Cavs 119, Knicks 105
–We’re not going to talk about the Cavs tonight, this one is about LeBron. This is one of those historic nights that will always be remembered by New York basketball fans, which means something because it is the capital of the sport. LeBron gets 50 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and four steals at Madison Square Garden. He hits four 3-pointers in the last four minutes, an adoring, and I mean adoring fan charges the Cavs’ huddle just to shake James’ hand in the final seconds, he gets a standing ovation from the crowd. Here is what he said afterward when I asked him where this ranks in his career:
“This ranks real high right now. I’ve dreamed about playing well in this building. To get a standing ovation in the greatest basketball arena in the world, it is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.”
–It has happened in other places, but the way the crowd just totally turned itself over to James was remarkable. A few years ago in Salt Lake City, the crowd got ripped by the local media when they cheered when James reached 50 points. Last year in Minneapolis, he had a huge game and the crowd cheered for him in the fourth quarter, which was my indication that they needed to blow that team up. Because this is the Garden, though, it is special. I am no big fan of New York, but there is no denying the significance. Down the stretch the crowd tensed whenever he got the ball and watched the scoreboard, which was wrong the entire fourth quarter because he had two too many points. Quite a moment.
–I was just a few feet away when the fan came out of the stands. He was wearing a LeBron jersey and his eyes were just so wide. He was obviously in awe. Now, it is not good that a kid was able to get all the way across the court and into the Cavs huddle before being caught, but he never appeared to be a danger. The way LeBron embraced him, I thought for a moment that they knew each other. Here’s what he said about it:
“That was a great feeling, he told me he loved the way I played. I respect him and his pride.” Not endorsed by the NBA, I imagine.
–On a personal note, I feel like I will be telling this story for years. I was inches from giving up at Hopkins airport today and going home after I tried to get to all four New York area airports all day and didn’t look like I was going to make it. I landed at 6 p.m. at Newark and took a harrowing cab ride to make it here in time. The lesson is this: you never know when you are going to see LeBron do something special. It may happen in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it may happen in the Garden, it may happen Saturday night against the Pacers.
Recap:
Pregame
Starters
Cavs: Delonte West, Devin Brown, LeBron James, Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao
Knicks: Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Malik Rose, Eddy Curry
–I just got to the Garden less than 30 minutes before tip, it has been a terrible travel day for me. It was not Continental Airlines finest hour and it had nothing to do with the weather. So I’m a little behind and a little stressed.
–West made it back from a family funeral and Wally Szczerbiak has rejoined the team. Mike Brown missed shootaround today with the flu, but he’s going to coach tonight. Also, Zach Randolph is back for the Knicks after missing a few games with a bad foot.
–Warning for the fainthearted, LeBron is wearing his Yankee shoes tonight. No comments please.
–There’s a huge buzz here because Stephon Marbury showed up when there’s been a big drama about how Isiah Thomas had told him to stay away, etc., etc. Just more Knicks nonsense going on, but that is what all the NYC media is all over.
–The Cavs never seem to play well at the Garden. Right now the Knicks have basically quit on the season but that may not mean anything. They are very strong in the post and David Lee has run circles around the Cavs in the past. That could be a key point tonight with Zydrunas Ilgauskas out with a back strain.
Halftime — Cavs 58, Knicks 54
–LeBron has been very good in the first half, not just because of his power dunk and the 40-footer he made at the half (the longest make of his career, I think EDIT: Yes, thanks from the comments, he did make an 80-footer last season), but because he’s killed the Knicks double teams with great passes. But this is not unusual.
–The Cavs are been killed on the interior by the Knicks as I mentioned in the pregame. Eddy Curry’s power and David Lee, a late addition to the starting lineup, are overmatching them. Anderson Varejao’s ankle still isn’t right and it show in his reactions to loose balls. Ben Wallace is not quick enough to deal with Lee right now either. Acutally, Joe Smith was great in his time, he had seven rebounds in 10 minutes. The Knicks have 30 points in the paint and are shooing 54 percent, if that keeps up the Cavs will lose. I’d suggest to Mike Brown to use Dwayne Jones, because at least he’d bang with Curry. Play him with Smith to avoid offensive lapses.
