Kobe Bryant Vs. LeBron James and 9 Other NBA 1-On-1 Matchups We'd Love To See
If you've ever played a game of one on one basketball, you'll know that it's not your typical brand of hoop. A test of will, strength, desire, and intelligence, a mano e mano duel is essentially a chess game translated to the hardwood.
If an opponent is overmatched, the game will be over faster than Allen Iverson's tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies. If both competitors possess a similar skill set however, one on one ball makes for quite the spectacle.
In these duels, it is sometimes not the best full court player who emerges victorious. Sometimes, its the player who is the most creative. The player who, when he has picked up his dribble, has the uncanny ability engineer a miraculous sequence of pump fakes, offensive rebounds, and defensive stands impossible to replicate amidst the pace of a 5 on 5 setting.
With that said, Bleacher Report presents 10 of the most intriguing one on one matchups amongst the NBA's best. Be it at a jam packed arena, your high school gym, or even your own driveway, these can't-miss matchups would take this classic brand of basketball to a whole new level.
Guidelines:
-Games are played to 21 by ones, with anything beyond the three point arc worth two points
-Current players only, also taking age into account
-There are no referees. Players are responsible for calling their own fouls
-No water breaks allowed
-Win by two
Steve Nash vs. Jason Kidd
1 of 10
Five or so years ago, this matchup would possibly have been the most interesting of them all. Wizards on the court, these two playmakers would have their hands full against one another.
Nash, the a two-time MVP, is kind of like that person who takes all of the leftovers in the fridge (that you previously thought were useless) only to whip up a five course, gourmet meal. That is, he has the uncanny ability to make something out of nothing.
Consider a typical 1 v. 1 game. Oftentimes, an offender will pick up their dribble somewhere in the paint, unable to get off their desired shot. Stuck in no-mans land, a typical player in this particular situation be forced to throw up some wildly ridiculous shot to avoid being blocked.
Under these circumstances, the common man's shot will generally go over the backboard, prompting this player to wipe the sweat off his brow unceremoniously, cursing to himself about his incompetence.
Nash on the other hand, would find a way to make these wild hook shots fall through time and time again.
Kidd possess similar talents as Nash. Although Nash may have a slight edge over the current Mav in terms of on-the-fly innovation, Kidd is definitely a more physical and imposing presence, something that comes in handy in this style of play. Averaging 6.6 boards per game on his career, Kidd is widely regarding as one of the best rebounding point guards in his generation, if not of all time.
Final Analysis: Nash is well known for his less than stellar defense prowess, something that will hurt him tremendously against Kidd. In order for Nash to emerge victorious, he would have to limit Kidd's offensive chances, perhaps going on a large scoring spurt to jump out to a near insurmountable lead. It'd be tough for Nash to out-rebound Kidd, who would likely garner a number of second chances, especially considering Nash's poor defensive play.
Advantage: Kidd, 21-18
Dwight Howard vs. Shaquille O'Neal
2 of 10
Ah, Superman vs. Superman.
This matchup would be intriguing for several reasons, many of which do not involve the actual gameplay:
-The hype and trash talk leading up to this battle royale would escalate out of proportion, even exceeding ESPN's Brett Favre coverage.
-Shaq's words of wisdom would reach a level never before seen by mankind. With the aid of his twitter account, "random acts of Shaqness" would go through the roof.
-Dwight Howard would be able to further perfect his impersonation of the Big Aristotle.
-The matchup would feature the best two big men of this generation
Final Analysis: Shaq would probably win the war of words leading up to the game, but would ultimately disappoint. At thirty eight years of age O'Neal is—believe it or not—the oldest active player in the league. In a bruising battle against one of the most physical specimen in today's game, he'd likely fall victim to fatigue, if not injury.
Advantage: Howard, 21-14
JJ Redick vs. Adam Morrison
3 of 10
In 2006, these two fine young men dominated the collegiate ranks. Battling for various accolades, the two ended up sharing the National Player of the Year award.
Both Morrison's Gonzaga Bulldog's and Redick's Duke Blue Devils boasted talented rosters that year, as experts and enthusiasts alike were hopeful that these two squads would meet in a final four battle for the ages. Unfortunately for both players, their teams lost heartbreakers in the regional semi-finals.
In the professional ranks, these two have achieved nowhere near their wildly successful collegiate standards. Redick, considered a bust not too long ago, has recently developed into a solid role player for the Orlando Magic.
Morrison on the other hand, has had a very unproductive and rather insignificant stint in the pros. After being selected third overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2006 NBA draft, Morrison has most recently been a prominent member of the Los Angeles Lakers....bench.
