We have already seen Lebron at his best. He is no MJ. He couldn't win a title with Wade and Bosh there to help him.
Basketball is a team sport and the best team just won. Lebron is just another over-hyped woulda, coulda, shoulda.
We have already seen Lebron at his best. He is no MJ. He couldn't win a title with Wade and Bosh there to help him.
Basketball is a team sport and the best team just won. Lebron is just another over-hyped woulda, coulda, shoulda.
BigTex wrote:
We have already seen Lebron at his best. He is no MJ. He couldn't win a title with Wade and Bosh there to help him.
Basketball is a team sport and the best team just won. Lebron is just another over-hyped woulda, coulda, shoulda.
I never said Lebron was MJ. I said he's currently the best player in the world, which is true, even if his team wasn't the best.
call like i see em wrote:
Read a later post I wrote. Basically, I agree with you to a large extent. I said Lebron's biggest weakness in the Finals was not being willing to take control. He was playing too timid, as second-fiddle to Wade. Lebron's skill-set makes him the best player in the world, flat out. Once (if) he fully harnesses his talent and realizes he NEEDS to be the number one factor on the court every night, he will become Jordan-esque.
Fair enough, I posted late before reading your later posts. But here's the thing: James is nearing the mid-point of his career. If he doesn't have that drive and motivation to the number one factor at this point, I'm not sure he ever will.
Magic was a 20 year-old rookie when he took charge of the Lakers and led them to a championship. And this was on a team with some established stars. I think that great players come in with that attitude. Maybe James will eventually acquire it, but I'm skeptical at this point.
I agree with runningart. By this time Jordan and the Bulls already had two nba championship rings and 2 nba finals mvp's. There's no excuse for Lebron this time. He can't say he didn't have any help.
think about it wrote:
Fair enough, I posted late before reading your later posts. But here's the thing: James is nearing the mid-point of his career. If he doesn't have that drive and motivation to the number one factor at this point, I'm not sure he ever will.
Magic was a 20 year-old rookie when he took charge of the Lakers and led them to a championship. And this was on a team with some established stars. I think that great players come in with that attitude. Maybe James will eventually acquire it, but I'm skeptical at this point.
I'm skeptical as well. I thought Lebron showed signs of taking control throughout the playoffs, then flopped in the Finals, which is why I'll hold out for at least one more year. Like I originally said, I'm not a huge Lebron booster, but I think the vehement hate and criticism is unwarranted. I'm a general NBA fan. I'm happy for Dirk and Cuban, not so much for Kidd though.
He's only currently the best player in the world because Kobe is getting too old. As an owner/GM I'd take Kobe at Lebron's age over Lebron at Lebron's age any day.
"Anyone disputing Lebron as best in the world is simply not a basketball fan. Nobody can match his skill set, regardless of his Finals performance. I'm not even a Lebron/Heat booster, I simply know basketball the sport."
In the end, the point of basketball is to win the championship. Lebron James may possibly have the best skill set, but he is not the best in the world yet because he can not win important games. Not trying to rip on Alan Webb at all, because I am a fan, but no one ever calls him the best in the world. He has one of the best skill sets, but he has yet to win when it matters.
Wow... Lebron best player in the world?
How can anyone dispute that Kobe isn't the best play.
You are all retarded!
Why are we talking about anything other than who the Mavs plowed through:
Portland TrailBlazers
LA Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Miami Heat
It's not that Miami Thrice lost. The Dallas Mavericks won. They are the NBA Champions. takedatwitchew
Dallas was a well-oiled machine today. They executed their strategy with selfless teamwork and pure professionalism. Their effort and patience during the entire game and series with Miami was amazing to watch.
I don't think Lebron James will ever win an NBA Championship as long as there is a well-coached TEAM of hard-nosed scrappy players ready to fight from the start to the finish. Lebron James and his ilk seem to think that they will get an NBA Championship trophy delivered to them on a silver platter because of who they are.
Athletically Lebron is a freak and on a different plane from everyone else, much like Wilt was back in his day. But Wilt never "got it," almost always cracking under pressure and falling time and again to Russell's Celtics. Lebron seems to be built the same way, physically he knows he can do anything, he just doesn't know what he wants to do. Being a superior athlete doesn't necessarily make you the best player in the league. Wilt may have dominated Russell head to head in the regular season (a la Lebron), but who has more rings? Who made his teammates better? Who had the killer instinct not just to win, but to win when it mattered most?
