LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by therealdeal, Jun 8, 2017.

Page 240 of 1276
  1. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    32,701
    Likes Received:
    79,049
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Your time is running out Ham
    Location:
    Laker Purgatory
    Offline
    pshhh

    who thought he was coming here anyways?

    frealz people

    :Crazyartest: :Laugh:
     
    sirronstuff, Jun 7, 2018
    #4781
    Lakeshow85, LTLakerFan and JohnnyComeLately2k6 like this.
  2. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    11,085
    Likes Received:
    33,187
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    La La land
    Offline
    That team might have actually been better.
     
    lakerjones, Jun 7, 2018
    #4782
    karacha and gcclaker like this.
  3. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    38,385
    Likes Received:
    64,286
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    Yeah it was an interesting quote ... the whole thing. I blame Kobe for playing with him in 2 Olympics and teaching him Mamba s*** with the physical skills needed and preparation required to perfect "some" of them and the mental side of the game necessary to be a champion.

    :Tabarnak:

    ... yeah that's my feelings too ... except at you Kobe ... it's your fault.
     
    LTLakerFan, Jun 7, 2018
    #4783
    JohnnyComeLately2k6 and Lakeshow85 like this.
  4. LaVarBallsDad

    LaVarBallsDad - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    16,172
    Likes Received:
    31,056
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Magic knows a little about championships, winning,, and the pressure, right? I'd say so...

    Unlike the other teams pursuing Lebron, who has a resume like Magic and can relate to what LBJ wants: from a basketball and business perspective.

    Plus, aside from Deng, we have a clean slate with our salary cap and assets.

    :)
     
    LaVarBallsDad, Jun 7, 2018
    #4784
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, LTLakerFan and therealdeal like this.
  5. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    38,385
    Likes Received:
    64,286
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    I've said before I could listen to Magic talk basketball all day.

    :Lonzoball Watching:
     
    LTLakerFan, Jun 7, 2018
    #4785
    Battle Tested20, D-Fish Man, Big Mamma Jamma and 3 others like this.
  6. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    32,701
    Likes Received:
    79,049
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Your time is running out Ham
    Location:
    Laker Purgatory
    Offline
    Cube knows...

     
    sirronstuff, Jun 7, 2018
    #4786
    Battle Tested20, Barnstable, alam1108 and 6 others like this.
  7. Toklat

    Toklat - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    2,367
    Likes Received:
    6,196
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    KAJ=GOAT #2 Is up for debate...
     
    Toklat, Jun 7, 2018
    #4787
    Lakeshow85 and sirronstuff like this.
  8. ZenMaster

    ZenMaster - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    6,335
    Likes Received:
    14,205
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Just like that thing with birth and getting kicked in the gonads...
     
    ZenMaster, Jun 7, 2018
    #4788
    SamsonMiodek likes this.
  9. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    19,413
    Likes Received:
    79,554
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Anaheim
    Offline
     
    Weezy, Jun 7, 2018
    #4789
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, therealdeal and sirronstuff like this.
  10. puffyusaf#2

    puffyusaf#2 - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2014
    Messages:
    3,680
    Likes Received:
    4,247
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Author of "Just a Thought"
    Location:
    GNW Doing things
    Offline
    The problem I have with this all to familiar narrative playing out is that once again Lebron is the greatest ever who also makes everyone better or he is the greatest ever who has to carry all these scrubs to the Finals. It seems that he is literally untouchable when it comes to proper criticism. Yes, he gets criticized but usually that is called "hate" by those who love everything he does there is hardly ever a middle ground. My POV on Bron hasn't really changed as I still believe he is one of the greats just with his bball IQ, court vision, his size, speed and (thanks to the last 2 playoff runs) his stepping up in the biggest games. That is, for better or worse, undeniable about the man. That being said, I have a problem with all the love.

    1. If he has crappy teammates and is able to will his team to the Finals year after year in his conference then his conference is utter garbage. Would he be able to will his teams to the Finals year after year through the West? No. He would put up stats but this magnificent Finals run would be dead. That, for me at least, diminishes the accomplishments a bit. It's like hitters stats at Coors Field in Colorado for MLB. Everyone hits better there and pitchers pretty much suck there. The strength of competition his scrub teams have faced have been pretty laughable.

    2. Every time he loses its cause is teammates are garbage. Truth is, if he makes them better he makes them better. Again, not diminishing what he is putting up in the Finals right now just saying the guy touted as the brightest and best should be able to get the most out of these guys. Right?

    3. The GOAT legacy died for me when he jumped ship twice to chase the ring in his prime. People forget that he won in Miami with Chris Bosh being the big 4th quarter guy. I was called a hater for pointing out but go back and look for yourself. A great deal of the big play late in games were made by others. In fact, up until 2 playoff ago, Lebron had the rep for disappearing in the 4th all together. A spurs blown rebound, a Ray Allen corner 3 and a blown Manu layup (I think that was the shot) catapulted him to the guy we are seeing today. Game 7 of that series he finally, in my mind, stepped up when it counted. We seem to forget that part of the legacy.

    If Bron came to the Lakers I'd support and cheer him on like every other Lakers not named William Parker before him. I am not sold he wants to leave the East because, face it, he has been a lock to get by the garbage East. Wherever he goes it will be to once again line up with another superstar. He has already been planting the seeds in press conferences taking about having to measure up to the Warriors. Oh, that brings me to one more point.

    4. How many people have gone to where he is to play with him that wasn't an old head trying to get that final before he has to retire. He left Clev to join Wades team. He left Miami to build his own team that built pieces around him. Now, he will leave again to go to another team and team up with another superstar or top tier player. If it with the Lakers and PG I am all for it.