This matchup would certainly prove interesting. Redick, one of the best shooters in the game, would be rather difficult to stop. His game would likely be focused on various step back moves, perhaps initiating contact from a flailing Morrison to get him out of trouble when needed. Morrison would definitely have the advantage physically, as the 6'8" forward could use his size to overpower Redick down low.
Final Analysis: This game would ultimately come down to heart. To who wants it more. Being that both players are rather unremarkable on the athletic front, this game likely would be won through a combination of intangibles and sheer desire. Redick and his Duke degree would likely be able to outsmart Morrison, perhaps thwarting some of his repeat attempts on certain up and under moves.
If Redick doesn't call too many fouls, its hard to see Morrison losing this one. Despite his lackluster NBA career, his "I'm not sure how I score, but I do" style of play is simply more conducive to a 1 v. 1 environment. Both are rather fiery players, but you've gotta give to the guy who leaves it all out on the court. Literally.
Advantage: Morrison, 21-16
David Lee vs. Tim Duncan
4 of 10
A typical one on one offensive possession for Tim Duncan would consist of squaring up at the top of the key and slowly backing his defender down to the block where he would promptly pick up his dribble. From there, he would either:
a. Pump fake. If the defender falls for the move, he'd finish easily with an up and under.
b. Pump fake. If the defender doesn't fall for the move, he'd simply shoot a bank shot, either fading away or over the defender.
Either way, he'd be tough to stop.
Enter David Lee. Maybe its just me, but I feel like his style of play and body type are absolutely perfect for 1 v. 1. His instinctual rebounding savvy is an invaluable attribute in this style of play. Combine that with his hustle and multifaceted scoring prowess, and you've got yourself one tough cookie.
Final Analysis: This one would probably be the most boring to watch, but definitely the most taxing on the players involved. Both workhorses with high basketball IQ, this match would be a bigger stalemate than World War I. In a game like this, each side could possibly go 10 minutes apiece without letting up a basket.
I feel like this one could go on for days, the basketball equivalent of the never-ending Isner vs. Mahut tennis match earlier this year.
Advantage: 40-38, Lee, due to his youth. Could easily go the other way.
Ron Artest vs. Chris Andersen
5 of 10
If you've ever played one on one against your older brother, you'll know how bruising a battle like this could be.
This would undoubtedly be the most violent of all one on one NBA matchups. Bleeding from both parties would be nearly guaranteed, as Artest and Birdman likely die before calling a foul on their opponent. The toughness and wild styles of play of Artest and Birdman would likely relegate this game to a rugby match.
Final Analysis: Andersen has a considerable height advantage over Artest (6'10" vs. 6'7") which would lead one to believe that the Bird Man's modus operandi would consist of trying to back down the smaller Ron-Ron. However, given Artest's unrivaled fierceness combined with the lack of referees, it'd be difficult to imagine Artest just letting that happen. Artest on the other hand, is not widely known for his offensive skills, and would likely have a tough time driving against a bigger lengthier Andersen.
Advantage: Neither. There's no way they make it to 21 points.
Stephen Curry vs. John Wall
6 of 10
A rookie, Wall has yet to prove himself on the NBA circuit. In a one on one tournament however, it'd be tough to disparage his play.
Wall's youth and swagger would go a long way in this format. His rare combination of quickness and hops makes him extremely difficult to guard one on one, especially considering the increased amount of space a player has in this type of game.
On the other hand, it's tough to question Curry. In only his second year, Curry is well on his way of becoming one of the most complete guards in all of basketball. A lethal shooter with great awareness, Curry is also quietly physical, especially against those his size. Against Wall, Curry, another player with a rather high basketball IQ, could definitely use this quality to his advantage.
Time and time again, the Davidson alum has shown the ability to take over games, demonstrating that he has that rare, but highly coveted, "it factor."
Final Analysis: This would prove to be the exact opposite of Duncan vs. Lee. Expect fast-paced action, frequent scoring, and highlights galore. In an situation like this, where a player has the ball in their hands frequently, it'd be tough to imagine Curry not catching fire.
Advantage: Curry, 21-19.
Kevin Durant vs. Dwayne Wade
7 of 10
Both are competitors. Both are top-five players. Both score more frequently than Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers.
These two would match up rather well. Durant has the advantage when it comes to actual size, as his 6'9" frame and freakish wingspan trump Wade's 6'4" stature. When it comes to weight however, Durant (230) is only 10 pounds more than Wade (220). This fun fact may seem a bit trivial, but it has major implications on a potential 1 v. 1 matchup.
Wade, being significantly smaller, will have a much lower center of gravity comparatively. This attribute could really come in handy in one on one play, as it could give him a DeJuan Blair-esque edge down low. In other words, he wouldn't get pushed around.
