THE BLACK MAMBA V.S THE KING

"Black Mamba" vs." King James"
Ever since Lebron James started to challenge the king of the jungle, Kobe Bryant, the same question has been coming up but has never been answered. Who is Better? Who will be better? And which one will be known as the best ever the play? Coming straight out of high school everyone knew James was the next big thing. "The one who can change history", people used to say. Setting records everywhere he went, everyone knew LeBron James would come out a huge star, but who thought he would be this good? All over the world this guy is being called "The King", in my opinion that explains enough. James will be in the league for many more years and the records will keep shattering, only one man stands in his way.


Kobe Bryant is that mysterious man, the guy who came off the streets and proved everyone wrong. Bryant is one of those players who makes the stadium shake and the fans get up on their feet. People buy tickets just to see this legend in progress play. It is pretty outstanding how well known this guy really is, he has billboards all around the world. And considering he is the only guy named "Kobe" its hard to even imagine this player will be forgotten. With all his rings and fame, no one seemes to be better than Bryant before James came along, but is he still the best or did James steal the title?








Air Born

LeBron James Rising 44" in the Air Who is the Better Athlete?
Winner

LeBron James

Over the years LeBron James has shown extreme athleticism with his ability to literally fly through the air and make the basket look like a toy. LeBron James hands down has to be one of the most amazing athletes out there. LeBron had the choice to play either football or basketball, but given the choice I would go with basketball also. The reason for this is the damage football can really do to the body, and it also turns out James is not doing to shabby in the NBA. Yes, Bryant is a great athlete but James has the edge with his speed and "hops". James has the ability to jump 44" in the air and once ran a 4.4 40 yard dash. At 6'8 and weighing at 250 pounds, it almost sounds impossible, which is why James gets this one.









Kobe Bryant

Bryant has proved himself in the league as one of the best go to guys ever. He has made a record breaking 4 game winning shots in the playoffs. Even though he is tied with LeBron with these playoff game winning shots, Bryant's percentage is 50% with these shots which is absolutely outstanding. Also as a more experienced player I would rather put the ball in Bryant's hands to win the game. Kobe has also proved he can win. The Lakers have been and always will be a dynasty, and a huge factor is because of Bryant's time with the Lakers. Bryant has 4 championship rings, while James is still struggling to win the big game. Even though James is younger and still has time, James just doesn't seem like the guy who can get the final job done. I do think James will eventually win a championship, but not four. In the end the ball goes to Bryant in the last 24 seconds.






LeBron James

Many people might think Bryant has the team like characteristic in him, but James shows it on the floor. In the 2009 season James is not only recording about 30 points per game, but is also producing 8 assists per game. In 2008 James totaled 587 assists, his career high, and is on pace to beat that high with a predicted amount of 650 assists. He doesn't only get assists though, the guy is a defensive machine producing almost 2 steals per game and one blocked shot. LeBron knows how to play with the guys around him, and is why he helps a mediocre team like the Cavaliers make the playoffs every year.

Kobe is also a great team player, but he does have teammates that actually help out to win a ball game. Bryant has Gasol, Bynum, and the newly added Artest helping defensively and offensively. It almost sounds like an all star team. While Bryant is passing to guys who average double-doubles every game, James is passing to guys who can barely average 10 points. Which is why, on the floor, James is the better team-player.





Kobe Bryant

Kobe has proven himself to have one of the best shots in the game. He displays his shot with such ease and pose that it is literally impossible to stop. If teams get lazy and leave this guy open there will be a deep burn when they read the newspaper the next day saying he scored 81 points like he did against the Toronto Raptors. His percentages are threw the roof, making a three point shoot 35% of the time and stabilizing a shooting percentage of 50%. When Bryant gets hot the opposing team should save their self time and start the buses. Bryant is automatic and is sometimes described by critics as watching a video game because of how perfect the pro can really be. When a guy like Kobe is shooting over 7 foot guys and all that come out on the other side is a buttery swoosh sound you know he has to be one of the best to ever play the game.Of course James is a dominating offensive tool, and the Cavilers would love to have one-on-one matches with Lebron determine the game. But with Bryant shooting the way he does I'd call isolation all day.






