NBA thread

[FireWaterBurn]

Originally Posted by eric generic

I'd rather have Magic than LBJ if you wanna compare.

I love a good comparison!! Though it's obviously hard comparing eras. I am too young to fully appreciate all of Magic's greatness, I will say that. Plus, you'd be comparing Magic and the entirety of his career with about half of LeBron's. Very similiar players though, I think LeBron will be regarded as more Magic and less Jordan when it's all said and done. Kobe will be the only one in the Jordan conversation, and maybe Durant (but I kinda think he'll be a one of a kind given his size and skill set). I view LeBron as Magic with more scoring and less assists. But Magic was a true point, where LeBron is kind of a new-age hybrid of point forward. Rings matter little to me when comparing guys, which I will explain if asked. When it's all said and done though, again I am saying I didn't get to fully experience or understand the Magic era and I am projecting LBJ's future, I think LeBron will have to be considered the better player.

Consider this: Let's say LeBron wins 3 more MVPs and wins 2 or 3 titles (both good chances IMO), would it change your mind?

Originally Posted by Sparky

I understand the bron bron hate, but when it comes down to heat vs spurs of course im gonna root for the heat, it would be wrong not to.

I wanna see them take that trophy right in front of papovichs cold dead face

I just don't understand the AMOUNT of hate because of The Decision. Lebron is the player we all dreamed of. Gets team mates involved, scores, passes, defends, wants to win and turns down more money for a better team, etc. And I agree he was strangely timid and played poorly in the Finals last year, but other than that the LeBron-not-clutch is just a myth. I actually think he's really humble and a good guy too. Sorry for slobbing his knob, I just get really frustrated with the hate. Cleveland wasn't putting guys around him, and sure looking back he regrets The Decision but I think it's blown incredibly out of proportion.

By the way I jsut wanna say that the foul when Pierce fouled out last night really pissed me off. Refs have done a great job I think with not calling fouls when guys go straight up in the air on defense, but they botched that one big time.

[debaserr]

Rings matter. If LBJ had the killer instinct I look for in ALL-TIMERS, he would have at least one championship by now (probably two). The choking rhetoric is definitely overblown, but he does shy away from the ball in key moments too often (he has been better about that this year).

The Decision hate was deserved, he should have known better. He isn't humble, but he desperately wants to appear that way. I couldn't say whether or not he's a good guy, but he probably is.

[FireWaterBurn]

Originally Posted by eric generic

Rings matter. If LBJ had the killer instinct I look for in ALL-TIMERS, he would have at least one championship by now (probably two). The choking rhetoric is definitely overblown, but he does shy away from the ball in key moments too often (he has been better about that this year).

The Decision hate was deserved, he should have known better. He isn't humble, but he desperately wants to appear that way. I couldn't say whether or not he's a good guy, but he probably is.

I've watched every LeBron interview and post game press conference I had a chance to watch, and I think he's pretty humble and a great interview. Then like that one time out of a few hundred where he says something with a hint of arrogance or anger, everyone is on him. Just athletes in general, I think they get a raw deal. Have a few thousand people come to your job and call you an ******* for 3 hours then try to face the national media after a loss and be gracious about it. I don't think many of us could do that.

I think last year he shied away from the ball a ton. But the other 7 or 8 years of his career he never did, and he hasn't this year either. And of course rings matter, but I think they are overblown. Sure, Kobe has 5 rings. I'm sure you love Kobe as an LA fan. But the first 3 rings were mainly because of Shaq and the ring vs the Celtics Kobe was terrible in Game 7. How many does Horry and Kerr have?? I mean, yeah it's important but it takes a team in any sport to win it. Wasn't like Jordan or Russell or Magic or Bird were playin with scrubs out there ya know.

I agree LeBron doesn't have that killer instinct. Not many really have. Jordan, Kobe..... Guys like Wilt didn't have it, he's an all-timer.

[debaserr]

You can't be an elite athlete and not be cocky about your skillz. But yes, most of the time he is very measured and polite when he comments publicly.

Shaq wouldn't have 4 rings without Kobe. There are a number of great players without rings, but most got a shot at it (some people just get bad matchups like whomever played the Bulls in the 90s).

No one is calling Kerr/Horry HoF'ers because of their rings, there has to be some context to it.

Yep, that's why a lot people like Russell / Kareem / etc more than Wilt.

[FireWaterBurn]

Originally Posted by eric generic

You can't be an elite athlete and not be cocky about your skillz. But yes, most of the time he is very measured and polite when he comments publicly.

Shaq wouldn't have 4 rings without Kobe. There are a number of great players without rings, but most got a shot at it (some people just get bad matchups like whomever played the Bulls in the 90s).

No one is calling Kerr/Horry HoF'ers because of their rings, there has to be some context to it.

Yep, that's why a lot people like Russell / Kareem / etc more than Wilt.

I kinda feel bad for the teams that ran into the Jordan-Bulls buzzsaw lol. Then Malone joined the Lakers and they came up short. I was never a Malone fan though, so **** him. And yeah Shaw probably wouldn't have as many rings without Kobe, but that's kinda why I don't like the rings argument. People wanna hold it against Lebron for not having rings when he didn't have the benefit of a Shaq. I don't think it's fair to argue rings when some teams are way better than others.

[debaserr]

If Bron Bron doesn't win a few rings with Miami it will be a huge indictment on him as a player.

I meant that elite players usually get a few chances at a title, some come up big and some wilt (IE: Dirk last season).

[FireWaterBurn]

Originally Posted by eric generic

If Bron Bron doesn't win a few rings with Miami it will be a huge indictment on him as a player.

I meant that elite players usually get a few chances at a title, some come up big and some wilt (IE: Dirk last season).

I agree with ya, I think LeBron needs at least 2 rings in this 5 year stretch but it will never be enough in many people's eyes. I think he will get 3-4 rings when its all said and done. I think he's still got a lot of time, even when Wade starts slipping a little.

I feel bad sometimes for the role players not getting any love. I love watching Shane Battier play. The dude flat out works. Aside from me wanting LBJ to get a ring, I'd want Battier to get his first ring no matter what team he was on. I like those guys that just hustle their ass off, i think every fan watches and says "damn if i ever could be a pro athlete that's how i'd play"

[TheBig3]

BAD TEACHER: Lebron Vs Jordan clip - YouTube

[debaserr]

I'm a big fan of Battier too, it's nice to see him actually hitting 3s lately as well.

I've got a lot of respect for him after watching him battle Kobe in the playoffs a few years back. What team doesn't need a excellent defender that can hit 3s?

[Sparky]

I actually also think bronbron is very candid in interviewsl. Obviously he has been groomed since a young child (ala tiger woods, serena williams) so probably has had some acting coaches and public speaking classes but i think he is very candid. Pretty decent fashion taste too minus the extra thick rimmed glasses he has, with the straight brim, too much.

He spent the first couple minutes of last games press conference going at length to talk about how great rondo's play was, and i saw him compliment rondo during the game as well i believe.

He's one of the few players who look so mild scoring 30+ points you hardly notice it. He usually gets the shot he wants. Paul Pierce getting 30 points means he is using every single part of his old man game on every possession and probably still needs to get to the line.