The LeBron James Thread

[Noles4ever]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

top 20, to young and has to much of his career ahead of him to put him higher then guys that have put together careers that are great. I'm sure when he retires he'll be in the top 5.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

When he retires we can rank him all-time.

[brahmagoul]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

I agree with this all the way..You name me one team in the past 20 years thats won a title with just one star and a bunch of role players because thats all LBJ had on that Cleveland team. I dont think anyone wants to debate that just look at the Cavs now.Lebron went about his whole FA process the wrong way with "the decision" but i dont blame him one bit for joinin up with D Wade and Bosh in Miami.

The Cleveland team that took the court for most of this season had hardly anyone left over from last season's team. You had what, Boobie Gibson and Anthony Parker, plus Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao in street clothes. The team would have looked completely different had LeBron stayed.

Also, it's not like James didn't sign off on all the moves they made. He was excited about Shaq, Jamison (especially because that brought back Z), etc.

Cleveland did whatever it could and it had the best record the last two seasons. Miami beat Boston because the Celtics were too beat up. Had James stayed the course in Cleveland, they probably would have beat Boston just the same.

LeBron still ranks top 10 in my eyes, but it's because of things he was able to do his first seven years -- which will outrank anything he does with Miami. Even a championship.

[brahmagoul]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

"The Apology" really meant nothing. He didn't apologize for leaving, but instead apologized to the fans for how it happened. So, you could take it as apologizing for going through the "The Decision" on TV or apologizing that the Cavaliers didn't put a good enough team around him. The second part is bogus to me because he was all for every move they made, and they had the best record for two years straight.

LeBron has been a conflicted individual for the last 12 months. He can go two ways on the whole "villain" role, and I bet he could go back and forth on "The Decision." He could feel bad and regret it, then say it raised money for a good cause.

He has an uncanny blend of maturity and immaturity.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

Can't agree with ya about those 2. Wade was a 1 man wrecking crew (with some assistance from the zebras) that year against Dallas. Shaq was a shell of himself by then. Hell, I'd say Shaq was better in Phoenix than he was that year in Miami.

That Piston's team was faaaaar from "bad a$$". Not 1 single guy from that team would fit the description of superstar. They had about 6 pretty good players that year, but no great players.

Shaq averaged like 20 a game that year with the Heat. However, Duncan won twice before Ginobli and Parker were good, the Pistons won with arguably no stars (depending on your definition of star), and maybe the Houston Rockets when it was Hakeem and they did NOT have Clyde Drexler? The year they won without Clyde, the 2nd best player averaged like 13 points a game.

[Rocky]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

As far as SF's go:

1. Bird
2. Dr. J
3. Hondo
4. LBJ/Gervin

He still has alot of career left though and I can see him challenging Dr. J for a #2 spot depending on his performance in the playoffs.

[cdfeezy]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

IMO If most of the past greats played today, they would not be nearly as good as it seems they were. There is a whole lot more competition these days and, physically speaking, a lot more talent.

Just a little something to ponder over.

[Scott812313]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

Not sure I agree with the bolded part. He was definitely on the decline in Miami, but he was a broke-down-on-the-side-of-the-road in PHO.





In your opinion, does Kobe get a slight knock because he had the best big in the league (Shaq) and arguably the best big in the league (Gasol) on both championship squads? He hasn't been able to "win one on his own" either.

BTW, most of the champs over the past 30 years have had at least 2 great players.

I understand that argument for sure. There are a couple of differences to me though. 1st, Kobe won his 5 in the place he began his career. Don't give me the "he was drafted by Charlotte thing" either, he was traded on draft night. I'll give Shaq the lions share of the credit for his 1st 2 rings, though he wouldn't have won them without Kobe. The 3rd ring Kobe was undeniably the best player on the team at that point. If you go back and look at the numbers from those playoffs the 1st 2 years and the 2nd year especially, Kobe more than carried his own weight. As for Gasol, he's a great player but let's not try to put him in the class of D Wade or Pippen as other stars on the teams. We all saw how pathetic Pau was this playoffs. I really believe he brought the whole team down against NO and Dallas.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

IMO If most of the past greats played today, they would not be nearly as good as it seems they were. There is a whole lot more competition these days and, physically speaking, a lot more talent.

