52? That's Nothing: Why LeBron James Will Score 62 Next Time at MSG

Thursday morning, many people were discussing why they felt that LeBron James' 52-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist effort in New York City Wednesday night topped Kobe Bryant's 61-point showcase from Monday evening. 

Not likely to be amongst them? King James himself. 

Despite pre-game comments about how he wasn't interested in setting any personal scoring records, and how he was just there to win the game, it was evident from the start that His Highness had aspirations of shattering No. 24's 48-hour-old record. 

In the first quarter, LeBron scored 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. His scoring tailed off a bit afterwards, but he was good enough to finish with 52 on 17-of-33 shooting, including 16-of-19 from the line. Not to mention his 11 assists and 10 boards. 

Kobe? His 61 points were joined by a measly two assists and zero rebounds. 

However, even though LeBron's game was infinitely more well-rounded than Kobe's, his performance wasn't nearly as engaging or mesmerizing to the 19,763 in attendance at MSG as was Kobe's two nights before. 

For much of the first half and a large majority of the second half Monday night, the crowd was buzzing every time No. 24 touched the ball and eventually proceeded to finish off the Knicks by himself with dazzling bucket after dazzling bucket.  

This may have been a function of the closeness of the game, as the Lakers boasted a double-digit lead for much of the second half, whereas Wednesday's game wasn't decided until inside the final minute of the fourth quarter. 

James has spoken quite regularly about how much it means to him to come and play in the Garden, with all the lore and its history of being "The Mecca of Basketball".

After the game, LeBron said all the right things about how he was glad to have gotten the win and how personal accords and accomplishments aren't what the NBA is all about.

However, you can't tell me that the lack of "oohs and aahs" from the crowd didn't get to LeBron.  

He's has made it quite clear that, when driven, he can do pretty much whatever he wants to on the basketball court. As the most gifted talent in the league today, why should we doubt him?

Don't be surprised if LBJ drops (at least) 62 on the Knicks the next time they meet in the Big Apple, whether it's next season or this year in the playoffs. 

The MSG scoring record for a Knick in a single game is 60, set by Bernard King. If speculation and rumors prove true and LeBron one day dons the blue and orange, he'll want to own every record possible in that building.

And what The King wants, The King gets.