LBJ Will be the GOAT

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

And for you Kobe fans

 

[trojanfan12]

All of these "GOAT" discussions are fun (sort of) and twisting stats to make one player look more "GOAT-like" than another is also fun.

However, until the greats themselves change the criteria, MJ will not be replaced as the GOAT by Kobe, Lebron or anyone else.

The greats use rings and they all give the nod to MJ with rings as the deciding factor. I can post all kinds of stats to show that Magic Johnson (the player that I consider the GOAT) was a better player than MJ. But as long as Magic himself points to MJ and says that guy's the GOAT, who am I to argue?

Kobe can get a couple of more rings and get to 7. Lebron can get 5 more and get to 7. Neither of them are likely to supplant MJ as the GOAT because MJ was 6-0 and never had a series go 7 games.

Kobe is currently 5-2 and Lebron 2-2 and both had series that went 7 games.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

 

[Black Adam]

And remember Game 7 vs. the Celtics when he outrebounded the Celtics entire frontline by himself?

Word.

i DO remember Paul Pierce being wheeled off the court in the '08 series for a ruptured hymen, though...

quick application of Vagisil and he was good to go...

 

[Black Adam]

LMFAO i was wondering if this old pic was still around...

not quite fast enough getting the secret service to shut down the media on it apparently...

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

i DO remember Paul Pierce being wheeled off the court in the '08 series for a ruptured hymen, though...

quick application of Vagisil and he was good to go...

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

 

[Jims_Doors]

Dude, better stats does not = better player. LeBron never has and never will possess the intangibles Jordan had. LBJ wants to do it all, even if it comes at the expense of his teammates' play. You saw it even in this year's Playoffs. Miami played far from flawless basketball, but they still won simply because their top-to-bottom talent level was greater than any other team by a wide margin (and the fact that Popovich and the Spurs completely choked in Game 6).

You say LeBron would have taken advantage of hand-checking had he played in the 90's, but when exactly has LeBron showed a willingness to play in the post on a consistent basis? And when you think about it, how sad is it that a 270 lb. steroid user is content to roam around the perimeter all game long? His game is built entirely on pure athleticism, which is why I'm more than interested in seeing how he holds up at age 32-33.

And I love how people like to use Jordan's personal issues and his relationship with his wife as leverage against him. We all have our personal picadillos. Anyone who claims he/she doesn't is lying.

Call me a hater for posting all this, but it is what it is. Is it possible to ban a poster for being too obsessed? Learn the game, BOTSLAYER. LeBron may have his rings now, but in the eyes of the casual fan - Once a coward always a coward.

Isn't that what MJ was doing when he was constantly getting bounced by Boston and Detroit? Bulls went further when Jordan starting using his players more and Stern changed the rules for him.

If it's pure athleticism, then why has his jumper and 3pt shot gotten better year after year after year? His rookie year he shot 42% and 29% from 3pt land. This past year, he shot 56% and 40% from 3. That's pure athleticism.... or you being a stupid fuck? Now he's developed a pretty nice low post game. That's just pure athleticism or you being a jealous stupid fuck? Plus.... you're waiting to see if James' athleticism declines when he reaches 14th and 15th year in the league? If it does, It'll be the first in NBA history.....

It's funny..... of all people to tell someone else to learn the game when you haven't even yet.

You're calling James a coward but Jordan quit "in his prime" to try to be a 2 sport star like Bo Jackson. He deprived his teammates from a chance at a 4 peat.....twice.

 

[shitsho]

Kobe always runs and hides when LBJ goes into flight mode. You can tell he is thoroughly intimidated and impressed by Lebron.

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

Isn't that what MJ was doing when he was constantly getting bounced by Boston and Detroit? Bulls went further when Jordan starting using his players more and Stern changed the rules for him.

If it's pure athleticism, then why has his jumper and 3pt shot gotten better year after year after year? His rookie year he shot 42% and 29% from 3pt land. This past year, he shot 56% and 40% from 3. That's pure athleticism.... or you being a stupid fuck? Now he's developed a pretty nice low post game. That's just pure athleticism or you being a jealous stupid fuck? Plus.... you're waiting to see if James' athleticism declines when he reaches 14th and 15th year in the league? If it does, It'll be the first in NBA history.....

It's funny..... of all people to tell someone else to learn the game when you haven't even yet.

You're calling James a coward but Jordan quit "in his prime" to try to be a 2 sport star like Bo Jackson. He deprived his teammates from a chance at a 4 peat.....twice.

Leflop plays under those rules too and others encouraging offense and STILL isn't as good as MJ.

And MJ didn't run to a rival to get a ring. He was following a passion. Leflop, well you know..

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

 

[shitsho]

Pretty sure Kobe was not still there when it counted. He broke his ACL

 

[Jims_Doors]

Isn't that the same Dirk who swept the Lakers that same postseason?

"I guarantee we'll comeback from this 0-3 deficit" ....Kobe Bryant.

Game 4..... 7-18, 39%, 0-5 from 3, 17pts, 3 boards, 1 dime, zero blocks, zero steals, 5TO's, blown the fuck out 122-86.....thanks for showing up...