–As I wrote about in the paper today, Devin Brown has been playing well since the trade. He played very well in the first half with 12 points. However, he is not a jump shooter and he seems to be taking more than he should. He is much better driving and finishing, the guy makes lots of junk shots around the rim.
Postgame
Star
LeBron, 50 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds
Quotes
LeBron on whether he has ever thought about playing for the Knicks: “No, that might be worse than that fan running out on the court.”
LeBron on whether he’s ever thought of leaving the Cavs: “You don’t think about it, I am in a great situation. I am home, my family gets to see me play, the organization has been nothing up great to me I have no reason to think about going anywhere else at this point.”
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{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, Z’s the only big man on the Cavs who can keep up with that young whippersnapper Lee.
Any reason as to why Lebron started the second quarter on the bench?
Also, why the quick hook for Delonte?
Brian Lebron’s farthest 3 pointer made was in bost when he hit that 3/4 court shot. And why is Ben Wallace so bad around the rim when hes putting the ball back up?
LBJ could go for 50 tonight.
I still have to say, our perimeter D is pathetic. We can’t stop anybody. Crawford and Robinson have 36 combined at the end of 3. We are going to have a real tough time with Billups and Rip.
I always thought Joe Smith was kind of an underachiever, but now I’m glad he’s one of us. You always need that kind of veteran presence and well, Snow don’t really cut it for us. The guys a true pro, it seems so far.
LBJ’s just going off!!!!!!!!!
I can’t believe how Damon has turned things around. He has been shooting well consistently for a change.
Joe Smith is refreshing.
Once Pav and Gibson come back (and Z!) we’re gonna be rollin, son -
I vant to shoot the basketball again soon.
Why are the comments so slow to load on this site?
brian, sorry but that 40-footer lebron made at the end of the first half wasn’t the longest shot he’s ever made. try doubling that length and then some. i believe he made something like an 84-foot shot in a game last year just before the end of the 3rd-quarter buzzer. it was very reminiscent of the commercial he made earlier in his career that showed him making repeated full court shots which was probably just faked through some trick photography. still, that 40-footer was a thing of beauty. it was probably the longest pure jump shot he’s ever made though as that 84-footer was something more like a chest pass that he just threw up as slop and it somehow still went in. there’s good and then there’s lucky. the 84-footer was lucky, but 40-footer was definitely a good shot. hell, it was a great shot.
I was curious about recent 50 pt, 10 asst games, ESPN has it up:
Player (Year) Opponent Pts-Ast
LeBron James (2008) at Knicks 50-10
Stephon Marbury (2001) vs. Lakers 52-12 (OT game)
Michael Jordan (1992) vs. Bullets 57-10
AP – BREAKING NEWS: LEBRON JAMES ALMOST DEFINITELY LEAVING FOR BROOKLYN AFTER NEGOTIATING WITH NETS OWNER JAY-Z DURING KNICKS GAME
In a much smaller story, the Cavs beat the Knicks, the team’s new players appear to be fitting in well, and Lebron essentially burned the Garden to the ground.
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Games like tonight have almost been ruined for me. Instead of enjoying a majestic performance by Lebron on the world’s biggest stage and a fun Cavs victory, all I can think about is the ignorant misinformed columns that will be written by hundreds of hack sports journalists all over America tonight, each of which will fall into one of the following categories:
1. The idiot who watches ESPN and thinks that makes him qualified to write about the NBA will opine that since Jay-Z owns the Nets, Lebron and Jay-Z are good friends, the Nets play in a big market, and nobody could possibly want to play in Cleveland, Lebron is DEFINITELY going to Brooklyn in 2010.
Reality: Not to let the facts get in the way of a good story but I think Jay-Z invested all of $4.5 million in the Nets. As a reference point, I believe Usher put $9 million into the Cavs. But nevermind that because Jay-Z OWNS the Nets! Lebron is going there…deal with it Cleveland!
2. The ignorant Knicks writer will write about how Lebron will definitely be coming to New York because Nike will want him there and it is the only place where he can become a global icon. Plus, how could anyone not want to come to New York and the NBA’s flagship franchise, the Knicks.
Reality: The Knicks are so poorly run that they probably won’t even be able to figure out how to clear cap space for 2010. Even if they did, they would not be able to put a decent team around Lebron. This franchise is a disaster. The 2010 Cavs (who just so happen to practice 10 minutes from Lebron’s hometown and residence) will probably field a much better team. As for the Nike thing….what can you say. If that alone is enough to make Lebron go to New York then so be it.
