A couple of days back the most anticipated game of the season (at least for me that is) took place between the Lake show and the Cavs @ Staples. As an avid NBA fan I sure love when I'm right. I knew right from the get go back in late October that Kobe vs LBJ would wind up being the best match up the NBA has seen since Bulls vs Knicks in the early 90's. By far the best two players on the two best teams, not much else I could ask for. However, having to watch the game in the confines of a friendly downtown Vancouver sports bar sure added to fun. This being my 5th day here in the pacific north west city, my girl and I have had to endure life without certain amenities, no tv, no toaster (oh how I miss you), no microwave, no bed and so on as we await our home life stuff to arrive from Saskatoon. But no Laker game? Fuck that! That wasn't something I was going to wait for. All day long I abounded with joy at how the nights game would be nothing short of a thriller. Here therefore are a few notes that caught my eye from the Lakers romp.
- Kobe is one tough SOB: Dislocates his finger and still manages to defend LeBron marvelously. 20/12/9 is a pretty damn good game, especially against the leagues best defense.
- Kobe is the best defender in the league: Held LeBron to 36% shooting, 23 pts, but most importantly to a game where he wasn't that involved. For me that is the mark of a true MVP, a guy whose willing to check the other teams best player and sacrifice his stats for the betterment of the team. I totally understand why he's been All NBA First Team Defense 7 times.
- LeBron is one bad ass mofo: The guy is Magic with Dominique's power, he is fucking fast, strong and fucking hard to guard. He has by far the highest ceiling of any player in the league now and in history, well except for Shaq. If only he had more intelligence and a stronger mindset of the game, plus a better defensive approach and more crisp shooting he could go down as the best ever. At 24 he still has time to develop, it only remains to be seen whether a summer in the gym vs a summer of celebrity can be coaxed into him. This to me is what separates he and Shaq from being the best ever, they both lack the killer "I"m going to die trying to be the best" attitude that MJ and Kobe both exude. It remains to be seen here that if the results had been flipped to where LBJ suffered that injury if he would have stayed in the game. Something tells me no. But hey that's me.
- When LA's bench plays the way they can, they're unstoppable: Odom, Ariza, Farmar, Vujacic and Radmanovic all could start for most teams in the league, and when they're on boy can they fucking play. The verdict is still out on Odom and Radmanovic, I still would trade them and get a Paul Millsap type player to back up Gasol and Bynum, but as it stands this bench can play. They move the ball well, run even better and they all can shoot. If they catch a good head of steam, I say look out.
- Cleveland is still one player away from a championship: I say ship Wally out and go get someone now who can contribute in the post season. Whether it be Marion, Carter or even some blue chippers I say why wait, this team needs some size, Varajeo and Wallace are to soft and old to combat the taller teams and Illgauskas shouldn't be counted on too much at this stage of his career. They'll still be in the East championships and maybe the finals, but I say why risk it, go for it and package Wally's expiring for something now. With that D and LBJ this team could beat LA if the right player came by.
Not much else to say on this. later.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Rick Kamla you're a biased idiot!
Okay so that title isn't very flattering towards the NBA's number one Fantasy guru, but hey I only speak my mind when I know I'm right. In case you've never heard or read anything from Rick, he's the NBA's top guy when it comes to rating fantasy numbers for fantasy leagues. He also helps host NBA TV from time to time. Any who, judging from his credentials and experience, the man does know the game, I will give him that but when it comes to offering his opinion and such, well I find him a little hard to believe seeing as he tends to favor his favorite players. Here's the thing, my view of NBA analysts and such is that you should hold some sort middle ground when it comes to players. Favoring one and not the other gives the impression to fans that you are unable to put your views/biases aside while reporting the game and player mentioned. What I mean is, if you hate player X and love player Y and will do whatever you can to promote player Y and demean player X than in my opinion you are unfit at judging/reporting or even commenting as an analyst for the NBA.
Over the years I've watched Kamla rant at how he hates Kobe, how he's too selfish and yada yada yada, saying that he doesn't involve his teammates enough, he shoots too much, he's a poor leader, etc... Which in fairness might have been true 5 years ago when he was just learning how to be a leader sans Shaq. He may have shot a lot, but when Kwame Brown and Luke Walton are your 2nd and 3rd options well I would too. But on the flip side if you watch any laker games now, Kobe shoots less, involves more and leads constantly.
My opinion on this and anyone who has views towards someone at one point in time should also factor in that people change, evolve and with hard work find a way to get better. Is Kamla right in comparing Kobe and LeBron? Sure, why not, it's fun to do so. They are clearly the two best players in the league, both supreme leaders on championship caliber ball clubs. But to say that LeBron is head and shoulders better than Kobe is way off base. In Kamla's assessment he does have a point that LeBron at his age now of 24, he is better than was Kobe was at 24, the man is a freak and only getting better. But to say he's better now, I don't think so.
Who's a better shooter? Kobe by a landslide, he's clutch, a better free throw shooter, he's got an amazing mid range game, a consistent three, and he can bary big time shots when the game matters. LeBron has great touch, but he does show inconsistency, and his free throw shooting is awful for a player of his dominance. Big advantage to Kobe.
