Anyone who needed any more proof that Kobe Bryant is the best player on the best team in the NBA should have watched the Lakers second straight beat down of the Denver Nuggets. The Black Mamba went for 49 last night and, despite an off night from both Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, the Lakers cruised to a 15 point win over Denver at Staples.

Memo to J.R. Smith; don’t run your mouth to Kobe. Smith and Bryant got into it late in the game last night after Kobe had already done him for 46 and the Lakers were shifting to cruise control. The best part about the situation was the bomb that Bryant dropped on Smith during the game after Smith had already gotten a few shots out on Kobe. “Better learn not to talk to me. You shake a tree, a leopard is gonna fall out.” No joke, Kobe. Not only is it a leopard, but the cat is wearing a 24 jersey. Even DeShawn Stephenson is embarrassed for J.R. Smith right now.

Up 2-0 in the series, the Lakers look like the best team in the league and look like they’ve got this one wrapped up. The Nuggets are picking up stupid technical fouls late in games and look more like they should have Thuggets written across their powder blue threads. I thought AI and Melo were gonna give me something better than this mess. I figured two all-star starters could make a series out of the Lakers. Instead, the Lakers are beating Denver at their own offensive game and showing the Nugs a thing or two on how to play defense.