3. The Self-Righteous Scoop Jackson types will probably write about how Lebron is your typical young superstar, obsessed with himself and his own image. They will point out that Lebron was jawing with Spike Lee and Jay-Z instead of focusing on winning the game.
Reality: First of all, the MJ-Spike faux feud is second only to maybe Reggie Miller-Spike in terms of NBA lore I don’t really remember MJ being criticized for this. In fact, I believe he used it to fuel his competitive impulses and take over games. Sounds an awful lot like, oh, I don’t know, what Lebron did on his way to 50-10-8 tonight.
4. The Kobe contingent will write about how Lebron’s 50 pale in comparison to Kobe’s 52 the other night because Kobe’s came against a much better team.
Reality: First of all, the Mavs killed themselves with the Kidd trade and are very beatable right now and have zero interior defense. Second of all, lets look at a few numbers: 20 of Kobe’s 52 came at the line while only 11 of Lebron’s did. Lebron had 8 assists to Kobe’s 4. Also, Lebron had 2 turnovers to Kobe’s 5. Finally, just for good measure, lets not forget that during the game, Lebron didn’t quit on his team, expose the intimate details of a teammate’s life, demand to be traded, or sexually assault anyone (ok that last one was a cheap shot and not totally true but you get the point).
Sorry for all the negativity tonight. This really was a most enjoyable win. It’s just that the better Lebron gets, the more I become jaded by the world and its perception of Lebron and Cleveland. The only way I’m ever going to feel better is if we win a title and stick it up the rest of the world’s a-hole. Life was so much simpler when we didn’t have the greatest athlete on earth. Oh how I yearn for the days of Chris Gatling and Clarence Weatherspoon.
Biff, I totally feel you man. You almost just need to drown it out, it’s hard, but just realize: NO ONE WANTS CLEVELAND TO WIN ANYTHING. I know that’s a victim mentality, but it’s just so obvious. That being said, they just showed LeBron mouthing “Fifty” to spike lee when he had 37! MYTHICAL
bron bron is unreal
haha, good post, biff. i still REALLY enjoyed this game, but i did catch myself thinking about how dumb some of these news articles and message board comments are going to be tomorrow.
lebron giving the fist pump to his chest when that crazy fan ran to the sideline was great. i would have actually expected a pro to act differently
I love your recaps 99.9% of the time Brian but this was one of your best. Great job of putting us in the moment.
biff,i could not have said it any better.well said.
Please, Biff. All these types of games do is seal the deal that James is gone. It’s the difference between O’Neal in Orlando and O’Neal in Los Angeles, but in an entirely different dimension. Flipping a coin between Manhattan and Brooklyn, assuming Kiki Vandeweghe will be running the Knicks at the time James cut himself loose, I’ll say Manhattan. That dude will be a god. Bathing in gold coins, fur and chicks. Joe Namath and Walt Frazier, multiply by a gazillion. At least Maverick Carter and the rest of his worthless posse will have something to do. How Maverick will still amazingly get speeding tickets while riding on the subway remains to be seen.
Please, comaguy. What the hell are you yapping about this time??
I see another coma in your future little man. Say about 2-3 months from now….
Take care.
It is very apparent that Lebron has been working on his jumper. All that work with Chris Ghent has been paying off lately. He’ll never be a Ray Allen, but he’s definitely getting better. He is getting closer and closer to the BEST complete player ever to play the game… he’s only 23 and is probably the best at taking the ball to the hoop, and now he’s improving his defense and jump shot every day. I think the best is yet to come with this guy. I just hope his ego doesn’t get over-inflated with all the jawing he does with the stars on the sideline…. that was a turnoff to see him jawing it up with Jay Z and Spike Lee last night…focus on the game Lebron!!
How someone could possibly focus on what happens two years from now rather than on the once-in-a-lifetime talent who dons #23 with Cleveland on the front of his jersey… CLEVELAND guys!! … and destroys the NBA on a nightly basis is just so far beyond me. That says more about the miserable idiots in this town than it does Lebron.
Cant you people read? Windy asked him the questions you evidently ponder on an hourly basis and he answered the way you would hope he would. He’s only going to get better and he’s destined to win championships. Oh, and he’s a Cleveland Cavalier. Until something changes, those are the facts. Wise up.
