The battle of two Legends: Lakers vs Cavs 1/15/15

On this day, NBA fans had the joy and pleasure to experience two of the greatest NBA players of all-time go mono y mono as the Los Angeles Lakers (12-28) challenged the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers (20-20) in Staples Center. Unfortunately the Lakers would fall short, 109-102, as Lebron ultimately closed out the game and secured the win.


Unlike other games this particular night had a special flare that captivated Staples Center and those watching around the nation. Kobe and Lebron playfully exchanged some funny and light-hearted banter, and without a doubt moments like those made you wish that ESPN courtside correspondent Rachel Nichols would stick a microphone in between the two future hall of famers. But that's not all, as the game had moments that showcased just why Kobe and Lebron make such captivating television.

I had chills bolting down my spine as fans and players alike anticipated Kobe's last substitution for the game, with a little over 5 minutes remaining. Everybody knew that these last 5 minutes define why we as fans love seeing the greatest players play.

But besides the match-up between the two legends, both the Lakers, and especially the Cavaliers, have a lot of issues they must address.

The Lakers guard play is just too inconsistent, as Lin, Price, and Young barely make an impact during the game. Jordan Hill continues to establish himself as the second most consistent player on the team. Finally the rest of the Lakers must realize that they must play cohesive defens

On the other hand, the Cavaliers still appear to struggle as their players appear to suffer from chemistry issues. Kevin Love simply looks out of place and lost on the court, especially when Lebron and Kyrie Irving are playing. J.R. Smith is a gambler's dream, but he'll either pay-out extremely well or make you regret ever doubling down. And finally the Cavaliers defense is atrociously bad.


Overall this game met expectations, with Kobe and Lebron both having tremendous games. Byrant finished with a career high in assists, with 17, in addition he added 19 points, and 6 rebounds while Lebron finished the game with a solid 36 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. The Lakers will have another chance to play against Cleveland on February 8th, which is a Sunday. Let's just hope that these two teams can replicate the same magic that they shared tonight.

I'll end this off with some highlights from the game, enjoy!

Lebron with the dagger in the final seconds.

First half highlights of the game.

Lebron's awesome no-look pass.