Kobe Vs. Lebron: In Big Game Comparisons, There's No Comparison

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It happened a few weeks back, but the continuing comparison between the big nights by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in Madison Square Garden in consecutive games perplexes me. In a pill, I don’t think there’s any comparison whatsoever.

Kobe’s big game included 61 points, three assists, an no boards. Two nights later, LeBron had 52 points, 11 assists, and nine boards. So what’s more valuable?  I’ll take LeBron’s gem any day because while Kobe was heaving up 31 shots, his teammates were standing around doing nothing but enjoying the view of Spike Lee sitting courtside dreaming up his next lame movie idea.

Sure, LeBron actually took more shots (33), but his game was complete.  LeBron’s 11 assists means he got his team involved, and his nine boards weren’t too shabby either.

Albeit not exactly the same situation, it takes me back to 1961-62 season. That’s the year when Wilt Chamberlain averaged (averaged!) 50 points and 25 rebounds. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double. Just unreal.

And while you’d assume I’d be leading towards Robertson winning the NBA MVP honor that year, it wasn’t the case. Bill Russell’s defense, passing, scoring, rebounding and overall leadership secured him the honor as he lead Boston to a world title.

It’s worth noting that James might be the most complete player since Robertson, and there’s a good chance he’ll take this year’s MVP honors. ###MORE###

Playoff Push

The NBA playoff push is on and the next few weeks will be interesting to watch as new pieces will be blended (Boston), new offenses will be integrated (Phoenix), and good Lord willing, new hairstyles will flourish (somebody please grow a playoff afro).

Here’s what we can look forward to:

• The start of the Stephon Marbury era in Boston got off to a solid start, not to mention the addition of Mikki Moore. Despite those ridiculous tatoos on his neck and head, I’d guess Steph will be on pretty good behavior for the remainder of the season as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett police that locker room.
• Ditto with Rafer Alston in Orlando. He’s playing well and so is O-Town.
• I’ve mentioned several times that with Tracy McGrady on the shelf roughly every five games - and now being out for at least this season following microfracture surgery - the Rockets have historically played very well in his absence. And this time stars like Ron Artest and role players like Carl Landry, Von Wafer and Aaron Brooks are capably filling in. But what’s really facsinating to me is that Detroit, which has floundered since the Chauncy Billups trade, has won a couple of very big games against Boston and Denver sans team-chemistry-killer Allen Iverson who is injured.
• The Spurs have been struggling but that’s only because two of their three best players (Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan) have been on the shelf. Duncan came back last night and come playoff time they’ll be healthy and will give the Lakers a good run.
• Do the Lakers get Andrew Bynum back? He’ll be essential to their title hopes.
• Can the Suns make the playoffs? Right now they are ninth in the West and without Amare Stoudemire. But since Terry Porter was axed they’ve actually used their players to the best of their abilities —running, gunning, and Shaq-Fu-ing.
• Denver seems to have cooled off a bit and it’ll be worth watching whether Chauncey and the now suspended Carmelo Anthony can keep the train running into the playoffs.
• Carolos Boozer and his enormous eyebrows are back in Utah and point guard Deron Williams is smoking. Look out West.
• I wrote early in the season that I expected big things from the Hornets. Up until now, they’ve been winning, but not at the expected clip. But as J.A. Adande writes on ESPN.com, New Orleans seems to have turned a corner and I’d expect them to make some noise come playoff time.

Good Reads

If you want to read a very well done piece on the impact of the economy on the NBA, check out this Wall Street Journal story by Matthew Futterman. My man Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s D.C. Sports Bog has an amusing post about talking trash with the president at the Bullets vs. Bulls game. And if you are a fan of My Morning Jacket and want to see what keyboardist Bo Koster thinks about NBA fantasy, read this.

Carry on.

If you’d like to learn about the magic of bacon, write Dr. Aaron at [e-mail]