Thanks for that insight alan t. I can tell based on your specific firsthand knowledge of Lebron’s future plans that I should listen to you. Your financial analysis is even more on the mark. Even though the Cavs will be able to offer 10s of millions of more dollars on his next contract and he is already in several national ad campaigns, New York is clearly Lebron’s only road to future wealth. Since Lebron will also be entitled to his fare share of all the merchandise sales that he generates, your point has even greater weight.
And wow, yeah, if Kiki Vandeweghe is running the Knicks, Lebron would almost HAVE to go there right? How could Lebron pass up the opportunity to play for a team run by the author of both the drafting of Nikoloz Tskitishvili AND the sign and trade for Kenyon Martin(’s corpse). Of course, don’t discount the possibility that the Nets could land a GM of their own to rival Vandeweghe’s personnel prowess. By 2010, it’s possible that BOTH Paxon brothers could be available!!!
Great post alan t. I think I speak for the rest of your fans on this board when I ask that you please, give us more of your brilliant original thoughts!
Actually, Josh, Windy didn’t ask those questions, it was the other reporters swarming James in the Mecca’s locker room. I don’t think Windy has been allowed to ask LeBron any questions since his sophomore year in junior high school. Which I find somewhat curious, since he and the Reverend Pluto wrote a tome about the guy. It violates the LeBron Code, or something.
Thoughts on LeBron’s win over the Knicks:
- There’s something special about a player who can recieve cheers from the jaded fans of the opposing team. LeBron took center-stage in the basketball capital of the world, and he blew the crowd away. He had a special night last night.
- Well, as special as a game can be in the beginning of March against a team that is 25 games under .500. LeBron’s performance even managed to quell the “Fire Isiah” chants.
- Like it or not, LeBron’s performance got much more attention today because it was in New York. If he had that same game in Sacramento it would be a story, but he wouldn’t recieve the kind of attention and adulation that has been showered upon him today. I don’t know when LeBron is going to leave, but I don’t understand how anyone could begrudge him if decides to go.
- Solid-not-great nights from the rest of the supporting cast. Each made a useful contribution at some point in the game, but they also let some mediocre Knicks players have their way. Right now it looks like this type of game is the only way the Cavs are going to be able to beat the Pistons or the Celtics. The new supporting cast just does not include players who are capable of taking the pressure off of LeBron any better than the departed Cavaliers. Maybe that will change slightly as we get closer to the playoffs, but right now the LeBron-or-nothing problem still remains.
- The Cavs’ problem with quick point guards continues, as Nate Robinson was splitting double-teams and getting into the lane all night. Even though West has been mostly competent since he came to Cleveland, I’m not thrilled about the potential point gaurd matchups in the playoffs.
- Remember when Jared Jeffries was a stopper? A guy who could play 4 positions? Now he’s a $6 Million afterthought on a terrible Knicks team, with 3 more years to go on his contract.
Mr. Tucker you are a sucker. So go ahead and pucker.
Because Lebron and Co. are going to make a bucker.
In Cleveland Ohio and not New Yucker.
JoeHoops, I like the trash talking to celebrities. What’s a turnoff about it?
If Alan tells me something, then it MUST be true!
More thoughts:
- LeBron is friends with Jay-Z, and Jay-Z will make a pitch at the end of the 2009-10 season to convince LeBron to come to New York. Nike wants LeBron to play in New York. LeBron and his marketing team know that his exposure in New York would lead to more endorsement dollars. These are all facts, and while they may not convince LeBron to leave after the 2009-10 season, you can’t just ignore them because you don’t want to hear them.
- The Knicks definitely *could* have a desirable team in place when LeBron opts out. The Celtics went from a team that had an 18-game losing streak last year to the best team in the East, maybe in the NBA. The Lakers got Pau Gasol for a song. When David Stern and the league office want a franchise to get a boost, they make it happen. You don’t think that they had something to do with LeBron coming here in the first place? I’m not saying that the Knicks *will* have a good team in 2010, but I wouldn’t bet against it today.
- Scoop Jackson cracking LeBron for his performance last night? Are you kidding? Scoop would *never* criticize a performance like that, which combined style and substance, a great personal performance that led to team success. The guy loves LeBron’s game, and rightly so. Old skool NBA fans are very forgiving when it comes to guys who win.
