Record may be in way of Bryant’s MVP

Too late for an MVP debate?

After a fourth consecutive game of 50 or more points, Kobe Bryant can be considered a late crasher of a party that already includes Phoenix guard Steve Nash and Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Bryant leads the league with 30.8 points a game, but he pointed out a criterion that probably can’t be altered too drastically this late in the season: team record.

The Lakers, riding a four-game winning streak, have improved to 37-32, but the Mavericks (57-11) and Suns (52-16) are well ahead of them in the standings.

“Your team has to be one of the top teams in the NBA,” Bryant said. “That’s the way it’s been voted on now. You have to honor that and respect that. Our team hopefully will get to that point where we’re playing at an elite level, we’re top team, top two teams in the NBA one day. We get to that point, then maybe I’ll get some consideration for it.”

The nine-time All-Star has been a member of three championship teams and owns a scoring title, but has never won the MVP award. Recently, he downplayed the notion of it.

“Give it to Dirk, give it to Nash,” he told The Times last month. “If it happens, it happens, but it’s not something that I seek out. My main emphasis is not on getting numbers. It’s about getting W’s.”

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Even Bryant understands he can’t shoulder the load forever.

When asked who he considered to be the league’s toughest defender, he parlayed his answer into a possible scenario against the San Antonio Spurs, a likely first-round playoff opponent of the Lakers.

“It would have to be Bruce Bowen of the Spurs,” Bryant said. “Bruce’s Bowen’s such an excellent defender. Very smart, very intelligent.”

Then Bryant elaborated, cognizant that he couldn’t be the lone focus of an attack against the Spurs.

“It’s important when we play them ... this type of strategy wouldn’t work against them. We’d have to do something else.”

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The Lakers received another injury scare when Smush Parker grabbed his left ankle after landing on the foot of New Orleans guard Chris Paul while chasing a rebound late in the third quarter of Friday’s game.

Parker limped off the court and did not return to the game, but said he would play Sunday against Golden State.

“Have I ever missed a game since I’ve been here?” he said.

Parker started all 82 regular-season games last season and had started all 69 this season.

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The Lakers were the first team to play in New Orleans last season after the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson noticed some subtle differences almost a year later.

“It doesn’t smell as badly as it normally does down here,” he said jokingly before taking a more serious note. “It’s great to see it on the rebound.”

Jackson doesn’t consider it a problem that the city is scheduled to host next season’s All-Star game.

“I don’t see why it should be any worse here than anyplace else,” he said, adding that “New Orleans knows how to hold parties. If they know how to hold a Mardi Gras, they certainly know how to hold an All-Star game.”

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com