MIAMI -- Kobe Bryant is 33 years old, has spent nearly half his life in the NBA, is dealing with a significant wrist injury and has taken about 3,000 more shots in his career than any other active player. Given all that, some may think hes a candidate to start slowing down. LeBron James is not among those who would even consider that possible. The NBAs top two scorers this season -- Bryant at 30.8 points per game, James at 29.8 -- go head-to-head Thursday night, when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Miami Heat. Even with subplots including James facing his former Cleveland coach in the Lakers Mike Brown, the possibility Dwyane Wade may sit out again with a sprained right ankle and hints Miami centre Eddy Curry may make his Heat debut, all eyes will be on one thing. Kobe versus LeBron. "We know how great of a player, how competitive he is," James said. "And hes not going to sell himself short, either. ... Hes a scorer. Hes a flat-out scorer." Bryant is coming off a stretch where he scored at least 40 points in four straight games, a streak snapped in a 73-70 win over Dallas on Monday night. Bryant entered Wednesday ranking seventh in the NBA in minutes per game (37.7), a stat made even more impressive when considering only one of the six players ahead of him on that list is older than 27. "I do want to get it down," Brown said. "Hes played a ton of minutes too early right now." Hey, if Brown wants to start that policy Thursday, it doesnt sound like the Heat would complain. "He looks healthier and quicker than he did last year," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think everybody knew he wasnt 100 per cent last year. "He was just grinding through it and the lockout was probably beneficial for him, the extra time but also he was able to get stronger. He looks very lean. He looks in great shape." The Lakers have played 10 of their first 15 games at home (or 11, technically, since one of their five "road" games was at the Los Angeles Clippers). This trip is a quick but lengthy one, with the Lakers flying cross-country Wednesday, visiting Miami on Thursday, Orlando on Friday and then heading back home in time for a matchup Sunday against Indiana. Its the first Eastern Conference trip of the year for the Lakers. "Just get ready. Just get ready," Bryant said, when asked what the Lakers needed to do to prep for Miami and Orlando. "Its our first really long road trip in terms of distance and travel and with a new coaching staff, kind of getting used to the travel schedule and how they do things. Looking forward to it." Some would say scoring-wise, Bryant looks as good as ever. Sure, its early, but Bryant is on pace to average 30 points for the first time in five seasons. And hes putting up those numbers even though a ligament issue in his right wrist -- his shooting side -- is hampering him at times on long jumpers, noted by his career-low 24 per cent success rate from three-point range so far this year. Hes more than compensating in other areas of his game. "Not a surprise," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "Thats what hes done his entire career. "You know when youre getting ready to lace em up against Kobe Bryant, you load up for bear. Its going to be a work-filled day." For James, some of that work will come on the defensive end. With it sounding like a strong possibility Wade will not play -- Spoelstra said his status Wednesday remains day-to-day -- the Heat will still run a steady stream of defenders at Bryant, with candidates including Battier, James Jones, Mike Miller and James. "Hell have to take that challenge at some point," Spoelstra said. "Whether he does it at the beginning of the game, Im not sure. ... He cant afford to get tired right now. He just simply cant." Head-to-head, James and Bryant have remarkably similar numbers. Over the last 11 meetings between their teams, James is averaging 27.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7 assists, while Bryant is putting up 28.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists. There is one significant difference in that span: James teams have gone 9-2 against the Lakers. "Its not about LeBron and Kobe," James said. "Its the Lakers versus Heat thing. ... We just try to do whats best for our team and help our teams win." jerseys from china .A. Happ capped a challenging season with one of his best efforts of the year. nfl jerseys china . The last two games, however, the Padres have been resolute. Chris Denorfia hit a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning and San Diegos bullpen was stingy with runners on base, leading the Padres to a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night. http://www.cheapchinajerseynfl.us.co... . Clevelands all-star point guard hit a three with 0.9 seconds left as part of a 32-point performance, and the Cavaliers edged the Raptors 99-98 on Saturday. "Kyrie threw up a bomb, he made a hell of a shot," Torontos Amir Johnson said. [url=http://www.cheapchinajerseynfl.us.com/]cheap jerseys . Vickerson was injured in the Broncos loss at New England Sunday night. Hes the second Denver defensive starter to get hurt this month, joining safety Rahim Moore (leg), who was put on recallable IR. