Matt Barnes to Miami? The Decision pt 2

[Odoggg]

Lebron could be better than Magic since he is about 2x the athlete. Only problem is he's never had a James Worthy/Byron Scott talent running next to him. That all changes...

Showtime is back!! Eventhough I'm a true Knicks fan and hate the Heat back from the Hardaway/Mourning wars, they are gonna be fun as to watch...

[mavsfan1000]

Lehype is no Magic Johnson. Ridiculous comparison.

[namlook]

Playoffs career averages

Magic Johnson: 19.5 ppg, 12.3 assts, 7.7 rpg.

Lebron James: 29.3 ppg, 7,3 assts, 8.4 rpg.

Pretty even, imo.

It's not about stats it's about winning. Lebron is nowhere near Magic as a winner.

[Zelophehad]

I'd like Barnes on the Mavs tbh.

[Flo-Rida]

It's not about stats it's about winning. Lebron is nowhere near Magic as a winner.

No denying magic was a winner unlike lebron . BUT were comparing the skill set between them.

[ducks]

magic made other players better and won
james did not

[mavsfan1000]

magic made other players better and won
james did not

This needs to be repeated over and over so people can see why the comparisons are ridiculous.

[Darrin]

magic made other players better and won
james did not

Yes, because Boobie Gibson, JJ Hickson, Varejao, and Delonte were superstars before Lebron James played with them. He can dominate with his passing and has the will and the desire to do so. That is where the comparison comes from--the amount of talent and the mindset.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the league's iron man and scoring Champion. How does that get overlooked that the Lakers won with him? If you have watched Lebron James you know that he can dominate with his passing. Shots didn't go down in the 2007 postseason. The Cavaliers had the passing lanes shut down in games one and two. James was forced to create off the dribble, and by the time they made a pass to anyone but Ilgauskas and Gooden, it clanked off the rim. The Spurs were a superior team. That's it. He got them to the Finals, scoring 30 ppg, winning game 5 on the Pistons home-floor in which he scored 25 of the final 27 points (48 total), at the age of 23. It was Kareem's team until 1984 or 1985.

Save this criticism for Grant Hill, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady. The book isn't written on Lebron James yet. You'll look like and idiot if he wins 2 of the next 3 Championships. Of course, Jerry West playing with Wilt Chamberlain didn't matter. Kobe playing with Shaq or Gasol didn't matter. Magic playing with Kareem and Worthy didn't matter. Jordan playing with Pippen and Rodman or Grant didn't matter. KG never winning in Minnesota but getting to the Finals twice with the Celtics didn't matter. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen never got there alone. They all equally walked away winners. But because he got the chance to pick his teammates, and picked an All-Star Ballot worth, even if he wins, you'll scowl that he couldn't do it alone.

[Odoggg]

Magic could have taken the Cavs and beaten the Celtics, Orlando, and the Lakers.

STFU And get out of here with that claptrap!! Yeah I can see it now, Magic running the floor and dishin to Mo Williams for the jam!! Lol!! Or no look pass to ....wait for it.....Anderson Varajeo instead of Worthy!!!

[Darrin]

Magic could have taken the Cavs and beaten the Celtics, Orlando, and the Lakers. Imagine PP, or Artest trying to guard Magic on the block, or trying to keep up with him on a fast break. James is simply not a winner. Duncan never had a Kareem or a Worthy, but he carried his team to a le past a great Laker team. Hakeem had a team full of role players, yet he raised his game and made everyone better when it counted. Billups never had star players, but he carried his team over a great Laker team. Just just simply does not make his teammates better, and the same will occur in Miami. Bosh and Wade are already good. This was a white flag moment for James. He will always be remembered for quitting on his team and bailing to go be Wades side kick.

Hakeem--Clyde Drexler. People forget how off-the-planet Veron Maxwell was in 1994. He was better than Starks.
Billups--Leading scorer and best option was Hamilton, most skilled player was Rasheed Wallace (and he was huge in games 3 and 4), and the leader and cornerstone was Ben Wallace (18 points, 22 rebounds in game 5). They did it together, why did you single out Billups?
Duncan--Did it with David Robinson. In 2007, it was Tony Parker who carved up that Cavaliers' team.

The greatest players in the history of the league are given that le because they accomplished what people thought they couldn't do. Almost everyone just knew James would win the last two les, but he failed to lead. He flat out quit in game 5 against the Celtics, and blew that series. Now he has to deal with the consequences.

Again, is that the GMs fault? The Coaches Fault? The other players? Or was it Lebron choking? Giving you the benefit of the doubt, you are talking about one series in 4 years.

[heatluva]

You look like an idiot continuing to say IF, IF, IF. With the exception of Grant, James career has gone in the direction of those other stat padders. He'll find his role playing behind Wade. There's no pressure to be great or to lead that Miami team. Stop comparing him to all those other players. None of those other players were gifted the le of King of the NBA. The crown was to heavy for James. None of those other players were predicted to dominate the league like James was. Get over it, he's a loser.

who the are you? get the outta my forum.

[Findog]

Lakaluva dropping truth in this thread.

[HarlemHeat37]

The talk about Lebron in the playoffs is hilarious..

The only players that have ever won with players of that caliber are Hakeem and Duncan in '94 and 2003..the difference is that those 2 respective seasons were weak years in the NBA, and they both had teams that were built perfectly around them on both ends of the floor..

Lebron has had some historic playoff performances, he's had some historic series', he's usually a big-time playoff performer, he's made plenty of playoff game winners/clutch shots..

Unlike the other "stat-padders" that were mentioned, Lebron James is a back-to-back MVP winner and has been a very good playoff performer..he led an average supporting cast to the NBA Finals..it's not comparable at all..

