Might as well start the blog right. Kobe vs. Lebron! One is the gas while the other is the match in the sports debate world. Say the names, stand back, and watch the flame ignite. But I'm here(as usual) to settle this debate once and for all Read on............ Nothing But The Truth: Kobe vs. Lebron Let's face it, this question of who's better never gets old and can't die down if you wanted it to. So who's better, Kobe or Lebron? Before I give my two cents let me state that I am a Kobe guy thru and thru! This may compromise my journalistic principles of being non-biased but i confess, Kobe is my guy and always has been since he was in high school. With that said, I'm not biased to the point of blinding myself from the obvious(at least I don't think so, you can be the judge). So it comes as no surprise that I feel Kobe is still the hands down best player in the and will break down why a la fact or fiction style. Fact or Fiction: Lebron is having a better season than Kobe? FACT: I think Kobe is better but night in night out Lebron can sustain and expend more energy over 82 games do to sheer athleticism and youthful legs. Lebron isn't bothered by back to back road games or three games in four nights while Kobe has to pace his energy throughout stretches of games in these scenarios. However, in playoff formatted schedules(at least 1 day off between every game) Kobe is just plain cruel to the opponent. Fact or Fiction: Kobe was having a better season than Lebron before he broke a finger on his shooting hand? FACT: Multiple buzzer beating game winners, several 40 point games, left handed shots from all over the court, best record in NBA without Pau Gasol, best defensive team in NBA, etc, etc. Kobe also revealed to us his redefined post-game thanks to off-season tutorials from the great Hakeem Olajuwon. Lebron was playing stellar but just not as stellar as the Black Mamba Fact or Fiction: Lebron James is the MVP this year barring and unusual circumstance popping up? FACT: Yup, I said it hope your happy. It's not easy for us Kobe fans to give Lebron credit because you King James disciples take that inch and run a country mile with it in the great debate. So feel free to get your track shoes out and run with this until playoff time. P.S. Kevin Durant is nipping at the heels of the MVP race Fact or Fiction: Kobe is more skilled than Lebron? FACT: But Lebron as we know is more athletic than Kobe (and anybody in the history of the NBA to be honest). Tom Thibodeau who is the Boston Celtics de facto defensive coordinator said that Kobe is the only player in the history of sports with no tendencies. He can do anything from anywhere at anytime at a level high enough to beat you. You can't name one weakness in any facet of his game! Go ahead and try to think of one and hold your breath in the process. Kobe is also pretty much recognized unanimously as the most fundamentally sound player ever as well. Ask coaches, gm's, players etc. This includes the Big Fundamental himself Timmy D. Lebron to his credit has worked hard to lessen his weaknesses and he has. His shot is much more fluid, his ball handling is much better, and he's just improved overall. But, he has several weaknesses remaining (shot, versatility, footwork, on the ball defense) that put him a couple notches below Kobe in this re guard. Just so happens though that he's 6'9, 270 lbs, runs like a cheetah, and flys like a 757 so some of the weaknesses kinda don't matter. Fact or Fiction: You would rather have Kobe with the ball in his hands in crunch time than Lebron? FACT: The reason why I don't understand why this argument is split down the middle is because most Lebron fans openly admit that in crunch time you want Kobe taking the game deciding shots. I would argue and so would many others including Lebron fans that you'd rather have Kobe taking crunch time money shots more than anybody in the history of the NBA (MJ included). Ask Phil Jackson or how about you ask Lebron himself. He will tell you this. I was always taught there's a thin line between best and great. As well as there is a thin line between great and good. Great players like Lebron, Dwade, Carmelo, and Kobe will always go tit for tat throughout the course of games due to competitive drive and God given talent. But if indeed separating the best from great comes in the form of crunch time money ball then Kobe has to be the best. At least until King James wins the ultimate crown known as the Larry O' Brien. If and when he does that, everything changes as far as hierarchy of players goes. That may not seem fair because it's a team sport but that's how all greats have been judged so it's only right. Fact or Fiction: Lebron fans make it hard for Kobe fans to like Lebron sometimes? FACT: I'm sure this is true the other way around but I'm a Kobe fan so you gotta hear that from the other side. I've always liked Lebron but I realized early last year that I didn't love him because his fans have cake and eat it to mentality towards his legacy thus far. Lebron fans reserve the right every year to carry the Big and Little Joker in their pocket and pull them out every year that he loses. The little joker= "he's still young" and the big joker is "he has no team". Let's examine these excuses closely. Lebron is young in terms of non basketball age. But when you're a 4 or 5 year veteran or better as an adult you're not young. Sorry that's just how it is. You've seen just about everything there is to see on a basketball court playing heavy minutes in the NBA for 4+ seasons at 82 games per plus the playoffs. Big joker=Lebron has no team. Granted, Lebron isn't playing with Magic's Showtime Lakers or those great Bulls teams of the 90's but Lebron has a good team around him. My question to Bron Bron fans is can he play with other greats? Or will his lack