Red Mosquito

Monkey_Driven wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:Guys, Lebron has immunity now. Stfu. (I'm serious)

Yeah, this series (and his performance in last year's Finals) has really cemented his legacy as a top 5 or 6 guy to me. He was incredible in this series (antics aside) and clearly the best player in the league when he is fully engaged.

That's too low. He could retire right now (or before last night) and he's already top 4.

4/5 wrote:

Monkey_Driven wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:Guys, Lebron has immunity now. Stfu. (I'm serious)

Yeah, this series (and his performance in last year's Finals) has really cemented his legacy as a top 5 or 6 guy to me. He was incredible in this series (antics aside) and clearly the best player in the league when he is fully engaged.

That's too low. He could retire right now (or before last night) and he's already top 4.

You're probably right. I'm probably a little harder on active players. It's also difficult to compare different eras.

I'm sure I will be more disappointed with the Warriors letting this series slip away as the summer wears on, but right now I am happy for Lebron and Cleveland. Too bad it will get burned to the ground during the RNC.

I don't know how to judge Russell, Wilt, and Kareem. I really don't. I'm willing to say that LeBron is the 2nd best player since 1980, though. Yes, ahead of Magic and Bird right now.

Bammer wrote:

Coach wrote:Lebron is only 31 and the East ain't gettin' any better....he might have four or five more cakewalks to the Finals.

KD to the Celts or Wiz

Haha, that's our wish, but we are not counting on it. But stranger things have happened.

4/5 wrote:I don't know how to judge Russell, Wilt, and Kareem. I really don't. I'm willing to say that LeBron is the 2nd best player since 1980, though. Yes, ahead of Magic and Bird right now.

Ah, were you old enough to watch Magic and Bird in their prime? You might want to walk that statement back a bit.

Coach wrote:

4/5 wrote:I don't know how to judge Russell, Wilt, and Kareem. I really don't. I'm willing to say that LeBron is the 2nd best player since 1980, though. Yes, ahead of Magic and Bird right now.

Ah, were you old enough to watch Magic and Bird in their prime? You might want to walk that statement back a bit.

Lebron is right there with Magic and Bird, probably a little ahead. His longevity and production on both sides of the court will win out when his career is all said and done.

I could see him passing Bird at some point, but given that Magic played all five positions and won 5 titles and an NCAA title...that's going to be a tough hurdle but not an impossible one.

BDB wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:If Lebron was faking that injury it was probably to get a breather before the free throws, which is actually pretty smart. The emotion after the game was absolutely real.

C'mon man.

Stop hating. It's over now.

To me, James is tied for second with Magic.

He's basically Magic in a superman's body.

I guess people still don't like Lebron because he isn't a sociopath like MJ?

BDB wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:If Lebron was faking that injury it was probably to get a breather before the free throws, which is actually pretty smart. The emotion after the game was absolutely real.

C'mon man.

What? Being able to catch your breath and gathering your thoughts before the free throws is actually pretty brilliant if he was in fact milking it. I'm not hating at all.

Coach wrote:I could see him passing Bird at some point, but given that Magic played all five positions and won 5 titles and an NCAA title...that's going to be a tough hurdle but not an impossible one.

See, you're basically reducing it to a rings argument because LeBron has also played all five positions. I'm just not into that. I'm not knocking anybody, I just think that LeBron has been the hands down best player in the league for nearly a decade and is the single most well-rounded player in league history and with his individual dominance and team accomplishments and longevity/durability he's second only to MJ.

And his wife doesn't tweet

The fact that he has made 6 straight Finals and played well or historically great in all but one of them outweighs any total rings talk to me.

It's not even a discussion anymore really. Last night made him NBA immortal.

When MJ was 31 he had 3 rings in 3 appearances and 3 MVP's. Lebron has 4 MVPs the same amount of rings and double the appearances. He'll get to at least 3 more finals whether he wins who knows but its not out of the question he catches MJ.

MJ had an old man game. Lebron isn't chase down blocking anyone at 35 and his jumper is pretty broke by comparison. He'll deteriorate pretty fast as an elite player once the first injury hits.

verb_to_trust wrote:It's not even a discussion anymore really. Last night made him NBA immortal.

no debate.
also no debate that regardless of that, he always will be a self absorbed and selfish prima donna.

BDB wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:It's not even a discussion anymore really. Last night made him NBA immortal.

no debate.
also no debate that regardless of that, he always will be a self absorbed and selfish prima donna.

Considering the hype/expectations and temptations he's had since he was 15 it is amazing he's as well adjusted as he is.

Monkey_Driven wrote:

BDB wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:It's not even a discussion anymore really. Last night made him NBA immortal.

no debate.
also no debate that regardless of that, he always will be a self absorbed and selfish prima donna.

Considering the hype/expectations and temptations he's had since he was 15 it is amazing he's as well adjusted as he is.