Advertisement
June 16, 2009
All right, NBA fans. He did it.
Kobe got his ring without Shaq. Many said he never would. Many doubted his ability to deliver as “The Man” for the Los Angeles Lakers.
But a year after taking LA to the Finals and losing to Paul Pierce and the Celtics, Kobe made a return trip to the big stage and walked away with some serious hardware: NBA championship trophy, Finals MVP trophy, fourth ring of his career.
Like it or not, Kobe’s back on top and well on his way to becoming one of the greatest the game has ever seen.
And that brings me to the topic of this blog. Now that the NBA season is over and all of the ties to former Jayhawks must be put to bed for the offseason, I wanted to leave you with the one debate that has dominated NBA chat rooms and chatter boxes all season.
Who’s better: Kobe or LeBron?
I pose this question as a way to start a healthy debate. I won’t bog you down with the statistics that any of us can look up on some website or another. I won’t remind you what Kobe’s done in his career or what LeBron has yet to do.
All I’ll ask is the simple question... Who’s better? Kobe or LeBron?
To get things going, I’ll give you my answer.
Regardless of age, mileage or any of those other extenuating factors that come into play here, I’m going with Kobe.
I acknowledge that LeBron, all 6-8, 250 pounds of him, is a superior athlete to Kobe. But a freak athlete does not a basketball player make.
LeBron’s good. Real good. He has a chance to be great. But he’s not yet.
Kobe is. He’s won at the highest level. He’s played the part of role player and go-to guy. He’s been a wide-eyed rookie full of bounce and brass and a cut-throat veteran with an assassin’s eye. Every step of the way he’s been a basketball player in the truest sense of the term.
His jump shot, even when it’s off, is pure. His handles have improved in each of his 12 seasons. His court vision and competitveness have skyrocketed in recent years. He’s even become a better teammate and a more patient superstar.
Kobe might not be the pass-first playmaker that all of his critics demand he should be. He might not defer to teammates as much as he should and might not fill up the stat sheet in assists, rebounds or steals the way people would like. But in the one stat that matters most — winning — Kobe gets the job done year in and year out.
I don’t care who Kobe Bryant is as a person. I don’t tune in to see him interact with friends or take his wife out on dates. I watch him because of his ability to play ball. And, from where I sit, there’s not a better player on the planet.
Comments
patton6 (anonymous) says...
Reasonable minds can always differ, but how anyone can watch these two guys play and think Kobe is better (right now) makes no sense to me. And if the eyes don't tell you that, I'd ask you to go down the line with a player by player comparison of the Cavs and Lakers.
June 16, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EnviroHawk7 (anonymous) says...
LeBron.
June 16, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
d_prowess (anonymous) says...
Since we are talking in the now, I will go with Kobe. He is just better at winning games when they have to be won. Both can score in bunches, but Kobe has the definite edge when it comes to creating his own shot and finishing in the clutch. That puts him on the top of my list... for now. LeBron might become a better player in a year or two, but I am not thinking future. I am talking now.
June 16, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eddiesuttonschoolofdriving (anonymous) says...
As much as I dislike him, my vote is Kobe. Kobe has to defend the other teams top offensive player on a daily basis - a task LeBron only occasionally gets - and he's damn good at it. That alone would get him my vote, but his offensive game is more polished than LeBron's as well and he is a more reliable go-to guy in the final minute of a game. The fact that we're even comparing the two is pretty amazing, considering how many more miles Kobe has on his legs than LeBron - even though he's hardly old, Kobe has played an amazing amount of minutes. Hope LeBron holds up as well.
June 16, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justanotherfan (anonymous) says...
I was in the Lebron camp for the last couple of years, but last summer's Olympics changed my mind. I was one of the few who stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to watch the Gold medal game between the USA and Spain (great game, BTW).
The game was on the line, Spain had closed to within two in the fourth quarter. Coach K called a timeout. Out of the timeout, the sequence went something like this. Kobe drove into the lane and hit a tough banker. Kobe rebound and push, hits Deron Williams, who drains a three. USA gets the ball back after another Spain miss, Kobe hands off to Dwight Howard for a dunk. After a Rudy Fernandez three gives Spain new life, Kobe snuffs that rally out with a three point bomb of his own to push the margin back to nine. In that flurry after it got cut to two, Kobe scored five points and assisted on the other two USA baskets, plus grabbed a rebound. Then, when Spain cut the lead to five with under four minutes to go, Kobe hit an absolute bomb (out further than 25 feet) and converted the four point play that broke Spain's heart.