of offensive versatility always make it better than for him to play with "component" players as opposed to other superstars. Can Lebron play with a true point guard? Can he play with a true dominant big man? We've never seen Lebron operate without the ball in a 1-4 high or low at the top of the key. Can he play off the ball manipulate defenses from other parts of the floor like Kobe? Can he be effective in the post? How much do his limits in half court offense limit what players you can put around him? In a 7 game series it's hard to win when everyone knows exactly where your gonna be at and exactly what you're gonna do unless your a big man on the low block. You might get your stats but can the team flourish to the tune of an NBA title? My theory is Lebron's skill sets force him into playing with role players and spot up shooters because he can't or won't post up often or play off the ball to compromise the defense from multiple angles. If you post up and get doubled you have cutters to the front of the rim and backdoor opportunities. If you operate from the wing you can swing the ball weak side for open 3's and dribble drive shots at the rim. If you operate solely from the top in a 1-4 high offense your only option is drive and kick to stand still shooters. That's just the truth! So, for you LB fans that think these questions are not valid please answer me how aren't they? Fact or Fiction: Lebron plays better defense than Kobe? FICTION: This is what frustrates me about the King James hype machine. LB received votes for Defensive Player of the Year last year. Chasing down a guy from behind to block his shot is a great defensive play, but that doesn't make you a great defensive player. Lebron is a good half court defender but would you really take him to get critical stops late in playoff games over the Black Mamba? Fact or Fiction: Lebron is better than Kobe? FICTION: Sorry folks, it's just true but LB will have his time to be the best I'm assuming starting after next year. In closing let me say I'm no fool (even though you may think so after reading this) and I know how great Lebron is and will continue to be. But what I'm also saying is no player has ever been allowed to have the mythical title of Best Player in the world without a ring. People didn't even give MJ that benefit until he won his first one. You especially can't be the best player when the guy your competing with for that crown is the current NBA Champ and Finals MVP. You can be great and take that #2 spot but not #1. But like I said, win that ring and to the victor goes the spoils along with the proverbial passing of the torch. I can't be mad when it happens because Kobe has been carrying that torch for a LONG TIME now. All good things must come to an end-Just Not Yet!!!! This Article was written by Bob Billow AKA "The Book on Sports"
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Great Debate: Kobe vs. Lebron
Might as well start the blog right. Kobe vs. Lebron! One is the gas while the other is the match in the sports debate world. Say the names, stand back, and watch the flame ignite. But I'm here(as usual) to settle this debate once and for all Read on............ Nothing But The Truth: Kobe vs. Lebron Let's face it, this question of who's better never gets old and can't die down if you wanted it to. So who's better, Kobe or Lebron? Before I give my two cents let me state that I am a Kobe guy thru and thru! This may compromise my journalistic principles of being non-biased but i confess, Kobe is my guy and always has been since he was in high school. With that said, I'm not biased to the point of blinding myself from the obvious(at least I don't think so, you can be the judge). So it comes as no surprise that I feel Kobe is still the hands down best player in the and will break down why a la fact or fiction style. Fact or Fiction: Lebron is having a better season than Kobe? FACT: I think Kobe is better but night in night out Lebron can sustain and expend more energy over 82 games do to sheer athleticism and youthful legs. Lebron isn't bothered by back to back road games or three games in four nights while Kobe has to pace his energy throughout stretches of games in these scenarios. However, in playoff formatted schedules(at least 1 day off between every game) Kobe is just plain cruel to the opponent. Fact or Fiction: Kobe was having a better season than Lebron before he broke a finger on his shooting hand? FACT: Multiple buzzer beating game winners, several 40 point games, left handed shots from all over the court, best record in NBA without Pau Gasol, best defensive team in NBA, etc, etc. Kobe also revealed to us his redefined post-game thanks to off-season tutorials from the great Hakeem Olajuwon. Lebron was playing stellar but just not as stellar as the Black Mamba Fact or Fiction: Lebron James is the MVP this year barring and unusual circumstance popping up? FACT: Yup, I said it hope your happy. It's not easy for us Kobe fans to give Lebron credit because you King James disciples take that inch and run a country mile with it in the great debate. So feel free to get your track shoes out and run with this until playoff time. P.S. Kevin Durant is nipping at the heels of the MVP race Fact or Fiction: Kobe is more skilled than Lebron? FACT: But Lebron as we know is more athletic than Kobe (and anybody in the history of the NBA to be honest). Tom Thibodeau who is the Boston Celtics de facto defensive coordinator said that Kobe is the only player in the history of sports with no tendencies. He can do anything from anywhere at anytime at a level high enough to beat you. You can't name one weakness in any facet of his game! Go ahead and try to think of one and hold your breath in the process. Kobe is also pretty much recognized unanimously as the most fundamentally