NBA: If LeBron doesn't win another championship....

[313]

Dad Killer is the consensus GOAT, he's the comparison..

Ghazi made the argument that he's playing in a tougher era. I responded with a comparison to the 80s, which I believe is the tougher era.

[313]

Bosh/Wade is pretty much on par with Pippen/Rodman, Id rather have Pippen/Rodman, tbh.

the superfriends argument is weak.

This is a weaker era though so it balances out

[Phillip]

Larry Bird??

huge Bird fan here, and personally i think Bird > Magic, but Lebron >>> Bird already. no question about it.

fact is, Lebron is already getting some legit arguments as being the greatest ever, and hes barely in his prime. 2-3 more rings, and continued excellence at this current level, and I think there is no disputing it whatsoever, that hes the greatest ever.

[Cry Havoc]

This is a weaker era though so it balances out

No, it's not.

[lefty]

Lebron is doing it against a much tougher era.

[Cry Havoc]

huge Bird fan here, and personally i think Bird > Magic, but Lebron >>> Bird already. no question about it.

fact is, Lebron is already getting some legit arguments as being the greatest ever, and hes barely in his prime. 2-3 more rings, and continued excellence at this current level, and I think there is no disputing it whatsoever, that hes the greatest ever.

Eh, let's not forget at his peak that Jordan was the best offensive and defensive player in the league. Guy was a monster and brought it every night.

LeBron's got quite the road ta' hoe before he ascends to the peak, tbh. Though if he gets another MVP he's gotta be top 3 all-time.

[HarlemHeat37]

The only players that had as much 2-way responsibility as Lebron are 2003 Duncan and 1994 Olajuwon, tbh..

Lebron is one of 4 players in NBA history to win a le by leading his team in Points, Assists, Rebounds and either Steals/Blocks..he's also one of 4 #1 guys in NBA history to win a le with his 2nd option averaging 16 PPG or less, tbh..

[lefty]

lolno Lebron is not better than Bird

[313]

huge Bird fan here, and personally i think Bird > Magic, but Lebron >>> Bird already. no question about it.

fact is, Lebron is already getting some legit arguments as being the greatest ever, and hes barely in his prime. 2-3 more rings, and continued excellence at this current level, and I think there is no disputing it whatsoever, that hes the greatest ever.

2-3 more rings? He is only 29. TP is like 30 or 31 so I guess it's not outlandish.

I really hope he doesn't ring again though...

[Cry Havoc]

lolno Lebron is not better than Bird

I'd still have Bird ahead of LeBron, just because Bird's career resume is so damn impressive. But LeBron is right there. He's right there.

[313]

lolno Lebron is not better than Bird

[Ghazi]

I think people are underrating just how great this era of basketball is and just how advanced NBA have gotten as far as coaching, analytics, advanced stats, etc etc.

[313]

Bird took that Celtics team from the lottery to 60+ win season his rookie year iirc

[Rogue]

He's tied with Tim Duncan career-wise if he doesn't win no more rings imho. Sure his impact on the game can be surreal but I don't think he functions as the hub of a system as much as Duncan does with the Spurs. Bron has to do things himself to help his team, but he hardly makes the team and teammates better, so when age takes its toll on him, it'll be very hard for him to continue to lead his team with limited athleticism imho.

[BatManu20]

I initially took Lebron out of the equation for GOAT altogether when he decided to spurn his squad to team up with 2 of the best players in the game in order to win, and then followed that with playing embarrassingly bad in the '11 Finals where he averaged only 2 PPG in the 4th quarter of that series and shot 60% from the FT line while being extremely passive in crunch time.

He's redeemed himself with his play since then though, and is playing at a level rarely seen in this league. Right now he's the 2nd best player I've ever seen play, only behind MJ. Larry Bird is a close 3rd though imo. He's the most gifted athlete I've ever seen play the game, and I fully expect him to win at least a couple more Championships, maybe even 3, depending on what he does in Free Agency and Wade's health in the future.

[lefty]

Bird took that Celtics team from the lottery to 60+ win season his rookie year iirc

this
And he didnt have Parrish and McHale yet

just a bunch of TOSB's

[Ghazi]

Duncan, Durant, Nowitzki... that's 3 top 20 all time players he's played in the Finals.

[HarlemHeat37]

Dad Killer wasn't even the best defensive player on his own team and rarely guarded opposing star players..he also played in probably the weakest era for perimeter players, tbh..

[Budkin]

Lebron is doing it against a much tougher era.

NO way in . You can't even touch guys now, just like Payton was saying the other day. This is an era of pussies and flopping. Stick LeCrab in the 90s and see how many rings he wins. Jordan 3-peated twice during the most physical era of the NBA.

[Killakobe81]

I initially took Lebron out of the equation for GOAT altogether when he decided to spurn his squad to team up with 2 of the best players in the game in order to win, and then followed that with playing embarrassingly bad in the '11 Finals where he averaged only 2 PPG in the 4th quarter of that series and shot 60% from the FT line while being extremely passive in crunch time.

He's redeemed himself with his play since then though, and is playing at a level rarely seen in this league. Right now he's the 2nd best player I've ever seen play, only behind MJ. Larry Bird is a close 3rd though imo. He's the most gifted athlete I've ever seen play the game, and I fully expect him to win at least a couple more Championships, maybe even 3 or 4, depending on what he does in Free Agency and Wade's health in the future.

agree with bolded ..you lose me with the rest.

[Ghazi]

Also, Lebron did have moments of struggle in the 2011 and 2013 Finals but keep in mind he was going up against two great coaches with great defensive schemes and defensive players (Marion/Chandler, Leonard/Duncan). Hard to say but I'd imagine Pop and Carlisle wouldn't let Jordan go god mode on them either.

Malone/Stockton Jazz were known for physicality but not great defense, tbh.

[spurraider21]

the era question is a good debate. the perimeter talent today is probably better than that of the 90's, but it was also a much more physical game. with today's rules in place, who knows how many solid offensive players in the 90's would have looked a lot better.

i just dont get how people can go on and on about how watered down the league is in one thread and then go on to call this era super difficult in another thread

[313]

Duncan, Durant, Nowitzki... that's 3 top 20 all time players he's played in the Finals.

Lost to Dirk
OKC wasn't ready, and got worked
Should have lost to Duncan. Again.

[lefty]

the era question is a good debate. the perimeter talent today is probably better than that of the 90's, but it was also a much more physical game. with today's rules in place, who knows how many solid offensive players in the 90's would have looked a lot better.

i just dont get how people can go on and on about how watered down the league is in one thread and then go on to call this era super difficult in another thread

[BatManu20]

I think people are underrating just how great this era of basketball is and just how advanced NBA have gotten as far as coaching, analytics, advanced stats, etc etc.

To some degree, yes, but it's also become significantly softer with the surplus in FT shooting and the lack of quality Centers takes away from it a bit imo.