On a team with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and other NBA all stars, Kobe was the true alpha dog.
That settled it for me. Kobe is the best player in the world, period. Lebron is the most physically gifted, with his size, strength, speed, agility, athleticism, etc. But when it comes to playing the game, no one is better than Kobe.
June 16, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AlBerg (anonymous) says...
LeBron hands down. Tait talks about Kobe having won more. Well let's ask this: Where do you think the Lakers would be without Kobe? Still in the playoffs. They have Gasol, Fisher, Bynum, Odom, and a few more role players that made plays when Kobe didn't. That's why the Lakers won the championship. On the other hand, where would the Cavs be without LeBron? They would be a top 5 lottery team. The reason the Cavs didn't win is because teams could double team LeBron and that would shut down the Cavs. No one except LeBron could make plays on the Cavs. Fisher, Gasol, and Odom made plays whenever the Magic even attempted to double team Kobe. LeBron had to hit his own buzzer beater to beat the Magic. LeBron is just on another level as a basketball player than most. Kobe may have more championships but put a player who was an All-Star BEFORE playing with LeBron on the Cavs (which the Cavs have no one), and LeBron would produce championships. Put a Dwight Howard type player with LeBron, like Kobe had with Shaq, and LeBron would make a dynasty. Except Kobe was Shaq's Robin and LeBron will never be anyone's Robin.
June 16, 2009 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truehawk93 (anonymous) says...
LeBron...
June 16, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truehawk93 (anonymous) says...
Kobe would not be what he is today without Shaq!!
Fisher hit some key, clutch shots that paid dividends for the Lakers. Goofy Gasol is a seasoned big man that grew so much over the last few years. Ariza made some really nice shots and Odom snagged some key rebounds/shots too.
Lastly, the Magic were good, but they weren't championship good. The better team won. The Lakers outmatched them overall. Individuals don't win championships, but teams when championships! Kobe didn't win squat.
June 16, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...
They are both equally over-hyped in a market desperate to find "another Michael Jordan."
June 16, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
Welll.....im perhaps biased on this... but when you compare guys game.... i tend to choose the more all around talent..... and that is hands down Lebron.
infact..... the only area i would choose kobe over lebron is ... pure scorer....
Lebron's the better player, the better teammate, ( he'll be a better champion )better passer, better rebounder, better shot blocker, Lebron has more upside......
Let's look at things how they really are.....
Orlando had no business being there, they beat up on the sixers, survived past the celtics who were down to about 3 healthy player, they managed to do enough to upend the Lebron Kobe Finals.... but as a team.... Orlando just does not have the players and experience to compete with either Boston or LA.... let alone repeat if that Bron Shaq deal gets done.....
im sickened a bit that Kobe won a "lone" title.... but when teams plays phsyical defense they end up getting hurt ( celtics and Rockets ), when teams just are destined to fail ( Cavs and nuggets ) and the really quirky three balling team that has a dunkmaster down low misses 3's and doesn't dunk on a softy like gasol...... WELL.... that sets up for an individual player who has the team mentaility of a buzzard to become great......
Congrads Kobe.... we know how good your are.... you don't have to mug for the camera and remind us you are the defending champion for the next year..... but you will do it anyway
June 16, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigjay83 (anonymous) says...
"Better all around player"??
Kobe is a far better ball-handler. Kobe is in another stratosphere with respect to outside shooting... and really shooting in general -- LeBron is, quite frankly, a bad shooter. Kobe is far better at creating his shot. LeBron mostly runs over people and then gets the foul call in his favor. Kobe is an exceptionally better defender... that's not even a contest. I will concede LeBron as a better rebounder: with that body and that athleticism, if he wasn't he would be a ridiculous underachiever.
LeBron may be a slightly better passer, but this line about Kobe not involving his teammates is a tired argument. He averaged 7.4 assists in the finals to go with his 32.4 points. He (Kobe) is a very adept if not excellent passer in his own right.
Honestly, the two are just different players and comparing them is, in my opinion, fairly silly even if they do play a similar position. They are both very good, and, as LAJayhawk said, insanely over-hyped.
