Respect Kobe

Introducing: Silver Screen and Roll

For those of you who follow and comment regularly on my work here at Respect Kobe, you’ve come to expect to hear from me every now and then, at best. My last article came about a month and a half ago, a discussion of the Lakers without Andrew Bynum. That’s about to change. Effective immediately, I’ve signed on as the Lakers blogger for SB Nation. You can find my brand new Lakers blog, called Silver Screen and Roll (hat tip to Matt at Hardwood Paroxysm for the name idea), at SilverScreenAndRoll.com. If you’ve arrived here via Silver Screen and Roll, and are new to Respect Kobe, click below to read more, and then check out the About page, where I’ve expanded a bit more on the purpose and goal of this website.

The Lakers With(out) Bynum

Over at TrueHoop, Henry Abbott quotes Nuggets Coach George Karl, who suggests that the Lakers have been even better without Bynum than they were with him. As Abbott points out, it is “a question to be pondered, and one many worried about before the season: Do Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol stifle each other?” While Gasol has joined Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom in upping his production since Bynum’s absence, I think the difference has little to do with The Spaniard. So what has been the difference? Lakers fans would be quick to point to Kobe, who has a well established history of stepping up his game to carry his team when they suffer from injuries. But if you thought that Kobe Bryant has been the biggest difference for this team in Bynum’s absence, you’d be wrong.

Best Versus Boston?

In the aftermath of the Lakers's second regular season victory over the Celtics, Kobe Bryant's poor shooting night in Boston led Henry Abbott of TrueHoop to question the efficacy of Bryant's style of play against the Celtics. Comparing him to LeBron James and glancing at shot charts, Abbott concluded that James’ ability to get to the hoop enables him to be more successful against Boston's impressive defense. His theory makes a lot of sense. In the NBA, getting into the paint is considered a Good Thing™, and no one does this better than LeBron James. But does it hold true in practice? Does LeBron's ability to get closer to the basket more frequently make him more efficient and effective against the Celtics? By expanding the sample size to a minimum of eight games and digging into each player's performances against Boston since last May, I've answered the question — and the result may surprise you!

Kobe Bryant Puts Boston On Notice

In the 10th straight Christmas day game of his career, and the first matchup between the Lakers and Celtics since Game 6 of the 2008 Finals, Kobe Bryant quietly orchestrated the biggest Lakers win in over six months. While Pau Gasol has gotten all of the recognition for the late game push that propelled the Lakers to their most promising victory in nine games against the “Big Three” Celtics, it was Bryant who kept the Lakers in the game early. When the Celtics tied the game at 81, it was Bryant who engineered all of the Lakers’ final 13 points, setting up the Lakers’ nine point victory.

Clutch When It Mattered Most

The last in a series of three posts inspired by a single TrueHoop bullet, I'm back to weigh in on the question of who is "more clutch" — Kobe Bryant or LeBron James? The overall "clutch" numbers, as defined by 82games.com, seem to indicate that LeBron edges Kobe out in this area. But here is the all-important question: Do the numbers tell the full story? Here's a hint: They don't. But I know what does.

LeBron James: Getting Better

Here at Respect Kobe, we pride ourselves on being fair and rational in our evaluation of players — including our beloved Kobe Bryant, as well as any challengers to his title of "best basketball player alive." Yes, we do happen to think that Kobe Bryant is decidedly better than LeBron James. But we also think that any Kobe fans who deny that James is closing gap are in denial, while those who say, "LeBron sucks!" are just plain stupid. Yeah, I said it.

LeBron’s Fabled Mid-Range Improvements

This may surprise you — if you’ve read some of my past work, you may have gotten the opposite impression — but I’m a big fan of LeBron James. How can I not be? Much like Kobe Bryant, I can’t help but respect the rare combination of incredible talent and the work ethic to match. The problem is that fans of LeBron tend to want to give him credit even for things he has not yet accomplished. That's not only unfair to other players, but it's also a disservice to LeBron James himself. Case in point: LeBron's supposed "improved mid-range shooting." The question is: Has he actually improved?

An Early Look at the 2009 NBA Champions

As part of CelticsBlog‘s annual NBA Blogger Previews, I have volunteered to preview the Lakers this year. I know, I know: CelticsBlog? But not to worry — all those Celtics fans can enjoy reading about their futures for June! Click here to view other Lakers previews, as well as previews of our four Pacific Division [...]

