kapsi1911
Banned
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- Oct 30, 2007
Excerpted from http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-080128&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1
All NBA stars want to win, but with James and Bryant, it surely seems personal. It was in this one, as they each tried to one-up each other as the game camedown to the wire. Bryant had a great performance, scoring 33 points with 12 rebounds, and he nearly led his team to a nice victory. But James was just better,and that's becoming a refrain in their head-to-head matchups.
In the fourth quarter -- the time that has made both men superstars -- James had 14 points, including two huge baskets in the final minute, the biggie beinga jumper over Bryant's fingers with 20 seconds left.
With James guarding him in the fourth, Bryant managed just 1-of-6 shooting. He was 1-of-7 overall in the quarter.
On the final play, James defended Bryant and forced him to pass instead of taking the last shot. Last month in Cleveland, James forced Bryant backward andoff balance as he missed what would've been a game-winner.
So in a season when both men are serious competitors for a first Most Valuable Player Award, James has taken both meetings by being better in winningtime.
Last year, James raised eyebrows when he was quoted in ESPN The Magazine as saying he didn't have the samekiller instinct as Bryant. Since then, though, he's been killing Bryant on the court and killing him with kindness off it.
"He's the most talented player in the game," James said in August.
"He's the No. 1 scorer in our league," James said in November.
"Kobe is dominant, he plays on the highest level all the time," he said in December.
"Kobe's still No. 1 to me," James said this weekend when asked whether he thought he could take overthe mantle as the NBA's best.
"He's still the best player in the world," James said Sunday.
It's certainly a respectful tone. But it's a subject James is forcing toward a debate. He might not say it,but there's no doubt that's his goal, to surpass Bryant and get what his rival already has, a championship ring.
All NBA stars want to win, but with James and Bryant, it surely seems personal. It was in this one, as they each tried to one-up each other as the game camedown to the wire. Bryant had a great performance, scoring 33 points with 12 rebounds, and he nearly led his team to a nice victory. But James was just better,and that's becoming a refrain in their head-to-head matchups.
In the fourth quarter -- the time that has made both men superstars -- James had 14 points, including two huge baskets in the final minute, the biggie beinga jumper over Bryant's fingers with 20 seconds left.
With James guarding him in the fourth, Bryant managed just 1-of-6 shooting. He was 1-of-7 overall in the quarter.
On the final play, James defended Bryant and forced him to pass instead of taking the last shot. Last month in Cleveland, James forced Bryant backward andoff balance as he missed what would've been a game-winner.
So in a season when both men are serious competitors for a first Most Valuable Player Award, James has taken both meetings by being better in winningtime.
Last year, James raised eyebrows when he was quoted in ESPN The Magazine as saying he didn't have the samekiller instinct as Bryant. Since then, though, he's been killing Bryant on the court and killing him with kindness off it.
"He's the most talented player in the game," James said in August.
"He's the No. 1 scorer in our league," James said in November.
"Kobe is dominant, he plays on the highest level all the time," he said in December.
"Kobe's still No. 1 to me," James said this weekend when asked whether he thought he could take overthe mantle as the NBA's best.
"He's still the best player in the world," James said Sunday.
It's certainly a respectful tone. But it's a subject James is forcing toward a debate. He might not say it,but there's no doubt that's his goal, to surpass Bryant and get what his rival already has, a championship ring.