- No one (of substance) is saying that LeBron’s performance wasn’t as good as Kobe’s performance, though the Lakers win over the Mavericks was much more important than the Cavs win over the Knicks. I’m not sure why this “LeBron or Kobe” thing is as hot as it is right now, but it’s a complete waste of time. People are going to be arguing this when both of their careers are long over, so why in the hell would anyone try to make a definitive conclusion today?
- Any and all cracks at Maverick Carter are always appreciated.
It is as simple as this: Lebron is the greatest Cleveland Cavalier now or ever. And he is the MVP. And he will lead the revamped Cavaliers to the title. I don’t fear Boston (a roster of playoff losers), I don’t fear Detroit (old and we’ve dominated them the last two years), and I don’t fear anyone out west now that we have some true shooters and veterans around Lebron unlike “cream cheese” Drew Gooden, “I play for myself” Larry Hughes, “Deer in the Headlights” Donyell Marshall, and “I just got waived by one of the worst teams in basketball” Ira Newble. And best of all, Lebron will never leave Cleveland. He doesn’t need NY. He is rich enough. He never does the predictable thing. And for a guy who has been famous almost his whole life, why does he need any more bright lights. Cleveland will win several champsionships in the next few years. Count on it.
Yo Allen, I don’t think he was trash talking with Jay Z and Spike Lee. He’s best buds with Jay Z so they were probably just discussing their plans later that night to sip Crystol and eat caviarre. Maybe he was trash talking with Spike though, but I doubt it. All these gazillionaires like to hang out. I just think he should be 100% focus’d on the game instead of running down the court after every dunk looking over to see if his rich friends were smiling. If he does that in the Playoffs, Detroit will take notice and kick our behinds.
Great posts Biff, keep them coming.
Man just reading some of these comments I can tell Biff is a dumb___. While LeBron should be applauded for his 52 points game, for this to be a reason why he is better than Kobe or in contingent for MVP is foolish. The Cavs had to fight with a terrible (and I mean TERRIBLE) New York team who couldn’t play perimeter defense nor defend the post. Biff you must be seriously off your rockers to compare Kobe’s Dallas game to this. Are you seriously comparing Dallas to New York. In every aspect of the game New York fails in comparison. If anything should be deemed MVP worthy (and no I’m not dick riding) it should be Kobe’s performance at Sacramento. He literally waited until the fourth quarter–when he felt his team wasn’t capable of coming back from the 13 point deficit–to tear up the King’s in ARCO ARENA where fans still have a bad taste from the Lakers playoff performances. Not only did that happen (because Kobe is known to consistently turn it up when the game is on the line), at the end of the game he had fans cheering MVP for him. Do you understand how much of a shock that is. Sacramento is so loyal to their fans (even more so then Utah/Golden State); hence the Kings impressive home record despite a bad overall record. Not to mention this was the same arena that was ringing cow bells when Kobe was food poisoned during the Western Conference finals. New York fans will look for any team to cheer for. Look at the team they have. They are desperate. I still don’t understand why so many people still attend their games. My theories are they came to see the other teams play or the got conned into a decade worth of season tickets.
On second thought, LeBron dropping 52 is way better than Kobe’s 30% shooting night in Sacto where he hit a few jumpers and made about 15 free throws in the 4th quarter. On second thought, the reason Kobe was getting MVP chants in Sacramento is because no one goes to their games and since they are in the same state, lots of LA fans got tickets and drove there.
I just don’t understand why it is SUCH A CLEAR CUT SIGN that LeBron is leaving Cleveland? He could have opted out last year. Why didn’t he?
LeBron wants to win, and he’s a loyal person. As he said last night, “The organization has been nothing but good to me.” I’m not sure he’s going to let that loyalty go for nothing when he gets offered a max deal.
Wow that was an incredible performance. FYI ESPN suddenly loves the Cavs now screw you and your “sports” network! Goos game LeBron good game.
J King
1. Calling me a dumb ___ and then trying to convince me of how great Sacramento is is not a winning strategy.
2. I’m comparing Lebron’s game to the Dallas game purely for the sake of proving that Lebron’s numbers were more impressive. Also, while Dallas is obviously a much better team than New York, neither can defend on the interior. I’m not sure if trying to score inside on Dampier is all that much more difficult than trying it on David Lee. Lebron could get to the rim very easily against the newly revised version of that team just as Kobe did.
