2007 Top Five NBA Player Match Ups
Fans Look Forward to a Kobe Bryant and LeBron James Face Off
Here are the top NBA player match ups to look forward to in 2007-2008.
From Wilt Chamberlain facing off against Bill Russell to Magic Johnson matching up against Larry Bird to David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon battling in the paint, key NBA player match ups have always been a top seller for the league. There are plenty of noteworthy head-to-head battles in 2007-2008 to look forward to, as well.
1. Kobe Bryant versus LeBron James
Kobe Bryant may be the league's best one-on-one scorer, averaging 27.9 ppg in 14 games of the 2007-2008 season, 31.6 ppg in 77 games last season and 35.4 ppg in 80 games in 2005-2006. LeBron James may be the most versatile players in the league and a great scorer as well. In 16 games this season, he's averaged 30.7 ppg, 7.6 rbpg and 8.1 apg. He also averaged 27.3 ppg in 2006-2007 in 78 games and 31.4 ppg in 79 games the year before. In Last season, Bryant averaged 35.0 ppg, 6.5 rbpg and 5.5 apg against the Cavs, while James averaged 28.0 ppg, 6.0 rbpg and 4.0 apg against the Lakers.
2. Tim Duncan versus Kevin Garnett
Duncan and Garnett are two of the top big men in the league. Though Duncan's virtually unguardable, few have done a better job at it than Garnett. What makes this match up even more interesting this season is that Garnett is finally playing for a team that can hold its salt against the Spurs. Garnett is averaging 20.8 ppg and 12.1 rbpg in 13 games this season, while Duncan's averaging 18.4 ppg and 9.0 rbpg in 16 games this season. Last season, Duncan averaged 20.0 ppg and 9.3 rbpg against Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Garnett averaged 23.0 ppg, 14.5 rbpg and 6.0 apg against the Spurs.
3. Steve Nash versus Jason Kidd
These two have been touted as the best point guards in the game. Both are getting up there in age (at least as far as basketball players go - Nash is 32, while Kidd is 33), but their games are still extremely effective. Nash is a two-time NBA MVP and averages 19.9 ppg and 10.7 apg in 15 games so far this season. He has led the league in assists, averaging more than 10 per game, in the last three seasons. Jason Kidd has always been thought of as a much better defender than Nash, but he might be declining a bit in that area. Still, he's averaging an impressive 11.5 ppg, 10.5 apg and 8.9 rbpg in 15 games so far this season. He averages 9.2 apg for his career, and has never had a season lower than his rookie season when he averaged 7.7 per game. Nash averaged 34.0 ppg and 13.0 apg against the Nets last season, while Kidd averaged 22.5 ppg, 11.0 rbpg and 9.5 apg against the Suns last season.
4. Yao Ming versus Dwight Howard
The NBA's future top big men make for a great one-on-one match up. Howard's the stronger of the two, but Yao has the height advantage standing at 7' 6". Yao averages 22.4 ppg, 10.3 rbpg and 2.1 bspg in 16 games this season, while Howard averages 23.5 ppg, 14.5 rbpg and 2.7 bspg in 17 games. Against the Magic, Yao averaged 37.0 ppg, 7.0 rbpg and 4.0 bspg, while Howard averaged 17.0 ppg, 14.0 rbpg and 2.5 bspg against the Rockets
5. Chris Paul versus Deron Williams
Though they haven't been in the league for very long, these two are deemed the point guards of the future for their respective franchises. Paul reminds many of an Isiah Thomas type of player. He's small, but quick and fearless. He knows how to score and is a great passer and defender. He currently averages 18.6 ppg, 10.4 apg and 3.0 spg in 14 games this season. Deron Williams was drafted one spot ahead of Paul in the 2005 NBA Draft, though Paul won Rookie of the Year that season. Williams is bigger than Paul and is a great floor general and tough as nails. He doesn't get the steals Paul gets, but both are extremely effective for their teams. Williams is currently averaging 18.0 ppg and 9.1 apg this season. Paul averaged 13.0 ppg and 12.0 apg last season against the Jazz, while Williams averaged 19.0 ppg and 9.0 apg against the Hornets.
