Insider: Who's better Kobe vs Lebron

[QUOTE=plowking]And you're just a typical generic poster who cries "hater" when someone points out something bad about his favorite player. Yeah bro, I hate Bron. I dislike watching one of the best talents the NBA has produced. It just sickens me... :rolleyes:

I think Kobe is the better player and I have stated why. A better scorer, shooter, defender. Equal in rebounding and Lebron ahead in playmaking. Not to mention Kobe is more clutch.[/QUOTE]

No, you're a hater because you made a ridiculous claim that I can't even begin to fathom, and pass it off as if everyone should have already known.

I'm not your "bro".

[QUOTE=MBC2K4]This whole article is laughable & loses any and all integrity when it refers to the Lakers and Cavs meeting on Christmas for the second straight year, when in reality, they didn't even play each other on Christmas last year. That is a good indicator of what kind of "extensive" research this LeBron fanboy disguised as an ESPN reporter put into this article.

LeBron being picked as the better midrange shooter just shows the ignorance and stupidity of this reporter... same thing with LeBron being picked as the better primary defender. Kobe was the clearly superior player in both aspects just 2 seasons ago, and I will admit that LeBron has shown some noticeable improvement in both areas... but suddenly just because he's improved a little bit he's now considered better than Kobe? Kobe having a night where his midrange J isn't falling is about as common as a night where LeBron's is falling. Dunks do not equate to a midrange shot.

Also, LeBron lost any and all credibility to me as far as being considered this great man-to-man defender that he's been getting hyped up as lately with his showing in the ECF last year. A great PRIMARY DEFENDER with LeBron's size and athleticism doesn't cop out and guard Rafer Alston when 6'10" guys like Turkoglu and Lewis are out there burning your team just asking to be guarded by somebody. Guys like Kobe and Jordan wouldn't take that route. Hell, in the WCF last year when Melo was abusing Ariza and Walton in a couple of the games, Kobe got sick and tired of it and took to guarding Melo despite giving up 2 or 3 inches in height and 30 to 40 pounds.[/QUOTE]

That's more up to the coach if anything.

On jump-shots alone this year, the difference is close to 3% for Kobe, hardly a large margin as you make it out to be.

Kobe has been the better defender for LeBron's time in the league up until last year. LeBron was the better help defender, and man defender. There's statistics to prove it if you don't believe me, but watching the game would show you how big of a change LeBron made in terms of primary D while Kobe took a step back from his lock-down defensive ways (taking way too many passing lane gambles and overall seemed to be much more lazy on defense than in years past). I know you guys hate mathematics and objective reasoning, but the defensive rating/win-shares give you a good idea of what I'm talking about.

LeBron is not a great man defender. The guy usually defends the weakest perimeter player on the opposing team and roams around in the passing lanes and this also enables him to be a weakside shot blocker. For some reason people make him out to be the second coming of Bruce Bowen or something & I just don't get it. He struggled with Alston at times in the ECF last year and wanted no part of stepping up and defending Lewis or Turkoglu; two guys that a supposed great athletic man defender like LeBron should've been salivating at the opportunity to guard under such circumstances. I'll give it to you that LeBron is a better secondary defender than Kobe but no chance in hell is he a better primary defender.

[QUOTE=Simple Jack]No, you're a hater because you made a ridiculous claim that I can't even begin to fathom, and pass it off as if everyone should have already known.

[B]I'm not your "bro"[/B].[/QUOTE]

:oldlol:

Typical generic poster with the generic line. You pretty much just proved me right.

Nice one.

:roll:

[QUOTE=Simple Jack][B]Kobe has been the better defender for LeBron's time in the league up until last year. LeBron was the better help defender, and man defender. [/B]There's statistics to prove it if you don't believe me, but watching the game would show you how big of a change LeBron made in terms of primary D while Kobe took a step back from his lock-down defensive ways (taking way too many passing lane gambles and overall seemed to be much more lazy on defense than in years past). I know you guys hate mathematics and objective reasoning, but the defensive rating/win-shares give you a good idea of what I'm talking about.[/QUOTE]

Alright then. Where are these statistics that 'prove' what is in bold?

In terms of the mid-range game, here's are breakdown of both players' shooting.