3. Let’s talk Sacramento:
a. Sacramento stinks. They are 27 and 34 and unloaded their point guard at the deadline so that record reflects a team that is better than the one they put on the floor against Kobe. At home, they are 18-11. Not a terrible record but certainly not quite the second coming of the 72-win bulls. The knicks, by comparison, were 12-18 at home. I”m not denying the Knicks are terrible but don’t make Sacramento out to be more than they are.
b. Should we be more impressed if a player “literally waits until the 4th quarter” before attempting to win the game? I’m no NBA expert but that would seem to me to be a bit of a risky strategy.
c. “Kobe is known to consistently turn it up when the game is on the line.” Oh really? You mean like he did against Phoenix in game 7 of the 2006 Western Playoffs when he quit? You know what, you’re right: that was some of the most clutch quitting I’ve ever seen.
d. ARCO ARENA!!!! Yes, I know, back when the Kings were relevant, Arco always had a great crowd on hand. But, I have a hard time believing that the environment is quite as hostile now that they are trotting out the following lineup every night: Artest, Miller, Moore, Martin, Udrih.
e. I don’t care if you diss knick fans but winning over the crowd at the Garden isn’t quite as easy as you’re making it out to be. Maybe I’m just forgetting all those times the friendly New Yorkers embraced conference foes.
d. The Lakers got 31-10 from Gasol and 19-10 from Lamar Odam. Seriously, you’re going to spew the kind of crap you’re spewing when Kobe is playing with an elite 7-footer and a guy like Odom? I get it, ok….when Kobe has a great team, he can perform and his team can win. When he doesn’t, he pouts, demands trades, gives up, and they lose. Maybe I’m just a homer but I’ll take what Lebron brings over that.
e. Kobe had 3 assist in 43 minutes….OF COURSE he’s a more complete player than Lebron! He plays that awsome defense!
Get out of here dude. Kobe is good, Lebron is better. Kobe is a douche, Lebron is a hero.
Biff,
first of my bad about the dumb___ ass comment (I get heated sometimes lol). Moving on…let’s get this straight do not insult Kobe’s performance with the Phoenix Sun’s when LeBron failed to even steal one game from the Spurs. Unlike the Pistons, Spurs don’t get cocky and take every game seriously so I don’t see LeBron beating Pistons as that great. He is a marvelous player which I can admit) and should of took advantage of the situation (Detroit unwilling to play at a high level) and won, which he did. But Kobe had just as poor a line up as LeBron with inexperienced players both in years as a player as well as playoff experience. And whether it was San Antonio or Phoenix in that finals Cavs would have still got creamed (I know you won’t admit it but hey). While LeBron is great in overall stats does that making him the best? The Big O and Magic were better overall players then Jordan does that make them better. No because Jordan’s ability to take over a game in any amount of time there is trumped those stats. His need to win and competitiveness, which rubbed off on his players but him ahead. Jordan couldn’t take his Bulls past first round until he got Scottie and Grant and when they did the Bulls had a great winning record and Jordan was named MVP. While I’m not saying Kobe is equivalent to or better than him Michael Jordan is the closest thing. Watch the NBA debate, ask the players he competes against (Marcus Camby just posted a blog about the two), even ask LeBron the man himself. Finally, you talk about Bynum and Odom but I bet when the season started and in the previous season you thought that the Lakers were shit and you wouldn’t think twice about the two. So don’t put them on a pedestal now. Kobe got his whole team into the game from the get go (you’ll probably talk about his complaining during the off-season get over it) and the teams as a whole as well as the individual players field goal percentage and productivity is up. Not to mention Gasol will probably be an all-star next season because of Kobe. Finally lets talk about rebounds and assists. The triangle offense is designed for passing. Kobe does always have to create assist. However, he creates plays by having teams double team and triple team him and dishing it out for the player to either shoot or pass and have that next player shoot (watch a Lakers game). Put it this way which team averages more assists per game: Kobe’s. Who is the leader of assist on the Laker team: Kobe. Oh yeah and Cleveland is 25th in assists with teams like Miami and Seattle in front. And with the rebounds the guy is 6′8, 250lbs what do you expect. Point is Kobe does what his team needs him to do. When I was talking about waiting until the fourth quarter to burn it up, I meant he waits for his team to get in the game and then turns it up in the fourth quarter if he needs to (you can talk about other seasons but that has nothing to do with this years MVP). That was the same thing Phil asked Jordan to do and look who is now living up to expectations.
