lebron without handchecking rule and refs touch fouls and his shaky jumpshot to open it up would lose, kobes more versatile in terms of being a pure scorer and can score in anyway and is a better 1-1 defender where lebron is an offball defender specialist although his is improving, one way or another, id take kobe
Are we talking Kobe right now or Kobe in his prime? Because last year LeBron shot better than Kobe pretty much everywhere on the floor.
He didnt choose us, and we are not jizzing in our pants therefore it gives us all the right to hate LeDiva
And you don't think there's a flaw with that stat? It's closer to what I was trying to get to, but it's not overturning the point i made. 5 mins is a lot of time and that leaves plenty of time for refs to bail superstars out and for teams to play team ball, rather than isolating their superstar. I dont believe there is a stat for true one on one plays, is there? Sometimes you have to just open your eyes and look out for things like these. Take an actual sequence from an NBA game: <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tyd4NPvzKQg?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/tyd4NPvzKQg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> How many of those buckets came on pure one on one basketball? 1. Scores after Wallace picks defender 2. Scores after Big Z shields defenders off 3. Scores mostly on his own, but did wallace's presence get Jefferson's attention? Didn't seem like it, but can we know for sure? Is it easier to defend a player when you're worried about a possible pick or when you can just focus on the player himself? 4. "scores" on his own 5. scores When Jefferson gives him the baseline (wouldnt be done in one on one situation) 6. scores on his own, but the opening came due to the defender backpedaling to get back on D. Would this opportunity be available in a halfcourt one on one game? 7. Scores strictly on his own. Now, remember i'm not saying this only happens with Lebron. I'm not implying when Kobe scores he always does it without help. Both do it. both benefit from it. However, i believe Lebron uses it a lot more, than Kobe. He starts with the ball very early on, so he usually starts off with good separation. Even if he didnt, a defender is more likely to back off and make him shoot, creating space. Kobe? He works more directly in contact with defenders because they are less likely to give him that separation because of his shot. Props to Lebron for hitting those jumpers and scoring like he does, but he's getting a lot more space to work with than Kobe and that space won't be a given in a one on one setting. I know someone will say i was very nitpicky about the "help" lebron got in that sequence, but everything i pointed out has to be considered because i wouldn't apply in a one on one matchup. Kobe has more experience in those situations, he practices them more, and is more lethal in them. Why else is he considered the best closer? Who in the NBA will pick Lebron over Kobe as the best closer? His team? his coach? Who will the overwhelming majority pick? From just reading random quotes and articles over time, the answer is Kobe. Feel free to watch Kobe's 81 pt game and Lebron's 50 pt game for larger sample and pay attention to the difference in the separation/space created in their scoring plays. You'll notice there's much less of it in Kobe's video and it's not because Lebron is that much better at creating it with his individual skills, but due to the dynamics of the team game. The only skill where Lebron is much better at creating space is passing. Defenders crowd bryant more because he doesnt pass well or assist as much, but with Lebron they need to look out for it more. That also keeps more double teams off of him. Great advantage for the NBA, but provides zero edge in a one on one game. Kobe's got a lot more experience dealing with direct defenders because of it. That's why he's developed more moves and variations of those moves to counter it.
Do you ever provide any posts that are more than smart ass one liners? Anything more than pointing out flaws? It seems to me that's all you do, very little discussion, very little analysis. You're a fairly new member, yet you come in with this swagger that should only belong to people who've been here, done that....and you havent.
Cant believe people really think Kobe would beat Lebron 1on1. This hate for Lebron is getting out of control. Lebron would win. Kobe would make it a good game just because he has a stronger will, but that can only go so far playing 1on1. Lebron is just too big and strong I dont see Kobe stoping him from going to the basket.
Don't assume everyone who picks Kobe hates Lebron. Not the case with me and I doubt it's the case for everyone else who picks Kobe. I'm not sure why people think it has to be "hate".
Maybe not with you or a few others. But the hate on this board for Lebron is getting silly by the day just look at all the little nicknames hell Tracy didnt even have that many.
I don't really like Kobe or Lebron, I have my reasons for both, but I've got to say that Kobe wins hands down just on pure heart and guts. Lebron is weak inside he would be scared of Kobe. IMO
Why shouldn't we hate a jackass who has single-handedly contributed to more deterioration of the game than any other player in history. First the league capitulates to his ridiculous nonsense of the crab-travel: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/03/lebron_james_pleased_to_hear_n.html, where other super stars used to have rules changed to make the game harder for them, not the other way around. Then, he opens this ugly can of worms with player collusion, which is already leading to more and more openly prima donna stars following his steps in this disgusting circus he put on over the summer. He deserves the hate by all fans of the game of basketball.
I agree that Lebron should be better than Kobe given his physical gifts but Kobe has got him beat in terms of mental toughness and pure will. 1 on 1 is about imposing your will on the other guy. Kobe would just find a way to beath him somehow, someway. I haven't seen anything from Lebron that tells me he wouldn't quit if Kobe came up to him and challenged him. I don't hate Lebron either, but I don't really like him either.
Maybe so, but I haven't seen anything from Lebron that tells me otherwise, infact I've seen the opposite. Agree to disagree
I wonder if the Heat win this year if it means that LeBron's will to win has surpassed Kobe's will to win. Strangely enough, Kobe's will to win was eclipsed by Steve Nash's will to win for a few years. Oh well, at least we know that basketball is just about will to win and not about teammates, production, or anything tangible.
