I think it's in the wrong forum, but on the subject...Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA, today, and IMO until he calls it quits. I don't compare him to Micheal Jordan, but he is the best in the game today. LeBron James is only 22 years of age, and he just had his 1st NBA Finals, and the 1st finals for the city of Cleveland. James still has a little bit to go before he can be called the best player in the game, IMO. But yes, Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA today, case closed.
This has to do with general NBA, it fits here just as well especially considering Lebron just finished his first finals. I think Lebron is more of a complete player then Kobe but doesn't quite have the intangibles of Bryant just yet. In due time he will be better then Kobe, if not next season then likely the season after.
I think I can agree that he'll be better then Kobe, but def. not now or next season. LeBron still has to work on his mid-rang game before he can be compared to the type of scorer Kobe Bryant is, LeBron may be a better passer, and better at getting to the hoop and such, but I'd take Bryant's offense over James' any day of the week. Kobe has the edge on defense, too. James had a horrible finals, so I wouldn't compare him to Kobe's finals... If that is where you're going.
I'm not really going anywhere with this, I could understand either perspective, im just interested to see what people think about the two since they're always compared in other threads.
I think Kobe is more complete offensively, but even for a guy who has a better offensive game, and who doesn't pass as much as LeBron does, for him to only average a few more points per game on 4+ more shots per game is a little confusing.
Kobe....easily IMO.Kobe is much smarter, has way more variety offensively, can lockdown another superstar at end of games, and has the killer instinct and mentality to take over when his team needs him the most (4th quarter or not). LeBron is a better playmaker and rebounder, but those 2 categories are less important compared to what Kobe offers you.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 16 2007, 12:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>they're always compared in other threads.</div>Which I never understand, because Bryant is easily the best player in the game today. James still has a little ways to go before he can be called the best in the game.
I think it's Kobe. He has all the skills LeBron has but he plays great defense as well, which is what LeBron is lacking. Yes, LeBron made it to the Finals with a sub-par supporting cast, but he had a very easy road to get there. Kobe is a better scorer, better shooter, and a better defender. LeBron has passing and rebounding up on Kobe, but the rebounding advantage can be contributed by LeBron's body size. Leadership skills is where the discussion gets tough. But, all in all, I have to go with Kobe right now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jun 16 2007, 12:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>but he had a very easy road to get there.</div>I know Washington and New Jersey weren't that hard, but since when did Detroit become easy? I think you meant we had an easy road to the Eastern Finals. Because, I wouldn't call Detroit "Easy".
LeBron's defense may not be as good as Kobe's but I love the versatility LeBron gives on the defensive end...He can guard anyone from 1-4. When he was on Parker this series, Parker wasn't effective, and take it down to 4, he guarded Nowitzki when we played the Mavs and totally shut him down after he had been torching us.
Kobe is easily the better player offensively, because he is more complete. Kobe has a much more full outside game, and can still drive and make some amazing plays. LeBron may be just as fantastic on the drive, but his outside game is entirely inconsistent. However, Lebron does give you a solid rebounder and a solid passer, where Kobe is just an average passer for his position.Where I think they differ most is their scoring abilities. Kobe has shown that when Phil lets him, he can take over the game and score 50 on command. LeBron still hasn't developed that ability without costing his team the game.
I give this to Kobe.He always give 100%, earilier in the year loads of articles were talking about Lebron not giving 100%.Like I read, Lebron is 22 and already he's resting in games?!?!he should be going 100% all of the time.Kobe does that.Lebron at 100% is the better player IMO because he involves his teamates more, rebounds better and can score almost as well.Problem is we don't see it for long stretches.Kobe for being more consistent.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Jun 16 2007, 10:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron at 100% is the better player IMO because he involves his teamates more, rebounds better and can score almost as well.</div>And Kobe can lockdown a player on the defensive end and always will attempt a takeover in the clutch if team needs him...LeBron not so much. As for scoring almost as well...not so much. If the Spurs series proved anything, LeBron still isn't on elite scoring level. He has a very weak jumpshot (during season shot only 34% from midrange), and doesn't have the footwork or fundementals that Kobe does. With that said, if LeBron would just make things a little simpler for himself, he'd be such a better scorer. I consider LeBron a better jumpshooter than Wade, but he shoots the midrange at 5% worse because he takes shots when he is offbalance, doesn't take time to set himself, and sometimes takes bail out shots from too deep. If he would just be smarter with his talents like Carmelo and Wade are, he'd actually give Kobe a run for his money as best scorer in the league.