Don’t worry, the self-procliamed King will not go home penniless though. He’ll have the scoring title to take home. Kobe could take that home with him if he wanted to but with the way his team is playing I wouldn’t trade his game for anything.
what dummy tried to steal my name and then replace it with some crap to support LeBron what a loser. Make it seems like your afraid to get in a discussion about who is the best because LeBron can’t hold his own. and I had space between the “J” and “King” loser.
Biff,
first of my bad about the dumb___ ass comment (I get heated sometimes lol). Moving on…let’s get this straight do not insult Kobe’s performance with the Phoenix Sun’s when LeBron failed to even steal one game from the Spurs. Unlike the Pistons, Spurs don’t get cocky and take every game seriously so I don’t see LeBron beating Pistons as that great. He is a marvelous player which I can admit) and should of took advantage of the situation (Detroit unwilling to play at a high level) and won, which he did. But Kobe had just as poor a line up as LeBron with inexperienced players both in years as a player as well as playoff experience. And whether it was San Antonio or Phoenix in that finals Cavs would have still got creamed (I know you won’t admit it but hey). While LeBron is great in overall stats does that making him the best? The Big O and Magic were better overall players then Jordan does that make them better. No because Jordan’s ability to take over a game in any amount of time there is trumped those stats. His need to win and competitiveness, which rubbed off on his players but him ahead. Jordan couldn’t take his Bulls past first round until he got Scottie and Grant and when they did the Bulls had a great winning record and Jordan was named MVP. While I’m not saying Kobe is equivalent to or better than him Michael Jordan is the closest thing. Watch the NBA debate, ask the players he competes against (Marcus Camby just posted a blog about the two), even ask LeBron the man himself. Finally, you talk about Bynum and Odom but I bet when the season started and in the previous season you thought that the Lakers were shit and you wouldn’t think twice about the two. So don’t put them on a pedestal now. Kobe got his whole team into the game from the get go (you’ll probably talk about his complaining during the off-season get over it) and the teams as a whole as well as the individual players field goal percentage and productivity is up. Not to mention Gasol will probably be an all-star next season because of Kobe. Finally lets talk about rebounds and assists. The triangle offense is designed for passing. Kobe does always have to create assist. However, he creates plays by having teams double team and triple team him and dishing it out for the player to either shoot or pass and have that next player shoot (watch a Lakers game). Put it this way which team averages more assists per game: Kobe’s. Who is the leader of assist on the Laker team: Kobe. Oh yeah and Cleveland is 25th in assists with teams like Miami and Seattle in front. And with the rebounds the guy is 6′8, 250lbs what do you expect. Point is Kobe does what his team needs him to do. When I was talking about waiting until the fourth quarter to burn it up, I meant he waits for his team to get in the game and then turns it up in the fourth quarter if he needs to (you can talk about other seasons but that has nothing to do with this years MVP). That was the same thing Phil asked Jordan to do and look who is now living up to expectations.
Don’t worry, the self-proclaimed King will not go home penniless though. He’ll have the scoring title to take home. Kobe could take that home with him if he wanted to but with the way his team is playing I wouldn’t trade his game for anything.
damn right
J King:
Your arguments are so full of obvious holes that I won’t patronize the other readers on this board trying to explain it to you. Puting all of your other ridiculousness aside, however, I will leave you with this:
You can’t compare quitting at halftime of a playoff game 7 with failing to steal a game against the 3-time NBA champions while leading a team full of bench players.
You’re making yourself look bad here. Quit while you’re behind.
Just like I figured all you can do is bring up stuff from the previous season. Great finishing statement.
I figured you could only bring up shit prior to this season. MVP is a season thing loser. Ask yourself this though: could LeBron and his Cavs survive in the west this or any other time? Try and patronize me, you’re all bluff.
If there was an MVP for forcible sexual assault, Kobe would probably be running away with it. For basketball however, Lebron holds a clear edge to people who aren’t ridiculous.
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Another interesting article from your blog
When will it stop….hopefully never