State of the Union: Part Deux

A few weeks ago, I wrote a sort of State of the Union for RespectKobe.com, outlining some changes you could expect to see here. I've received a number of responses, and I want to take some time to respond to them here. First, I want to extend to my readers the option of contributing guest articles. Second, I'd like to request your assistance, both with some of the research that I typically do for my articles, and also by asking for your input on articles that I'll be writing in the future. Finally, I'll address the issue of donations, and I'll fill you in on my involvement at Hardwood Paroxysm. Click below to read about all of this, and more.

The Most Valuable Column

A few of you have already discovered this, but for those of you who have not, I have a new announcement for you. As of two weeks ago (apologies for the delayed announcement), I am a regular contributor at Hardwood Paroxysm. My MVP column, entitled the Most Valuable Column, will appear on HP every other Wednesday. If you haven't yet seen my introductory column from two weeks ago, click here to check it out. Once you've read that, click here to read today's column, which addresses the issue of the 50-win standard (which I have referred to here at Respect Kobe as the Bryant-Nash Rule). As Henry Abbott pointed out on TrueHoop, it's a long post — but if you wonder at all about the 50-win standard, and whether or not we should adhere to it in determining the MVP, then I think it's worth your time. So head on over to Hardwood Paroxysm and check it out. Click the Continue reading... link below for excerpts and more information.

Respect Kobe 2.0: Back to Beta

Think of this as a State of the Union address. Things have changed for me, and those things directly affect my ability to maintain a high level of involvement with RespectKobe.com. As a result, things are changing here at Respect Kobe, as well. So I’m going to tell you a little about my life these days (sorry if that bores you), and I’m going to tell you what that means for the future of RespectKobe.com. If you're at all interested in how things are going to change here are RespectKobe.com — or if you've enjoyed this site so far, and have wondered where I had disappeared to — read on.

Kobe Bryant Refuses to Lose

Over the last couple of years, those that have paid much attention to the Lakers — and, more specifically, to Kobe Bryant — have come to expect two things. First, that at every crucial juncture, Bryant’s numerous critics will invariably predict the return of a mythical character they refer to as “Old Kobe” — a selfish player who doesn’t trust his teammates and tries, unsuccessfully, to win games single-handedly, playing 1-on-5. Second, that Bryant will disappoint them, proving them wrong at every turn. In Game 3 of the 2008 Finals, Kobe Bryant did just that, completely dominating the game both offensively and defensively while taking only 20 shots. Down the stretch, he made every right decision, stifling Boston's final attempt to steal the game...

MVN: We Will Man Up — Will You?

The following is an article I wrote for MVN Lakers during the 2008 NBA Finals. It is reproduced here in full since, as I no longer write for MVN, the article has been removed from their archives. For the first 12 hours following Game 2 of the 2008 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and [...]

Kobe Bryant: Whatever It Takes

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Kobe Bryant has completely dominated these Playoffs. More significantly, however, is how he has done so — in nearly every way imaginable. He has dominated the best teams in the NBA as a scorer. He has picked teams apart with his passing. He has played the role of decoy. He has taken over late in games. He has created for his teammates. Simply put, he has done whatever was needed from him at any given moment.

MVN Lakers: The Foul That Wasn’t Called

I've been writing a lot on MVN lately. Sorry about the overall lack of Kobe Bryant-centric content here on RespectKobe.com — I'll try to get a new article up here soon. In the meantime, head over and read my latest article on MVN. Here's an excerpt:

Let me be very clear about this: It was a foul. Fisher jumped up and towards Barry, and he collided with him as he landed. Not only is that a foul, but it’s a very clear and obvious one, and one of the most consistently called fouls in NBA basketball. But the question here isn’t whether or not Fisher fouled Barry. It’s whether or not the foul should have been called. Bear with me here. Yes, we could get into how NBA officiating changes in the final moments of a close game. And yes, this would still be justification enough for the non-call. But none of that is necessary. In fact, we can still interpret the rules “by the book” and come to the same conclusion — that Fisher’s foul on Barry, while real, should not have been called.

Respect Kobe reader lalball81 also made a valid point regarding the Fisher/Barry play. Click here for those thoughts, and feel free to continue the discussion either here or in the comments at MVN. Click the link below, or head over to MVN Lakers, where I am a contributor, for my in-depth take on the Derek Fisher foul.

