Warren2ThaG Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/LeBron-Kobe-Bryant-218x300.jpgKobe: 'Nothing there' for Cavs-Lakers rivalry------------LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant realizes the Los Angeles Lakers have no particular rivalry with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and their Christmas meeting isn't likely to start a feud. Yet Bryant still is eager to take on LeBron James on Friday in a high-profile meeting of two transcendent stars, the top two vote-getters in the NBA All-Star balloting. Shaquille O'Neal's latest return to Los Angeles also will draw attention, yet Bryant is more interested in maintaining the strong play that has put the defending champion Lakers on top of the NBA standings. Bryant never complains about working on Christmas, although this matchup isn't quite as compelling as last year's visit from the Boston Celtics, whose 19-game winning streak ended in the holiday meeting.---http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-12-24-3702379659_x.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Check my Stats Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 He is clearly trying to downplay this game. It is easily the biggest game of the year up to this point for both teams. The two best players go at it, two top teams as well. Potential finals preview, not to mention Shaq facing LA on another new team lol. There are a ton of back stories for ESPN to work with to make this game seem huge. Really both teams should treat this like a playoff game, because it should be a statement game, especially for the Cavaliers with everyone overlooking them, everyone is forgetting they were a 65 win team last year. I hope we have a duel between Kobe and LBJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Penny Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 there isnt a rivalry between LA and Cleveland but still, i cant wait for the game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poe Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 (edited) There is every reason for there to be a rivalry. The wing matchup between Kobe and LeBron, plus they are the two arguable best players, and Shaq playing against his former team. Yet, for some reason, I just can't feel any real tension. Edited December 24, 2009 by Poe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2ThaG Posted December 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 There is every reason for there to be a rivalry. The wing matchup between Kobe and LeBron, plus they are the two arguable best players, and Shaq playing against his former team. Yet, for some reason, I just can't feel any real tension. Only tension will be Shaq-Bynum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy Posted December 24, 2009 Report Share Posted December 24, 2009 There is every reason for there to be a rivalry. The wing matchup between Kobe and LeBron, plus they are the two arguable best players, and Shaq playing against his former team. Yet, for some reason, I just can't feel any real tension.Same here. Maybe it's because the Lakers are too stacked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemon Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 I think most people wanted Lakers Boston though. Honestly, each time they played last season it was game 7 Finals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bravenewworld Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 Kobe vs Lebron is the only thing that resembles a rivalry here, and its really not one just something more made up by fans and media for exposure of both players.Problem is when people consider this a rivalry they need to consider that rivalry teams are created in play off situations and these two teams do not come anywhere close to a rivalry because the Cavs cannot make it to the Finals to face the Lakers to play games that actually matter. The Lakers got better in the off-season, the Cavs got worse....Lakers win by 15+. Lakers - 103Cavs- 86 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 It can't be a rivalry until the Cavs win a championship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 Washington-Cleveland is more of a rivalry than LA-Cleveland (and even then, I don't think there is a rivalry between CLE and Washington). Until Cleveland beats LA when it matters, there is no rivalry here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfish Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 Kobe is right, the Cavs arent a rivalry for us. We beat them pretty easily both games last year, while Kobe completely owned Lebron statistically. The Cavs cant really rival us cause they cant keep up with us and are a pretty irrelevant franchise for the most part. Celtics are the only rivalry for the Lakers, I wish we would have matched up with them on Christmas, the 2 best teams would have been going at it. But then again, the Celtics arent healthy right now, so the Cavs will be a nice appetizer. Also lol @ Cavs - Lakers a potential Finals Matchup, good joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HornyWetPenguin Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 Until Cleveland beats LA when it matters, there is no rivalry here. Same can be said about the Wizards beating Cleveland lmao. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poe Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 Same can be said about the Wizards beating Cleveland lmao.Read more carefully. He never said there was a rivalry between the Cavs and Wizards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Game Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 he's just saying the right stuff, he wouldn't be kobe bryant if this wasn't a big game for him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bravenewworld Posted December 25, 2009 Report Share Posted December 25, 2009 he's just saying the right stuff, he wouldn't be kobe bryant if this wasn't a big game for him Thing is though, its not a big game for him at all in any manner. He knows he is better then LBJ, every real basketball fan who can fairly analyze players knows that LBJ is not even close to the level of Kobe, he knows its not a rival game, he knows its not a game that matters, he knows his team is ten times better then Lebrons. I mean, these are comments he made to the press because the press demanded comments from him. He didnt go out and just randomly say these things, which had he done that we would have cause to think it mattered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted December 26, 2009 Report Share Posted December 26, 2009 Kobe vs Lebron is the only thing that resembles a rivalry here, and its really not one just something more made up by fans and media for exposure of both players.Problem is when people consider this a rivalry they need to consider that rivalry teams are created in play off situations and these two teams do not come anywhere close to a rivalry because the Cavs cannot make it to the Finals to face the Lakers to play games that actually matter. The Lakers got better in the off-season, the Cavs got worse....Lakers win by 15+. Lakers - 103Cavs- 86you were pretty close at guessing the reverse score Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted December 26, 2009 Report Share Posted December 26, 2009 Same can be said about the Wizards beating Cleveland lmao.lol at you trying to look smart by quoting a portion of my post. Nice try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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