The Argument is settled...for now...

Kobe Bryant is better than LeBron James...for now.

Monday night the two best players in the NBA faced off in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. It should be noted that going into Monday night these two teams had the two best records in the league, the Lakers being 31-8 and the Cavs at 31-7. 

All the talking heads and headline writers around the country were hyping up this game as Kobe vs. LeBron. And while both players guarded each other for much of the night, the individual matchup left much to be desired. 

LeBron finished the game 9-25 from the field for 23 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Kobe went 9-22 for 20 points, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds. So well both guys had good games, it is hardly what we the people expected. On MLK day, on TNT, two best teams, two best players, I think we half expected 40 points a piece. What we got was two good performances, with a little bit of magic sprinkled in, and that's where Kobe distanced himself from LeBron as the best in the world. 

The debate has raged on for a couple years now, as Kobe and LeBron have continued to show the rest of the league why they are head and shoulders above the rest of the field (Dwyane Wade is great, but he's not in this conversation). 

LeBron has the physique, the drive, and the raw spectacular athleticism that no one else in the history of the NBA can claim. The ceiling for how good LeBron can be is seemingly limitless, his year-to-year improvement is mind boggling. Just when you think he can't possibly get any better, he improves. His decision making has made tremendous progress, as evidenced by his career low average in turnovers this year. His field goal percentage and free throw percentage are both at a career high level. He is the most physically gifted player in the NBA...but he is not the best...for now.

For now the only answer can be Kobe Bryant. No one has ever had the offensive creativity and confidence that Kobe has. Over the last few years and carrying into this summer at the olympics, Kobe has taken his game to the next level. He now trusts his teammates more so than he ever has. This may stem from the fact that he has a competent cast around him for the first time since Shaq left. Regardless of what the motivation was, Kobe has developed into the cold-blooded game-changing maestro of the game that has him second to no one else in the world right now. 

The Monday night game sealed the deal. Playing with a newly dislocated ring finger on his shooting hand, Kobe stepped his game up yet again. As I said before, Kobe didn't have the all-around dominant game that we have come to expect from him, but he stepped up when the situation called for it. I hope you all watched the game...but if not...let me break down a couple of the "Kobesque" moments that led directly to this column. Cut to the 4th quarter, Lakers up 8 with nine minutes to go. Sensing that the Lakers can put the game away with a big run, Kobe puts the team on his back. Also on his back was LeBron James...

Go to the 1:40 mark of the video to make sense of the next two paragraphs. 

Kobe backs down LeBron, giving up a couple inches and 30 to 40 pounds, and LeBron is five years younger. Kobe falls away to the baseline and shoots a rainbow fadeaway over the outstretched (very long) arms of LeBron James. Swish...Lakers up 10.

Next Lakers possesion, still up 10, Kobe drives to the left side of the basket right into the body of LeBron James who nary moves an inch. Kobe continues on his newly obstructed path and throws up a running floating 15 foot teardrop type deal while falling towards the out of bounds line. Swish...Tweet...well probably more like Tweet and then Swish. Translation, foul and the ball goes in, foul on LeBron. Lakers up 12. Crowd goes wild, LeBron is perplexed, and all the sudden the complexion of the game is changed. To using a boxing analogy, the Cavs were on the ropes, and it was all thanks to Kobe Bryant's calculated flurry of big time punches. 

So for now, the argument is settled. If anyone asks, Kobe Bryant is better than LeBron James...for now. 

Pistons "ANSWER" about trade comes tonight

Clever title huh? I mentioned this before but I strongly believe this trade is a win for both teams and all the players involved. 

AI will make his Detroit Piston debut tonight as the Pistons travel to New Jersey. If you get a chance, read Jemele Hill's article about the trade, I think she does a great job explaining how this COULD work for Detroit (here is the link: ESPN PAGE 2).

The Pistons will be a better team because of this trade. Maybe they won't score more points, maybe they will. Maybe they give up more points, maybe they don't. When crunch time hits in the 4th quarter of an important game, we will ALL take notice of just what Allen Iverson brings to a team. As a Pistons fan I am certain you remember many of the times in the last few years when our team went ice cold, out mid-range jumpers weren't falling, Sheed was in foul trouble or his inside turnaround was off, Rip couldn't buy a bucket, Chauncey wasn't hitting the outside shots, etc. These things don't happen to Allen Iverson. Iverson is such a unique talent, that he cannot be defended for a full game. He has CAREER averages of almost 9.5 free throws attempted per game! And in the playoffs for his career he has averaged 45 minutes per game! 

For everything Mr. Big Shot did for the Pistons, these are qualities Billups did not possess. I don't mean to sell Billups short by any means. He did great things for the Pistons, and was the backbone of our winning tradition over the last six or so years, but the time came for change. I hope the Nuggets have a great season, and I hope Billups revitalizes the local fan base (He chose #7 because the last Denver legend wore #7. Not Chucky Atkins...John Elway). 

Billups is Denver's native son, graduating from George Washington High School in Denver as a four time All-State pick, three time Colorado Mr. Basketball and a McDonald's All-American. Playing at the University of Colorado, when he could have chosen to go anywhere, he led them into the NCAA tournament. In 2004, Billups had his number retired by CU. 

This trade is a rare case in which both teams are better off because of it. I am not sure if the Win-Loss records will be drastically different, or even any of the statistical analysis, but the players on both teams will be rejuvenated and two of basketball's best will be teaching along the way. Billups can and will help Carmelo and JR Smith become better players. Iverson will mentor Stuckey and even Hamilton and Prince in ways I'm not sure Billups could. 

I am thrilled to watch Iverson in Detroit and Billups in Denver. The impressions of this trade will be felt for years to come, on many different levels.

If that's not a win/win, I don't know what is.

IVERSON TO MOTOWN

Allen Iverson is going to wear #1, because his life long number, 3, is currently being worn by Rodney Stuckey. Iverson brings his career 28 points per game (3rd best in NBA history) to Detroit. This is a great trade for both teams. The Pistons lose their leader and crunch-time leader in Chauncey B-B-Billups, but they gain a leader and fellow proven crunch-time performer in Iverson. Chauncey gets to head back to his hometown in Denver, and McDiggity used to play out there also. So it is a reunion of sorts for the both of them. Chauncey will continue to be one of my favorites players in the L, and I'm glad he is going to be in Denver, where I will have a chance to watch him on a nightly basis. He will make Melo play twice as hard as he is now. I can't wait to watch the first game of each of these teams with their new guys. 

Does this make the Nuggets more of a threat in the West? Are the Pistons now the team to beat in the East? 

Also, this trade for Detroit is about the future. Iverson comes off the books next year, and now Billups and McDiggity are gone. This opens up a ton of cap room for the summer of 2010...the summer of LeBron James, D Wade, and Chris Bosh to name a few. Joe Dumars does it again, a savvy move while considering every possible scenario, both long term and short term. 

NBA STARTS TONIGHT

NBA season tips tonight with three games, including a double-header on TNT. CAVS v CELTICS followed by BLAZERS v LAKERS. The NBA knows how to present a product, night one and we get Lebron against the defending champs, and then Greg Oden and the upstart Blazers against Kobe and the Lake Show. Yes. Please.

Since I am into making predictions on this blog, I'm gonna take the CAVS in the east and the Rockets in the West. Now to sit back and enjoy...