Kobe Bryant hit the 40 point plateau for the eighth consecutive time against the Portland Trailblazers, and with each basket it seems that Bryant is taking additional steps to carve out his own legacy.

According to Houston Chronicle writer Jonathan Feigan Kobe?s strongest attribute appears to be the same as Michael Jordan?s ? arguably the greatest ever player ? in his early years; his drive.  Earlier in his career Kobe was compared to Jordan, but how people are starting to look at Kobe as a player establishing his own legend, and Kobe?s recent form supports this.

"The point totals are fair (comparison)," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who has coached both. "The type of game is totally different, other than the fact Kobe's size and his spectacular finishes at the basket approximate some of the things Michael did in the past.

"What is there to compare it to right now? That's it. When I go back and think about what people were comparing Michael to when he was doing these types of things, I can't remember. There wasn't anybody. So he's the standard.

"From that standpoint, there's some pride in the fact Kobe can be compared to him, but I don't think it's fair to either player."

Kobe has already passed one of Jordan?s records, with his 12-game streak of 35-point games is the longest since Wilt Chamberlain did it 20 consecutive times in the 1962-63 season.  He passed Jordan at 10.

Bryant will now try to match Jordan's longest run of 40-point games today. Jordan did it nine times early in the 1986-87 season.

"It's a great honor," he said. "An accolade like that is one you can look back at when you retire and say it was a nice accomplishment.

"While you're playing, the only accomplishment is winning games."