If Kobe had Lebrons team they would probably also make the finals.Kobe is a much better player right now. He is a better shooter by far and is always a team leader.Right now Lebron has to become a shoot first player like Kobe. In the playoffs if there was 5 seconds kobe would never pass it away. Lebron give it to Marshall vs Detroit and thats why they lossed. This is what I mean of being a leader.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CavsRules @ Jun 16 2007, 12:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I know Washington and New Jersey weren't that hard, but since when did Detroit become easy? I think you meant we had an easy road to the Eastern Finals. Because, I wouldn't call Detroit "Easy".</div>Suns are better than those 3 teams combined. Kobe had to go against a suns team that was on a roll, and this year they had STAT, so that makes all the difference. Detroit is above average, but not an elite team. Kobe tho, and for years we well. Kobe got the instinct, he got the footwork, he got the slashes into the basket. and he isn't that bad of a passer. In games sometimes, he would try hard to make an assist, his teamates would never miss the shot. If his teammates could hit buckets, he would be the better passer.Rebounding to LeBron, because he's just plain big, but defense, kb24 got that down.Like someone said earlier, Lebron just shoots shots that don't make sense (not saying Kobe doesn't either), but who would you have taking an off balance 3 pointer, James or Kobe?
Almost everyone will pick Kobe in this comparison, so to make it a bit more fair, let's both compare them at the same age.Lebron at 22- 27-7-6 on 48% shooting.Kobe at 22- 29-6-5 on 46% shooting.Statistically they are very similar. Lebron is a slightly better driver while Kobe is a slightly better shooter. Because of this range Kobe gets the edge scoring wise. Defensively it's really no contest. Lebron, while versitale, is an okay defender. Kobe was all defensive first team and arguably at his defensive peak. As far as passing goes Lebron kills Kobe. James is known as one of the more skilled passers in the league while Kobe (even though he possesses the skill) is known as somewhat of a ballhog. Lebron also gets the edge in rebounding because of his advantage in strength.If you factor in the playoffs than Kobe would probably get the upper hand. Lebron had that great performance against Detroit and some other good games but Kobe was just amazing. He put up 36 and then 48/16 in consecutive games against Sacramento. Then he poured in 45, 28, 36/9/8, and 24/11 against San Antonio. Really he put together 6 all around amazing games in a row against very good competion. Kobe played much better than James in the Finals, but it really isn't very fair to compare the two, seeing as how James was playing against a defense anchored to stop him while Kobe was playing against a defense anchored to stop Shaq.Overall it's very close but I think what puts Lebron ahead is the fact that he had to do what he did without a dominating presence in the middle. He was facing double teams on a nightly basis. Kobe was seeing doubles on occasion but he was used to seeing defenses that were trying to stop Shaq.
yes if you compair that at 22, Lebron has lead his team to the finals.Kobe helped or co-lead his team with the most dominant big man over the past 2 decades on his team.That's an intangible hard to ignore.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (l?ckdown @ Jun 16 2007, 02:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Suns are better than those 3 teams combined. Kobe had to go against a suns team that was on a roll, and this year they had STAT, so that makes all the difference. Detroit is above average, but not an elite team. Kobe tho, and for years we well. Kobe got the instinct, he got the footwork, he got the slashes into the basket. and he isn't that bad of a passer. In games sometimes, he would try hard to make an assist, his teamates would never miss the shot. If his teammates could hit buckets, he would be the better passer.Rebounding to LeBron, because he's just plain big, but defense, kb24 got that down.Like someone said earlier, Lebron just shoots shots that don't make sense (not saying Kobe doesn't either), but who would you have taking an off balance 3 pointer, James or Kobe?</div>Detroit is the best team in the East, so getting past them when no one gave you a chance in the world, obviously says something. I'm not comparing Kobe's playoffs to LeBron's. I'm just saying, Detroit isn't easy.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NYK @ Jun 16 2007, 11:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If Kobe had Lebrons team they would probably also make the finals.Kobe is a much better player right now. He is a better shooter by far and is always a team leader.Right now Lebron has to become a shoot first player like Kobe. In the playoffs if there was 5 seconds kobe would never pass it away. Lebron give it to Marshall vs Detroit and thats why they lossed. This is what I mean of being a leader.</div>If Kobe was in the East, yes, but no chance in the East. LeBron's supporting cast isn't even that much better. It's still Kobe by a large margin right now, but I think LeBron could finish with a better career maybe. He has a lot of improving to do to get their though, defensively, in the clutch, free throws, long range shot...
