1 on 1 strictly, give me Melo over anybody in the league. Melo can score in so many ways, it's ridiculous. He has the post moves, jab step, pick and pop, and etc.
WiThout screens to get a step on his man, lebron would not be able to use his athleticism on Kobe. There's no way he's getting past Kobe with his elementary handles. Kobe also knows how to body up and take angles away. It's not all about strength. Some of you guys keep claiming that strength is most important in the post when it's not. It's all about the little shoves and nudges to take a players rhythm away. Kobe would win hands down. Sorry lebron lovers
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I love these silly hypotheticals, especially when people actually predict a certain score. LOL. I bet if they played each other a dozen times, each player would win multiple games. I'm not stupid enough to predict who would win more of these games -- both players each have their advantages that would come in handy in a game of 1-on-1. Does "skill" beat strength and overall athleticism (I think LeBron has a bigger advantage in strength and athleticism than Kobe has in "skill".)
You know if Lbj would have scored over Kobe he would have atleast smiled or reacted. Kobe is just cold as ice. You can see after the shot not even a blink. Not for a second does he doubt he's better. I used to hate Kobe, but I have learnt to respect his game. One of the best ever to play the game.
Lebron is strong, but it's not like Kobe has the build of steve novak, so strength isn't a huge advatange here for Lebron. Also, rebounding would have to do more with quickness in this situation and they're pretty close there. It's a wash, inside player has the biggest advantage, regardless of who it is. And Lebron's post game isn't as polished as Kobe's, which means there's less options for Kobe to defend, and he's a pretty good defender. Lebron meanwhile, has a lot more moves to worry about and they're all nearly perfected. Kobe's more likely to make more of his shots as well. Driving is completely different in a one on one sitting. There's nothing to take the focus away fromt he defender. No cutters, no shooters, no picks coming up, nothing. All he has to do is stick with one guy. Lebron's first step isnt that quick, where he can just blow by kobe every time. Don't you think Kobe also knows his shot is suspect? He's not giving him any space to drive and would rather let him shoot. Physical advantages aren't the biggest advantage in one on one basketball when there isn't a big difference. It's not Shaq versus Kobe. Lebron only has a clear advantage in strength, but not the point where he's going to run over him easily. Kobe is a better shooter, ballhandler, one on one defender, post up player...Lebron? He passes better, but who is he going to pass it to? Lebron also finishes better, but when he's got a lane to the rim with others crashing down on him. Kobe's going to be right on him, not the same thing. In those situations, with a defender in front, they finish about the same.
Kobe would win. He would play harder. LeBron is much better at fast breaks, which there won't be any of in one on one. Kobe's selfishness and poorer passing ability compared to LeBron are also mitigated in one on one.
Even a fool knows it's not going to happen. The league always tries to 'protect' the star players, especially the superstars. Do you seriously believe that they will let either Kobe or Lebron be the loser of a 1-1 battle on national TV?
I really do hope that if the Lakers beat the Heat in the Finals this year(that is unless we dont get there). I'd love for the 3peat tradition to hold strong and for Kobe to still get the best of Lebron even after he jumped ship..
LBJ has at least 2 inches and 50+ pounds on him. What's going to prevent LBJ from just backing him down and scoring in the post? I don't care how skilled he is, LBJ is also extemely skilled and has 2 inches and at least 50 pounds on him.
That shot better have that kind of arc or this is going to happen. Lebron James can totally take the rim away from Bryant which will leave him heaving those kinds of jumpers which aren't always going to go in. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bHjtGMqm9o8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bHjtGMqm9o8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
And Jerry West, whose opinion matters, says that James is the better player. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=abkXdHn8Fdo8