Just a little something to ponder over.

With all due respect, its an irrelevant point. We can never change when they played.

[PrettyT11]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

The 3rd ring Kobe was undeniably the best player on the team at that point. If you go back and look at the numbers from those playoffs the 1st 2 years and the 2nd year especially, Kobe more than carried his own weight.

Absolutely not. Shaq was still without question the best player on that team. He was still the most dominate force in the game and put up 27 and 11. That went up in the playoffs to 29 and 13. The he completely dominated the finals for the third straight year putting up 36,12,4 and 3. There is no way on earth Kobe was the best player on that team or had the impact Shaq did.

[23]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

Absolutely not. Shaq was still without question the best player on that team. He was still the most dominate force in the game and put up 27 and 11. That went up in the playoffs to 29 and 13. The he completely dominated the finals for the third straight year putting up 36,12,4 and 3. There is no way on earth Kobe was the best player on that team or had the impact Shaq did.

Thank You sir!

[stizz]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

IMO If most of the past greats played today, they would not be nearly as good as it seems they were. There is a whole lot more competition these days and, physically speaking, a lot more talent.

Just a little something to ponder over.

You could also make the argument that if they did play during this era, they'd be physically equal as well making them more superior, couldn't you?

[brahmagoul]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

IMO If most of the past greats played today, they would not be nearly as good as it seems they were. There is a whole lot more competition these days and, physically speaking, a lot more talent.

Just a little something to ponder over.

I disagree on there being more competition solely because the NBA seems to be at a crossroads/transition phase. The Lakers and Celtics showed their age, Orlando showed its not what it was/could be, and the Heat took away competition in the notion that three playoff contenders (Cleveland and Toronto) were contracted to one (Miami).

[Pitfighter87]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

Can't agree with ya about those 2. Wade was a 1 man wrecking crew (with some assistance from the zebras) that year against Dallas. Shaq was a shell of himself by then. Hell, I'd say Shaq was better in Phoenix than he was that year in Miami.

That Piston's team was faaaaar from "bad a$$". Not 1 single guy from that team would fit the description of superstar. They had about 6 pretty good players that year, but no great players.

Wade was nice but Shaq was still puttin up 20/10.He wasnt the LA Shaq but Shaq even now is a force when he's on the court.Im sure Boston would of liked to had him for the playoffs.You just cant teach that type of size.

Your right about that pistons team they didnt have a superstar but they did have mr big shot Chauncey Billups who many believe to be a HOF one day.I know its debateable but he was big in the playoffs that year he took home the Finals MVP and then a few years later help Denver reach the WCF.That team also had Big Ben Wallace who i think had just won his second straight DPOY award.The man was a beast in the paint.Then there was tashaun prince who was and excellent defender and pretty good slasher along with Rip Hamilton and his super wet mid range game.And of course sheed with that 3 point shot and a great trash talkin.That team made it to the finals two years straight.They didnt have the big name but i dont think lebron had one person on his team last year equal to any of those guys back then.

[Pitfighter87]

Re: Where does LeBron rank all-time?

The Cleveland team that took the court for most of this season had hardly anyone left over from last season's team. You had what, Boobie Gibson and Anthony Parker, plus Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao in street clothes. The team would have looked completely different had LeBron stayed.

Also, it's not like James didn't sign off on all the moves they made. He was excited about Shaq, Jamison (especially because that brought back Z), etc.

Cleveland did whatever it could and it had the best record the last two seasons. Miami beat Boston because the Celtics were too beat up. Had James stayed the course in Cleveland, they probably would have beat Boston just the same.

LeBron still ranks top 10 in my eyes, but it's because of things he was able to do his first seven years -- which will outrank anything he does with Miami. Even a championship.

Yeah but Shaq wasnt Shaq of old and Antwan didnt help LBJ that much.LBJ never had a Pippen in Cleveland.I mean antwan is nice but he's not that second go to option that most Championship teams have.What should of happened is they should of traded JJ hickson for Amare and maybe they would of made it farther and might could of got both guys to stay.Prob not but Cleveland needed to make another star move to help LBJ out at the time.