Nate Smith Article Archive

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Is Kobe Bryant Better Than Larry Bird? And Where Does He Rank All Time?

Kobe Bryant’s ranking on the all-time list is debatable. Some people have elevated him to GOAT status and some people claim that he’s barely a top 20 player of all time...

Written by Nate Smith about 1 day ago 1,279 reads 59 comments
DJ Mbenga of the Los Angeles Lakers: If We Could Be Like Him

Growing up, I remember seeing those Gatorade commercials: "If I could be like Mike." Everywhere you went, the store, the gym, the schools, it seemed as if all the kids wanted to be like Michael "Mike" Jordan...

Written by Nate Smith about 2 days ago 355 reads 3 comments
Kobe Bryant Is the Definition of Clutch

Sometimes a person can be so masterful at what they do that the extraordinary becomes expected. Perhaps it is just human nature to cease to be impressed by repetition. The first time you see a 3-D movie, it is an amazing cinematic experience...

Written by Nate Smith about 6 days ago 1,132 reads 35 comments
The Los Angeles Lakers: The Psychology of Champions

Many observers this season have written about how the Lakers are playing below par. Teams are apparently finding weaknesses in the Lakers. According to the critics, the Lakers' interior is too soft with Pau Gasol patrolling the paint...

Written by Nate Smith about 9 days ago 507 reads 9 comments
Kobe Hate Will Fuel Lakers To Second Consecutive Title

If anything is clear this season, it is that Kobe Bryant may have finally been surpassed by Lebron James as the best player in the league...

Written by Nate Smith about about 1 month ago 3,339 reads 50 comments
Cavs Get Jamison! LeBron To Get Title?

The Cleveland Cavaliers completed a trade for Antawn Jamison today. The move came as the highlight of a three team trade between the Cavs, Wizards, and Clippers...

Written by Nate Smith about about 1 month ago 668 reads 7 comments
Marketplace Economy or Greed: Are NBA Salaries Out of Control?

A spectre is haunting the NBA: the spectre of salary caps. It's the classic case of the bourgeoisie against the proletariat. The high, mighty, and powerful NBA owners are ganging up against their poor, overworked players...

Written by Nate Smith about about 1 month ago 265 reads 2 comments
Kevin Durant Over LeBron James for NBA MVP? You Better Believe It

The conventional wisdom is that LeBron James has already wrapped up the MVP award. With Kobe Bryant being unable to compete at the level necessary to merit the award because of injuries, ...

Written by Nate Smith about about 1 month ago 1,028 reads 42 comments
Are The Lakers Better Without Kobe? No, but....

Kobe Bryant called me up a couple days ago. After a few minutes of chit chat, we got down to business. Kobe: Nate, I saw your post on the new blog. You really think I should sit out? Nate: Yeah...

Written by Nate Smith about about 1 month ago 1,199 reads 10 comments
Sorry LeBron: You Have the Crown, But Kobe Has the Throne

The debate that is infiltrating barbershops, classrooms, and water coolers all over America is who's better, Kobe or LeBron? Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like they were poised for ...

Written by Nate Smith about 3 months ago 896 reads 11 comments
Los Angeles Lakers Need To Adjust For Pivotal Game 4 In Utah

Kobe Bryant is unofficially known as the most clutch player on the planet. Last night, it was Deron Williams hitting the go-ahead bucket with 2.2 seconds to play setting up a last second shot by Bryant...

Written by Nate Smith about 11 months ago 259 reads 2 comments
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade: Analyzing the MVP, Pt. 1

As the 2009 NBA regular season cools down, the debate about who the MVP should be has heated up. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade have dominated the discussion about league MVP—and with good reason...

Written by Nate Smith about 12 months ago 682 reads 13 comments
NBA All-Decade Team for the 2000s

With the 2008-2009 season coming down to an end, it is time to name the All Decade Team. These are the top 10 players to play in this decade...

Written by Nate Smith about about 1 year ago 479 reads 2 comments
Why Kobe Bryant Should Repeat as MVP

Let's be honest. There are only two legitimate MVP candidates: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. No other players have meant more to their teams' success than these two individual players and no two players are playing at a higher level...

Written by Nate Smith about about 1 year ago 3,589 reads 28 comments
How the No Call Actually Helped the Spurs

The Lakers won Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals 93-91, but it didn't come without controversy. As Brent Barry went up for the potential game-winning shot, he was bumped by Lakers starting guard Derek Fisher...

