During the first half of the 2010-11 season, the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers looked complacent and even a bit old and tired.
They had a habit of winning a few games in a row, then going on a short losing streak and even losing games to some of the worst teams in the league.
Coming out of the All-Star break, L.A. was 38-19, which was a solid record, but it left lots to be desired.
After defeating the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks in their first post-All-Star contest, the Lakers traveled north to take on the Portland Trail Blazers, a team they usually lost to in the Rose Garden Arena.
With the team needing badly to build momentum, Kobe Bryant stepped things up.
After holding back for a good part of the season, he gave Portland 37 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals, and some clutch plays that gave the Lakers a 106-101 overtime win.
This win helped spark an eight-game winning streak and a span in which Los Angeles won 17 of 18 games.