sound player ever as well. Ask coaches, gm's, players etc. This includes the Big Fundamental himself Timmy D. Lebron to his credit has worked hard to lessen his weaknesses and he has. His shot is much more fluid, his ball handling is much better, and he's just improved overall. But, he has several weaknesses remaining (shot, versatility, footwork, on the ball defense) that put him a couple notches below Kobe in this re guard. Just so happens though that he's 6'9, 270 lbs, runs like a cheetah, and flys like a 757 so some of the weaknesses kinda don't matter. Fact or Fiction: You would rather have Kobe with the ball in his hands in crunch time than Lebron? FACT: The reason why I don't understand why this argument is split down the middle is because most Lebron fans openly admit that in crunch time you want Kobe taking the game deciding shots. I would argue and so would many others including Lebron fans that you'd rather have Kobe taking crunch time money shots more than anybody in the history of the NBA (MJ included). Ask Phil Jackson or how about you ask Lebron himself. He will tell you this. I was always taught there's a thin line between best and great. As well as there is a thin line between great and good. Great players like Lebron, Dwade, Carmelo, and Kobe will always go tit for tat throughout the course of games due to competitive drive and God given talent. But if indeed separating the best from great comes in the form of crunch time money ball then Kobe has to be the best. At least until King James wins the ultimate crown known as the Larry O' Brien. If and when he does that, everything changes as far as hierarchy of players goes. That may not seem fair because it's a team sport but that's how all greats have been judged so it's only right. Fact or Fiction: Lebron fans make it hard for Kobe fans to like Lebron sometimes? FACT: I'm sure this is true the other way around but I'm a Kobe fan so you gotta hear that from the other side. I've always liked Lebron but I realized early last year that I didn't love him because his fans have cake and eat it to mentality towards his legacy thus far. Lebron fans reserve the right every year to carry the Big and Little Joker in their pocket and pull them out every year that he loses. The little joker= "he's still young" and the big joker is "he has no team". Let's examine these excuses closely. Lebron is young in terms of non basketball age. But when you're a 4 or 5 year veteran or better as an adult you're not young. Sorry that's just how it is. You've seen just about everything there is to see on a basketball court playing heavy minutes in the NBA for 4+ seasons at 82 games per plus the playoffs. Big joker=Lebron has no team. Granted, Lebron isn't playing with Magic's Showtime Lakers or those great Bulls teams of the 90's but Lebron has a good team around him. My question to Bron Bron fans is can he play with other greats? Or will his lack of offensive versatility always make it better than for him to play with "component" players as opposed to other superstars. Can Lebron play with a true point guard? Can he play with a true dominant big man? We've never seen Lebron operate without the ball in a 1-4 high or low at the top of the key. Can he play off the ball manipulate defenses from other parts of the floor like Kobe? Can he be effective in the post? How much do his limits in half court offense limit what players you can put around him? In a 7 game series it's hard to win when everyone knows exactly where your gonna be at and exactly what you're gonna do unless your a big man on the low block. You might get your stats but can the team flourish to the tune of an NBA title? My theory is Lebron's skill sets force him into playing with role players and spot up shooters because he can't or won't post up often or play off the ball to compromise the defense from multiple angles. If you post up and get doubled you have cutters to the front of the rim and backdoor opportunities. If you operate from the wing you can swing the ball weak side for open 3's and dribble drive shots at the rim. If you operate solely from the top in a 1-4 high offense your only option is drive and kick to stand still shooters. That's just the truth! So, for you LB fans that think these questions are not valid please answer me how aren't they? Fact or Fiction: Lebron plays better defense than Kobe? FICTION: This is what frustrates me about the King James hype machine. LB received votes for Defensive Player of the Year last year. Chasing down a guy from behind to block his shot is a great defensive play, but that doesn't make you a great defensive player. Lebron is a good half court defender but would you really take him to get critical stops late in playoff games over the Black Mamba? Fact or Fiction: Lebron is better than Kobe? FICTION: Sorry folks, it's just true but LB will have his time to be the best I'm assuming starting after next year. In closing let me say I'm no fool (even though you may think so after reading this) and I know how great Lebron is and will continue to be. But what I'm also saying is no player has ever been allowed to have the mythical title of Best Player in the world without a ring. People didn't even give MJ that benefit until he won his first one. You especially can't be the best player when the guy your competing with for that crown is the current NBA Champ and Finals MVP. You can be great and take that #2 spot but not #1. But like I said, win that ring and to the victor goes the spoils along with the proverbial passing of the torch. I can't be mad when it happens because Kobe has been carrying that torch for a LONG TIME now. All good things must come to an end-Just Not Yet!!!! This Article was written by Bob Billow AKA "The Book on Sports"
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