Written by Nate Smith about almost 2 years ago 983 reads 6 comments
NBA Mailbag and End of Season Awards

Got a question? Send it to NateSmithBR@gmail.com This is my first mailbag and I'll be answering questions that have been sent to me. James (LA): I love your articles about Kobe...

Written by Nate Smith about almost 2 years ago 931 reads 11 comments
Kobe Bryant Is the Clear MVP over Chris Paul

The NBA MVP 2008 is Kobe Bryant and I'm going to explain why. Everyone keeps saying Paul has a worse supporting cast than the Lakers and that the Hornets would be worse without Paul than the Lakers without Bryant...

Written by Nate Smith about almost 2 years ago 8,019 reads 40 comments
Chris Paul v. Kobe Bryant: MVP?

As early as two weeks ago the MVP race was seen as a two man competition between Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. Now, with Lebron suffering losses left and right he is no longer seen as a realistic candidate...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 2,615 reads 27 comments
Los Angeles Lakers: Back to School

After getting totally embarrassed in Houston, I think it is time to hand out some Laker report cards. The myth around the association is that the Lakers have a strong cast of talent that produces at every single position and that's simply not true...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 1,803 reads 7 comments
NBA to Give College Basketball Competition During March Madness

It is that time of year where fans get all crazy about March Madness. The NBA might finally have something to say about that...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 896 reads 2 comments
Players and Coaches Should Decide the MVP

Every year a new MVP debate emerges. Who should be MVP? This year the debate is particularly intense. You have fans passionately supporting players like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 1,371 reads 7 comments
Commentary: PER Underrates Kobe Bryant, Part II

There comes a time in every would be journalists life where he makes a critique that happens to be unfounded. When this happens, you can either run, hide and pretend it never happened or you can man up and admit you were wrong...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 1,346 reads 4 comments
Setting the Record Straight: Adande's MVP Analysis Deeply Flawed

J.A. Adande is usually a reasonable sports journalist. I say journalist because he usually has views that are well researched and backed by reason. Unfortunately, as is often the case with L...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 980 reads 3 comments
Commentary: PER Underrates Kobe Bryant

John Hollinger, the stats guru and creator of the Player Efficiency Rating, has a new article on ESPN where he claims that Manu Ginobli's actual production is similar to that of Kobe Bryant's...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 2,314 reads 19 comments
Shaq Trade: Suns' Gamble Likely To Fail

When Suns' GM Steve Kerr decided to bring Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix, he talked about Shaq rejuvenating the team. Kerr just didn't believe that the core of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire, and Shawn Marion could win a title...

Written by Nate Smith about about 2 years ago 1,744 reads 11 comments

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Nate Smith Article Archive

Is Kobe Bryant Better Than Larry Bird? And Where Does He Rank All Time?

DJ Mbenga of the Los Angeles Lakers: If We Could Be Like Him

Kobe Bryant Is the Definition of Clutch

The Los Angeles Lakers: The Psychology of Champions

Kobe Hate Will Fuel Lakers To Second Consecutive Title

Cavs Get Jamison! LeBron To Get Title?

Marketplace Economy or Greed: Are NBA Salaries Out of Control?

Kevin Durant Over LeBron James for NBA MVP? You Better Believe It

Are The Lakers Better Without Kobe? No, but....

Sorry LeBron: You Have the Crown, But Kobe Has the Throne

Los Angeles Lakers Need To Adjust For Pivotal Game 4 In Utah

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade: Analyzing the MVP, Pt. 1

NBA All-Decade Team for the 2000s

Why Kobe Bryant Should Repeat as MVP

How the No Call Actually Helped the Spurs

NBA Mailbag and End of Season Awards

Kobe Bryant Is the Clear MVP over Chris Paul

Chris Paul v. Kobe Bryant: MVP?

Los Angeles Lakers: Back to School

NBA to Give College Basketball Competition During March Madness

Players and Coaches Should Decide the MVP

Commentary: PER Underrates Kobe Bryant, Part II

Setting the Record Straight: Adande's MVP Analysis Deeply Flawed

Commentary: PER Underrates Kobe Bryant

Shaq Trade: Suns' Gamble Likely To Fail

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