The top seed (photo. Jeff Riedel)Beginning with 96 of the League’s best all-around ballplayers (and Eddy Curry), we’ve come down to the final four of this 1-on-1 tournament: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady. After mostly blowing through their division brackets in this fan-vote-driven tourney, the four arguably most talented players in the world — who, coincidentally, have just three championship rings between then, all belonging to KB24 — will decide the championship.
The rules: Straight 1-on-1, make it-take it, games to 11 (by ones and twos), all hypothetical. Vote in the comments section to determine who will advance to the ‘chip:
(1) Kobe Bryant vs. (4) Tracy McGrady
(2) LeBron James vs. (3) Kevin Garnett
Championship bracket voting:
Garnett 47, B. Roy 3
McGrady 40, Arenas 10
April 9th, 2008 at 9:40 am
hahns says:
mamba v king in the finals
April 9th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Sam I Am says:
Kobe VS Kevin G.
Let’s GO !!! Back spasms duo are going down
April 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Prof. TX says:
T-Mac
It’s close, but McGrady has a little size advantage to tip the scale. It’s close enough that it’s really about personal opinion and fan favoritism and not a clear-cut winner.
Garnett
James is great and all, but Garnett definitely has the size advantage and isn’t exactly slow. Really it’s about the fact that Garnett plays some fierce defense, and James plays almost no defense at all. If it were a dunk contest then LeBron wins, but I don’t see him suffocating a tenacious 6′11″ talent like KG.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:10 am
iain. says:
kobe & kg.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:11 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Kobe
LBJ
April 9th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Kyle says:
Kobe; KG
April 9th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Donnie says:
Kobe, KG
April 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am
JA says:
Koboots over Mac easy
KG over Lebron in a close one
April 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
godfreyallstar says:
lebron
kobe
April 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Abe504 says:
This is T-Macs game but gotta give it to Kobe cuz he’s the best.
KG would suffocate LBJ wit that d, KG all the way
April 9th, 2008 at 10:41 am
nick says:
kobe and kg
April 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
springz says:
Kobe vs Lebron
KG doesn’t have the handle to beat Lebron and you need handle to beat your man one on one.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:11 am
GEE...What up 901, Da N.H., The Burn, The Conglomerate and Ch's. 16 all day! says:
Dang this is hard but I got to rock with Kobe on this because he has a nastier mean streak, and if he fouls T-Mac hard enough game over. I think he could get in T’s head some too. It would come down to last shot though.
Being that we considering all players healthy. 1 on 1 I got to rock with LeBron he has enough size, and would have to play something that came close to looking like D to win. He would get it though with arsenal and unstoppable drive. Another close one.
Kobe
LeBron
April 9th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Mike C says:
Kobe vs. T-Mac:
Kobe. Only because Kobe outplayed T-Mac in almost every head-to-head match-ups they had to this point. Seriously, I really can’t remember the last time T-Mac outplayed Kobe individually in a game (maybe there was one when Tracy was in Orlando, I’m not too sure). In short, Kobe can check T-Mac but T-Mac can’t check Kobe.
LeBron vs. KG:
LeBron, just barely. Now, I’ve always believed that taller, bigger players with any semblance of a post-up game always has the upperhand in an 1-on-1 against a smaller, perimeter-oriented players. But in this case, Bron is only 2 inches shorter and is even stronger than KG. Although Bron might not be able to stop KG’s 12-foot fallaway (who can?), his strength will prevent KG from constantly getting easy buckets inside the paint. And there’s really nothing KG can do to keep getting stops against LeBron when he gets the ball.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Celts Fan says:
Kobe
KG
April 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Boyez says:
Kobe
The King
April 9th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Smitty313 says:
Kobe will let T-Mac get to point game then D his ass up and come back for the win. T-Mac will choke!
Lebron will destroy K.G. He’s too fast for K.G. to gaurd on the perimeter.
Kobe VS Lebron
April 9th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Juanito says:
Kobe
Garnett
April 9th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Marcus says:
Kobe
KG
April 9th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Mike says:
I think these match-ups both come down to who is more clutch (or better in pressure situations).
