Reggie Miller : "LeBron James would make the Lakers a better team than Kobe does"

[TheMACHINE]

Huh?

Reggie Miller, ESPN, everyone joining to agree

No more debate. The debate is dead

LeBron is the best in the NBA. period

Jordan was a career 50% FG shooter.

Kobe is 45%

game.

LeBron > Kobe

plus,


LeBron has NEVER had a team as talented as the Lakers are. NEVER

[RsxPiimp]

^

[ChrisRichards]

Pls dont associate me with MiamiHeat. That guy is an Idiot (no disrespect to the idiots out there)

[FkLA]

Of Course Lebron would make the Lakers better than they are without Kobe, The Royal treatment he gets from the refs would be a huge asset as far as winning games. Bring the media's darling to the most popular team in the League with the royal treatment he gets from the refs, the Lakers would be unstoppable.That would be sterns dream for Lebron to play for the Lakers.

I think Jamstone pretty much nailed it as far as their leadership goes. They both lead, but do in a different way. Kobe is about business, no bull . Lebron jokes and have fun with his teammates, but lets see if that dancing and clowning around on the sidelines bring the cavs championships in the future. It's also funny people having amnesia forgetting how good Micheal Jordan really was, Jordan would make the Cavs an elite team as well.

Did a Laker fan really just talk about refs and Stern playing favorites, really? Really?!? Really?!? After having Gasol gift wrapped, after obvious and blatant favoritism for the Lakers in the playoffs (Kings WCF most notably), after Stern himself came out and said his dream Finals matchup is "Lakers vs Lakers"", etc, etc, etc.

Also you act like Kobe doesnt get the same calls that Lebron does. Sit the down son, Laker fans are the last people that should be complaining about Bron getting calls.

[hitmanyr2k]

The thing with Jordan's great 50% field goal percentage is that I don't think he'd shoot 50% if he played in this era of NBA basketball (late 90s to present). I don't think it's necessarily about the hand check rule or zone defense. I think it's more about Jordan's height, size, and strength for the shooting guard position in that era and the lack of emphasis on defense in that era of NBA basketball.

For much of the 80s and even early 90s, shooting guards were around 6-2 or 6-3 and 175-180 lbs. Jordan and Drexler were the new bigger, longer, taller breed of shooting guards. That gave them advantages in scoring on most nights. And, especially when Pippen joined the Bulls, it was difficult for teams to switch their small forwards to guard Jordan because Pippen would be able to exploit whatever smaller guard would switch on to him.

Also, defense has changed a lot since the time of the mid 80s to the mid 90s. It's not just zone defenses and the charge circles. It's strategies and emphasis. There were only a few teams like the Pistons and the Knicks in Jordan's time that played really tough, hard nose defense. You can see it in the FG% of a lot of players in the same era. Guys like Chris Mullin and Bernard King were well over 50% field goal shooters for their careers. Even less athletic, jumpshooting, smaller 2-guards like Jeff Hornacek and Rolando Blackman shot 50% from the field. In today's NBA, athletes are bigger and stronger and longer, they close harder on jumpshooters, have more length to bother shots, are more athletic, there are better coaching schemes. In fact, that's what makes players like LeBron and Wade (except for this season) so special that they're still able to shoot 47-50% from the field as perimeter players, although I do attribute it much to the fact that they attack the basket more than most perimeter players. But if you look at some of the other "great" scoring 2-guards over the last 10 years or so, like Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, none of them have been better than 45% from the field. It's a different NBA than when Jordan played, especially his prime years.

Now, that said, I still think Jordan would likely be a 46-48% field goal shooter, which would still be better than most 2-guards in the league, but I don't think he'd be a career 50% FG shooter and have seasons where he'd be shooting 52-53% from the field.

I think differently. The thing that separates Jordan from all of those other players in bold is that he stayed away from chucking the 3-ball. T-Mac, Vince, AI all played like idiots and in Vince's case STILL do They're in love with the 3 pointer. Wade was pretty much a mini-Jordan. At 6'4 he was shooting a high percentage because he stuck with the midrange game and attacking the rim. Now he's playing like the rest of the idiots and chucking 3 balls and you're seeing it affect his efficiency. If Lebron wasn't chucking 3's he'd easily be way over 50% shooting...probably approaching Jordan's career high 54% mark. Even Kobe started playing smarter this year sticking with the midrange/post game and staying away from chucking 3's (which is why his percentage was so high at the beginning of the season) but he's fallen right back into his dumb habits of launching 3's as well. Jordan would easily hit 50% shooting in this weak era...especially with the rules the way they are now.

I've always said Jordan's b-ball IQ and willingness to work for the good shot always separated him from the mental midget swingmen of today and that's holds true.

[TheMACHINE]

Also you act like Kobe doesnt get the same calls that Lebron does. Sit the down son, Laker fans are the last people to complain about Bron getting calls.

haha..u actually think Kobe gets the same calls as lebron?!