[IMG]http://www.dmjfly.com/hotzone/kobehotspot.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.dmjfly.com/hotzone/lebronhotspot.jpg[/IMG]

Bryant's shooting about 3% better than Lebron from range above the free throw line.

For all shots within the three, but not at the rim, Bryant is shooting 47.6%. Lebron is shooting 39.2%. Lebron makes up for this with his ability to get to the rim and finish and his superior three point shooting over Bryant this season, but Bryant's mid-range game is better, no doubt about it.

[QUOTE=Simple Jack]No, you're a hater because [B]you made a ridiculous claim that I can't even begin to fathom[/B], and pass it off as if everyone should have already known.

I'm not your "bro".[/QUOTE]

Says the guy who JUST claimed Boykins is more skilled than Shaq. :roll: :roll: :roll:

[QUOTE=MBC2K4]LeBron is not a great man defender. The guy usually defends the weakest perimeter player on the opposing team and roams around in the passing lanes and this also enables him to be a weakside shot blocker. For some reason people make him out to be the second coming of Bruce Bowen or something & I just don't get it. He struggled with Alston at times in the ECF last year and wanted no part of stepping up and defending Lewis or Turkoglu; two guys that a supposed great athletic man defender like LeBron should've been salivating at the opportunity to guard under such circumstances. I'll give it to you that LeBron is a better secondary defender than Kobe but no chance in hell is he a better primary defender.[/QUOTE]


Check the opponents FG % in relation to their average. He's one of the only defenders who actually is effective on Kobe. There was a stretch last year in like 4 consecutive games where he kept Granger, Pierce i believe, Wallace, and another to such a low FG % it was laughable. His weakside D is obviously great because of his athleticism and great timing, but in addition, his man D took a huge jump last year.

[QUOTE=Doranku]Says the guy who JUST claimed Boykins is more skilled than Shaq. :roll: :roll: :roll:[/QUOTE]

I'm going to guess you never played basketball in your life.

Being 5'5 playing against people who are on average a foot taller than you is absolutely insane. The fact that he made the NBA, let alone that he's rather successful and had stints of playing extremely well during his career is something I can't even fathom.

If you played basketball you'd have an idea of what I'm talking about.

[QUOTE=MBC2K4]LeBron usually defends the weakest perimeter player on the opposing team and roams around in the passing lanes and this also enables him to be a weakside shot blocker.[/QUOTE]

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[QUOTE=plowking]:oldlol:

Typical generic poster with the generic line. You pretty much just proved me right.

Nice one.

:roll:[/QUOTE]

Please teach me how to be cool like you plowking. I know it's a burden being that cool, but I can handle it!

[QUOTE=psyentist]Alright then. Where are these statistics that 'prove' what is in bold?[/QUOTE]


Defensive rating? Defensive win-shares? Opponents FG relative to their averages?

Check them all out from last year...

Kobe is the most over rated defender ever.

[QUOTE=Pharcyde]Kobe is the most over rated defender ever.[/QUOTE]

it's like the word "overrated" is synonymous to Kobe - everything he does is exaggerated and put on pedestal by his worshippers...They are even arguing the numbers which favour Lebron and calling them "flawed":roll: Somebody explain to me, how clear unbiased statistic measures can be innacurate?:hammerhead:

[QUOTE=madmax]it's like the word "overrated" is synonymous to Kobe - everything he does is exaggerated and put on pedestal by his worshippers...They are even arguing the numbers which favour Lebron and calling them "flawed":roll: Somebody explain to me, how clear unbiased statistic measures can be innacurate?:hammerhead:[/QUOTE]


I think he's a great player, but using his defense as the decision maker in him vs. Lebron is stupid. Both are inconsistent and overrated at it. Yet Kobe is still held as such an awesome defender.

Here are the stats:
Lebron -
28.8 PPG
7.8 APG
7.1 RPG
.8 BPG
1.3 SPG

Kobe -
29.3 PPG
4.2 APG
5.6 RPG
.3 BPG
2.2 SPG

So, Kobe beats Lebron in points right now, but he's also averaging more shots per game.
Lebron gets to the free throw line more at 9.1 compared to Kobe's 7.8.
Lebron's TS% is .599, Kobe's is .567.

I just don't see a real clear cut winner, but I give it to Lebron. I think they are both great though.

And no, I don't care that Kobe has 4 rings because accolades don't define anything for a player not even in his prime yet.