(1) Kobe Bryant vs. (4) Tracy McGrady - Kobe. Kobe is a proven big pressure performer. T-Mc (I’m going to start with Mc instead of Mac so that it is more accurate) has never made it out of the first round of the playoffs. It’s close, but Kobe is better under pressure.
(2) LeBron James vs. (3) Kevin Garnett - LeBron. Once again, a really close one. I give LBJ the nod because he takes over under pressure. KG, on the other hand, is well known to shy away from taking big shots in pressure situations.
Really you can argue either way for both match-ups. I like to think that there would be a decent amount of pressure on the players. With that in mind, I’m going to the better clutch performers, Kobe and Lebron.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Crabhands says:
TMac
KG
April 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Michael says:
Kobe. I don’t care if Kobe is only a little better than T-mac, t-mac turns into a bitch when he sees Kobe
Lerbron
April 9th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
What is this!? says:
You mean to tell me Brandon Roys ridiculous fans didn’t screw up this tournement and the right person actually won this time? This has been a disgrace…
April 9th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
the cool says:
kobe kg
April 9th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Ray says:
Kobe
KG
April 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
James says:
Lebron- 2 much size
Kobe- cant stop him- too much defense
April 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
cmos says:
kobe & king james
April 9th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
dewayne carter says:
kobe- easy win
lebron- close one. just too strong.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Aaron says:
Lebron and Kobe
April 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Kobeef says:
You have to put aside Lebron’s back pain for the sake of this argument. He wouldn’t have made it out of the second round with his back as effed up as it is now.
I think I said this about a month ago when this started.
Kobe & Lebron in the final.
Who wins between them? It is a coin-toss really. Lebron is probably the most well rounded player in the world but it is pretty hard to bet against Mamba’s scoring, handle and killer instinct.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Raynmann says:
Kobe
Lebron
April 9th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Billy Sunday says:
KB24 vs. LBJ
April 9th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
flyp says:
(1) Kobe Bryant
(2) LeBron James
April 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Andrew-PL says:
Kobe
KG
April 9th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Diddy says:
Kobe and KG in the finals!
April 9th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Bron42 aka global-4A-reason says:
people need to do your research…tmac has blasted kobe head to head numerous times pretty much starting the whole “dont let your star player guard the other star” trend after tmac put 40 on him and shaq. Tmac has the size, is just as athletic and a smooth handle. That being said I still give it to kobe but their not really that different.
KG would MURDER lebron one on one. Better shooter, better post player, Levels ahead of lebron defensivly. So unless lebron gets hot and starts jackin 3s like KG was a knicks player, KG takes this.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
drewstar says:
kobe & KG.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Claw says:
Kobe and King James
April 9th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
LD says:
kobe 11-7
lebron 11-10
April 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
snook says:
Kobe
Bron
April 9th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
yoda says:
kobe vs. t-mac= kobe. why? hes mamba
kg vs. king= kg. why? no fast breaks on 1-on-1, and kg would go under lbj’s shirt on perimeter, so he couldn’t dribble. with long arms and energy he brings, he could guard james. and even tho hes stronger then kg, i doubt lbj can easily post up big ticket.
April 9th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
2 Easy says:
(1) Kobe Bryant vs. (4) Tracy McGrady - I would love to say Tmac because he may get shook around Kobe but Ive still seen him go off but Im goin to have to say that the winner is Kobe
(2) LeBron James vs. (3) Kevin Garnett - To me this is a toss up due to Lebrons unbelievable strength. I usually give the advantage in one on one to a big that has some handles so Im not sure who to pick but IM goin to go wit KG because of his defense
April 9th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
sillee says:
Tracy
Lebron
April 9th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
bob says:
Kobe
KG
April 9th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
JSN says:
Bryant
King
And for the final… I’m taking kobe on “ocho” mode
April 9th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Mcw says:
Kobe - Kobe is just a better version of T-mac
KG - Midrange jumpers is his game, man (53% !!!) Plus his taller than Lebron and definitely. Since its a 1-on-1, there won’t be anyone else to pass to, so the Big Ticket can be as mean as he wants.