    In the end, Bron is an all time great with or without the excuses. He just isn't the GOAT to me.
     
    puffyusaf#2, Jun 7, 2018
    #4790
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, Barnstable, alam1108 and 8 others like this.
  11. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2014
    Messages:
    3,094
    Likes Received:
    2,181
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Master Optimist.
    Location:
    San Diego
    Offline
    Can't wait till he's a Laker and we get to say what we want as fans lol. Getting us Ws.
     
    SFGOLDRUSHER, Jun 7, 2018
    #4791
    JohnnyComeLately2k6 likes this.
  12. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    7,387
    Likes Received:
    16,622
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    lebron will never be the GOAT. top 5 at best in my opinion. can't ever see him surpassing MJ, magic, and kareem

    and here's why i think he wants to come to the west. he's not going to be able to beat GS in the finals again. and he doesn't want to keep losing in the finals

    so coming to the west will give him an opportunity to face GS without having to worry about yet another finals loss. and if somehow let's say he comes to the lakers and they manage to beat the warriors, he'll have a far easier task beating whatever team comes out of the east in the finals

    :Noddingyes:
     
    432J, Jun 8, 2018
    #4792
    JohnnyComeLately2k6 and sirronstuff like this.
  13. SFGOLDRUSHER

    SFGOLDRUSHER - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2014
    Messages:
    3,094
    Likes Received:
    2,181
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Master Optimist.
    Location:
    San Diego
    Offline
    I can puff to that.
     
    SFGOLDRUSHER, Jun 8, 2018
    #4793
    JohnnyComeLately2k6 and puffyusaf#2 like this.
  14. wcsoldier81

    wcsoldier81 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    5,405
    Likes Received:
    10,409
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    LMAO .

    " I'm pretty sure Lebron will play for a NBA team next season" wcsoldier81 , nba insider 06/08/18
     
    wcsoldier81, Jun 8, 2018
    #4794
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, Barnstable, alam1108 and 7 others like this.
  15. Daloyalfan18-Brandon

    Daloyalfan18-Brandon - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    741
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Offline
    Not sure if already posted but Kobe gave his thoughts on Lebron's talent around him.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/06/sports/kobe-bryant-detail-curse.html

     
    Daloyalfan18-Brandon, Jun 8, 2018
    #4795
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, Barnstable, alam1108 and 6 others like this.
  16. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    30,751
    Likes Received:
    83,689
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    not sure why the two ideas have to be inversely related. lebron is one of the greatest of all time AND his teammates aren't garbage. his running mates just currently aren't on the curry/durant level. this matters in terms of his recent finals record--as he keeps playing a team with two guys at that level to his team with one (him).

    kobe was one of the greatest of all time and for a period, his teammates were garbage. we saw what can happen.
     
    abeer3, Jun 8, 2018
    #4796
    tada, Lakeshow85, 432J and 2 others like this.
  17. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,063
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    therealdeal, Jun 8, 2018
    #4797
    Battle Tested20, JohnnyComeLately2k6, Juronimo and 1 other person like this.
  18. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    30,751
    Likes Received:
    83,689
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    dirk's 2011 mavs. second best player was caron butler (who was injured for the playoffs), then it was either tyson chandler or twilight jason kidd or even late career jason terry. nobody as good as kevin love, for sure.
     
    abeer3, Jun 8, 2018
    #4798
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, tada, alam1108 and 3 others like this.
  19. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,063
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Even in that series Kidd averaged 7 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, over a steal and was over 42% from outside. Even twilight Kidd is outplaying George Hill.
    Tyson Chandler averaged 10/9 with over a steal and block a game. He was two assists shy of 10/9/1/1.2/1.2 which is pretty damn versatile. Marion averaged 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and just barely missed a block and steal a game.

    But you know who the secret weapon was? Jason Terry. He averaged 18 points, 2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 steals, shot just under 50% from the field and 39% from deep. He scored 27 points in the elimination game.

    Solid comparison, but the Mavs were deeper and frankly executed more. So if we're going to say that this Cavs team doesn't suck, then why are they underperforming to this degree?

    JR Smith is averaging 9/4/1 with a notable 1.7 steals, but is shooting just 30% from the field and 30% from deep.
    George Hill is averaging 9/2/3 with a steal, but only 37.5% from the field (although 50% from deep is nice).
    Jeff Green is averaging 5/2/2 with not even half a steal and zero blocks. He's shooting 30% from the field and 18% from deep.
    Korver: 1/2/1 shooting 10% from the field and 17% from deep.
    Clarkson: 3/2/0.5/1/0.5 shooting just 23% from the field and ZERO percent from deep.

    If we're going to say these guys aren't playing like garbage, then what is it? I've 100% been against the old narratives about LeBron needing more help, but how in the world is this an acceptable performance from these players? If we're going to say they aren't terrible, then what is that^? They're choking as hard as possible on the brightest stage? And how can we even attempt to compare ^that to our 09 Lakers team?
     
    therealdeal, Jun 8, 2018
    #4799
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, Juronimo, lakerjones and 1 other person like this.
  20. John3:16

    John3:16 Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    6,590
    Likes Received:
    15,642
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    CEO - Big Baller Brand
    Offline
    The Mavs had one HUGE advantage over this Cavs team: great coach vs horrible coach.

    I know it's fun to rip JR Smith, but Lue should've called a timeout. This series could easily be 2-2. With a decent coach I believe it would be. For all his success, I don't think Kerr is a great coach.
     
    John3:16, Jun 8, 2018
    #4800
    JohnnyComeLately2k6, alam1108, Lakeshow85 and 2 others like this.
Page 240 of 1276

Share This Page