[Metheny]

I dont think anyone said Jordan would'nt make the Cavs elite. The Cavs today even without Lebron are a playoff team. What was said is that "Jordan replacing Lebron would not make them a le contender" with Mo Williams as your second option. Thats the sticking and ongoing point.

You sir are a idiot

[FkLA]

Assist average/totals has nothing to do with playmaking abilities. Kobe gets a lot of hockey assists, similar to Duncan. Without a doubt in my mind, Kobe is a better playmaker, has a better court vision than Bron. In an isolation setting, Kobe would average more than 5 assist a game. Matter of fact he already did average around 8 a game in one season.


The difference is Lebron is much more of a willing passer than Kobe.

Kobe has better court-vision than Bron? Ridiculous. As far as Kobe being a better playmaker, I'll give you the fact that Kobe has the tools to be as good of a playmaker as Bron. But like you said he just doesnt have that willingness to be that, he thrives on scoring. As far as being a playmaker and facilitator Bron wins the comparison hands down, its not even that close either.

haha..u actually think Kobe gets the same calls as lebron?!

Yessir. Stern and the NBA market the NBA using both Bron's and Kobe as their main selling image, lets not try to act like the NBA is all about Bron. Kobe is right up there especially considering the fact that he wears purple and gold.

[Metheny]

The thing with Jordan's great 50% field goal percentage is that I don't think he'd shoot 50% if he played in this era of NBA basketball (late 90s to present). I don't think it's necessarily about the hand check rule or zone defense. I think it's more about Jordan's height, size, and strength for the shooting guard position in that era and the lack of emphasis on defense in that era of NBA basketball.

For much of the 80s and even early 90s, shooting guards were around 6-2 or 6-3 and 175-180 lbs. Jordan and Drexler were the new bigger, longer, taller breed of shooting guards. That gave them advantages in scoring on most nights. And, especially when Pippen joined the Bulls, it was difficult for teams to switch their small forwards to guard Jordan because Pippen would be able to exploit whatever smaller guard would switch on to him.

Also, defense has changed a lot since the time of the mid 80s to the mid 90s. It's not just zone defenses and the charge circles. It's strategies and emphasis. There were only a few teams like the Pistons and the Knicks in Jordan's time that played really tough, hard nose defense. You can see it in the FG% of a lot of players in the same era. Guys like Chris Mullin and Bernard King were well over 50% field goal shooters for their careers. Even less athletic, jumpshooting, smaller 2-guards like Jeff Hornacek and Rolando Blackman shot 50% from the field. In today's NBA, athletes are bigger and stronger and longer, they close harder on jumpshooters, have more length to bother shots, are more athletic, there are better coaching schemes. In fact, that's what makes players like LeBron and Wade (except for this season) so special that they're still able to shoot 47-50% from the field as perimeter players, although I do attribute it much to the fact that they attack the basket more than most perimeter players. But if you look at some of the other "great" scoring 2-guards over the last 10 years or so, like Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, none of them have been better than 45% from the field. It's a different NBA than when Jordan played, especially his prime years.

Now, that said, I still think Jordan would likely be a 46-48% field goal shooter, which would still be better than most 2-guards in the league, but I don't think he'd be a career 50% FG shooter and have seasons where he'd be shooting 52-53% from the field.

And you sir are a bigger idiot jordan would dominate even more

[RsxPiimp]

You sir are a idiot

You are A idiot.


Anyway. The Cavs remind me of Houston Rockets. No star power but great chemistry and a deep understanding of defensive roles/positions. Houston are 24-21. Thats good enough for a 5th-6th seed in the East.

[Metheny]

I don't think you watch the nba cause its claer without lebron cavs are nothing like artest has stated

[21_Blessings]

Artest is also literally re ed, fyi

[RsxPiimp]

Kobe has better court-vision than Bron? Ridiculous..

I think its a wash. It could go both ways. I could understand why people would pick Bron in that department though, as much as I hate to gauge a players ability with raw assist numbers, Lebron edges Kobe because as we both agreed, Lebron is much willing passer.

[ambchang]

The thing with Jordan's great 50% field goal percentage is that I don't think he'd shoot 50% if he played in this era of NBA basketball (late 90s to present). I don't think it's necessarily about the hand check rule or zone defense. I think it's more about Jordan's height, size, and strength for the shooting guard position in that era and the lack of emphasis on defense in that era of NBA basketball.

For much of the 80s and even early 90s, shooting guards were around 6-2 or 6-3 and 175-180 lbs. Jordan and Drexler were the new bigger, longer, taller breed of shooting guards. That gave them advantages in scoring on most nights. And, especially when Pippen joined the Bulls, it was difficult for teams to switch their small forwards to guard Jordan because Pippen would be able to exploit whatever smaller guard would switch on to him.

