The LeBron James Thread

[jeebs9]

You don't think Vince Carter lived off his athletic ability?

Regardless, LeBron can rack up triple doubles pretty much with ease, and at the same time, he can blow up for 40 points on any given night as well. Shoots the ball over 50% from the floor, and is a great passer and rebounder. A guy as physically gifted as he is coupled with his talent and durability comes around once in a lifetime. He can defend four positions, assist teammates like Rondo, or score among the best in the league, and rebound the ball as well as anyone besides the guys like Dwight Howard and all them too.

LeBron has used his athleticism to develop basketball skills that suit him and he's pretty much without a doubt the best player in the league right now. As much as I hate him, I think it's pretty difficult to argue that he isn't one of the greatest talents of all-time.

I wish I could quote all of the guys who it just hit that lebron is one of great talents of all time. Lol but this was one the better post lol

[Court_vision]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

he sure gave the Pistons migraines that next year though...

21 8 and 5 throughout the playoffs i believe

Yep. Pippen was a top 5 player in the NBA for several years. Jordan was a clear number one...but having a top 5 player next to you obviously helps.

Pippen was a great player in his own right. They were the best combo in NBA history IMO.

[Subversion]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nb...ory?id=6599168

"Scottie Pippen claims Lebron is the greatest to play the game"

Next week's headline:

"Michael Jordan announces 4th comeback to the NBA"

"The chicago bulls need a sound player in the shooting guard position and I believe I have the credentials to fill that role"

Fans react:

[Sportsforever]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Okay, did anyone else hear Stephen A. Smith's reaction to Pip's comments? Hilarity...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhS8vPVQ76w

[brahmagoul]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Although the comparison of Jordan having Pippen to James and Wade is logical, I don't think it's correct. Pippen was a top 10 player, but I'm not sure if he was consistently a top five player in the league. He was an MVP type in 94, but melted down in 95 before Jordan returned.

Wade and James are both top three talents in the league. Almost every night, they have the two best players on the court -- and most nights it's not even close. That wasn't the case with the Bulls as much as it is with the Heat.

As for LeBron being the best. I'm not going to stop at being one of the best talents in league history. I think he is THE BEST TALENT in league history, but he doesn't have the drive Jordan did. His move to Miami proves that alone, and because of that I'll have a hard time moving him ahead of Jordan.

He could probably move alongside Magic on the pedestal, but no further.

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Although the comparison of Jordan having Pippen to James and Wade is logical, I don't think it's correct. Pippen was a top 10 player, but I'm not sure if he was consistently a top five player in the league. He was an MVP type in 94, but melted down in 95 before Jordan returned.

Wade and James are both top three talents in the league. Almost every night, they have the two best players on the court -- and most nights it's not even close. That wasn't the case with the Bulls as much as it is with the Heat.

As for LeBron being the best. I'm not going to stop at being one of the best talents in league history. I think he is THE BEST TALENT in league history, but he doesn't have the drive Jordan did. His move to Miami proves that alone, and because of that I'll have a hard time moving him ahead of Jordan.

He could probably move alongside Magic on the pedestal, but no further.

His move to Mia doesn't prove anything about his drive. Not to say that I do think he's as motivated as Jordan, just that changing teams proves nothing.

[snowfish]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

i'd say that his move to miami further cements the fact that he has just as much if not more drive than jordan. he wants to win SO bad, he is willing to pull back his ego and team up with another alpha star. he gave it his best shot in cleveland and it didn't work. whether it was because he wasn't a great enough talent or the talent around him was not great enough is a moot point. he saw a better opportunity in front of him and seized it.

i want to point out that drive differs from killer instinct. kobe and jordan have the killer instinct. they want to kill you on the court. lebron doesn't have that same killer instinct. but the drive, the motivation to win? it's hard to compare who has more.

i see why people hate lebron. he's sorta classless, hella arrogant, and refers to himself in third person. but he is shrewd and very aware of the fact that in the history of the NBA, no one has done it alone. jordan had pippen. kobe had shaq, wade had shaq, kobe had gasol, garnett had allen and pierce, and so on. he also probably realized that he was playing in cleveland, ohio. who the **** wants to play there? regardless of how fun it would be to play with lebron in cleveland, it'd be even better to play with whoever the **** else in miami.

[KSUowls]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Found this today and thought it was pretty funny

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6497841/lebron-james-ditches-space-jam

ETA:
I've never understood this "Lebron doesn't have the drive to win" argument. What has he ever done that suggest he doesn't have a drive to win?

[brahmagoul]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

If it wasn't working in Cleveland, they wouldn't have won 60-plus games two straight seasons. And by drive, I mean his competitive nature. Drive might have been the wrong word. If he was a true competitor, he'd want a challenge. Joining up with Wade and Bosh is like using the Game Genie on your Nintendo.

[SteelersFreak]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Pippen's just mad because mean ol MJ didn't pass him the ball enough.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I've always thought of it as streetball. When people are picking players. They don't pick players that match up talent wise. They pick the best players to play with. To win and stay on the court.

I mean did people really expect him to stay in Cleveland and struggle for the next few years (with short comings). Like someone said in this thread. He would of become the next T-Mac (at a higher level).


But I could understand what Pippen was trying to say. But I still think he is crazy lol

[ybtherockstar]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Pippen is crazy lol. Lebron has a long way to go before he can be considered the greatest ever. In overall rankings in my opinion he may not have even passed kobe yet.

[The15thunter]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Pippen is crazy lol. Lebron has a long way to go before he can be considered the greatest ever. In overall rankings in my opinion he may not have even passed kobe yet.

he has not passed kobe.

[wwharton]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I've always thought of it as streetball. When people are picking players. They don't pick players that match up talent wise. They pick the best players to play with. To win and stay on the court.

I mean did people really expect him to stay in Cleveland and struggle for the next few years (with short comings). Like someone said in this thread. He would of become the next T-Mac (at a higher level).


But I could understand what Pippen was trying to say. But I still think he is crazy lol

In streetball if there are 20 people waiting to get on, then yes I want a team that has a chance of sticking around. But otherwise, I'd much rather play a competitive game than have the best team in history that doesn't even have to play seriously to beat every other possible match up. I don't know if I'm the exception but I don't think so... not meant as a metaphor here, just don't think it's a good example.

I don't think T-Mac is a good example either. I don't think anybody thought TMac was ever the best player in the league, let alone someone with a chance at being the best player in history. "T-Mac at a higher level" doesn't make much sense. If T-Mac was at a higher level then he would've won some more games and wouldn't be appropriate for the example. If anything the reason this goes around in circles is there is no comparison. Maybe Shaq, but we all know his reasons of going to LA were different, and he joined a team that ended up working like Jordan's Bulls more than this year's Heat (in that Scottie and Kobe ended up being great but no one knew how good they'd be when they joined the team).

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Pippen never said LBJ was better than MJ just that he had the potential(which he does). Jordan to date is the best scorer. Is Jordan an all-time great passer? Nope. Is he the greatest defender? Nope. Not only do I think there's nothing wrong with Scottie comment I agree whole heartedly with them.