June 16, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
matt_tait (Matt Tait) says...
Lots of great arguments here, although I tend to agree whole-heartedly with bigjay83.... Well said.
As for comparing them, head-to-head, that was never my intention. I know that comes into play when you bring up a topic like this, but I was simply hoping to find out who people thought was the better player.
Comparing them, because of different positions, different ages, different styles, etc., is unfair.
The bottom line for me is this.... As great as LeBron can be, when the game's on the line and you need one guy to get you a bucket, I'm giving the ball to Kobe. The fact that he can pull up and bury a jumper from just about anywhere and create off the bounce just makes him a far more dangerous weapon.
He's not known as the best closer in the game for nothing.
Carry on....
June 16, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alexwishawk (anonymous) says...
without a doubt Kobe is more skilled. with a little doubt LeBron is more dominant. i want Kobe taking that last shot.
KOBE
June 16, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AlBerg (anonymous) says...
Well who do you want taking the last shot and who is a better player is a whole different argument. I would rather have Ray Allen take the last shot over LeBron any day. Is Ray Allen a better player? No.
The best players make the people around them look better while also dominating the game. Kobe has dominant moments, but he's playing with a bunch of players who would be All-Stars without him.
LeBron is on the level on Michael Jordan in the way that he makes average players look good (Ron Harper, Luc Longley for MJ, M. Williams and Illgauskas for LBJ) and good players look great (Pippen was just another All-Star without Jordan and LeBron hasn't played with one of those yet). Plus, LeBron isn't a horrible shooter. FG% during the season for Kobe 50%. For LeBron 48%. LeBron just brings so much more to the table.
June 16, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigjay83 (anonymous) says...
If I had a chance to pick from guys on a play ground, it is quite clear from my post above that I would pick Kobe. And that, of course, was Matt's question: an opinion on who is the better player.
But to further my point on comparing players being silly, I think it's important to point out that I would gladly except LeBron; I would then look to surround him with different types of players than I would with Kobe.
There have been a plethora of different styles of players who have won championships, and all of them did so by having complimentary players. Scottie Pippen was a great compliment to Michael Jordan's game (by the way, if you were to compare players, you are probably better off comparing LeBron to Pippen rather than a Kobe or a Jordan; more similar style of play... and Pippen was exceedingly better, but that's another argument altogether). Kobe and Shaq complimented each other. Now Kobe and Gasol with a Bynum/Odom on the side. Pierce, Allen and KG are obviously a great combination, none of which I would call the "best in the game" (although my homeristic side would come out for Pierce while drunk in an LA bar). Yet they fit well enough together that they can win. And win convincingly.
My point is that this is, in fact, a team game. You put the right great players together and you get great teams. It's not necessarily the case that I would rather have a Kobe than a LeBron on my team (even though that's what I said above); I would take either then build the team accordingly. Personally, I would rather build it around Kobe for the reasons I stated in my first post.
Of course, I would say that I would take Jordan over anybody, but that's cause he is the greatest.... :)
June 16, 2009 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justanotherfan (anonymous) says...
Obviously my first post says who I believe to be the better player, but the reasoning behind why is also there, though not as clearly stated.
When Jordan played, everyone knew he was the best player. Everyone deferred to him as the best player, period.
That Olympics moment proved to me that Kobe's peers believe that he is the best player because when the game needed taking over, with Kobe on the floor with Deron Williams, Lebron James, Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh (all All-Stars in their own right) Kobe took over. There was no bickering in the huddle about who would take over. Kobe took over because that's what your best player does in that situation.
If you watch enough basketball, a team will tell you who they believe their best player to be, and if there is a power struggle for that spot, know that you will see that play out, too. That Olympic team, with every comparable peer there, told me that Kobe was their best player, because there is something about being the best that requires (demands even) that you take over that moment. If it were a Cavs game in a similar situation, no doubt Lebron takes that moment over. Not Mo Williams. Not Z. Lebron takes over because he's their best guy. Team USA's best guy, at least according to the players in the way they played that situation out, was Kobe.
And if Lebron thinks Kobe is the best, that pretty much settles the argument for me.
June 16, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigjay83 (anonymous) says...