Who Is Better James or Bryant?
Winner

LeBron James

With James's ability to cut through the air, his outstanding athleticism, and his great team-work it is almost easy to say that he is better than Bryant. Bryant is a great player but the road is coming to an end for the future Hall of Famer. Bryant has the abilities to shot the game winning shot, win in a tight match up, and has the sweetest shot in the NBA, but all this stuff comes with time. LeBron James still has time to develop that great shot, make determining shots, and learn how to get around and over guys.LeBron James has only been playing in the National Basketball League for 6 years now, and has already started to form these attributes that Bryant holds. James will just be getting better and better and soon take away Bryant's name as Mr. Clutch and having the perfect form shot, but the road is coming to an end for Bryant. Bryant will not be getting much better as the next couple of years approach. If anything Bryant's numbers will be falling because of older age, just as it did to Allen Iverson and the other greats players, its just natural. As I said before, James still has time and with this time he has James could become the best to ever play. Yes, even better than the almighty Jordan. Jordan and Bryant had guys to feed the ball too, and to help out on the court, James never had this. In 2009 James will get the chance to overcome this deprived situation when his contract runs out with the Cleveland Cavilers. A perfect place for James to go to increase his potential to be the best to play is New York, where they are desperate for a dominating guard and have solid post players like David Lee and Al Harrington. James has an extremely bright future and can conclude his career to be the best ever if played with better guys around him. For now he can be named as the better player in the NBA, but more importantly better than Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant: A Look Back at His First NBA Finals Loss
by Joel Spickerman Member Written on June 23, 2010
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images Kobe Bryant: NBA Finals 2004 (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons)

During the 2002-03 season, the Los Angeles Lakers were attempting to become the first team since the 1960s Boston Celtics to win four championships in succession. That dream would end brutally in the second round of the playoffs, as the Lakers were eliminated in six games by the eventual-champion San Antonio Spurs.

As he left the court in tears following that Game Six, Kobe Bryant said that he never wanted to feel that feeling again. At the beginning of the summer of 2003, it appeared he may get his wish.

With the additions of aging stars Gary Payton and Karl Malone, the Los Angeles Lakers boasted the most star-studded lineup since the 1999 Houston Rockets. Another Lakers championship seemed a foregone conclusion.

In a single moment that would come to epitomize one of the most dramatic and dysfunctional teams in the history of sports. Bryant's hope to never experience a postseason loss again suddenly became the least of his problems. Accused of rape and prosecuted in criminal court, it appeared that the Lakers' hopes of another title had vanished.

It seemed a near certainty that Bryant would take the season off as he attempted to fight for his freedom in court. However, Bryant maintained that he wanted to pursue another title with this team. He would play the entire season, missing games only for interfering court dates or injuries.

As if Bryant's rape trial were not a large enough distraction, the Lakers' two best players began a feud that would dominate the sports media. The unprecedented public battle between Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant would take the already fascinating Lakers season to a surreal level.

During the 2002-03 season, O'Neal suffered an injury. Los Angeles was forced to rely heavily on Bryant for the first time. Bryant responded with one of the greatest scoring runs in history. His amazing accomplishments included a 40-point half in one game, a game in which he scored 56 points in three quarters, and a stretch of nine consecutive 40-point games.

Bryant's amazing season coincided with the last truly dominant season of O'Neal's career. In 2003-04, as age, injuries, and poor conditioning caught up to him, O'Neal would average a career low in points per game. Fortunately for Los Angeles, Bryant was prepared to take the reins of a great team.

Despite injuries, court appearances, and constant tension with Shaq, Bryant turned in a spectacular season. He was named to the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team. During the postseason, Bryant would continue to make amazing plays and play sensational games.

After failing to make it to the NBA Finals in 2003, and in spite of all their problems, the Lakers would find themselves in the Championship Round for the fourth time in five years.



Game One (Pistons Win, 87-75)

Statistics: 47 MIN, 10-27 FG, 1-6 3 FG, 4-4 FT, 4 REB, 4 AST, 4 STL, 2 BLK, 3 TO, 25 PTS

In the first Finals game for the Lakers since closing out New Jersey in 2002, the Detroit Pistons would pull one of the most shocking upsets in championship history. Heavily favored and facing a Pistons team that struggled mightily during the season, it seemed L.A. would dominate on the way to another title.

With Kobe Bryant struggling against the defense of Tayshaun Prince, the scoring burden fell on O'Neal and the rest of the Lakers. Shaq answered, making 13-of-16 shots for 34 points. However, the rest of the Lakers would score only 16 points.

