Some interesting stats provided by the Elias Sports Bureau:
The Lakers defeated the Cavaliers on Sunday, snapping the Cavs' season-long 23-game winning streak at home. The game featured a matchup of Kobe Bryant, who scored 61 points against the Knicks last Monday, and LeBron James, who dropped 52 on the Knicks on Wednesday. It was the first NBA game in 46 years matching players who had both scored at least 50 points in a game over the previous six days. The last such matchup was between Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors) and Elgin Baylor (Lakers) on December 14, 1962 at the Cow Palace.
The Chamberlain-Baylor matchup produced fireworks, with Wilt outscoring Elgin, 63-51, although the Lakers prevailed, 120-118. But in Sunday's Kobe-LeBron duel, Bryant scored 19 points and James only 16. It was the first time in more than two years-since January 5, 2007-that both Kobe and LeBron played on the same day and neither scored 20 points.
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However, lest we not accentuate the positive – let’s post some of LeBron an in-depth look at King James’s stats from last month, including a lofty comparison to Larry Legend and the Admiral:
In 14 games during January, James averaged 27.5 points on .456 shooting, 9.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game. James has now won the award for the ninth time in his career: for the second time this season (November); two times during 2007-08, once in 2006-07, twice in 2005-06 and twice during the 2004-05 campaign.
During January, James ranked first in triple-doubles (3), second in points per game (27.5), assists (8.1), and steals (2.1) tied for fourth in rebounds (9.6) and double-doubles (8), and ranked 10th in blocks (1.5) among Eastern Conference players. The last player to have at least James' averages in a month, for points, rebounds and assists was Larry Bird in March 1987. He scored 20 or more points in 13 games and 30 or more points six times. James led the team to a 10-4 record during the month, helping Cleveland to 10 or more wins in three consecutive months for the second time in franchise history (Dec.-Feb. 1988-89). James also won Eastern Conference Player of the Week once during the month (for the week ending January 25th).
At Quicken Loans Arena, James posted 38 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three blocks and four steals versus Boston on Jan. 9. The last player to reach those numbers in a game was David Robinson on March 19, 1994.
James recorded three triple-doubles during the month (Jan.2nd vs. Chicago, Jan. 13th at Memphis, and Jan. 27th vs. Sacramento). In the first game of the month, James achieved his first triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, three blocks and two steals. At Memphis, he finished with 30 points, 10 assists, 11 rebounds and three steals. Against Sacramento, for his third triple-double of the month, James scored 23 points to go along with 15 rebounds, 11 assists and three blocks becoming the first player to record at least those numbers since Larry Bird on April 1, 1987.
Against Portland, James recorded the sixth of his eight double-doubles during the month with 34 points and dished out a season-high 14 assists on Jan. 21. In a 106-105 victory at Golden State, James made the game-winning shot as time expired and finished with 32 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The following night at Utah, he tallied his seventh double-double of the month with 33 points and 14 rebounds to go along with nine assists. In a win over the Los Angeles Clippers, James recorded 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists to help push the Cavaliers record versus the West to 16-2; an Eastern Conference best.
