CaneBrain 95 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I think he is the best small forward in the league.He is in the top 4 of players I would start building a team around now, but exactly where he would fall on that list depends on a lot of other factors.There are only 4 players in the discussion at the moment: Lebron, Wade, Paul, and Dwight Howard. (Derrick Rose could make the leap someday soon but not for now)No one likes Wade more than me but he is injury prone so if you take him over Lebron....you're nuts.Howard's post game is still raw and his FT shooting is a liability. Plus, he has shown no instinct for being a go-to-guy. Last night's collapse in Boston was a microcosm of him and Orlando as a team (plus Shaq calling SVG the master of panic is starting to look prescient). If you take him over Lebron, you're nuts.Chris Paul is awesome but he is a point guard. The list of championship teams where the best player was a 1 is small. It's basically Detroit (Isiah Thomas) and the Lakers (Magic Johnson). And both those teams had a LOT more than their star PG (especially the Showtime LA squad). I'd still take Lebron in a heartbeat (because he, like Magic, can play all 5 positions) but Paul is the closest (though he only beats Wade because of Wade's injury history).What factors would be on your list? Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 The main considerations for me would be more about intended style of play, who the coach is, what conference I would be in, things of that nature.Lebron can't play 5 positions and everyone who says that is just talking out of their ass. In what world can he play center? He might get away playing center in some euro league were all the bigs like to float around the 3 point line set picks and just pop 3's. But he can't guard any post playing centers for 4 quarters, Howard, Shaq, or Duncan, hell he can't guard Big Baby in the post. He isn't a legit 4, because he has the same post moves my 9 year old son does. There are point guards who have 10x the post moves Lebron does. Lebron is a perimeter player so stop with the 5 positions bullshit. Howard isn't that bad of a FT shooter. He is also defensive player of the year and by far the best rebounder in the league. He gets fouled more than just about anyone in the league too so he is always putting pressure on the other teams defense no matter how unpolished he might be on offense. His number of made free throws match up to Lebron's. He is a go to post move and a consistent 15-18 footer from absolutely owning this league.The only knock you have against Wade to Lebron is that Wade has had more injuries. Wade is 5 inches shorter, was better at scoring, assists, blocks, steals, FG%, and if I needed a basket at the end of a game I'd trust Wade to get it for me more than Lebron. That is how he got his Finals MVP after all.Also Deron Williams could be in this discussion along with Paul ahead of Rose. The problem with PG's in this discussion right now is that both Lebron and Wade handle the ball so much they make a PG on their team less important. Link to post Share on other sites
keith crime 8 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Howard is that bad of a free throw shooterHow can your superstar only get 10 shots in the most important game of the year? Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Howard is that bad of a free throw shooterHow can your superstar only get 10 shots in the most important game of the year?Because Skip is your pg and he is surrounded by guys with a shoot first mentality like Turk. The downside of a dominant center is that someone has to feed him the ball. I'm waiting to see the first point center in the league.I could be wrong, but Lebron has had trouble breaking 70% from FT's till this year. I seem to remember that being discussed on 1st and 10 or some other similar ESPN show. I didn't go bother to verify. Link to post Share on other sites
keith crime 8 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Because Skip is your pg and he is surrounded by guys with a shoot first mentality like Turk. The downside of a dominant center is that someone has to feed him the ball. I'm waiting to see the first point center in the league.I could be wrong, but Lebron has had trouble breaking 70% from FT's till this year. I seem to remember that being discussed on 1st and 10 or some other similar ESPN show. I didn't go bother to verify.lebron is 70% or better every year of his career and 78% this yearDwight Howard shoots 60%if not being able to get the ball from his teammates is something he can't change by demanding the ball - then yes it is a downside Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 The Magic are missing a player like Battier on their team, a pass first spot up shooter who plays good defense. All their shooters (Lewis and Hedo and that bastard from Duke) aren't good passers and like to play 1 on 1. They miss Nelson. Link to post Share on other sites
I_fold08 1 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 The Magic are missing a player like Battier on their team, a pass first spot up shooter who plays good defense. All their shooters (Lewis and Hedo and that bastard from Duke) aren't good passers and like to play 1 on 1. They miss Nelson.they should start anthony johnson imo Link to post Share on other sites