Despite poor shooting, Bryant's defense on Pistons leading scorer Richard Hamilton was key to holding Detroit to just 87 points. Hamilton went just 5-of-16 from the field. However, Gary Payton's sub-par defense on Chauncey Billups, who hit 8-of-14 shots, as well as Derek Fisher's 1-for-9 shooting performance, would be just enough for Detroit to win.



Game Two (Lakers Win, 99-91 OT)

Statistics: 49 MIN, 14-27 FG, 1-5 3 FG, 4-5 FT, 4 REB, 7 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 3 PTS

Coming off a Game One loss at home, L.A. desperately needed a victory. Bryant would provide it, with one of the great clutch performances in NBA Finals history.

Bryant began the game by providing more sensational defense on Richard Hamilton. Hamilton would finish shooting 10-for-25. However, this game would not be defined by defense. It would defined by the shooting of Kobe Bryant.

After scoring 26 points on some of the most difficult shots imaginable, Bryant would hit one of the biggest shots of his career up to that point. Trailing by three, Bryant would rise up and nail a three-pointer over of the defense of Hamilton with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation.

In overtime, Bryant would continue to dominate. Of the 10 points the Lakers scored in overtime, Kobe had a hand in eight of them. A dunk and bank shot, as well as two feeds inside to O'Neal, gave the Lakers the victory they so desperately needed.



Game Three (Pistons Win, 88-68)

Statistics: 45 MIN, 4-13 FG, 0-4 3 FG, 3-3 FT, 3 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 4 TO, 11 PTS

Having turned in one of his greatest Finals performances in Game Two, Bryant would follow with perhaps his worst. While every one of Lakers struggled mightily, the struggles of O'Neal and Bryant were the most shocking. The fact that the two had already won three titles together made the Pistons' defensive dominance all the more dumbfounding.

Bryant would struggle at both ends of the court. He scored only 11 points and failed to stop Hamilton or Billups, who combined for 50 points. O'Neal's 14 points were a Finals career low for him. He and Bryant were the only Lakers to score in double figures.

Bryant was held without a field goal in the first half, while L.A. scored a franchise Finals low 32 points in the first half and 68 in the game.



Game Four (Pistons Win, 88-80)

Statistics: 45 MIN, 8-25 FG, 2-6 3 FG, 2-2 FT, 0 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 20 PTS

In a game that demonstrated Bryant's importance to the team over O'Neal's, the Lakers were pushed to the brink of their first Finals loss since 1991. O'Neal would dominate with 36 points and 20 rebounds, but Bryant would struggle through an 8-for-25 shooting performance.

Despite no one outside of O'Neal and Bryant scoring in double figures again, the game was tied entering the fourth quarter. However, Detroit would explode for 32 points in the final frame, with Rasheed Wallace abusing an injured Karl Malone and an overwhelmed Slava Medvedenko.

This game, along with the Game Two victory, displayed Bryant's importance to the team. While O'Neal continued to play well fairly consistently, the Lakers could not win without a strong performance from Bryant. O'Neal's days of carrying the Lakers were over. Bryant's had begun. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, those days would begin with a championship loss.



Game Five (Pistons Win, 100-87)

Statistics: 45 MIN, 7-21 FG, 0-2 3 FG, 10-11 FT, 3 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 24 PTS

In shockingly dominant fashion, the Detroit Pistons finished off the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five. Bryant would struggle spectacularly, taking and missing difficult jump shots throughout the game. While two Lakers outside of O'Neal and Bryant would finally score in double figures, it was not enough.

Bryant's first failure in the NBA Finals mercifully ended a season in which he supplanted O'Neal as the Lakers' best player.

In the ensuing offseason, Bryant would resolve his legal issues, O'Neal would be traded to Miami for Lamar Odom and others, and Phil Jackson would take a season off from basketball.

In the season following the 2004 NBA Finals, the Bryant-led Lakers would fail to make the postseason for just the fifth time in franchise history. This failure would lead to public sentiment that O'Neal was the key to the Lakers' success and Bryant was merely a selfish player interested in his own success.

In the two seasons that followed Bryant's first failure to make the playoffs, Jackson would return to the Lakers bench and Bryant would provide two of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history.

Then in 2008, Bryant would finally knock down many of his critics and carry his team back to the NBA Finals.



Kobe Bryant 2004 NBA Finals Averages (Five Games)

22.6 points per game

2.8 rebounds per game

4.4 assists per game

38.05 field goal percentage

46.2 minutes per game

L.A Lakers The NBA 2010 champion

Reasons Why L.A Lakers is the 2010 NBA Champion