Kobe Bryant: Why His Lakers Will Beat LeBron James and the Heat on Christmas Day
The game that every NBA basketball fan has been waiting patiently for is soon approaching as Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers get their first crack at LeBron James and the new look Miami Heat.
There is a reason that the NBA chose this one as the feature Christmas Day game. The stars will be out, but everyone's focus will be on the Kobe vs. LeBron matchup.
Last season, LeBron and the Cavs took it to the Lakers, but who will get the better of the star studded matchup this year?
I'll break down 10 reasons why this year's Christmas Day showdown will belong to No. 24 and the defending World Champions.
10. There Is More On The Line For The Lakers
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Sure, it's a regular season game at the end of December. But even though it's early, wins do not come easy in this league, and they are more important right now for the Lakers.
We all know that both of these teams will be playing come playoff time, but the difference between the 5-8 seeded playoff teams in the West and the East is day and night.
The Heat could finish with a .500 record (not likely to happen) and still get into the playoffs because the bottom of the East is so poor. On the other hand, the Lakers will be fighting to secure a top playoff seed throughout this season and will likely need 55 wins or more to do so in the West.
Every win matters in the competitive Western Conference, and to Kobe Bryant, this win might just mean a little more then the others.
9. Turnovers
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While Kobe Bryant might not be averaging the most points-per-game in the league this season, he has made a conscious effort to cut down on his turnovers.
He is currently averaging less than three turnovers per game, which has only happened twice for Bryant in the past seven seasons. He is more cautious of taking care of the ball and is taking less risks with the basketball in his hands.
This will prove to be a big statistic in this Christmas Day showdown, as both teams will get out and run. The team and superstar that can take better care of the ball should have the advantage when it is all said and done.
8. Bynum Is Back
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When Andrew Bynum is healthy, and yes, that is a big "when", is there a better inside 1-2 punch than him and Pau Gasol?
Yes, Bynum will not be at full strength by the time this game rolls around, but he will have some games under his belt after sitting out the first two and a half months of the season. And with him in the lineup to get rebounds and clear out the lane, Bryant has to have a smile on his face.
Having Gasol in the middle has helped Bryant and the Lakers win the past two NBA titles. Now if the Lakers can get Bynum back to full health and playing at a high level, the Heat and every other team in the league are in for a rude awakening. Something tells me that Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Illgauskas and Juwan Howard aren't licking their chops at the idea of having to bang down low with the Lakers two-headed monster.
7. Playing Style
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It is no secret that when LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are on the court, the Miami Heat like to run and get out on the fast break. James and Wade are quite possibly the two best fastbreak players in the game today, which is one of many reasons the Heat have had so much success as of late.
But while the Heat have run over Eastern Conference opponents with their uptempo style of play, the Lakers see that style of play on a nightly basis playing in the West.
The NBA has turned into a much faster, high tempo style of game over the past decade, but that style has been more evident in the West than in the East. Teams in the Western Conference put up 100+ points on a nightly basis, while you are much more likely to see a 85-78 game in the East.
Point being, the Lakers are accustomed to seeing teams get out on the break like the Heat are capable of doing, and they are able to match that style of play or slow the game down if needed. The Lakers are a much better halfcourt team then the Heat, and if they can slow them down and create their own tempo, they should be able to control this game from start to finish.
6. Better Matchups
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The Lakers signed Ron Artest last season to play the role of defensive stopper and he has been called on to help shut down the opposing team's best player on many occasions.
It just so happens that in this matchup, Artest will draw the assignment of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant will likely match up against Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh will be handled by Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Those four players just named are the Lakers' best four defenders. Outside of the Heat's big three, there isn't much there on the offensive end.
The Lakers have great matchups against the Heat, and are probably the one team in the league that can say that about themselves. They need Ron Artest to focus on one thing in this game, containing LeBron James. If he can do that and leave the offense to Kobe and the gang, the Lakers should be in good shape in this one.
5. Playoff Atmosphere
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With all the superstars on the court and hype surrounding this game, it will have the feeling of an NBA playoff game. The crowd will be rowdy, the whistles will be blowing and while it is a regular season game, it will certainly feel like a lot will be on the line between these two NBA powerhouses.
With that being said, the Lakers are accustomed to that feeling, having played in three consecutive NBA Finals with two rings to show for it. Now, guess how much experience this Miami Heat team has had in a playoff atmosphere. You guessed it...None.
Kobe Bryant has consistently showed that he can excel in big games. While he was playing for his fifth NBA championship last season, LeBron James was at home contemplating his next move as the Cavs were prematurely bounced from the playoffs by the Celtics.
Kobe and the Lakers know this feeling. LeBron and the Heat do not. Advantage—Lakers.
4. Coaching
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David vs. Goliath, NBA coaching legend vs. NBA coaching pupil, Phil Jackson vs. Erik Spoelstra.
These two coaches could not be more different as far as their accomplishments go in the NBA. Jackson will be going for his fourth three-peat this year, which is one of the most eye popping coaching statistics in sports history. Spoelstra was on the hot seat of keeping his job just three weeks ago before the Heat pulled off a 12 game win streak, which was just snapped by the Mavs on Monday night.
If the average fan could choose one coach to have on their bench for the biggest game of the season, Phil Jackson would be that guy. He knows how to get his players up for big games and the Zen Master will have the Lakers ready for this one come Christmas day.
3. Experience
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Simply said, Kobe Bryant has more of it then LeBron James.
Bryant has played longer, has won more and has starred in many more big games then James has in his career.
Combine that with the fact that the core of this Lakers team has played on the biggest stage in each of the past three seasons, while this Heat team has not played a playoff game together yet, and this game has to favor L.A.
If the game is on the line, having that big game experience will come into play. Although with the team the Lakers have this year, this one might not even be close at the end.
2. Supporting Cast
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This year's Lakers team from top to bottom very well could be one of the most well-rounded teams in NBA history.
They have scoring, they have defense, they have rebounding and most importantly, they have NBA Championship experience. The Lakers have more depth and talent coming off their bench than they had in their past two NBA Finals seasons.
On the other hand, outside of James, Wade and Bosh, the Heat are lacking in that department. The Heat's Big Three average 66 percent of the team's scoring output per game. Ask yourself, who would you rather have take a meaningful three pointer when your best players are being double teamed, Derek Fisher or Carlos Arroyo?
LeBron James has Wade and Bosh to back him up, but not much beyond that. Kobe Bryant has a a full roster of players to back him up who have been there to do so in the past when big stakes have been on the line.
1. The Rings
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Kobe has five of them. LeBron has zero.
Kobe Bryant along with guys like Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom define the word "winner". They have delivered huge performances in the biggest games on the biggest stage.
Like previously mentioned, this game is only a regular season contest. But it will have that playoff type feel to it, and no team in the league is more familiar with that feeling than the Los Angeles Lakers.