Also, defense has changed a lot since the time of the mid 80s to the mid 90s. It's not just zone defenses and the charge circles. It's strategies and emphasis. There were only a few teams like the Pistons and the Knicks in Jordan's time that played really tough, hard nose defense. You can see it in the FG% of a lot of players in the same era. Guys like Chris Mullin and Bernard King were well over 50% field goal shooters for their careers. Even less athletic, jumpshooting, smaller 2-guards like Jeff Hornacek and Rolando Blackman shot 50% from the field. In today's NBA, athletes are bigger and stronger and longer, they close harder on jumpshooters, have more length to bother shots, are more athletic, there are better coaching schemes. In fact, that's what makes players like LeBron and Wade (except for this season) so special that they're still able to shoot 47-50% from the field as perimeter players, although I do attribute it much to the fact that they attack the basket more than most perimeter players. But if you look at some of the other "great" scoring 2-guards over the last 10 years or so, like Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, none of them have been better than 45% from the field. It's a different NBA than when Jordan played, especially his prime years.

Now, that said, I still think Jordan would likely be a 46-48% field goal shooter, which would still be better than most 2-guards in the league, but I don't think he'd be a career 50% FG shooter and have seasons where he'd be shooting 52-53% from the field.

I agree with most the points you made, but Jeff Hornacek was a 50% shooter in the mid-ninties, against the bruising style of grind-it-out defenses. He was a dead-eye 3pt and mid range shooter, and he take smart shots. Him shooting over 50% is not an indication of how much defense sucked back then, it was more to do with how good he was as a shooter and the kind of shots he took.

Rolando Blackman, while not all that athletic, was a legit 6'6". He too was a fantastic mid-range shooter.

Athleticism has something to do with FG%, but even a guy like Steve Nash is shooting over 50% nowadays. Others like Jose Calderon and Ray Allen are up there as well. They did it through smart shot selection.

[RsxPiimp]

Artest is also literally re ed, fyi

Bingo

[in2deep]

Pippen's teammates in the starting line-up that season were BJ Armstrong, Pete Myers, Horace Grant, and Bill Cartwright. The second leading scorer was Horace Grant who was a jumpshooting power forward who couldn't create his own shot. They replaced Michael Jordan with Pete Myers who averaged 8 PPG that season. They did have Kukoc off the bench but it was his rookie season.

What Pippen helped Chicago to accomplish in 1993-94 was pretty incredible considering the lack of talent he had around him.

I'm not one to say Pippen is still absolutely a top 50 player today. I think he's probably on the fringe. But I do think he's a legit HOFer. He was basically putting up 20/7/6 in those Bulls championship runs. He's a weird case though, because he's often either really overrated by some or really underrated by some. But, while Jordan helped make Scottie the player he ended up becoming, I still think Scottie deserves much of the credit. I mean, if Jordan could do that to Scottie, why couldn't he do it to BJ Armstrong or Stacey King or Jason Caffey? Give credit to Scottie for working hard to becoming the player he was.

Again, Pippen had help of a championship coach and playing in the same championship squad minus Jordan.

My point is Pippen did not singlehandedly accomplish that season.

[in2deep]

the cavs are a playoff team without Lebron???



wow... just wow

[Scola]

I'm not sure about that, however the Cavs would definitely not be as good with Kobe instead of Lebron. Lebron has managed to take a totally crappy team and make them into contenders.

[Metheny]

Its clear you guys didn't watch jordan play he would average more points this era is much much easier. Its also clear that the cavs offense and defense runs through lebron he elevates his team. They literally really are nothing without him.

[RsxPiimp]

the cavs are a playoff team without Lebron???



wow... just wow

I already stated why I think they are,so care to explain why they wont be a playoff team without Lebron?



Mind you, their key players (Delonte, Mo Williams, Z and Varejao) have a positive +/- when Lebron is on the bench.

[hater]

as much as I hate it, gotta agree with cavfan

[TheMACHINE]

I'm not sure about that, however the Cavs would definitely not be as good with Kobe instead of Lebron. Lebron has managed to take a totally crappy team and make them into contenders.

Who says Kobe cant do that with the same squad?

[hater]

Who says Kobe cant do that with the same squad?

I do

[RsxPiimp]

Its clear you guys didn't watch jordan play he would average more points this era is much much easier. Its also clear that the cavs offense and defense runs through lebron he elevates his team. They literally really are nothing without him.

On paper, the Cavs are really nothing without Lebron but on the court the Cavs shares the same propensity in defense and hustling as the Rockets.

[hitmanyr2k]

Again, Pippen had help of a championship coach and playing in the same championship squad minus Jordan.

My point is Pippen did not singlehandedly accomplish that season.

Give Pippen a legit 20 point scorer to go alongside him in '94 and the Bulls are most likely back in the Finals that year without Jordan. You can't replace Jordan with a freakin CBA scrub in Pete Myers and talk championship.