atxrocker
Starter
http://www.cnn.com/si/si_blogs/nba/playoffs/2006/2006/05/rivalry-in-making.html?cnn=yes
After LeBron James' overtime heroics Wednesday night gave the Cavs a thrilling 121-120 win over the Wizards and a 3-2 series lead, it's hard to imagine any player more capable of winning a single game than James. Unless, of course, you imagine Kobe Bryant, whose two buzzer-beating Game 4 buckets have the Lakers poised to upset the Suns.
Amid the buzz over the infighting in Miami and the quiet efficiency of the Mavericks and Pistons, these playoffs have been about two players: LeBron and Kobe.
In his first taste of the postseason LeBron has produced like few before him, averaging a playoff-high 36.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists. In five playoff games, James has accounted for more than 30 percent of the Cavs' offense.
Out West, Kobe has been, well, more LeBron than typical Kobe, eschewing the quick trigger finger he demonstrated during the regular season for a spread-the wealth approach that has allowed Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown (yes, Kwame Brown) to control the paint. Bryant may be scoring 10 points fewer per game than he did in the regular season, but he's handing out almost two more assists and grabbing an extra board as well.
LeBron vs. Kobe. It could make for the NBA's next great individual rivalry.
So who would you rather have if your Game 7 life depended on it? I'd find it impossible to bet against Kobe. LeBron may be the next Oscar Robertson wrapped in a Michael Jordan package (or, at least, number), but Kobe is the best clutch player in the game today. Kobe doesn't merely want to win; he wants to be the one who slays the other team.
But that's just one bleary-eyed man's (damn those West coast start times) opinion. What's yours?
After LeBron James' overtime heroics Wednesday night gave the Cavs a thrilling 121-120 win over the Wizards and a 3-2 series lead, it's hard to imagine any player more capable of winning a single game than James. Unless, of course, you imagine Kobe Bryant, whose two buzzer-beating Game 4 buckets have the Lakers poised to upset the Suns.
Amid the buzz over the infighting in Miami and the quiet efficiency of the Mavericks and Pistons, these playoffs have been about two players: LeBron and Kobe.
In his first taste of the postseason LeBron has produced like few before him, averaging a playoff-high 36.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists. In five playoff games, James has accounted for more than 30 percent of the Cavs' offense.
Out West, Kobe has been, well, more LeBron than typical Kobe, eschewing the quick trigger finger he demonstrated during the regular season for a spread-the wealth approach that has allowed Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown (yes, Kwame Brown) to control the paint. Bryant may be scoring 10 points fewer per game than he did in the regular season, but he's handing out almost two more assists and grabbing an extra board as well.
LeBron vs. Kobe. It could make for the NBA's next great individual rivalry.
So who would you rather have if your Game 7 life depended on it? I'd find it impossible to bet against Kobe. LeBron may be the next Oscar Robertson wrapped in a Michael Jordan package (or, at least, number), but Kobe is the best clutch player in the game today. Kobe doesn't merely want to win; he wants to be the one who slays the other team.
But that's just one bleary-eyed man's (damn those West coast start times) opinion. What's yours?