MVN Lakers: The Foul That Wasn't Called

MVN Lakers: A Man’s Game

I’ve posted a new Lakers article on MVN.com. Here’s a quick excerpt:

Early in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz, Ronny Turiaf knocked Ronnie Price to the ground while colliding with him en route to a hard block. Turiaf was assessed a Flagrant II foul, and what had been nothing more than a “hard playoffs foul” resulted in an ejection. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the sissy playoffs. Thankfully, that ended after the second round. These are the Conference Finals, and thanks to the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, this is a man’s game again.

Click the link below, or head on over to MVN Lakers, where I am a contributor, for the rest of my article on why I'm enjoying this Lakers-Spurs series so much. Also, if you have any thoughts on the Derek Fisher non-call, feel free to share them in the comments! MVN Lakers: A Man's Game

MVN Lakers: They Don’t Have Kobe

I've posted a new Lakers article on MVN.com. Here's a quick excerpt:

This is not the bold statement it would have been back in either the first or second round. By now, it should be clear. The Lakers will win the championship this year. You want a bold statement? I’ll take it one step further: It doesn’t matter who they face in the Finals. The Real NBA Finals In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers found themselves trailing the Spurs by 20 points, with a score of 45-65, with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter. The Spurs, the defending champions, looked completely unaffected by travel complications, lack of rest, and old age. Home court advantage, it seemed, was about to be stolen away from Los Angeles. Only one problem: the Lakers had Kobe Bryant.

Click the link below, or head on over to MVN Lakers, for the rest of my article on why Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will win the championship this year. MVN Lakers: They Don’t Have Kobe

MVP, But Not Without Weakness

Kobe Bryant is good at most things on the court. He has, without a doubt, the most complete and well-rounded basketball skill set currently in existence. He is, and has been for the last half-decade, the best player in the world, and he is this season’s MVP — and he is completely deserving of that honor. But he is not without weakness, even on the hardwood court that he so thoroughly dominates. There will be time — very soon, I promise — to celebrate his MVP season. But right now, I want to focus on four of Kobe’s on-court weaknesses: complaining to the referees, "lost ball" turnovers, jumpshooting when cold, and inconsistent assisting.

An Ironic Chris Paul Day

This first part is painfully obvious, so let’s get it out of the way right now: I love Chris Paul. He is simply incredible. That sound you sometimes hear when watching Hornets games? That’s my mind blowing (from halfway across the country). He has accomplished things few point guards have ever managed in the history of the game, and he’s one of several factors that have breathed new life into the NBA during this season. But one day, either before or after a Lakers game that my wife was watching with me, I turned on a Hornets game (probably because I was tracking them closely, in hopes that the Lakers could take over the #1 spot in the West by season’s end). Can you guess my wife’s first comment when I pointed Paul out to her? “He looks like Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince.”

Kobe Bryant: Deliberately Arrogant

Kobe Bryant has done a lot of talking in the first two games of the Lakers’ first round series against the Nuggets. He has also backed it up with his play. We could talk about everything Kobe Bryant did with the basketball in Game 2. We could talk about the 25 points he had at halftime on .667 shooting, including 10 straight made shots. We could marvel at his final tally of 49 points and 10 assists while shooting 18-for-27, and the fact that he contributed directly to 71 of the Lakers’ 122 points. We could compose a veritable highlight reel just from Kobe’s Game 2 performance, including high-flying fast break dunks, off-balance running jumpers, double-crossover drives, and of course, the acrobatic one-handed alley-oop off of Pau Gasol’s beautiful over-the-head lob. But none of the above is the story of the game. The story of the game — nay, of the series — is, once again, Kobe Bryant’s on-court attitude. He’s confident. He’s cocky. In fact, he’s down right arrogant...

Kobe Dominates — Even When He Doesn’t

And that, folks, is why Kobe Bryant deserves more credit for Sunday’s Game 1 than his 9-for-26 stat line would seem to indicate.

Yes, he shot poorly in Game 1. Yes, at times he failed to run the offense. And yes, he did finish with only one assist. On the other hand, however, he was the reason that Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Luke Walton were nearly unstoppable.

He made them pay, tallying 49 points and 10 assists on 18-27 shooting, directly contributing to 71 of the Lakers’ 122 points. His performance was exactly what the Nuggets were afraid of — and what they did their best to prevent — in Game 1. It is why they willingly left other Lakers unguarded...

