Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) passes against Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith (5) during Sunday's game. (Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports) LOS ANGELES – When Kobe Bryant defied Father Time yet again and soared over the Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith for a game-changing, eye-popping dunk on Sunday at Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers star made it clear yet again that he was getting better with age. "The vino," he said in reference to his new nickname and a tribute to his upbringing in Italy, "is out of the barrel." But while 34-year-old Bryant and the Lakers have made things interesting for the final stretch, they're a long ways from popping corks on champagne bottles. The big boys of the NBA have very little reason to fear them just yet. Yes, they have won 13 of their past 18 games, reaching the .500 mark for the first time in 61 days with the win vs. the Hawks on Sunday that pulled them to within 2½ games of playoff position in the Western Conference. But Tuesday's test at the Oklahoma City Thunder will be the sort of game that says more about them than these past six weeks. .500 AGAIN: Lakers finally break even this season Their home win vs. the Thunder on Jan. 27, the one that unofficially kickstarted this turnaround after they beat the Utah Jazz the night before, should give the Lakers and their fans some hope that they could do some damage if they manage to sneak into the playoffs. It was a steady and impressive performance, a one-game showcase of how all this problematic pieces could fit together. But it was also an aberration. The Lakers are a woeful 2-15 this season against the league's top seven teams (the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets), the latest loss against one of the big boys of the NBA coming in a one-sided 119-108 loss at the Nuggets on Feb. 25. Improved record aside, the numbers paint the picture of a team that's playing only marginally better than before with one vital difference: they're executing late in winnable games. During this 18-game turnaround, the Lakers are 9-2 in games decided by nine points or less. They were 5-16 in that category during their first 42 games, and that's where the evidence of significant improvement comes to an end. Their offense that has been good all season is just about the same (105.5 points per 100 possessions before compared to 105.4 in the past 18 games), while the defense that has been porous from the start has had a slight uptick (103.7 points allowed per 100 possessions before compared to 102.9 in the past 18 games). Bryant has been worthy of his new moniker of late, averaging 34.8 points in the last five games while shooting 56.9% overall and 50% from three-point range. NBAARP: 15 oldest players in NBA, including two Lakers If nothing else, the Lakers' ability to minimize the locker room drama recently has been key. Coach Mike D'Antoni said it best before the win vs. the Hawks, when he gave a qualified proclamation that his problematic collection of players were finally on the same page. "It's a big page," he said with a laugh. "It's not a small page. (They are) kind of in the same book. We're kind of in the same book right now. But we're getting closer." Bryant can't write the final chapter by himself, but he may well try. During his five-game tear, he's shooting nearly three shots per game better than his season-long average (23.2 compared to 20.7). The Thunder have been bordering with mediocrity of late, but their win at the Clippers on Sunday was a reminder that they're not going away anytime soon and it's a safe assumption that they'll have revenge on their minds. Beat them again, and maybe, just maybe, the rest of the league should start wondering if the Lakers are for real. Get run off the floor by the younger, more cohesive Thunder, and the Lakers — who are 10-19 on the road this season — should still be seen as nothing more than mediocre. "It's just a challenge; I wouldn't even categorize it as fun," Bryant said of the playoff push. "I was in my coffin a few years ago ... I've got plenty in the tank." Rest assured, it will take every ounce of gas and vino they can muster to continue this comeback. PHOTOS: Kobe Bryant throughout his career Story Highlights
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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/lakers/2013/03/04/los-angeles-lakers-oklahoma-city-thunder-kobe-bryant/1962693/