btw KG is one of the best at stopping penetration.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
ML says:
Kobe
KG
April 9th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Brown says:
Bryant
Garnett
April 9th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Aaron says:
Lebron, Kobe
April 9th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Brooke says:
KOBE
LEBRON
April 9th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
doc says:
Kobe and Lebron.Yeah KG nice and all that but I seen a couple games this year when if Lebron went hard KG got out the fuckin way.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:57 am
kowtz says:
KB
KG
April 10th, 2008 at 2:55 am
reidd says:
kobe in a close one
KG because hes so well rounded
April 10th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Sam says:
Kobe vs. Bron
April 10th, 2008 at 3:05 am
bbbb says:
kobe and lebron
April 10th, 2008 at 3:37 am
karan says:
kobe
KG
April 10th, 2008 at 4:02 am
smmittos says:
kobe over tmac
KG over lebron
April 10th, 2008 at 4:39 am
marcus says:
KOBE, KG
April 10th, 2008 at 5:35 am
SparkyJ23 says:
Kobe
The Big Ticket
April 10th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Nimit says:
Kobe Vs Garnett
April 10th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Smush Parker says:
T-Mac
KG
April 10th, 2008 at 6:25 am
seth says:
mamba
king james
April 10th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Tee says:
KB
KG
April 10th, 2008 at 7:17 am
KingTJ says:
Kobe can’t be stopped. 11:3
The King is faster, meaner, stronger than KG. 11:6
April 10th, 2008 at 7:31 am
TJ says:
Kobe - Athletic, skilled, and he even plays good on-the-ball D
Lebron - KG is great, but isn’t as good one-on-one. He plays better within a team game.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Sagar says:
Mac
King
April 10th, 2008 at 10:02 am
IGP says:
Kobe beats TMac easily…and KG vs. LBJ is close but I have to go Bron on this one. I think Kobe ends up winning the whole thing anyway
April 10th, 2008 at 10:11 am
SWAT says:
TMAC
KG
April 10th, 2008 at 10:20 am
the kid says:
kobe
lebron
i pick lebron over kg because I think lebron is a lot better than KG at one on one iso situations(in full court games). I think KG has a harder time taking that last shot at the end of a game because his game isn’t as creative as some other superstars who can create their own shot at the end of the game. also lebron is just a beast.
lebron 6′9” 260ish
KG 6′11”220ish
April 10th, 2008 at 11:06 am
rodnets says:
(1) Kobe Bryant
(3) Kevin Garnett
April 10th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Kudabeen says:
Kobe vs. LeBron
Bron just as strong if not stronger than KG. Kobe just has more will and endurance than Tracy, but it is one on one, so both would be close. Best out of seven, I think they both would go to the 6/7 games…
I’m personally tired of this KG doesn’t want to take the last shot crap. Is there a stat to prove this out, because I remember him winning games down the stretch for some of those weak Wolves teams and even this year in boston. He makes game winning plays on both ends of the floor and that’s why he is respected by the PLAYERS for so than the fans/writers/casual observers of the league. He is an “All Guts Baller” period. Get off that weak argument… Last second shots are not a measure of winning basketball plays…
April 10th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
DH says:
T-Mac vs. Lebron
April 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Boyez says:
kobe
the big ticket
April 10th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
THE BACH says:
KOBE beats TMAc
Lebron beats KG
Kobe beats Lebron!
April 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Smooth says:
(1) Kobe Bryant
(3) Kevin Garnett
April 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Easy W says:
Kobe
KG
April 10th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
MrICE says:
EASY KB vs Bron. Did yall watch the playoffs last year?
April 10th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Andy says:
Kobe
KG
April 10th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
daquest?on says:
kobe and lebron james
April 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
BRoy and
LeBron.
I mean T-Mac and LeBron, my bad. . .
April 13th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Inquistion says:
You gotta go with the D in this one since the sizes and speeds are close, that means:
KB
sees KG
in a preview of the finals (hopefully)