Kobe Bryant vs. Chris Paul: An MVP Microcosm

With the 2007-08 season winding to an end, there remain but two strong candidates for the 2008 MVP Award: Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant. With the two candidates seemingly neck and neck, Friday’s game between Paul’s New Orleans Hornets and Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers promised to be one of the best, and most significant, games of the season. It didn’t disappoint. In a game that may have profound ramifications for the 2008 Playoffs, Chris Paul delivered a strong performance. His 17 assists are very impressive, and his effort in leading his team to not one but two come-from-behind surges and the brink of victory cannot be denied. But Kobe Bryant’s Lakers were at some times supremely dominant, and at all times victorious. And through it all, Kobe Bryant was transcendent. And for those that felt that this game would decide between Paul and Bryant...

MVN Lakers: We’re Fine, Thanks!

I've posted a new Lakers article on MVN.com. Here's a quick excerpt:

With Andrew Bynum yet to return and Pau Gasol recently forced to sit out 10 games with an ankle injury, both the Lakers detractors as well as their fans have been critical of the team’s inconsistency. In recent weeks, I’ve received a number of ribbing from fans and bloggers of other teams, pointing out that the Lakers are struggling. And they’re not alone. Lakers fans, as well, have become concerned about the team’s recent play. But while it’s true that they have been inconsistent at best, with a disturbing tendency of late to come out flat against the weaker teams in the league, I believe this is much ado about nothing. To the fans of other teams, who have all too eagerly pointed out the Lakers’ apparent weakness: Thank you for your concern, but the Lakers are fine.

Not mentioned in the article, but well worth referencing here, is a further breakdown of the Lakers season, particularly their surprising success despite a multitude of injuries. David Friedman's NBA analysis may at times bear a heavy Hollywood slant, but on this topic, he couldn't be more correct. He breaks the Lakers 2007-08 season into three separate mini-seasons, of sorts, and analyzes their surprising success in all three. Continuing on that theme, Friedman further articulates a point that I have long felt deserves greater consideration...

Kobe Bryant Was Never Robbed

Consistency is key. In recent years, the outcry among Lakers and Kobe Bryant fans has been that Kobe Bryant has been robbed of MVP Awards that he rightly deserved. This year, with LeBron James often considered a front-runner in the MVP race despite his team's lackluster record, the indignant outcry has grown even louder: "Kobe was robbed the last two years!" No, he wasn't. Lakers fans, it's time for a wake-up

Branching Out

This is just an announcement. I have recently joined the Most Valuable Network (a.k.a. MVN) as a sports writer covering the Lakers. MVN is a sort of indie sports media outlet, so to speak, giving non-credentialed guys like me a chance to dabble in informal sports journalism and see where it takes us. My first article on the Lakers is up on MVN, and I'd encourage you all to read it. I think you'll enjoy it. It's called, Are the Lakers Ref Favorites? Here's a hint: No, they're not.

MVN Lakers: Are the Lakers Ref Favorites?

This article was originally written for MVN. Since I no longer write for MVN, it has been removed from their archives, so it is reproduced here in full: While the Lakers were busy losing to the Rockets on Sunday, I was chatting with Matt from Hardwood Paroxysm. During half-time, he expressed a view that is held by fans across the United States: That the Lakers consistently receive an unfair advantage from

John Krolik: The Other Side of the Debate

John Krolik of Cavalier Attitude (among other things — the man is everywhere) recently emailed me. Apparently, he considers me a “worthy adversary.” That’s right, he’s a Cavs fan (and, by extension, a LeBron fan — how could you not be when you watch that much Cleveland basketball?), and not only that, but a Cavs writer, covering the Cavs for MVN.com. And he emailed me, first to let me know he likes the site, and second to initiate further discussion on LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. In his email, John proceeded to make several counterpoints to points I have made on this site, either in the articles or in the comments. He indicated that he’d like to start a discussion, and would be interested in posting our discussion on the web sites for which he works. I thought that was a great idea, but as some of you may have been aware, have been busy with family issues (which then transitioned straight into the all-important Kobe Bryant Blog Day, which I couldn’t miss). I’ve finally found the time to respond to the points John made in his email, and I’ve decided to post our conversation here in the form of a discussion, point by point.

