No Kobe Bryant? No problem, say fans

Mike Bresnahan covers the Lakers for The Times. Readers’ questions about the Lakers will be answered every Friday at latimes.com/sports.

Question: When Kobe comes back next Tuesday against Golden State, it will be interesting to see if he has learned anything from watching how well this team plays as a TEAM.

I think Kobe wants his team to win [without him], but not so decisively. Kobe would have been a bit happier if he could have said after a loss. “Well, I know my team really needs me and it’s just frustrating.”

-- Harry Schwarz, Agoura Hills

Answer: People had many more comments than questions this week, but I’m still willing to provide responses, so without further ado, let’s dive into our first “Lakers C&R” . . . and try to contain your excitement.

The Lakers went 3-0 without Bryant when nobody gave them a shot at even 1-2. OK, maybe that “nobody” was me.

Seriously, they had lost nine straight in Portland, got drilled by 20 earlier this season against San Antonio and were going into a Utah arena that was the site of 10 consecutive Jazz victories.

This might have been the most impressive stretch of Lakers basketball since the last two games of the NBA Finals last June. Three double-digit victories against teams that would currently be in the playoffs. The Lakers’ offensive spacing was perfect, players were cutting to the basket with precision and the offense would have made Tex Winter smile. I’m still stunned.

Pau Gasol was ridiculous, Lamar Odom was too, and Jordan Farmar played quality ball as a reserve.

And none of those guys had my favorite stat of the three-game streak: Sasha Vujacic had four assists against Utah. That’s right. Four assists! Sasha Vujacic! Even he got into the run-the-offense merriment.

I don’t know what Bryant thought of it all. He didn’t come out of the locker room in Utah during the game and didn’t stick around to talk to reporters afterward.

Maybe he’ll buy into the share-the-ball concept? Nah. I’m thinking 25 or more shots in his first game back.

Q: The Lakers have had the opportunity to blow this [Utah] game open. Instead they are turning the ball over and jacking up threes.

-- Jim L.

A: This might be the silliest e-mail of the season.

It hit my in-box at 7:46 p.m. on Wednesday. The Lakers were beating Utah by, like, 18 when I read it during a timeout.

Again, they were beating Utah handily when this e-mail was sent. In Utah. Without Bryant And without Andrew Bynum. Where the Jazz had been 22-6 this season. In Utah. I’m starting to repeat myself. I need better e-mails. Please.

Q: It was nice to see Lakers fans appreciate well-played basketball [against San Antonio].Ball movement, passing, hard cuts to the basket, defense. It was as if a symphony was played last night with every player moving -- playing -- in unison. An exquisite game of basketball.

-- Don Sparks, Pasadena

A: Now we’re talking.

My man Don here had me reaching for the Beethoven CD.

He’s right. I can’t remember such a charged-up Lakers crowd for a midseason victory over a decent-but-not-great team. Maybe when Bryant scored 81 against Toronto a few years back? Actually, the Raptors weren’t even that good.

It was kind of like watching a third-grade team destroy a fourth-grade team in an after-school basketball game, and I think that’s why fans reacted the way they did.

This was San Antonio, after all. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili.

It wasn’t the Spurs of a few years ago, but it was still the Spurs. An excellent home victory, considering the circumstances.

Q: Brez, meet us at the Swizzle Stick bar, inside the Loews Hotel. We’ll be there by 6:15.

-- Steve Dolinsky

A: Oops. Sorry. That one sneaked in accidentally. I’m meeting up with some friends in New Orleans this weekend . . . because . . . I’m . . . off! That’s right. No All-Star game for me! Woo-hoooo! It’ll be a Mark Heisler-Ben Bolch production for The Times. Yes sir!

Ahem. My apologies. Moving on.

Q: Listen, if the Lakers’ bench can beat the San Antonio Spurs, I think fans can shore up the plans for a downtown celebration now.

-- Jonathan (from Boston) Starr in Los Angeles.

A: Do Celtics fans know Jonathan (from Boston) Starr? I hope not. He might need to change his identity after this.

Then again, he’s not too far off.

When the Lakers got pasted at home by Denver last weekend, I began to wonder if they’d even get out of the Western Conference playoffs. I still have some doubts.

But they rekindled something in their last three games that made me think they’re going to get back to the NBA Finals. If Bryant plays against Golden State, he’ll have had 10 days of rest. That’s kind of scary. A healthy Bryant plus a suddenly confident supporting cast could cause a lot of problems for the West.

I still see Cleveland as a formidable foe in June, but I’d have a date in mind for another Coliseum party if I’m the Lakers, just in case.

Q: So the Kobe-less Lakers are playing so well, chalking up three consecutive wins all by double digits, against difficult opponents, two on the road, all without their star. How come? Well, I have a very simple theory.

Pau, Artest, Fish, Odom, Shannon Brown, Farmar and the others all probably discussed this among themselves: “OK, guys, we gotta get a huge lead as early as possible in the game. Cuz if we keep the score close and we are behind a couple points in the last few seconds, Kobe won’t be there to bail us out and hit the winning shot!”

-- Ronald Kow

A: I guess there’s that theory too. Why not? I’m off to New Orleans.

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