Let's Not Overreact

Last night the Miami Heat cruised as they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 98-87. The Heat held a substantial double-digit lead for most of the game, leading by 15 points at halftime and by 21 points at the end of the third quarter. The Lakers made a run to cut the lead late, but Miami outlasted them for the victory.

The bigger story, of course, is the matchup between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Bryant struggled early and for the majority of the game, before going on a tear late in the game. He finished the game with 24 points and shot 8-21 (38.1%) from the field. Kobe has scored a combined 38 points on 15-43 (34.9%) shooting in his last two games, after scoring 40 points or more in four straight games. LeBron finished the game with 31 points and shot 12-27 (44.4%) from the field. In addition, LeBron added 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks to help Miami win the game.

TNT analyst Kenny Smith, summed up the night perfectly. He said that when looking at the matchup, it is all about who you love. Kobe fans will point to Kobe's flurry in the final minutes of the game and applaud his willingness to fight until the end. LeBron fans will point to his all-around game and his ability to affect the game in a variety of ways. On the flip-side, Kobe detractors will point to how Kobe struggled through the first three quarters of the game and will also point to his subpar field goal percentage. LeBron detractors will say that LeBron still needs to show up in the fourth quarter of games, especially during the playoffs.

So, let's not overreact . . . this game did not do anything to change anyone's opinion of either player.