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- Adam Cracknell scored a tiebreaking goal with 2:20 to play and Chris Stewart had a goal and two assists as the St.TORONTO – Sour tones emanated as deeply from the Maple Leafs dressing room as they have all year after yet another flattening loss, one that dug the pit of current despair ever deeper. Toronto was trounced at home on Tuesday night by a young and plucky Florida Panthers squad. It was the 11th loss in the past 15 games, a stretch that includes exactly one regulation win. "We simply got embarrassed," said Mason Raymond, outwardly peeved with the performance in a 3-1 loss at the ACC. "Its pretty simple. I dont think guys can be happy with that at all. We got embarrassed at home." Utterly flat for the opening 40 minutes, the Leafs, playing their fifth game in seven nights, were outworked and overmatched in nearly all regards by an enthusiastic Panthers bunch. Florida scored the opener before four minutes had elapsed on the clock – a Nazem Kadri offensive zone giveaway springing a Tomas Fleischmann breakaway – adding a pair in the middle frame. Though they were surely fatigued, the Leafs lacked little of the gusto or gumption required to turn the corner of a lingering skid. Lost defensive zone battles often appeared a matter of will. Tuesday suitably marked the 12th time in 13 games that they allowed three goals or more, a product of ongoing inadequate team defence (more in Five Points). "They won more puck battles than we did," said Randy Carlyle of the Panthers. "All the 50-50 pucks that were available to us, I would say that they won the majority of them, specifically in the first two periods." Offensively, they were too often a one-and-done attack for the coachs liking, opting for the extra pass or play in the name of simplicity. There was little of the sustained offensive zone time that manifested itself in a stunning weekend win against the defending Stanley Cup champs. "We were guilty of trying to be too cute," said Carlyle. "Too many curls and drags versus putting our head down and driving the puck towards the net and maybe scoring an ugly goal. I classified our game as we tried to play shinny against an NHL hockey club tonight." The Leafs have endured their fair share of misery since the outset of November. Nothing summed up the despair quite like losing twice in a matter of weeks to the lowly Sabres and Blue Jackets. But for maybe the first time on Tuesday, there was a real sense among those players assembled that the struggles had reached a low point. "I dont think were going to make excuses," said Dion Phaneuf, admittedly off-kilter in his performance against Florida. "We know that weve got to play better and were the guys that are going to get us out of this. Its about what were going to do in this room to find a way to get out of this funk that were in." The Panthers may have won five of six entering the evening, but they sat as the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference. And yet they managed to "embarrass" the Leafs on home ice. "We either have half a team or a full team that dont show up at parts and then things go wrong," said James Reimer, who yielded three goals on 23 shots. "We need to find a way to come and bring it every night or for 60 minutes a night and then do that consecutively." "The coaching staff is frustrated. The players are frustrated. Im sure management is frustrated. Im sure our fans are frustrated," said Carlyle. "Is it a crisis? Its a crisis that we havent won enough games. Thats the way I would deem it." Five Points 1. An Excuse or Reality? The Leafs were playing their fifth game in seven nights and certainly appeared low on gas early (though they managed to muster something late). The mere mention of the schedule, however, caused most to recoil. "Theres never an excuse," said Reimer. "Theres never an excuse. Injuries, tired – its all BS. Those are excuses and theyre useless. What it comes down to is your will, your heart, your character." Additionally, Reimer said, injuries would not be blamed for the ongoing struggle. "We should be able to win with half of our guys out," he said. "You just find ways. You trust each other. You believe in each other and you play with that confidence. Thats the case here. I have full and absolute faith in my teammates, the