.4 ppg … and the Lakers also went nowhere in the playoffs that year.

At 0-5, Kobe is so delusional, he actually said this: “Just as easily as we lost five in a row, we can turn around and win five in a row.”

Next up for the Lakers, who are dead last in the NBA in points per game allowed, and near the bottom in assists and rebounds:

Nov 9 vs Charlotte
Nov 11 @ Memphis
Nov 12 @ New Orleans
Nov 14 vs San Antonio
Nov 16 vs Golden State
Nov 18 @ Atlanta
Nov 19 @ Houston
Nov 21 @ Dallas
Nov 23 vs Denver
Nov 26 vs Memphis
Nov 28 vs Minnesota
Nov 30 vs Toronto

Five wins in a row? I’m not sure the Lakers get out of November with five wins. I think three is much more realistic. Also – there are two 3-games-in-4-days tests ahead. If Kobe doesn’t start to dial it back, will he diminish his – gasp! – trade value come February?