Who's a better defender? Well Kobe's been all league defense what 7 or 8 times, he's probably the best man on man lock down defender in the game, he's quick, has great instincts and very intelligent on help defense. With the Lakers he plays more of a free safety so he has to roam more than he'd like, but when it comes to his defense, I'm confident he's proven himself by now. As for LeBron well I must admit he's a lot better, more adept, he's improved on help defense and his steals have steadily improved this season. His man defense still needs work but he should get there. Still advantage to Kobe.
Rebounding, Passing? Well they both excel at their positions. LeBron wins in both categories statistically, but you need to take into account a few factors. One is LeBron's size, he's 6'8" 250, while Kobe is 6'7" 210, so when it comes to rebounding LeBron should win, and he does but not by much, so I call it even, a rebound more per isn't anything to go bragging about. As for passing, well both dominate the ball so much that finding the open teammate has become second hat for both. I will admit that up until this season LeBron was doing most of the point guard duties in Cleveland so him having higher assist totals that Kobe is rather mute, he should have more. Whereas in the triangle Kobe tends to play the wing or 3 position getting the ball more in transition, plus the triangle was never meant to use a point, it's a team offense, so having one person getting all the is rather difficult. But nonetheless I call this a tie.
As for leadership? Well how do you quantify that, both of their teams are winning, their records are identical and both lead in different ways. I like to compare these two to Michael and Magic, two players with very different games but with similar results, they both win. Michael like Kobe was a killer, a "do it right" type of leader, he leads by example and hard work. Whereas, Magic like LeBron led more with his mouth and overall showmanship. Kobe vs LeBron is quite the undertaking but the way I see it Kobe has more overall experience, more sound fundamentals and an overall better sense of the game than LeBron does at this stage of his career. LeBron no doubt can put up the big numbers and his team is winning but until he wins his first ring he's still going to be second fiddle to Kobe. Also try comparing Howard to Duncan. Howards numbers are better and both their teams are doing well, so then ask yourself who's the better player now, Duncan or Howard? I shouldn't have to answer that by the way. To me that's how the whole Kobe and LeBron comparisons should be, easy and simple. Ah Kobe you get no respect.
later.
Over the years I've watched Kamla rant at how he hates Kobe, how he's too selfish and yada yada yada, saying that he doesn't involve his teammates enough, he shoots too much, he's a poor leader, etc... Which in fairness might have been true 5 years ago when he was just learning how to be a leader sans Shaq. He may have shot a lot, but when Kwame Brown and Luke Walton are your 2nd and 3rd options well I would too. But on the flip side if you watch any laker games now, Kobe shoots less, involves more and leads constantly.
My opinion on this and anyone who has views towards someone at one point in time should also factor in that people change, evolve and with hard work find a way to get better. Is Kamla right in comparing Kobe and LeBron? Sure, why not, it's fun to do so. They are clearly the two best players in the league, both supreme leaders on championship caliber ball clubs. But to say that LeBron is head and shoulders better than Kobe is way off base. In Kamla's assessment he does have a point that LeBron at his age now of 24, he is better than was Kobe was at 24, the man is a freak and only getting better. But to say he's better now, I don't think so.
Who's a better shooter? Kobe by a landslide, he's clutch, a better free throw shooter, he's got an amazing mid range game, a consistent three, and he can bary big time shots when the game matters. LeBron has great touch, but he does show inconsistency, and his free throw shooting is awful for a player of his dominance. Big advantage to Kobe.
Who's a better defender? Well Kobe's been all league defense what 7 or 8 times, he's probably the best man on man lock down defender in the game, he's quick, has great instincts and very intelligent on help defense. With the Lakers he plays more of a free safety so he has to roam more than he'd like, but when it comes to his defense, I'm confident he's proven himself by now. As for LeBron well I must admit he's a lot better, more adept, he's improved on help defense and his steals have steadily improved this season. His man defense still needs work but he should get there. Still advantage to Kobe.
Rebounding, Passing? Well they both excel at their positions. LeBron wins in both categories statistically, but you need to take into account a few factors. One is LeBron's size, he's 6'8" 250, while Kobe is 6'7" 210, so when it comes to rebounding LeBron should win, and he does but not by much, so I call it even, a rebound more per isn't anything to go bragging about. As for passing, well both dominate the ball so much that finding the open teammate has become second hat for both. I will admit that up until this season LeBron was doing most of the point guard duties in Cleveland so him having higher assist totals that Kobe is rather mute, he should have more. Whereas in the triangle Kobe tends to play the wing or 3 position getting the ball more in transition, plus the triangle was never meant to use a point, it's a team offense, so having one person getting all the is rather difficult. But nonetheless I call this a tie.
As for leadership? Well how do you quantify that, both of their teams are winning, their records are identical and both lead in different ways. I like to compare these two to Michael and Magic, two players with very different games but with similar results, they both win. Michael like Kobe was a killer, a "do it right" type of leader, he leads by example and hard work. Whereas, Magic like LeBron led more with his mouth and overall showmanship. Kobe vs LeBron is quite the undertaking but the way I see it Kobe has more overall experience, more sound fundamentals and an overall better sense of the game than LeBron does at this stage of his career. LeBron no doubt can put up the big numbers and his team is winning but until he wins his first ring he's still going to be second fiddle to Kobe. Also try comparing Howard to Duncan. Howards numbers are better and both their teams are doing well, so then ask yourself who's the better player now, Duncan or Howard? I shouldn't have to answer that by the way. To me that's how the whole Kobe and LeBron comparisons should be, easy and simple. Ah Kobe you get no respect.
later.
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