coaches and everyone. Weve done it before, weve done it last year and weve done it this year. Its just a matter of putting it together and I have no doubts we can do it." 2. No Defence No longer saved nightly by the heroic efforts of their two goaltenders – as they were in October – the Leafs havve been a wreck defensively since the outset of November.dddddddddddd. During a stretch of 22 games, beginning on Nov. 2, theyve allowed 71 goals or an average of 3.23 per game. Theyve allowed three or more in 16 of those 22 games, losing 14 times. Among those who struggled in that regard against the Panthers was Phaneuf. There was the inability to track down Fleischmann on the opening goal and the giveaway to Brad Boyes on the third Florida marker. "Ive got better," he said. "I made some mistakes tonight that are unacceptable." 3. Gardiner Benched A strong message was sent to Jake Gardiner on Tuesday night. Gardiner was benched for the final eight-plus minutes of the second and opening 10 minutes of the third. The 23-year-old gave the puck away to Sean Bergenheim in the defensive zone, an error that preceded the Panthers second goal. "Its pretty hard to defend," said Carlyle of the error. "Youve got to expect to have a higher level of execution than that in that situation. I thought that in the game he struggled with the puck." Carlyle felt that Gardiner was often careless with the puck, throwing it away in too many situations. "Right now those are compiling to us receiving the game too often," he said. "(But) I wouldnt say hes the only guy that made them." Gardiner was coming off a similarly difficult finish in a loss to Pittsburgh on Monday evening. He made two errors that preceded Sidney Crosbys eventual game-winner; there was the icing that pinned the Leafs in the defensive zone and the failed clearing attempt following a faceoff win by Jay McClement. Gardiner played just 16 minutes. 4. Starting Slowly There was the feeble first period effort in St. Louis, the wobbly opening in Pittsburgh and another stunted opening 20 (and 40) against Florida. Kadris offensive zone giveaway with less than four minutes gone sprung the Fleischmann breakaway and the games opening goal. It was the 17th time in 36 games that an opponent had scored first on the Leafs and the 12th loss in such situations (4-11-1). "Our starts need to be better," said Raymond, who scored the Leafs lone goal. "Thats a big part of it. I think stats show when you score the first goal odds are in your favour to win the game." The Leafs are 13-5-2 when scoring first this season. 5. Searching for Balance Raymond entered the night as the Leafs third-leading scorer and yet began Tuesdays game alongside Troy Bodie and Trevor Smith. He was replaced on the second unit by David Clarkson, who returned from a two-game suspension. It was an odd move, one likely aimed at sparking Clarkson while balancing out the offence. "Thats a tricky thing," said Carlyle. "We tried to spread a little more offence with moving Raymond down. It probably wasnt fair to him…but I thought that would be an opportunity for them to play against lesser players with some speed out there. But that didnt work for us." By the third frame, Raymond was reunited with Peter Holland and Joffrey Lupul, scoring the Leafs lone goal on a redirection. Already down Dave Bolland and Tyler Bozak at centre ice, the Leafs would lose Smith to a broken hand in the third frame of the loss. He blocked a Scotty Upshall shot and did not return. The organization has already tested its ranks at centre with the Smith recall and Holland trade, also trying its hand for a lengthy stretch with long-time NHLer Jerred Smithson. Its more adversity to a group that already has its fair share of it. Stats-Pack 16 – Number of times in the past 22 games that the Leafs have allowed three goals or more. 3.23 – Goals against per game since the start of November. 15:27 – Ice-time for David Clarkson in his return from a two-game suspension. 11 – Losses for the Leafs in the past 15 games. 1 – Regulation victory in those 15 games, a 7-3 bashing of the Blackhawks on Saturday. 16:03 – Ice-time for Jake Gardiner against Florida, his lowest since mid-November. 11 – Goals for Mason Raymond this season, surpassing the 10 he had in 46 games a year ago. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-2Season: 23.7% (4th) PK: 2-2Season: 77.3% (27th) Quote of the Night "We simply got embarrassed. Its pretty simple. I dont think guys can be happy with that at all. We got embarrassed at home. I think we got beat out all over the ice in almost all situations. Its something we need to improve." -Mason Raymond, following the loss to Florida. Up Next The Leafs host the Coyotes at the ACC on Thursday night. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '