Lebron or Bryant: Who Is Better? (Let's Get Serious Here)

All season long, discussions have been brought up about whether Lebron James or Kobe Bryant is the better player.

To know the true answer, you have to dig deep into the actual question.

So who do you choose?

LeBron James, the most dominate player in the NBA, or Kobe Bryant, the most clutch player in the NBA?

The answer for me is real simple.

To be the best, you have to beat the best.

Since LJ was not able to even advance to the NBA Finals to actually play the best, well, that just lessens his overall value.

Since Bryant has now made appearances in the NBA Finals for the last two seasons in a row, well, that just gives him a few bonus points.

One's true potential is shown during the playoffs, so let's take a look at both players overall postseason averages.

LeBron James: 41.4 MPG, 35.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 51.0 percent FG, 33.3 percent 3P, and 74.9 percent FT.

Kobe Bryant: 40.1 MPG, 29.6 PPG, 5.3 RGP, 4.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 46.6 percent FG, 34.6 percent 3P, and 89.5 percent FT.

Free Throws

Both superstars obviously posted serious averages throughout the playoffs, but one thing that most people do not take a look at is free-throw percentage.

If you want to be the best player in the NBA, you have to shoot a great free-throw percentage, end of story.

During the Magic-Cavaliers series, James was virtually unstoppable. He excelled in every category, except in nailing his free throws. James proved that he was nothing more than a mediocre free-throw shooter from the charity stripe, shooting just 77.7 percent from the line (missing up to six free throws during one game).

Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant shot an incredible 93.1 percent from the free-throw line during the Nugget-Lakers series (missing a total of five free throws).

Producing in the big game

Game Six of the Cavaliers-Magic series was a do-or-die situation for LeBron James and the Cavs. After averaging over 40 points per game in the series, James was relied heavily upon to produce at a high level.

To be the best, you have to come up huge during the big games that really count. In this situation, James ended the game with the least amount of points that he has dropped all series long, just 25 points on 8-of-20 shooting from the field and 7-of-11 from the charity stripe.

In Game Six for the Nuggets-Lakers series, Kobe Bryant was relied upon to produce and ultimately end the series once and for all.

Since Bryant is obviously on a higher level than James, he did what he was expected to do, dropping 35 points on one of his best shooting nights in the series (12-of-20), with 10 assists, six rebounds, two three-pointers, and going a perfect 9-of-9 from the line.

Superstar condition

Now this last reason might be a bit controversial, but I am going to go ahead and plead my case anyway.

LJ and KB are clearly in phenomenal basketball condition. But if you want to win an NBA Finals and be the best, you have to be in immortal basketball condition.

What I mean by that is you have to be in such a ridiculous state of fitness, that even if you played every minute of every game throughout the postseason, you could still produce effectively.

Previewing the match-up in the NBA finals

The Lakers and Magic clash on the court for the NBA's ultimate prize

Nick Mordowanec

One team is back only a year after playing (and losing) in the NBA finals. Another team has not been there since it was led by another dominant big man in Shaq O’Neal.

Despite many “experts” picturing a Kobe-LeBron match-up taking center stage on the 2009 finals, it’s The Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic who will square off this year. Apparently, Dwight Howard and company had other plans.

After ousting the defending champion Boston Celtics in the Conference Semifinals, the Magic derailed LeBron’s quest to return to the finals.
Now, another out-of-this-stratosphere superstar who many consider to be better than LeBron James, is knocking at the door of an NBA title.

That man is none other than Kobe Bryant.

While LeBron may be the most freakish of players in the league, he sometimes lacks that killer instinct to put a game in his hands and achieve victory.

Kobe, on the other hand, finishes better than any player in the game. And he is on a mission … a mission to lead a team to a championship season without Shaq O’Neal being his sidekick.

Many have questioned Kobe’s ability to win without Shaq, but he almost delivered last season, and now has a chance to bring his goal to fruition.

However, victory will not be easy.

Along with Howard, the Magic boast size and depth which can match the Lakers’ personnel. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis are tall players who can drive the lane, dribble and shoot the three-ball.

Rafer Alston has developed into a large threat at the point guard position since filling in for the injured Jameer Nelson, and Mickael Pietrus has become both a defensive stalwart and a reliable scorer since coming off the bench.

But on the other hand, the Lakers are no slouches themselves. Lamar Odom is as good as any power forward in the game when he plays at his full potential, playing an inside-outside game and grabbing rebounds.

Pau Gasol is similar to Odom in not always playing at his best, but he has good post moves and great hands down low. Derek Fischer has been in this situation before, winning titles with the team in the early parts of this decade. Bench players like Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Shannon Brown are big pieces in Phil Jackson’s game plan.

The Lakers have more depth all around, but along with that they have experience. They were they last year. Kobe has been there four times alone. They understand the mistakes made in playing the Celtics last season and will correct them.

The Magic, meanwhile, are new dogs at this pony show. The players on their roster have no idea what to expect. Will they be frightened at first? Will they be tentative? Will they still drain all those three-pointers?

It is the team who has been there before versus the team who has no clue what to expect.

Our Take

While the Magic knocked out both the Celtics and the Cavaliers out of the playoffs, the Lakers are a whole different monster. When every player on L.A.’s roster contributes, they are arguably the most difficult team to beat. They also have that Kobe character.

This should be a high-scoring series, considering the players on each roster. And although the Magic have Superman inside and a strong outside game, doubting Kobe at this point in the season just too difficult to do.

As previously stated, he is on a mission to solidify his stature as the best player in the league. If he wins the championship, nobody can dispute such a statement.

Source: http://www.collegenews.com/index.php?/article/previewing_the_match_up_in_the_nba_finals_361844636363/