Hate him for what he "did" to Cleveland all you want, but dismissing his play is ridiculous..

[Killakobe81]

The talk about Lebron in the playoffs is hilarious..

The only players that have ever won with players of that caliber are Hakeem and Duncan in '94 and 2003..the difference is that those 2 respective seasons were weak years in the NBA, and they both had teams that were built perfectly around them on both ends of the floor..

Lebron has had some historic playoff performances, he's had some historic series', he's usually a big-time playoff performer, he's made plenty of playoff game winners/clutch shots..

Unlike the other "stat-padders" that were mentioned, Lebron James is a back-to-back MVP winner and has been a very good playoff performer..he led an average supporting cast to the NBA Finals..it's not comparable at all..

Hate him for what he "did" to Cleveland all you want, but dismissing his play is ridiculous..

Lebron is an "all-time" talent no disputing that.
Did he quit? ... if he did it was much like Kobe in Game 7 vs. Phoenix ...

But despit it all you still need to win les. He has the help now how can you complain when the 2nd or 3rd best player in the NBA is on your team?

TBH if he doesnt win and do so convincingly this year ... then the questions SHOULD start ...

[TheKingOfMIA6]

It's not about stats it's about winning. Lebron is nowhere near Magic as a winner.

Ok then

Bryant<<<Horry

[HarlemHeat37]

If he doesn't win a le with Miami in the next 2 years, then feel free to question him..

Questioning a guy that has made the NBA Finals and has put up huge playoff series', despite never having a top 50 player on his team, seems kind of stupid IMO..

[HarlemHeat37]

So, basically you're saying Lebron is Steve Nash, or Karl Malone? Lebron had a team that was built perfectly around him too. Two 7fters, two of the top 5 three point shooters, hustle players, guys that can board, guys that can get their own shots, he had it all. He had so much that you all were saying he was going to sweep the Lakers. It's already written, son, you can't go back and change it. I won't let you. If Dirk has to live with it, so does James, although Dirk never quit.

The Lakers were favored to win the le, stop being dramatic..I picked Orlando to beat them too..the only reason anybody would pick Cleveland is because of Lebron's ability..

Lebron's team was horribly flawed..

Other than Lebron, the 3 players that were given the biggest role on the team were Mo Williams, Jamison and Shaq..those 3 players are 3 of the worst defenders in the NBA, the 2 formers being 2 of the worst defenders in NBA history..when you have the 3 of those guys on the floor at the same time, you have 3 liabilities at the same time..

Jamison's inability against Garnett on both ends was a huge part of Boston's win in the series, arguably the biggest part..

Mo Williams' decline in play in the playoffs has been historically bad the past 2 seasons..his stats are some of the worst I've ever seen in that regard..

The Cavs' 3-point shooting was below average in the playoffs, so there's no argument for spacing..

In addition to this, the coaching was horrible..the poor usage of Shaq(played him and used him too much), the under-usage(?) of Varajeo and Hickson, the lack of adjustments..

Lebron didn't have a great playoffs, but his supporting cast was poor once again..the year before was even worse, where Lebron put up a historic series vs. Orlando, and a historic playoffs overall, yet received no help whatsoever..

[HarlemHeat37]

Mo is top 50, Shaq is top 50, Antawn is top 50.

I'm a big Dirk supporter, stop generalizing Spurs fans..

[Xevious]

Lebron is an "all-time" talent no disputing that.
Did he quit? ... if he did it was much like Kobe in Game 7 vs. Phoenix ...

But despit it all you still need to win les. He has the help now how can you complain when the 2nd or 3rd best player in the NBA is on your team?

TBH if he doesnt win and do so convincingly this year ... then the questions SHOULD start ...

Agreed.

[xellos88330]

The difference is Kobe quit because his team sucked. Lebron quit because his mother sucked.

I see what you did there.

[Andrew Bynum]

I'm a big Dirk supporter, stop generalizing Spurs fans..

You're such a ing loser.

[Kindergarten Cop]

Mo is top 50, Shaq is top 50, Antawn is top 50.

[024]

i don't want to do the research so i will ask it here. has lebron ever played alongside a current all-star? mo williams doesn't count since he was the second alternate. and has lebron every played with a teammate that became an all-star later (maybe on a different team after leaving the cavs)?

the second question i am more curious about because it would denote that lebron had young talent next to him, not just a bunch of trash/has beens. similar to duncan's 2003 team. no all star but loads of talent in parker and ginobili.

[Darrin]

i don't want to do the research so i will ask it here. has lebron ever played alongside a current all-star? mo williams doesn't count since he was the second alternate. and has lebron every played with a teammate that became an all-star later (maybe on a different team after leaving the cavs)?

the second question i am more curious about because it would denote that lebron had young talent next to him, not just a bunch of trash/has beens. similar to duncan's 2003 team. no all star but loads of talent in parker and ginobili.

Zyudrunas Ilgauskas was an All-Star in 2002, I believe.
Shaq is obviously an All-Star.
Mo Williams made it, but as you said, a second alternate.
Antawn Jamison has been on an All-Star Team.

However, who, in their prime, made the All-Star team while teammates with Lebron? Mo Williams.

[TheKingOfMIA6]

Zyudrunas Ilgauskas was an All-Star in 2002, I believe.
Shaq is obviously an All-Star.
Mo Williams made it, but as you said, a second alternate.
Antawn Jamison has been on an All-Star Team.

However, who, in their prime, made the All-Star team while teammates with Lebron? Mo Williams.

Only reason Mo made the All Star team because of someones injury and during the regular season he might have played like an all star but in the playoffs he was anti-all star.