Now, as to LeBron, I don't quite understand this "dominates the game" argument. What does that mean?
Barry Bonds was a "dominant" baseball player (and forget about steroids, he was arguably one of the best ever before '98 when he started taking). He is the only 400 HR, 400 stolen base player ever... forgetting that he is actually a 500 HR, 500 SB guy. Yet he has no world series rings.
Dan Marino was arguably one of the most "dominant" QBs in the game -- certainly one of the most prolific passers -- yet he has no Super Bowl rings.
So what does dominant mean? I always thought to dominate something, you need to win.
Now, the argument on LeBron is that he has "no one around him." Funny that throughout the season when the Cavs were posting the best record in the League, I heard things like "this is LeBron's year. The Cavs have finally put pieces around him." I mean, they must have been at least a LITTLE good, otherwise they wouldn't have the best record in the NBA, right? But then they fell apart in the playoffs. And I don't blame LeBron's teammates.
I blame LeBron.
Against Orlando LeBron ran an isolation play at the top of the key on almost every possession and barely involved his teammates (scoring your team's last 32 points or whatever is simply bad basketball). Maybe that was poor play calling. But it was poor nonetheless. "Mr Unselfish" became the most selfish player in the game, and the Cavs suffered for it. And lost. They won 66 games in the regular season by playing as a team.
They lost by turning into "the LeBron show."
Kobe, on the other hand, continually involved his teammates. And now they are holding the trophy.
If playing LeBron played in the playoffs is what it means to be dominant, then I would take the "undominant" Kobe every time.
Of course, I would take Jordan, 'cause he can dominate AND win.
June 16, 2009 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
d_prowess (anonymous) says...
Regarding the shooting percentages that AlBerg posted, I would say that 48% for LeBron is a lot worse than the 50% for Kobe since Kobe shoots a lot of contested jumpers while LeBron has the benefit of a number of lay-ups to increase his percentage.
Also, bigjay83, did you just write that Pippen was better than LeBron? That is something I would need to think about for a while and I am not sure I would ever believe it!
June 16, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigjay83 (anonymous) says...
My second to last sentence is supposed to read:
"If playing *like* LeBron played in the playoffs...."
Sorry about that.
June 16, 2009 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KGphoto (anonymous) says...
Kobe.
But only because he is a 13 year veteran. By the time Lebron is 30, I think he'll be better than Kobe was this year. Lebron is WAY more mature than Kobe was at 24. And he really has at least two more years until he finds his prime mentally.
Neither one of them compare to Jordan. Jordan refused to lose. He still refuses to lose, at anything. Neither one of these guys is that competitive. Even though they both say they are.
June 16, 2009 at 5:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigjay83 (anonymous) says...
d_prowess,
Yes and I did, and I fully expect a lot of people to disagree with me. But...
Pippen was a FAR better ball handler. Pippen was a FAR better shooter. Pippen was a FAR better defender. The only thing he lacked was that "take over a game" mentality, which he, of course, would defer to Jordan.
But I contend that Pippen is a better basketball player than LeBron.
LeBron certainly wins the hype award though. And that's why I will be swarmed for making the above argument. Propaganda is a powerful tool....
June 16, 2009 at 5:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
njjayhawk (anonymous) says...
I agree with LAJayhawk. Who cares? The NBA is a bunch of bad boys displaying repugnant selfish play and egos bigger than the arenas they play in, with "coaches" on the sidelines filling the roles of babysitter, bus driver and baggage handler for the underachieving "mega stars". Boring, indeed.
June 16, 2009 at 7 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
Big jay....
I have heard that overhyped stat of Kobe playing defense over and over and over... and im sick of it... You are a jayhawk... you know about big lvel defense and kobe consistantly takes plays off...... He is at best an average defender when he's motivated...... he does not expend effort on defense.... he is not a pressure defensive player... and with the exception of this series ( where he guard a ROOKIE who is not a shooter ) he has been torched by the guy he was guarding....
History aligns with Lebron on this one, while you do make the point lebron is a "bad" shooter....
Lebron's fg percentage was .489, Kobe's .467
wait a minute..... that's not right .... I double checked yes it is
career stats have about the same differential......
while bronnie only did make 34 percent of his three balls this year.... King Kobe only made 35.9..... we'll round up to 36
2 percent difference and a worse rebounder...... i take the BIG.... if im starting a team... im starting the big.....
interesting stat.... Kobe and lebron are nearly dead EVEN in steals..... 1.65 and 1.64 a game..... both trail Super Mario leaague leader ins swipes this season.....
