Kobe Bryant scores 48 points against Seattle, and we marvel at how the Lakers star has no offensive equal.

Then LeBron James waits less than 24 hours to challenge our assumptions.

Do you really think it's a coincidence that the Cleveland star threw down 51 points after Bryant's performance last week? We don't. Elite players take notice of these things and feel compelled to offer their rebuttal.

Larry Bird spoke of how he got up every morning and rushed to the box score in the paper to see what Earvin "Magic" Johnson had done. Yes, we know that's hopelessly old school. But they didn't have the Internet or satellite packages in those days, so bear with us.

Bryant can score in more ways and from more areas of the court. But James is a better passer. The guy torches the Memphis defense for 51 points, and what does Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni say: "I think he's got more passing ability than Magic because he can put it on a dime and with zip."

James had nine assists in that game.

James was the youngest player to 1,000 and 9,000 points.

Bryant was the youngest to 10,000 and 20,000 points.

But we're not here to argue who's the better player. We'll save that for another day. Let's just enjoy how these two go at it – even at a distance.

Kobe Bryant leads active players with the most games of 40 or more points and 50 or more points. The leaders:

The Mavericks entered Monday night's game against Sacramento as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Two-and-a-half hours later, the Mavericks were the No. 5 seed.

It doesn't take much to shake up the standings these days. When nine teams entered the weekend clumped within 5 ½ games of each other, you can understand why.

The Mavericks, LA Lakers and Phoenix alternated as the top seed this past week. Defending champion San Antonio wasn't among the top five seeds entering the weekend.

It's not unusual to see a pack this large in the middle, but it's rare at the top of the standings this late in the season. By the end of next week, almost every team in the conference will have completed half of its schedule.

Teams should begin to separate themselves around next month's All-Star break. But if the first two and a half months of this season are any indication, the race for home-court advantage in the West could go down to the final days of the regular season.

• I doubt that Stephon Marbury will play for the New York Knicks again. The question is, what other team would be foolish enough to take a chance on him?

• I doubt San Antonio will win many games with the Big Three scoring 74 of its 88 points, as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili did in a loss to Cleveland.

• I doubt Lakers fans will continue to boo Kwame Brown every time he touches the ball, as they did in the second half of Thursday's loss to Phoenix. But I doubt he will win them over, either.

• I doubt that attorneys for owner Clay Bennett, who argue there will be no net economic loss if the Supersonics leave Seattle, will make the same argument when the team lands in Oklahoma City.

• I doubt it will make a difference in who starts, but today is the final chance to vote for your All-Star team. Vote late and vote often.

"We're a championship-caliber team when he's in the lineup."

Lakers star Kobe Bryant on Andrew Bynum, who's expected to miss two months with a knee injury.

You have one player yelling at an assistant coach, another putting the pedal to the metal and a third who urinates in public. In other words, it's just another week in the NBA.

Chicago rookie rips into assistant Ron Adams so savagely that teammates vote to extend his suspension. Seems Noah didn't care to be reminded of all the assignments he had missed.

We know he can put up big numbers, but 101? That's what police clocked him driving. James noted the speedometer goes to 200, so really, he wasn't going all that fast. The Court thinks he can afford the $150 fine.

Team blows off practice in New Orleans to hand out food and water to people living in a tent city at the corner of Canal and Claiborne. Seattle may not win a lot of games, but it won a lot of fans with this compassionate move.

The Logo got to know Baron Davis over the summer and told the Golden State guard not to whine about an extension. His suggestion: Shut up and play. Davis followed the advice and is having his best season.

A random drug test may have saved the forward's life. Something was strange about the blood work, and doctors discovered a testicular tumor. Nene and the Nuggets should find out next week if the tumor was benign.

The Bulls' second-round pick is sent down to the D-League, relieves himself in public, runs from police and gets caught when the door to the hotel is locked. That's why you should always have your room key ready.