The LeBron James Thread
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
Just going by what I read on here after the game and today from folks.#RespectTheCultureComment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
LOS ANGELES
No one benefits from LeBron hate more than Kobe Bryant.
Hatred of LeBron — more than even Kobe’s five championship rings — is the primary reason Kobe is allowed to delude himself with the notion that he is on equal footing with Magic and Bird and in hot pursuit of Michael Jordan’s legacy.
We sell the false Kobe narrative because it fuels and justifies our disdain for King James. The closer Kobe is to NBA royalty, the more distance James must travel and the more people he must pass to get a seat at the table reserved for Jordan, Magic and Bird. LeBron haters don’t want him anywhere near the NBA’s Lord, Savior and Holy Ghost. LeBron is Judas, in the haters’ mind, the man who betrayed Cleveland. Kobe is Peter, Jordan’s most trusted disciple.
Sunday, inside Staples Center, Kobe spread more of his false gospel. He dropped 33 points in a 93-83 victory over the visiting Heat. His congregation loved it. It was more proof that Kobe is unrivaled in this era, that James and Dwyane Wade are young stars with a long haul if they ever want to be in the same class as Kobe the Great.
“What I have left to accomplish, those players retired a long time ago,” Bryant said Friday night. “At this point my rivals, in terms of what I have left to accomplish, (left the game) when Magic and Michael retired.”
Yep. That’s the delusion LeBron hate empowers.
Well, I don’t hate LeBron or Kobe. I love basketball. I don’t care if Kobe wins eight championships, he’s not on the same level as Jordan, Magic, Bird or even the title-less King James. That’s not hatred of Kobe or the Lakers. It’s an objective statement of fact.
In baseball terms, Kobe Bryant was born on third base and we’re allowing him to act like he hit a grand slam. There is no bigger competitive advantage in sports than playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Because of the weather, the beach and the entertainment options, an indoor professional sports franchise operating in Los Angeles has no excuse not to stock its roster with the best talent money can buy. It’s not a coincidence the Lakers have been home to Wilt, Kareem and Shaq.
While the Lakers have patiently waited for the opportunity to acquire Dwight Howard, Kobe has had to make do the past few years with two very good 7-footers, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, rather than a once-in-a-decade big man.
Playing alongside mammoth space-eaters, lane-cloggers and rim-defenders the overwhelming majority of his career has given Kobe the freedom to be a one-dimensional all-time great. Kobe is a scorer. Period. He can’t touch Michael Jordan as a defender. Kobe is not in the same zip code as Magic and Bird as a creator and teammate-elevator.
When you compare Kobe’s all-around game to the Lord, Savior and Holy Ghost, he’s completely outclassed. Kobe is a scorer. Period. That’s all he did Sunday. He put 33 points on Shane Battier, a terrific defender. Kobe had a great game. But he also did little else. He had three rebounds, one assist, zero steals or blocks.
Meanwhile, on a day the Heat played without Chris Bosh and on an afternoon when Wade was off his game and fouled out in 31 minutes, LeBron James played the entire 94 feet. He scored 25 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, passed out seven assists, nabbed three steals and blocked two shots.
Given Bosh’s absence and Wade’s miserable play, the Lakers should’ve won by 25. The Heat had no size and James had little help. He defended Gasol, holding him to 11 points. James single-handedly kept Miami in contention.
You put Bynum and Gasol around LeBron James and everyone in the league would expect that team to win a championship. Kobe wants the roster blown up. He’s still upset David Stern stopped the Lakers from acquiring Chris Paul.
You give Wade the same rosters Kobe has played with throughout his Los Angeles career, and I guarantee you the Lakers win the same number of titles — if not more. If you look at their career numbers, Wade is a better all-around player than Bryant. Wade bests Bryant in field-goal percentage, assists, steals and blocks and is in a virtual tie with Bryant in points per game (25.4 to 25.3) and rebounds (5.3 to 5.2).
Don’t even waste your time comparing Kobe’s averages to Jordan’s, Bird’s, Magic’s and LeBron’s. Kobe isn’t on their level.
I don’t hate Kobe Bryant. I love watching him play. He played a beautiful game Sunday. Kobe is the Jerry West of this era. But let’s stop the blasphemy of elevating Bryant to the same level as the Holy Trinity. Don’t let your hatred of LeBron convince you that Kobe is something he’s clearly not.Redskins, Lakers, Orioles, UNC Basketball , and ND Football
PSN: Jasong757
Xbox Live: Monado XComment
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Don't give WHITLOCK page hits. Dudes pathetic.
Sent from my PC36100 using TapatalkFollow me on Twitter@DrewGarrisonSBNComment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
Whitlock is an idiot and a blowhard. I hate when people invent new reasons to hate Kobe, and Lebron for that matter.Redskins, Lakers, Orioles, UNC Basketball , and ND Football
PSN: Jasong757
Xbox Live: Monado XComment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
LeBron takes the inbound beyond the 3 point line, dribbles it once at about 18 feet in and does a no-look pass back to Haslem.
LBJ made no basketball intent to get to the hoop...pull up...nothing.Comment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
That just confirms that Spol should be fired and kicked in the nuts repeatedly by both LeBron and Haslem for putting them in that situation then.Comment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
If you want to say that the play was designed for Lebron to find an OPEN man, then that's fine. But again, any coach that designs a LAST SECOND play for Udonis Haslem should be fired automatically for that.
I don't even care about Lebron passing it up(my beef is with him later on in the year)but ANY coach that designs a LAST SECOND play for their 7th-8th best player to win the game, needs to be fired on the spot for that. There's no arguing that at all.#RespectTheCultureComment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
What's even worse was that Wade was no way directly involved in that play.
I understand catching them off guard, but going to your 5th option is a huge fail.
Whoever's decision it was, Bron or Spol, they both need to be beat with a sack of soap bars. Haslem should never be taking the last shot in a game ever, especially when you have LeBron and Wade on your team.
That said, Bron probably gave it up because he knew how much crap he would get if he missed it. You should know by now how weak minded this guy is, don't put it past him.Comment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
You can't let LBJ just go off to get the team back in the game and then look him dead in the face during a timeout and tell him pass the ball to someone else.
And scared LBJ is looking back at him like Sure Coach.Comment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
I'm not so sure calling LeBron weak minded is true. His basketball makeup is to get other guys involved/scoring. He's more of a Magic/Big-O.Comment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
I would.
Just look at the things he says and does, and his reaction on twitter after that game. He just wants people to like him, really really bad.
He may have the physical game of a Magic, but he has the mental makeup of a prepubescent child.Last edited by 1Rose; 03-05-2012, 12:29 PM.Comment
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Re: The LeBron James Thread
Lebron's first instinct is to pass. Been that way since high school.Redskins, Lakers, Orioles, UNC Basketball , and ND Football
PSN: Jasong757
Xbox Live: Monado XComment
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