NBA Thread

[Coach]

LeBron has beaten 7 50 win teams in playoffs. Kobe has beaten 24, Jordan has beaten 20......

The Eastern Conference!

i wonder if lebron heading to the western conference is what it'll take for everyone to finally place him atop the pantheon. or i guess he could just start beating the western conference champ in the finals every year.

He's just got to win more championships. Winning in Cleveland would be a big step. Despite their idiot owner and lottery picks, they couldn't do squat without him, now he's back and they are in the finals.

I'm sure Gilbert has a comic sans note ready to go if they win.... not one, not two, not three...

Lebron will reach ridiculous legendary status if he brings a city that hasn't won anything in a very long time a championship. Still, if I'm starting an all-time NBA team and have the first pick I'm going with Jordan or Russell.

[red calzolaio]

Lebron will never surpass Jordan.

this.

[verb_to_trust]

Hoiberg for 5 yrs 25mil. I don't think its a bad hire but it still hurts that the muppets in the front office and Thibs soured in such an extreme way.

[Jammer XCI]

Mistake on the lake #1 with a shotgun 4 life. 216

[verb_to_trust]

Gross

[zeb]

Lebron will never surpass Jordan.

this.

Seems like a pretty short sighted position to take.

[verb_to_trust]

Only if you believe in the power of the media I guess. If he wins in Cleveland they will trot out the Lebron is GOAT narrative. Its coming up on 20 years since the last Bulls 3 peat so people are going to start to become ignorant enough to be spoon fed that nonsense.

[Rick Grimes]

I could care less if they compare Lebron to Jordan. No way Jordan will actually be matched. Even IF someone comes along better (will never happen), I can't see how things will go right for them at every turn to match what Jordan did. The man changed sports and the entire culture. I meet someone named Jordan every single day of my life now. Hell Lebron idolizes Mike.

[verb_to_trust]

I could care less if they compare Lebron to Jordan. No way Jordan will actually be matched. Even IF someone comes along better (will never happen), I can't see how things will go right for them at every turn to match what Jordan did. The man changed sports and the entire culture. I meet someone named Jordan every single day of my life now. Hell Lebron idolizes Mike.

Im rollin with Rick.

I actually just read something today about how lebron said he wanted to be Allen Iverson. It must have been tough growing up in akron in that era. Do you suppose Lebron modeled any of his game after Brevin Knight?

[E.H. Ruddock]

I think LeBron is great and all, but he can't be compared to Jordan yet. Hell, he can't even be compared to Kobe yet. And I don't say that referring to just championships. And I hate the Lakers.

[4/5]

I think LeBron is great and all, but he can't be compared to Jordan yet. Hell, he can't even be compared to Kobe yet. And I don't say that referring to just championships. And I hate the Lakers.

"Can't be compared to Kobe yet"????

What?

[4/5]

Only if you believe in the power of the media I guess. If he wins in Cleveland they will trot out the Lebron is GOAT narrative. Its coming up on 20 years since the last Bulls 3 peat so people are going to start to become ignorant enough to be spoon fed that nonsense.

This is absurd because the mythical status placed upon MJ by pretty much all levels of media basically ensures that this will not happen. If anything the gap between MJ and everybody else is becoming increasingly exaggerated. Please note: I love MJ, grew up loving him, and I think he's the GOAT, but it's going to take more than a single title in Cleveland for very many people to make the
"LeBron is GOAT" claim. And FWIW, which isn't much, if LeBron plays moderately close to this level for another 3-4 seasons and he does win at least another title, there probably should be a GOAT debate. He'd lose most likely, but it wouldn't be an unreasonable discussion.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I think LeBron is great and all, but he can't be compared to Jordan yet. Hell, he can't even be compared to Kobe yet. And I don't say that referring to just championships. And I hate the Lakers.

"Can't be compared to Kobe yet"????

What?

Just from a moderate fans' view, I think the jumping around teams to chase rings is a thing that a lot of people think. Michael (and Kobe) for that matter stuck it out with their teams and won multiple championships that way. I don't necessarily think that way, but I think a lot of people view LeBron that way. Especially casual fans who probably haven't watched the NBA since MJ played.

[verb_to_trust]

Only if you believe in the power of the media I guess. If he wins in Cleveland they will trot out the Lebron is GOAT narrative. Its coming up on 20 years since the last Bulls 3 peat so people are going to start to become ignorant enough to be spoon fed that nonsense.

This is absurd because the mythical status placed upon MJ by pretty much all levels of media basically ensures that this will not happen. If anything the gap between MJ and everybody else is becoming increasingly exaggerated. Please note: I love MJ, grew up loving him, and I think he's the GOAT, but it's going to take more than a single title in Cleveland for very many people to make the
"LeBron is GOAT" claim. And FWIW, which isn't much, if LeBron plays moderately close to this level for another 3-4 seasons and he does win at least another title, there probably should be a GOAT debate. He'd lose most likely, but it wouldn't be an unreasonable discussion.

I really think your underestimating the espn hype machine and what it could do for Lebron with a Cleveland championship in his back pocket.

Fwiw Lebron is probably 2 at this point.

[spike]

a big difference is lebron doesn't have the charisma jordan had, and he never will. he could be pretty funny in that upcoming amy schumer movie though.

[Orpheus]

Isn't a more accurate comparison for LeBron Magic Johnson? As a player, anyway.

[verb_to_trust]

Because hes a big guy who can pass extremely well maybe. I dont feel like his scoring game really compares to either though. Hes probably the most gifted athletically of anyone his height and weight. Thus the fact he has never been considered a great shooter and frequently relies on bully ball.

Edit: hes still obviously a great scorer but he doesnt get his in the same way.

[4/5]

Because hes a big guy who can pass extremely well maybe. I dont feel like his scoring game really compares to either though. Hes probably the most gifted athletically of anyone his height and weight. Thus the fact he has never been considered a great shooter and frequently relies on bully ball.

Edit: hes still obviously a great scorer but he doesnt get his in the same way.

There's a grace that MJ scored with that LeBron doesn't come close to possessing. I was struck by that a couple summers ago watching old games on NBAtv. MJ was just so fluid, everything looked so effortless. It was truly beautiful.

The thing with comparisons is that LeBron doesn't compare directly to Magic or Mike or anyone because there really hasn't been anybody like him.

[4/5]

I wonder how things would be different with MJ if he came up during the twitter era.

[EJ]

I wonder how things would be different with MJ if he came up during the twitter era.

He's lucky he didn't. He wouldn't have nearly the mystical accolades people have put on him.