FCP Bob 1,321 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 The Magic are missing a player like Battier on their team, a pass first spot up shooter who plays good defense. All their shooters (Lewis and Hedo and that bastard from Duke) aren't good passers and like to play 1 on 1. They miss Nelson.Every team could use Shane Battier, he's one of the most underrated players in the game. I have a huge man crush on him. Link to post Share on other sites
KingJames 11 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Oh man, I can't wait.HA Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Every team could use Shane Battier, he's one of the most underrated players in the game. I have a huge man crush on him.I think he is related to Sam Cassel, they both have huge alien heads. Link to post Share on other sites
keith crime 8 Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 lots of good kobe vs lebron talkhttp://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-40-8...eBron-2009.html Link to post Share on other sites
CaneBrain 95 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 From Bill Simmons chat today (and I agree with his assessment):Anthony (Boston): How can the Kobe Lebron question still linger. Lebron looks like he's playing a video game with everybody on Easy and he's set to superstar? Bill Simmons: (12:40 PM ET ) To me, there's no debate. LeBron is the best basketball player alive in affects games in every conceivable way. Kobe had a fantastic career but cannot get it done EVERY night anymore and needs a ton of help from refs to get his points. He's a jumpshooter at this stage of his career, and if he's not scoring, he can't really affect games ... LeBron can dominate a game even if he only takes 10 shots. Link to post Share on other sites
Canary3 1 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Kobe being a jumpshooter means that he needs less help from the refs than Lebron does to get points. Link to post Share on other sites
CaneBrain 95 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Kobe being a jumpshooter means that he needs less help from the refs than Lebron does to get points.or that he drives less and gets bailed out on those drives at a higher percentage. Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 or that he drives less and gets bailed out on those drives at a higher percentage.No one gets more calls than Lebron, including Kobe. Have you ever seen him get called for a charge? Link to post Share on other sites
chgocubs99 0 Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 No one gets more calls than Lebron, including Kobe. Have you ever seen him get called for a charge?I've never seen anyone even try to take one. Why do you think that could be? They're all real scared?Or perhaps he has more creativity and quickness for his size and build, combined with well above average intelligence, than any other player in the league. Link to post Share on other sites
CaneBrain 95 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 No one gets more calls than Lebron, including Kobe. Have you ever seen him get called for a charge?no but I saw him score 49 points on 20-30 shooting (with a bunch of boards and assists) in the conference finals and people on here still complained about his performance. so i dont really know what to think anymore. Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 no but I saw him score 49 points on 20-30 shooting (with a bunch of boards and assists) in the conference finals and people on here still complained about his performance. so i dont really know what to think anymore.I'm not complaining about it he had a phenominal game, except for getting the win. Link to post Share on other sites
I_fold08 1 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 no but I saw him score 49 points on 20-30 shooting (with a bunch of boards and assists) in the conference finals and people on here still complained about his performance. so i dont really know what to think anymore.also 6 boards isnt a bunch Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I just saw LJ get called for an offensive foul.I need to go clean my underwear out. Link to post Share on other sites
I_fold08 1 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I just saw LJ get called for an offensive foul.I need to go clean my underwear out.go get another pair Link to post Share on other sites
Jadaki 0 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 And a travel, fuck I'm gonna need a whole new weeks worth of underwear. Link to post Share on other sites
I_fold08 1 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 never thought id see the day Link to post Share on other sites
keith crime 8 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss Link to post Share on other sites
CaneBrain 95 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Lebron was actually pretty crappy down the stretch of this one but.....WOW. Make a shot like that and you had a sick night. He just saved Cleveland's season with that one. Link to post Share on other sites
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