No wait that's post season.... when it really counts./.... what's kobe's and lebrons steal totals during the regular season.... one would assume Kobe holds the regular season in regards.... no ... he really doesnt..... ho only turns it on in the playoffs ( when he is motivated ).....
over a longer stretch lebron is getting .25 steals per game more than kobe.... so more steals and more rebound.... and he's a lesser defender ?????
Where's your logic ...... This myth of Kobe being an elitel level defender is debunked.... over...done with....
Take the Younger, Bigger, better teammate...... Lebron.
June 16, 2009 at 11:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
no... to be fair i left out a statistic..... blocks.....
Kobe blocks.05 percent more in the playoffs over lebron.....
.91 a game versus .86 a game......
Regular season ( when Kobe's not motivated.... )
kobe .45 lebron 1.15....
just a side notes.....
3 jayhawks had more blocks per game than kobe this year......
Brandon rush, Nick Collison and Darrell Arthur.....
This stat is particularly damning.... kobe's a 6'6 shooting guard.... he's BIG as a shooting guard goes..... he should block more than 1 every two games... but that goes to show what a great defender he is...... i suppose
June 16, 2009 at 11:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suttonku (anonymous) says...
Kobe is better hands down...winners want the ball at the end of games and clearly both players want the ball at the end of games but who do you want to have the ball at the end of a game? Kobe. didnt lebron have a game against the Magic where he only had 2 points in the 4th quarter? thats bad. not better than Kobe. Plus Kobe now has 4 rings...if Lebron ever passes Kobe in that department then maybe I will say hes better...I mean I would say that MJ was better than Kobe will ever be and I say that with full confidence
June 17, 2009 at 1:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alexwishawk (anonymous) says...
i think the real question is how do you define "better". is it skill level or physical domination paired with finishing ability? if its skill then Kobe wins hands down. no one can rise up from anywhere on the floor with two dudes raping...er...all over him and drain a shot like he can. if you define "better" as the dominate thing then oyu have to take LeBron. no one can drive and finish like he can.
as for the shooting percentage thing... its easier to make shot driving to the basket with a physically freakish body than it is to hit shot after shot over the other teams best defender with a hand in your face.
i for one think skill is what we are talking about here. especially when Kobe has the rings to back it all up.
and to all you "he has a better supporting cast" people or "3 of those rings were with Shaq" people or "he has the greatest coach ever to coach the pro game" people... dont forget players like Magic and Bird and Jordan and Duncan and Russell who had some or all those things too.
also, the reason all of us are even having this discussion and not all picking Kobe from the get go is because he is so polarizing. admit it. he was acquitted from a terrible charge, he's not particularly likable, he was accused of breaking up the Lakers three-peat team, he comes off like he's trying too hard, he tried to leave town when he felt the Lakers weren't getting a great team around him, and he has a history of getting testy with Phil. i can look past that stuff and see the guy on the court that is ripping up the best defenders in the league. i can see the guy that all the other guys on the Olympic team deferred to when they needed a heroic performance in the finals. im a fan of his because he's the best on the court. and by best i mean most skilled.
June 17, 2009 at 2:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EnviroHawk7 (anonymous) says...
Can't you say just Kobe or LeBron instead of writing novels?
June 17, 2009 at 9 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
Basketball is about more than making shot after shot with defnders in your face..... if that's all kobe HAS..... then your foolish to take him.... and that is all i see him having
June 17, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigjay83 (anonymous) says...
Well, that and four rings.
June 17, 2009 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...
I always thought basketball was about winning.
June 17, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralster (anonymous) says...
Interesting to see the brute power/slashing game of LeBron in the Olympics--no one had an answer for that 6'8" 250 lb. head of steam...Kobe did everything that TeamUSA needed to be done, and brought me around to liking him. He always has had "skills", and out of everyone who has tried to "be like Mike", Kobe comes the closest.
----------------------------
I personally do not like this comparison. Physically they are different players. Its like we are just comparing 2 "alpha-dog" players. Like comparing KGarnett to LeBron. Or comparing Iverson to Kobe.
