Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

[KG]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Since I don't really have anything else to add to the topic...

I kinda wish his number wasnt 35 though. Not an "attractive" number. Durant's a good 21, 23, 24, 30, 31, 33....but 35 is so random.

Eh, nitpicky on my part, whatever.

LOL. I kinda like it, it's unique. When I think of those #'s you mentioned I automatically think of someone else.

[DC]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

LOL @ 31 being an attrative number. I wonder why he says that........

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Because I like the number? 35 is just so....I dunno....non-basketball. Seems like a number Greg Ostertag should wear, or something.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

At first I didn't like(when he was at Texas)that number either but it has kinda grew on me. I still wish he had gone with another number though because 35 does seem kinda non-Basketball-esq lol.

[ehh]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

#35 is the worst basketball number outside of 43 IMO.

[Mo_Magic]

35 > 23

Hehe, xD

Some of you guys are outrageous.

It's as if the apparent holes in LeBron's game cannot be seen or talked about.

How much better would the Cav's and LeBron be if LeBron could combine his touch, strength and athleticism from around the basket via postgame rather than at it?

As it is, the kid's playing with fire, imo, but I can't see the future, so I'll digress.

Anyway, I just found it hilarious how a simple questioning of LeBron's biggest weaknesses(I never knocked his athleticism once) leads to me 'grasping at straws' because I actually recognize he isn't a skilled basketball player.

He's got inhuman athletic ability and some of the best vision ever and an amazing touch at the basket, but outside of that, what is there?

It doesn't take away from what he does on the court, it doesn't take away from his legacy in the future whatsoever.

All I did was make the claim that Durant has a nearly dominant advantage in his amazing height, handling ability for that height, and positional skills(2 guard esque) and is at an advanced skill level for a player his age. Way advanced.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

35 > 23

Hehe, xD

Some of you guys are outrageous.

It's as if the apparent holes in LeBron's game cannot be seen or talked about.

How much better would the Cav's and LeBron be if LeBron could combine his touch, strength and athleticism from around the basket via postgame rather than at it?

As it is, the kid's playing with fire, imo, but I can't see the future, so I'll digress.

Anyway, I just found it hilarious how a simple questioning of LeBron's biggest weaknesses(I never knocked his athleticism once) leads to me 'grasping at straws' because I actually recognize he isn't a skilled basketball player.

He's got inhuman athletic ability and some of the best vision ever and an amazing touch at the basket, but outside of that, what is there?

It doesn't take away from what he does on the court, it doesn't take away from his legacy in the future whatsoever.

All I did was make the claim that Durant has a nearly dominant advantage in his amazing height, handling ability for that height, and positional skills(2 guard esque) and is at an advanced skill level for a player his age. Way advanced.

Mo Magic it wasn't you that made up the "take away the athleticism" hypothetical, however I do believe you're grasping and reaching.

LBJ isn't a skilled basketball player though? Did you say that? He only has vision and touch around the basket? I would add that he has guard like handles and basketball instincts you can't teach.

LBJ has a limited postgame and needs to further work on his shot

KD needs to bulk up, continue to develop his handle and/or post up game and show excitement for playing defense

Are we all set now? LOL.

Nobody said don't list LBJ's weaknesses, I was saying nobody should hold his physical gifts against him.

Saying LBJ isn't a skilled ball player is pretty outrageous in itself.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

35 > 23

Hehe, xD

Some of you guys are outrageous.

It's as if the apparent holes in LeBron's game cannot be seen or talked about.

How much better would the Cav's and LeBron be if LeBron could combine his touch, strength and athleticism from around the basket via postgame rather than at it?

As it is, the kid's playing with fire, imo, but I can't see the future, so I'll digress.

Anyway, I just found it hilarious how a simple questioning of LeBron's biggest weaknesses(I never knocked his athleticism once) leads to me 'grasping at straws' because I actually recognize he isn't a skilled basketball player.

He's got inhuman athletic ability and some of the best vision ever and an amazing touch at the basket, but outside of that, what is there?

It doesn't take away from what he does on the court, it doesn't take away from his legacy in the future whatsoever.

All I did was make the claim that Durant has a nearly dominant advantage in his amazing height, handling ability for that height, and positional skills(2 guard esque) and is at an advanced skill level for a player his age. Way advanced.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

#35 is the worst basketball number outside of 43 IMO.

Didn't Rodman have #73 or something around that? Talk about an ugly number lol.

KD needs to bulk up

If by bulk up you mean like 5-10 lbs then yes, otherwise no he doesn't and it's already been explained numerous times on why he shouldn't.

He already has an above average Post Game and barring any type of injury, it's only going to get better.

show excitement for playing defense

Can't show excitement for something if it ain't being preached.

As for people grasping straws, that's been going on from both sides for a while but I figured since it's been going on for a while, people would pay it no mind.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Yeah he needs to bulk up so he can defend. He needs to bulk up so he can beast down the lane if need be. I don't expect him to get Maggette out there but come on he's rail thin still.

An above average post game? I dunno about that. Does he feel comfortable yet? He's so young I'm sure he'll be able to get it to be "above average" by this year or next.

I don't blame defense on coaching at all. You can be a good and willing defender all on your own. He's got the length to do it.

Those are all besides the main point I'm getting at: which is there's a line of thought that LBJ is not a skilled basketball player or that he isn't that skilled. I find that to be grasping to the fullest. I feel bad for Cavs' fans who watch LBJ in every game who have to read that line of bull.

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

I am shocked this thread has lasted 13 pages. Sad.

[JBH3]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Mo Magic it wasn't you that made up the "take away the athleticism" hypothetical, however I do believe you're grasping and reaching.

So Ex...I'm assuming you're refering to me since I stated in a previous post here that "Take away Lebron's power dunk game and what do you got?"

?

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Yeah he needs to bulk up so he can defend. He needs to bulk up so he can beast down the lane if need be. I don't expect him to get Maggette out there but come on he's rail thin still.

An above average post game? I dunno about that. Does he feel comfortable yet? He's so young I'm sure he'll be able to get it to be "above average" by this year or next.

I don't blame defense on coaching at all. You can be a good and willing defender all on your own. He's got the length to do it.

Those are all besides the main point I'm getting at: which is there's a line of thought that LBJ is not a skilled basketball player or that he isn't that skilled. I find that to be grasping to the fullest. I feel bad for Cavs' fans who watch LBJ in every game who have to read that line of bull.

If he bulks any more than what I mentioned, then that waves bye-bye to any explosiveness that he already has for a guy his size. Again, if it's 5-10 lbs then sure, but if you're talking about 20 lbs or more, then you're taking away one advantage he already has for a guy his size.

As for your main point, who said that he wasn't a skilled basketball player? Maybe I missed it but I don't remember anyone saying that...

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

You guys are crazy.

Person who brought up the hypothetical I quoted a few pages back.

Person who was questioning LBJ beyond his vision and touch around the basket was Mo Magic.

Both I feel are slighting LBJ

[KG]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

If he bulks any more than what I mentioned, then that waves bye-bye to any explosiveness that he already has for a guy his size. Again, if it's 5-10 lbs then sure, but if you're talking about 20 lbs or more, then you're taking away one advantage he already has for a guy his size.

As for your main point, who said that he wasn't a skilled basketball player? Maybe I missed it but I don't remember anyone saying that...

You can't put a specific range on how much he needs to gain. There's no way to gauge how his body will react with added muscle. We all agree he's still growing into his body and with 1st class personal trainers he could easily gain weight and still maintain or even increase his explosiveness.

I'm anxious to see what he improves upon this year. Last year it was rebounding & 3pt shooting.