Rise Again: The Undefeatable Kobe Bryant (Kobe Bryant Blog Day ’08)

The sports fan is, by nature, a forgetful creature. And why shouldn’t he be? We are constantly inundated with visual stimuli, and it is only natural that those events and accomplishments for which we have little or no visual reminder would fade in our minds. Furthermore, every new generation of sports fans sees greatness before their eyes, but, not having watched previous generations, they have no context within which to evaluate today’s players. This applies not only to the relatively distant past, dominated by Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain (30 years are an eternity in sports), but also to much more recent years. Time has caused us to forget the flaws in Michael Jordan’s game, and that he was once criticized as the most selfish player ever. It has caused us to view Steve Nash and Jason Kidd as two of the best point guards ever to play the game, while Magic Johnson and John Stockton go unremembered. And it has caused us to forget, all too quickly, the greatness that is, and has been, Kobe Bryant. We’ve allowed ourselves to forget the years in which Bryant, along with Shaquille O’Neal, led the Lakers to three consecutive championships. And even when we do remember, absent-minded revisionism gives all of the credit to O’Neal, wiping from memory the countless clutch performances from Bryant, without which the Lakers could not have won a single championship. Bryant is retrospectively painted as a cancer, rather than a leader on the team that dominated the early part of this decade. He is portrayed as “selfish” and a “ball hog,” rather than the primary distributor and facilitator for a teammate with a reputation for pouting when he didn’t get the ball as much as he wanted. And in many cases, he is remembered as a detriment to his team, rather than the very reason the Lakers have had any success at all. Not today. Today, he will be remembered as he truly is.

Kobe Bryant: “Remember Me?”

Kobe Bryant struggled for much of the night to find his shot. But in the final six minutes of a 117-105 win over the Sacramento Kings, he delivered his message, loud and clear. He is still the most clutch player in the world. Much has been made of LeBron James’ clutch performances this year. And rightly so. His improvement in that area has been astounding, as he has proven, game after game, that he can handle the pressure. But amidst all the buzz about James, many have forgotten about Bryant. They’ve forgotten that Bryant has already done what James is doing, time and time again. They’ve forgotten that he’s done it at a higher level, and on a bigger stage, than James has. And they’ve forgotten that he’s been doing it for the last decade. Until now.

What Is My Issue With LeBron?

I launched this website with a three part series addressing certain aspects of the comparison between Bryant and LeBron James. I then briefly compared Bryant to James in an article reviewing a performance of Bryant's that was tremendous and extraordinary, yet at the same time commonplace and ordinary. Next came an article explaining why LeBron James should not be considered for the MVP this year, based on Bryant's past experience. Then, I explained why Kobe's achievements in the West (both this year and over the past two years) are worth more than LeBron's this year, because of the respective strength and weakness of their conferences. Finally, I made the case for Kobe Bryant as MVP, and in so doing revisited why LeBron should not be considered a valid MVP candidate for this season. Most recently, I wrote an in-depth analysis of how context affects statistics, and how to properly compare two players statistically, given their differing contexts. As examples, I compared James and Bryant... again. All of this begs the question: What is my issue with LeBron James?

True Shooting: Statistics in Context

Statistical comparison is a necessary evil in the sports world. On the one hand, we know that a player’s statistical accomplishments do not occur in a vacuum. Since factors such as position, body and build, teammates, opponents, and much more can significantly affect a player’s statistical output, comparing two players statistically is like comparing apples and oranges. On the other hand, any attempt to compare two players without some form of quantitative measurement never leaves the realm of subjectivity. Thus, rational and logical (not to mention measurable and substantial) comparisons between two players cannot be performed without a certain amount of statistical comparison — making statistical comparison not only inevitable, but necessary. Unfortunately, when making statistical comparisons, many people fail to account for the context in which a player’s statistics are recorded. They attempt to do the impossible — indeed, the irrational — by making straight statistical comparisons without accounting for each player’s multi-faceted context. This is the issue that I want to explore: What is an appropriate way to compare two players statistically?

Kobe Bryant: MVP

As the NBA resumes after the All-Star break, and what promises to be the most eventful "stretch run" in years gets under way, there is one topic that will be more and more on NBA fans' minds. Who is this year's MVP? While there are currently four names in the MVP discussion, I would argue that only three of these four — Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, and Kobe Bryant — are legitimate MVP candidates. From these three, it is clear now, and should become even more so over the next eight weeks, which is the MVP. Ladies and gentlemen, the universally recognized best player in the world and the 2008 NBA MVP: Kobe Bryant.