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

From 2009. Rule changes that leflop benefits from that MJ didn't have the benefit of:

In 1999, the league eliminated contact by a defender with his hands and forearms both in the backcourt and frontcourt, except on offensive players who caught the ball below the free throw line extended. Defenses were also prohibited from "re-routing" players off the ball. This freed up perimeter players who used screens to get open. Nor were defenders able any more to grab or impede offensive players setting screens. In 2001, the defensive three-second rule eliminated defenders camping out in the lane away from their offensive man to help.

The rules changes did what they were supposed to do -- open up the game. Scoring average has increased from an average 95.6 points per game in the 1997-98 season to this year's 100 per game. Overall field goal percentage has increased from 45.0 percent in '97-'98 to 45.9 percent this season. Three-point percentage has gone up, from .346 11 years ago to .367 this season. And fouls have gone down, from a league average of 1,837 fouls in 1997 to 1,726 this season. The statistical-based Basketball Prospectus wrote at the beginning of this season that the game's pace -- defined as possessions per game -- had increased from its nadir during the lockout season of 1999 (around 88 possessions per game) to around 91 per game in the 2007-08 season.

Free-flowing offense is now the norm, with players able to go almost unencumbered anywhere on the court. As such, the game's most dominant individual players and those that are just good at drawing contact have even more of a chance to get to the foul line. So stars like Dwight Howard (the league leader in free throw attempts this season with 849), Dwyane Wade (second, 771) and LeBron James (third, 762) can have an even more outsized impact on games.

"You can't even touch a guy now," says Charlotte coach Larry Brown. "The college game is much more physical than our game. I always tease Michael [Jordan], if he played today, he'd average 50."

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Isn't that the same Dirk who swept the Lakers that same postseason?

"I guarantee we'll comeback from this 0-3 deficit" ....Kobe Bryant.

Game 4..... 7-18, 39%, 0-5 from 3, 17pts, 3 boards, 1 dime, zero blocks, zero steals, 5TO's.....thanks for showing up...

Wait Didn't Lebum choke so bad in the Finals that year...nice try but try harder

LeBrick 2011 NBA finals; biggest ppg drop in nba finals history *
17.8 PPG. FG= 47%. FT = 60% *
24 turnovers. *
FOURTH QUARTER: *
Game 1: FG: 2-4. 3PT: 0-1. 5 pts. *
Game 2: FG: 0-4. 3PT: 0-2. 2pts *
Game 3: FG: 1-3. 3PT: 0-2. 2pts *
Game 4: FG: 0-1. 3PT: 0-0. 0pts. *
Game 5: FG: 1-4. 3PT: 0-2. 2pts. *
Game 6: FG: 3-5. 3PT 1-2. 7pts.

Yep Mr. Clutch alright

 

[lakersrule]

Isn't that the same Dirk who swept the Lakers that same postseason?

Yes it is. Do Knick fans even remember what it's like to win one of those things? You would have to be pretty old.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Chance at winning a ring or swept before getting to the Finals?

 

[lakersrule]

From 2009. Rule changes that leflop benefits from that MJ didn't have the benefit of:

In 1999, the league eliminated contact by a defender with his hands and forearms both in the backcourt and frontcourt, except on offensive players who caught the ball below the free throw line extended. Defenses were also prohibited from "re-routing" players off the ball. This freed up perimeter players who used screens to get open. Nor were defenders able any more to grab or impede offensive players setting screens. In 2001, the defensive three-second rule eliminated defenders camping out in the lane away from their offensive man to help.

The rules changes did what they were supposed to do -- open up the game. Scoring average has increased from an average 95.6 points per game in the 1997-98 season to this year's 100 per game. Overall field goal percentage has increased from 45.0 percent in '97-'98 to 45.9 percent this season. Three-point percentage has gone up, from .346 11 years ago to .367 this season. And fouls have gone down, from a league average of 1,837 fouls in 1997 to 1,726 this season. The statistical-based Basketball Prospectus wrote at the beginning of this season that the game's pace -- defined as possessions per game -- had increased from its nadir during the lockout season of 1999 (around 88 possessions per game) to around 91 per game in the 2007-08 season.

Free-flowing offense is now the norm, with players able to go almost unencumbered anywhere on the court. As such, the game's most dominant individual players and those that are just good at drawing contact have even more of a chance to get to the foul line. So stars like Dwight Howard (the league leader in free throw attempts this season with 849), Dwyane Wade (second, 771) and LeBron James (third, 762) can have an even more outsized impact on games.

"You can't even touch a guy now," says Charlotte coach Larry Brown. "The college game is much more physical than our game. I always tease Michael [Jordan], if he played today, he'd average 50."

With no hand-checking, the defensive three, and the restricted arc beneath the basket, getting to the rim has never been easier. Jordan dominated getting to the rim from a perimeter position. Jordan would have a field day in today's game.

 

[HuskerCradle2Grave]

With no hand-checking, the defensive three, and the restricted arc beneath the basket, getting to the rim has never been easier. Jordan dominated getting to the rim from a perimeter position. Jordan would have a field day in today's game.

 

[lakersrule]

Chance at winning a ring or swept before getting to the Finals?

Rings. Don't forget that's what a player receives for winning the title.