The LeBron James Thread

[Jasong7777]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I'm just glad i've been alive at the right time to witness the greatness of Jordan, Magic, Timmy, Kobe, and Shaq. Lebron has been icing on the cake. Just enjoy the show folks.

[ehh]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

So now there are "levels within levels" of being legendary? See, once again, another roadblock thrown LeBron's way.

I don't understand why we can't just let things unfold and judge when everything is all (or nearly) said and done when it comes to the guy's career. He's at the peak of his basketball-playing powers right now. Let's see what happens these next 5 years or so and then attempt to determine his place among the greats from there.

And it's not out of the realm of possibility for LeBron and the Heat to win multiple titles in a row this decade. As tired and annoying as any Jordan comparisons are, people seem to forget that he didn't win his first title until he was like 27 or 28, and then he went on to reel off 3 straight, retired, and then copped another 3 rings. With all these players suffering serious ACL injuries and teams like Boston, San Antonio, and LA aging and being on the verge of rebuilding, the window is open for Miami to pull this off.

I just still find it funny that LeBron gets held to a completely different standard than any other player (and arguably athlete).

Steve Nash is an all-time great PG but he doesn't have a championship. Why aren't we asking why he can't "win the big one"? Why isn't this same question asked about Carmelo Anthony or Dwight Howard? We seem to be okay appreciating those player's games (let's just exclude '12-13 Dwight Howard) without questioning every little thing about them, yet when it comes to LeBron, it seems like it almost always has to be a focus on any of his shortcomings.

And one last thing: it's going to be very interesting, at least to me, how these playoffs turn out for Oklahoma City and what the reaction will be (assuming they don't win the title).

Why is that? Because Kevin Durant finally gets to experience what LeBron went through the first 7 years of his career, which is having to carry a team on his shoulders without having very much help. No Westbrook, no Harden....now KD has to be his team's offense the entire game. This is something LeBron did his entire tenure in Cleveland. If Kevin Durant comes up short under those circumstances, the same way LeBron did, what's the reaction going to be? "Good job, good effort" or "You're one of the best players in the league and should go down as a hall of famer; why aren't leading your team to a championship?".

Of course there are different levels, there always have been. MJ faced it, Kobe faced it, now LeBron faces it. Durant might face it in the near future. The only people that get the real heat are the people who will have the potential to be Top 15 all-time guys.

No one ever thought Nash, Duhwight or Melo had a prayer to be a Top 15 ever guy and rightfully so. Why should those three be under the same level of scrutiny as MJ/Kobe/LeBron? The two sets of players are in different levels.

I also don't think we appreciate Duhwight or Melo's game. Melo is the most hated/scrutinized player of the last 5-6 years outside of Kobe (in terms of their game). People everywhere - OS, real life, other boards, DESTROY Carmelo's game. Duhwight has long been called one of the most overrated players in the league by a good chunk of NBA fans.

Nash got a pass, he was a golden boy. A fun player in a fun system that made everyone better and was a joy to watch. A good guy off the court helped too.


The whole level thing is def nothing new though.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

People just can't stop with the comparisons, I just don't get it.

[24]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

People just can't stop with the comparisons, I just don't get it.

The comparison situation will always be around. No matter how many time's you can beat it into peoples head's that their will never be another Michael Jordan or Larry Bird or (Insert random player's name here) they will still search for them. It's partially because we want to see it happen. Imagine if another player could recreate Jordan's magic? We beg for it to happen we want more of the feelings that we got with guys like MJ.

[BringTheHeat]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I'm sorry, but it's just not happening. Maybe in some statistical categories he will, or maybe in number of championship rings he will, but he's never surpassing the impact Michael Jordan had.


Chances are he'll be statistically greater, but LeBron is never going to be that. And in the meantime, it'd be nice if we could sit back and watch this unfold rather than try to rush to conclusions on the guy's career.

See people said this stuff about Magic and Bird though, but eventually it's a general consensus that Mike is the GOAT. To say championships or stats don't matter..well..how else do you compare players? Dominance of their era? By that criteria I'd say Mike, LeBron, Russel, Chamberlain are all 1a. 1b. 1c. and 1d.

I've always seen LeBron and Wilt as having the same criticisms. They're the "bad guys" who are statistical monsters, while Jordan and Russel are the "winners".

[ojandpizza]

Comparing will always be a pointless argument. And I try to stay away from saying player A is better than player B when it's people who didn't play in the same era.

But to say LeBron isn't in that category of the elite guys for whatever reason is just ridiculous in my opinion.

[jeebs9]

So wait... One person didn't vote for LeBron James. I wonder who it was smh.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

[bosoxfan1]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

... and who did they vote for? ridiculous

[jeebs9]

They voted for Carmelo Anthony. He didn't even finish second overall. That's worst.

edit: Also never knew has never been a unanimous winner before.
Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

[BringTheHeat]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

[The 24th Letter]

Come on BTH

You're just asking for it....

[CMH]

Me thinks Pat Riley is getting old.


Sent from my mobile device.

[ojandpizza]

Pat Riley said LeBron was better than Magic and Kareem? Wow.. I can't believe he would say that.

[BringTheHeat]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Come on BTH

You're just asking for it....

Riles said it! haha

[ehh]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

As he should, it's his player that he got in the greatest free agent coupe of all time.