Durant, the youngest scoring champion in NBA History, has no trouble putting the ball in the basket against virtually anybody. Slashing through double teams and triple teams all year, it'd be hard to imagine Durant going too cold.
Final Analysis: Both are young and have rather good stamina, although Wade's history suggests that he may be more susceptible to injury. A proven winner and extremely clutch player, Wade would be one of the few players that would be able to (a. hang with Durant in terms of scoring, and (b. manage to work his way around Durant's imposing stature.
Advantage: Wade would keep it extremely close, but ultimately KD's length would be too much to overcome. Durant, 24-22.
Kyle Korver vs. Ray Allen
8 of 10
At first glance, this doesn't seem like a very scintillating matchup. At second glance, however, this pairing should appear to be a perfect storm--of three pointers.
As demonstrated by his ransack of three pointers in last season's NBA playoffs, Allen remains one of the leagues best from beyond the arc. Korver, the former standout from Creighton University, doesn't like to miss three pointers either. In fact, his hatred for missing runs so deep that last season, he decided to break the NBA single-season record for highest 3-point FG percentage (53.6 percent).
Final Analysis: If one of those shot charts were used in this particular matchup, I wouldn't be too surprised if there were just as many three point attempts as there were shots taken inside the arc. That being said, this game may actually come down to each players greater body of work--in other words, what they could do other than shoot the lights out of the basket.
Allen (6'5") is slightly smaller than Korver (6'7"), but holds a slight advantage in career rebounds per game. This attribute could come in handy for Allen, especially considering the prospect of long rebounds off of shots from lengthier distances. Lastly, his considerable experience would give Allen a psychological edge.
Advantage: Allen, 22-16 (he'll win on a three pointer)
Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul
9 of 10
A battle between the two best point guards in the game, this duel would have more thrilling twists and turns than the Departed.
As much as CP3 is hailed for his offensive skill set, it is his defense that would win him this game. A two time All-Defensive teamer, Paul's lateral quickness enables him to keep his body in front some of the leagues quickest and most electrifying perimeter players. More crucially, his pick-pocketing prowess is an intangible that cannot be overlooked. Paul holds a trophy case worth of records in the steal category, including (but not limited to) most consecutive games with a steal (108), most games with at least one steal in a season (80), and is the only player in NBA history to lead the league in assists and steals for two consecutive seasons.
Williams may not have the same affinity for thievery as Paul, but his play cannot be overlooked. Significantly larger than CP3, (3 inches, 25 ibs more) William's body type would definitely be more conducive to 1 v. 1 play, enabling him to utilize a vast array of post moves against an undersized Paul.
His well rounded style of play would not help out much in terms of court vision, but if last seasons playoffs were any indication, Williams is rather prolific scorer. During the postseason he became the first player to average over 20 points and 10 assists for five consecutive playoff games, including two 30 plus point games.
Final Analysis: If Williams can avoid falling victim to Paul's snatching ways, it'd be difficult to imagine him losing this one. Although he has suffered some injuries, his size should play to his advantage in a big way, putting CP3, who also has a history of injuries, more at risk. If I was drafting a team, I'd most likely choose Paul. Unfortunately for CP3, 1 v. 1 is a whole different ball game.
Advantage: Williams, 21-16
LeBron vs. Kobe
10 of 10We've been waiting for the NBA Finals matchup for the past two years. Unfortunately, the majority of the dueling we have seen from these two superstars have come from the puppets.
With five championships under his belt, the Black Mamba has emerged as arguably the most celebrated player in the past decade. The rants about Kobe's many talents could fill up about 20 slides, but his impact on the court could really be summed up in one word. On any given night, Kobe Bryant can be simply unstoppable.
LeBron, on the other hand, is perhaps the most gifted athlete in any major sport today. He has quickly ascended to the pantheon of NBA greatness, as his back to back MVP awards have indicated his well deserved place in this rather exclusive club.
Despite failing short of championship expectations in Cleveland, there is no doubt that he is one of, if not the most difficult players to guard in the history of the NBA. Given his size, strength, quickness, and freakish leaping ability, LeBron James is the pure definition of a superstar.
Final Analysis: If there's anyone that could possibly contain LeBron, it'd be an eight time NBA all defensive first teamer. Kobe just so happens to fit such demanding prerequisites, and will to win is downright scary. Despite LeBron's immense talents, Kobe and his scowl have proved time and time again that nothing will get in the way of himself and victory. Not even His Majesty.
Advantage: It'll be close, but we'll all Witness a Kobe victory, 25-23.