Right now Dirk tops Lebron in those areas, as has Kobe in the past few years, and Duncan before that (07 finals).
Lebron is the best player in the world? He isnt even consistently the best player on his own team. That would be Dwayne Wade.
call like i see em wrote:
Lebron was a lock down defender from day one.
Tell that to Jason Terry.
I'm surprised all the talk is about how bad Lebron played instead of how awesome the Mav's team played. Plain and simple, the Mav's just showed the rest of the world what Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers already knew: you can put great players on one team, but they still have to play as one. The Heat depended TOTALLY on their big 3, with Lebron playing almost every minute of the entire playoffs. That's insane! I don't care how much fitness he has, Jason Terry called it right: "he won't be able to guard me like that this whole series. He HAS to slow down."
Here's the kicker: The Heat's coach is horrible. You put most other coaches with this team and the Heat wins in 4.
I wonder how hard it was for Riley to not throw Spoelstra to the curb all season. I'm sure Riley thought he could take that team all the way.
Just very happy Shawn Marion, Nowitzke and Stojakovic finally got the rings[b.]!
call like i see em wrote:
pshh... wrote:Lebron James is the best player in the world.
Umm what? The best player in the world? More like best magician in the world with that disappearing act he kept showing in the 4th quarter. Seriously though, yea he's a good player, but let's stop glorifying "king" james until he can prove he's a winner when it counts, in the finals.
I'll end on a positive though, congrats mavs, dirk and kidd for finally getting your title.
Anyone disputing Lebron as best in the world is simply not a basketball fan. Nobody can match his skill set, regardless of his Finals performance. I'm not even a Lebron/Heat booster, I simply know basketball the sport.
He doesn't even have the most complete skill set in the NBA you buffoon! Have you ever, repeat EVER seen Lebron James post someone up? Ever? He has a shakey jumper at best and quite obviously has little idea what to do when he doesnt have the ball in his hand.
He is the best physical talent in the league yes - does this make him the best player? No it doesn't. Want an example of a better player? Kobe Bryant (not a Lakers or Kobe fan at all but he's simply better). Shooter, can get to the rim, can post up, can defend, CAN WIN.
You "know basketball the sport?" what a gong. You wouldnt know your arm from your a$$hole pal
As you can see from my post's second half, I'm very happy the Mavs won. It was a long time coming for them.[/quote]
jumper one wrote:
I wonder how hard it was for Riley to not throw Spoelstra to the curb all season. I'm sure Riley thought he could take that team all the way.
I said this to a friend of mine at the beginning of the series. Spoelstra just look confused and lost on the sidelines, especially late in the game.
Maybe that is just the way TV shows him, but I have to wonder if he knows what he is doing.
I am not sure if it's just indicative of today's NBA, but last night in the last 3 minutes, the Heat were ridiculous. Just throwing up shots like there was no plan or play called/run AT ALL. Is that coaching? Who knows! Is that the players just doing whatever they want? Who knows! It's probably a combination of the two.
Old Man Runner wrote:
I am not sure if it's just indicative of today's NBA, but last night in the last 3 minutes, the Heat were ridiculous. Just throwing up shots like there was no plan or play called/run AT ALL. Is that coaching? Who knows! Is that the players just doing whatever they want? Who knows! It's probably a combination of the two.
In the most recent ESPN The Magazine (which is not a very good magazine, but I get it free) In the Player X an anonymous player wrote that many of the players basically feel that the caliber of NBA coaching is rather dismal. They dont coach, they just relay on the latent athleticism of their players, and that is the reason Europeans are gaining so much ground. They dont have the athleticism but they have much better fundamental skills. (this comes from the American NBA player.)
I think this is probably true for two reasons. One, in the U.S. these guys have been so good for so long, and especially at lower levels that they can dominate without needing to increase their skill level. and Two; If an NBA coach and a superstar disagree, who gets sacrificed? The Coach that makes 3 or 4 million a year, or the superstar that makes 15 or 20 million a year and draws in the crowds? If Allen Iverson doesnt want to practice, no coach can make him, and if he tries, hes gonna get shit-canned.
Not only is Lebron not the greatest player ever, he isn't even the best player right now.
Already at the beginning of the season I would have put Garnett, Nowitzki, and Kobe ahead of him--they're just better all-around players. Not as flashy--but if I were picking a team in the schoolyard, I'd pick those guys ahead of Lebron.
Yes, even Garnett. He's excellent. I think his only weaknesses are injury, and some lack of aggressiveness going to the basket, given his height.