----------------------------
I do like both Lebron and Kobe, but....Lebron has a great personality, very likable. Very strong player. Kobe a different persona, but jordanesque skills--can I get all this in 1 player?
I still like the will, determination, skills, persona, work-ethic, and character of Jordan. And there is nothing like that "I got this." grin of his.
I still like Mike.
June 17, 2009 at 11:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
if it were jsut about winning.... we wouldn't have issues with people who cheat to win.... IE calipari... come now....
June 18, 2009 at 12:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigjay83 (anonymous) says...
So... how many championships does Calipari have?? Come now.....
Talking about winning is clearly an acceptable criteria, as that is what everybody who plays strives for. Thinking it's not is just silly and, quite frankly, delusional. Are you trying to suggest Kobe cheats? You obviously don't like the guy, but you're starting to get out of hand now.
It is also acceptable to bring up winning as the prime motivation in sports to someone who says:
"Basketball is about more than making shot after shot with defnders in your face..... if that's all kobe HAS..... then your foolish to take him.... and that is all i see him having"
Foolish to take someone who wins championships.... hmmmm....
Look, I think Kobe is a huge D-bag and I hate the Lakers (and I live in Los Angeles), but that has nothing to do with him as a basketball player. He wins championships so obviously he can play the game. If you're looking for someone foolish, perhaps it's best -- with statements like that -- to look in the mirror.
It's perfectly fine for you to believe LeBron is the best in the game. But to call someone "foolish" for being willing to take a 4 time champion who has held the league MVP is down right laughable.
June 18, 2009 at 1:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rich24 (anonymous) says...
I would pick kobe anyday. Kobe is the better player. Yes Lebron may have the stats, but thats because Lebron does not have the team that Kobe does. If Kobe did not have a team he would have the stats like Lebron does. Remeber when Kobe put up 81? Lebrons offense is also what allows him to have the stats he does. The calvs offense is base around lebron, lebron will do most things for his team. O, and by the way, alot of lebron's assists come from him driving and dishing for the three ball which his team knocks down succefully. That is an easy pass, but dont give credit to lebron but to his team. Kobe usually has to work for every pass and he makes very difficult passes, which i think makes him the better passer. Back to offenses. the lakers offense is based on mostly Kobe but also Gasol. thats why Kobe does not get all these stats because he does not always have the ball. Also look at the teams. Calvs: do not have much talent but have alot of chemistry.Lakers: have talent but dont always play team ball. The lakers have alot of solo players. Kobe does not get the ball as much as Lebron because of the team he plays with. James has the ball alot and has the oppotunity to do alot with ball. Also the one stat nobody has said yet is minutes per game. Kobe averages 36.1 minutes per game and Lebron averages 37.7, more than a minutes diffrence and alot can be done in a minute. Look how close their stats are. Could the diffrence be because in the diffrence in playing time?
Time to get to my main point. These two players are the best players in the league, throught out the game they are going to do amazing things and have amazing stats so it all boils down to the end of the game, when it all matters. As they said on espn, Kobe can take over the better at the end of the game than Lebron can, when it really matters. Thats why the Lakers one the championship. And if any of you say that Dereck Fisher really one game 4, give a little credit to the " finisher" for making a clutch pass. Kobe may not hit all these game winners but he shore shoots the oponents in the back when he drains a 3 with 30 seconds to go, to tie up the game or gain the lead. Kobe can finish like no other. thats what makes him great. Remeber the prime objective of any NBA team is to win the championship and Kobe and the Lakers did that this year.
One more thing rember when the Lakers deafeated the Calvs twice in the regular season, that should give a hint to who was the better player w/ a dislocated finger in one game and a fever in the other and Kobe still gaurded and shut down James. Kobe is the better defender. Defensive stats do not make u a better defender, but it is how well u shut down the player your guarding that makes u a great defender. Kobe won that argument the two games they played the calvs.
June 19, 2009 at 5:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dar3030 (anonymous) says...
Rich24 you hit it right on nose, all this about kobe and lebron is silly because if you refer to the head to head meetings kobe comes out the winner period. So know matter what, there are some people who just hate (HATERS) winners. kobe mvp!!! Ha Ha Ha He He He. Lebron fans are just jealous!
July 2, 2009 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )