Thanks to Scott for the prompt post game comments. Fortunately for me, he already knocked out some of the numbers I wanted to talk about so I’ll just get right down to business.

Before I start with the LeBron talk, what happened to Pheonix?  They didn’t look like they wanted any part of Boston in Game 2 of the tripleheader.  I recognize that the Celtics are a good team but I expect a lot more from teams like Pheonix who certainly have the talent and ability to beat Boston.

Ok, before the game, the TNT guys were talking about the matchup between Kobe and LeBron, as if there was anything else to talk about.  One comment that stuck out for me was when Kenny “the Jet” Smith stated that Kobe comes right out and says “You can’t guard me” no matter who they put on him.  He “wears it on his arm,” he continued.  LeBron James doesn’t do that.  He knows he can be guarded and it’s been proven time and time again.  You can count the number of people on one hand that have given Kobe trouble.  Teams may play special matchups for LeBron but usually only based on size, someone who can stay in front of him and keep him as a jump shooter.  And often times its not even their best defender, as you saw last night when Kobe hurt his hand minutes after tip off.  They switched Radmanovic over to him, who is not a defender, rather a knock down shooter.  Kobe took the challenge of guarding LeBron before the game and eventually switched back over to him as the game progressed.  LeBron only guarded Kobe if thats how they matched up in transition.

One thing, among many, that bothers me about LeBron is when he throws the powder up in the air at the beginning of every game.  That’s a great thing to do on your court to get your fans pumped up and ready for the show but to me its just poor sportsmanship everywhere else.  For one, I don’t think the guys at the visiting scorer’s table really appreciate it as much as his home guys.  For two, I don’t think the fans like it very much either.  Last night the fans actually booed him, which I had never heard/seen before.  Maybe it happens everytime.  This kind of goes along with what Scott said in the previous post, “Everyone named him the King before he did anything in this league.”  He came in wearing number 23 and nobody called him on it.  Instead they called him things like ”King James” and the next Michael Jordan and put Kobe Bryant on notice.  He has no business wearing 23.  He is not a king or the next Jordan and Kobe has only gotten better since LeBron’s arrival.

Kobe, on an off-shooting night turned into the assist man that we’ve seen him become over the past couple seasons.  His supporting cast is better than its ever been.  When they were at full strength, I believed that the Lakers’ second team was better than most, if not all of the league’s first team.  When Kobe breaks down the defense he has options and uses them.  LeBron can’t do that.  None of his teammates are expecting the ball so when it doesn finally come, they tank their shot.

Just as I hoped, the game came down to the 4th quarter, where Kobe has been the best closer in the league and LeBron has done the best he can.  Kobe hit a few shots, Ariza hit a few shots and that was that.  LeBron didn’t have an answer.  He couldn’t hit his free throws or find a way to get his team involved.

LeBron James is an All-Star, an Olympian and a Magazine Cover Model but he is not the best player in the NBA.

Kobe was asked by Craig Sager after the game how his hand felt and how it would effect his season and this is what he said.  “I played the second half with it, I’ll play the rest of the season with it.  It’s just painful.  My shot’s gonna struggle a little bit ’til I get used to it.”  That’s what winners say.  And where was LeBron everytime he had a little bit of contact in the lane?   Rolling on the floor crying.

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