Friday Fire: We Can Talk LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant All Day, But What About Cleveland vs. Los Angeles?
TSF is gearing up for the NBA’s second season. Jerold Wells Jr. will be working the Hawks/Pacers tonight and Anthony Gilbert and I will be in Philly to report on the Cavs and Sixers tonight as well. The atmosphere should be festive as these teams battle for playoff position.
The Cavs have much more at stake tonight in their quest to secure the number one overall seed in the post season.
Of course this is all hypothetical until it actually…maybe…probably goes down, but we can dream a little beforehand right?
Given that last year’s Boston/Lakers match up gave us all a chance to reminisce with bliss of old school, NBA Finals normalcy, there is a great chance we’ll actually get to see the two baddest basketball players on the planet battle for it all.
Fans of basketball the world over debate which player is better every single day, but seriously…is there a right answer?
IMO, Kobe Bryant is a notch above LBJ strictly because of sheer talent and experience, but LeBron is close enough in his rear view to make Beans a little uncomfortable on the last lap with the checkered flag waving in plain sight…
In fact, some of you under oath would give LeBron the nod over Kobe this very second. Just say this dream force of NBA current royalty happens this June…who ya rockin’ with?
LeBron’s Cavaliers or Kobe’s Lakers? Why?
This is no disrespect to Flash of course, because Wade is definitely in the discussion, but lets toss individual talents aside for a second and focus on the two teams with the best chance of June confetti shine (all dependent on KG’s health of course).
It will be off the chain. That is all.
You home yet bruh or still falling culturally into the mean Asian scene?
I think the Celtics are a tougher match-up for the Lakers. I mean, I wasn’t impressed with Bron’s output against LA (or other contenders, for that matter) this season.
I think the Cavs have two advantages over LA: Mo Williams should be able to run rings around Fisher, and they’ll probably have home court advantage.
But those two advantages are offset by:
1- The Lakers have a huge psychological advantage because they’re the ONLY team to win at Quicken Loans Arena this season.
2- Since being dominated inside by Boston in the Finals, I feel like Odom and Gasol have been tougher. I feel the Lakers have a better inside presence.
3- Bynum returning only adds to that inside presence.
4- The Lakers are much deeper. Their bench will surely outscore Cleveland’s second unit.
And, also, if the series comes down to one game or one possession, I would much rather have Kobe Bryant on my team.
So Lakers in 6.
Tariq has a point. In going over the boxscores, two of LBJ’s worst games were against the Lakers. They were much worse than I imagined. He has to figure that out. Perhaps, instead of doing what they traditionally do, they need to start him on the box. Their problem is they lack versatile, quality ball-handlers with size. Delonte is light in the ass, Mo and Boobie are smurfs. When Phil springs that half-court trap on them with Odom on top, backed by Kobe and Brown, it’s going to be STEAL CITY.
The Cavaliers need LeBron to be dominant in those games. He has to match Kobe on both ends of the floor. LBJ has to shoot a high percentage and fill up the stat sheet with assists and rebounds in order for Cleveland to win it all.
Mo Williams is nice, but he isn’t so nice that I expect him to go for 25 to 40 in every game vs. the Lakers. Frankly, if he gives Fisher too much trouble, he can expect a heavy dose of the younger, taller, stronger Shannon Brown (former MSU Spartan). Brown may not shut him down, but he will fatigue him — and that means Mo’s jumper will go on vacation after Game 4.
Cleveland’s best shot to beat the Lakers is to get home court advantage and win four games at home — but that will be a tough thing to do. They don’t have a defensive answer for Bynum or Gasol, let alone Kobe. Kobe could get straight historic in a series vs. Cleveland. I wouldn’t be surprised to him go for 40 in every game.
It’s worth saying, though, that the veteran Celtics are under the radar and have had the ability to rest this season. The injury to Garnett was definitely a blessing. They’re going to be a tough out because they’re just biding their time. Last year was Paul Pierce’s year. This might be Ray Allen’s showcase post-season. Moreover, the continued development of Rajon Rando should scare any team that relies on points from the point guard position. Rando is a walking, talking steal.
Addendum:
Ben Wallace hasn’t played well for awhile, but, if he can approach his old form – I might have to rethink some of that.
I ain’t home. I’m really hoping can get my computer fixed over here so I can see the playoffs. I’m over here trying to cash some checks. Really, this final would be great. I don’t see the Celtics having enough bodies to match up with the Cavs. The Cavs have built ground up and they’re getting to the point that they can beat you in so many differentLeBron ways. They have Hickson, Sideshow Bob, Ilgauskas, Big Ben (and I really think, that as Temple said, if Ben feels it this postseason, he can be a difference maker) and Joe Smith. They got Delonte West, another all-underrated guard who I think also has another level. Mo Williams – same deal………Daniel Gibson – gotta be one of the best deadeye shooters in the league. He is fantastic……and of course #23. They got Pavlovic who can knock down some 3s and will help keep the Laker backcourt honest.
All that said, if Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown and Vujacic step up and keep the Cav defense honest, it doesn’t matter what the Cavs do coz the Lakers will have too many big versatile weapons. LO and Ariza are like sharks with blood in the water and that is quite apart from the fact that we got Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol to defend. Fish is a fine wine, he just gets better with age. Yeah, Gasol is a bit, I won’t say soft because he’s tough, but sometimes he does go missing when you need him. Young Drew is a stopper in the middle.
I said as soon as the Celtics destroyed us in game 6 last year……we got THAT close…….without Andrew. Don’t tell me they would have won if we’d had Andrew Bynum. And I say the same thing this year.