Not everyone loves the new and improved Kobe

It has taken me awhile to buy into this whole Kobe the Savior routine this season because if He really is the Savior, then personally, I’ve got some repenting to do.

Nike apparently has no doubts, the newest commercial appearing over the weekend featuring Kobe and several other NBA stars dressed in white and marching forward atop the headline: “The Second Coming.”

I watched both NFL football games Sunday, and can’t imagine a month of NBA basketball being anywhere near as exciting -- so telling me it’s better for the Lakers to keep the best player in the game under wraps for three quarters before the Savior goes to work makes me wonder why this is being applauded by so many.

But if you go with the prevailing opinion around here that Kobe Bryant has suddenly matured and become the coachable player Phil Jackson never thought possible at one time, you can make the argument right now he’s the NBA’s most valuable player for where he’s placed the Lakers in the standings without Lamar Odom.

That would mean, though, getting past Jackson’s public declaration to a trusted Chicago columnist years ago that Bryant had been known for sabotaging his high school games so he could come on strong at the end of each game and win the day.

EVERYONE LOVES a hero making the last shot, and Kobe loves to be loved. That’s why a few selected hugging TV types have such a good relationship with him.

But in looking at this unselfish transformation, are we talking about the consummate team player for three quarters who then does whatever is necessary, or are we looking at some kind of laid-back Clark Kent or Don Diego de la Vega, who knows all along the common folk won’t be up to it, and it’s only a matter of time before he dons the cape or mask to save the day?

From what I can remember, Superman and Zorro never overlooked any of their opponents, certainly not losing to the likes of a Memphis or New Orleans, so there are indications our Savior might be more human at times than some think.

But in what has become a familiar pattern, Kobe now begins each game taking a measured number of shots, playing the role of facilitator instead -- getting his teammates involved. Yeah, let’s make sure Smush Parker gets his shots.

THIS MAKES for boring basketball and a reason to lower ticket prices if the best player in the game is not going to go after 81 from the start.

For some reason Laker fans have bought into this, and today I will get e-mail from those making the case it’s just as enjoyable watching Andrew Bynum develop and Luke Walton, Parker and Brian Cook getting hot as Kobe going haywire.

I will remind them what happened Monday night, the Warriors putting on a first-quarter show and in the process irritating Bryant, who decided to become more aggressive offensively -- scoring 10 points, including a pair of three-pointers to give fans their only reason to cheer.

The way the Warriors were playing defense, he could have gone for 25 in the quarter -- on his way to 100, and now that would have been entertainment. But instead he controlled himself.

For the next seven minutes, that left Vlad, Turiaf, Sasha, Farmar and Evans on the court, and suddenly they started playing the organ music louder. Something to entertain the crowd, which had every reason to revolt, or be revolted.

Laker fans, though, have been convinced the only way the Lakers can win is if Kobe remains supportive of his teammates. I had no idea that many people in L.A. read Jackson’s books.

The fact that it appears Bryant has bought into it is the real kicker, and so now in every game it’s just a matter of when the Savior chooses to turn it on. Monday, he egged on the crowd with 11 more points in the second quarter. The fans loved it.

It seems as if it would be more exciting if the greatest scorer in the game remained the greatest scorer in the game from start to finish, but everyone now seems to be in agreement the Lakers can’t win playing that way. If winning is that important to you people, OK, but it just doesn’t seem like as much fun.

JUST IMAGINE how good the Lakers would be if they had their cake-loving Kwame Brown, and he could play too.

THE RAIDERS hired 31-year-old Lane Kiffin, a setback for the seventh-grade flag football coach at St. Francis of Assisi in Yorba Linda who thought Al Davis might be going there next.

THE GENEROSITY of people continues to amaze. Reader David Tyler sent in a $200 check for Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA this week. Monday, TV stage manager John Reynolds stepped forward before the Lakers’ game in Staples and added another $200, prompting a local TV personality, who wished to remain anonymous, to match Reynolds’ donation. No, it wasn’t Fred Roggin; he’d have to go to a Lakers game to make such a donation.

I’VE ADMIRED for years the incredible singing talent of youngster Joelle James, who has sung the national anthem at a number of local events, including for the Angels in the playoffs at age 12. Word comes from the Angels now that she not only auditioned for “American Idol” but was one of fewer than 20 selected from a pool of about 15,000 in Seattle to appear on the show. Keep an eye out for her.

TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Sarah:

“Why have you been so quick, and wrong, to label David (Posh) a ‘benchwarmer?’ Name me another ‘benchwarmer’ who has played in over 90 games for his country, played for two of the biggest clubs in the world, had more assists.... “

I can’t even name another soccer player.

T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.