Location, Location, Location

It’s no secret that the Eastern Conference is widely considered to be weaker than the Western Conference. And not by just a little — the difference is night and day. What’s often overlooked, however, is just how significant that fact is. Specifically, a team’s location can play an important role in its playoff chances, any evaluation of its current strength, how its current win/loss record should be viewed... and its star player’s MVP chances.

LeBron & Fans Experience the “Bryant-Nash Rule”

With over half of the NBA season already played out, and the All-Star break approaching, the talk of who will be this year's MVP is gaining momentum. Brian Windhorst recently wrote the following in the Acron Beacon Journal:

Garnett's game numbers (19.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists) can't match James' and, obviously, he's gotten way more support from his teammates than James has. It would seem that calling him most valuable would be counterintuitive.

Not so fast, Brian. The problem here is that LeBron, in his MVP quest, is Kobe Bryant two years ago. And Brian Windhorst is saying what every Lakers fan has already said. When Kobe did this, he didn't win the MVP. Neither will LeBron this year.

It’s Nothing Monumental

Kobe Bryant played a stellar game against New York tonight. But with 9:06 left in the 4th quarter, the Lakers found themselves down 100-91. So Kobe turned it up a notch. In the final 9+ minutes, Kobe hit all 5 of his shots, handed out 3 assists, and added a block for good measure. During that time, the Lakers went from being down by as much as 9 to winning by 11. Had this been LeBron James, fans of The (prematurely anointed) King would be on here proclaiming his greatness, claiming that in a single game he had dethroned Kobe. But for Kobe Bryant, this was nothing monumental. It was just business as usual, another day in the life of the best — and still most clutch — player in basketball.

Kobe Bryant: Better Teammate Than MJ?

MJ is the greatest player to have ever played basketball, to date. Nevertheless, there are many misconceptions people have formulated regarding His Airness, the one and only Michael Jordan. One of these things is what kind of teammate he was. So I'm going to do the unforgivable: I'm going to compare Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan. Here it is: Kobe Bryant is a better teammate than Michael Jordan was.

Kobe vs. LeBron: Part III

In my first two posts in this series (Click to read: Part I | Part II), I discussed two of Henry Abbott's responses in an ESPN round table article comparing LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. These dealt with leadership and the overall difference between the two. Henry's response to the fifth and final question is the most disappointing of all, more so even than those previously discussed on this blog. The ultimate question is posed: Who is the better player now? Is he the greatest player in the NBA now?

Kobe vs. LeBron: Part II

In my first post in this series, responding to an ESPN rountable article, I discussed Henry Abbott's response to the second question in the roundtable article, in which he failed to hold Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to the same standard regarding leadership. Henry's uncharacteristic and unexpected bias against Kobe, in favor of James, continues in his response to the third question: What is the key difference between [LeBron and Kobe]? Henry responded, "They are both essentially perfect," but then listed a number of things in LeBron's favor: "age, size, health, strength and team focus." However, LeBron is not essentially perfect. His defense, jump shot, foul shooting, creativity, killer instinct, and reliability in the clutch are all ways in which he is inferior to Bryant. None of these things are small, insignificant things. By making this unfair and lopsided comparison, Henry errs by claiming that LeBron is essentially perfect, which is clearly not true, and then he shows his bias towards LeBron by listing a number of advantages he has over Kobe while conveniently leaving off Kobe's advantages over LeBron.

Kobe vs. LeBron: Part I

I have to tell you, I love TrueHoop. That's why I was surprised to see such lopsided and forgetful analysis from Henry in an ESPN rountable article comparing Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. When asked which player is a better leader, Henry responds with the following:

Abbott: Their teammates would know best. I'm quite certain that if you had dosed Andrew Bynum with truth serum last summer, and asked him this question, he would have quickly said, "LeBron James."

It's clear that Abbott equates labeling your teammates as subpar and inferior with poor leadership. Unfortunately, it would seem that Henry has forgotten about LeBron's quote from this summer, nearing the end of the FIBA Americas Tournament, where LeBron said that he was not looking forward to going back to Cleveland to play with his lesser teammates.