Why LeBron James' Triple-Double In MSG Means Much More Than Kobe's 61

As I've done in my columnist past, I'll start this latest off with a quote:

"Today is the greatest day I've ever known, can't live for tomorrow, tomorrow's much too long." - The Smashing Pumpkins, "Today."

The day was February 2, 2009. The Los Angeles Lakers and Assassin-24 were heading east to the game's most historic arena, Madison Square Garden, to face the New York Knicks.

I wouldn't call the Knicks resurgent this season, but they have been more competitive with the additions of Al Harrington and Chris Duhon.

We expected a Laker victory, but not any history to be made. Mr. KB-24 changed that notion. By the 11 p.m. Sportscenter, we were all watching the amazing highlights of Kobe's 61-point night, exceeding Michael Jordan's 55 scored in his comeback year wearing the 45.

Not only did the Mamba score 61, but he did it shooting 19-of-31 from the field and a blazing 20-for-20 from the free throw line.

Completely unheard of. Just so sick; it was ill.

I remember watching all 61 and saying to myself, "Nobody will come close to this. Not for many years."

That very day was a great one for basketball. After losing his big man in Andrew Bynum, Bryant sent a 61-point message to his comrades that he meant business, and there would be no let-up because there was no Bynum.

Message taken.

As we know, life brings us something new everyday, whether knowledge, the unforeseen, or the unexpected. In this next case, it was pretty expected.

Enter Wednesday, February 4, 2009.

LeBron James and the first-place Cavaliers were entering the Garden to face the Knicks. How it must feel to host 'Bron after giving up 61 to Kobe. D'Antoni had to feel queasy.

Kobe is the most individually talented player since Jordan, but as D'Antoni said pre-game, LeBron is a different animal.

At 6'8, 250 pounds and quick as a cheetah, LeBron is a nightmare that can keep you from sleeping at night. The force he uses in bullying his way into and past opponents wears them down. Kobe is more finesse.

Now that he can shoot, James poses the triple-threat that is a rarity in basketball period these days, let alone from a man almost 6'10".

The media was abuzz about what LeBron would do for an encore. We all know that King James wants that No. 1 spot from Kobe, and he's been gunning for it for quite some time.

But what he would do the next 48 minutes of that game was utterly ridiculous.

Some people were being quite silly and predicting things like quadruple-doubles and 20 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists (No disrespect to Jemele Hill, a little tongue-in-cheek. Love you.)

LeBron not only went out and out-dueled Bryant, he did so effortlessly.

Here's a comparison of each of their stat lines:

LeBron James:

44 minutes, 52 points, 17-33 (52 percent,) 2-7 on threes, 16-19 free throws (84%,) 11 assists, 10 rebounds (triple-double.)

Kobe Bryant:

37 minutes, 61 points, 19-31 (61 percent,) 3-6 on threes, 20-20 free throws (100%,) three assists, zero rebounds.

Bryant had a better scoring stat line, with 61 points in 37 minutes. To put that into perspective, Bryant nearly scored two points per minute. He was deadly accurate, shooting 50 percent from three and 61 percent overall from the field.

In regards to accuracy and total points, Bryant was better. That's where it stops.

Bron had 52 points, just nine short of Kobe. Where he had less points, he made up for it with his rebounding and passing. Kobe didn't have any rebounds.

Rebounding can be a bit overrated, especially when none are offensive and a team likes to shoot from long-range a lot like the Knicks, and the fact Bryant's a SG makes this a marginal victory for James.

Okay fine. But 11 assists while still having 52 points? That is amazing. Let's say that theoretically of those 10 assists, nine were on two-point baskets and one on a three.

If my math is correct, that means James either scored or helped score a total of 73 points, with 52 his own and 21 on assisted baskets. That's 68 percent of the Cavaliers point total.

Kobe had 3 assists and 61 points, so using the same formula, if two were two-point baskets and one a three-point basket, Bryant accounted for 68 points of the Lakers 126, exactly 54 percent of the Lakers points that night.

LeBron by 14 percent. Talk about efficiency. In addition, James wasn't shabby shooting the ball either, as he shot 52 percent. To sum it all up, LeBron went into MSG and showed the Lakers star up in front of his friend, the Jigga Man himself, Jay-Z.

Is this the eventual changing of the B.I.G title already? The B.I.G title, which I created and stands for "Best In the Game," has been Kobe's for at least eight years, but since LeBron came into the league in 2003-2004 he has been steadily moving in.

If he didn't have it already, last night may have been the dagger.

In the race for MVP, 'Bron just got a head of steam and a steroid shot in the butt on Kobe (sorry Barry Bonds, I had to go there!)

In other words, Kobe might have to take a back seat and watch LeBron take over, sans when he came in the league after Jordan's reign. Kobe is still my  favorite player, but I have to give much respect to the King of basketball right now.

Here are their stats to this point:

LeBron James

48 games, 28.5 PPG, 49 percent FG, 30 percent 3 PT, 7.5 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.29 BPG, 77 percent FT

Kobe Bryant

48 games, 27.5 PPG, 48 percent FG, 36 percent 3 PT, 5.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.27 SPG, 87 percent FT

Basically, James has been better overall, and if this play continues, he will be taking pictures holding the MVP trophy at the end of the season.

These two get together Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena, and will be nationally televised on ABC. The outcome of that game may go a long way in determining the MVP credentials of these two.

As it is, James outlasting Kobe at MSG this week may mean more than just statistics.

Better bring your A-games. You never know what tomorrow may bring, just ask the Knicks.