Heat: When did LeBron become the best player in the league?

[midnightpulp]

Absolutely not.... one bad series wasn't enough to put the Kang below Dirk, let's be real now...

Have to disagree, brother. The playoffs ultimately decide who the best player in the league is for that particular season. In 2011, James had his worst statistical playoff run since '06. Similarly, I thought James was on whole different level from everybody else in '09 despite not winning the championship.

I guess it depends on what your definition of best player is and how you evaluate the concept. Even though James was underwhelming by his standards in '11, he was still the league's best player as far as upside and talent are concerned, but he wasn't the best player for that playoff year.

I just can't grant James best player status for '11 when he laid an egg like this:

[TDMVPDPOY]

Have to disagree, brother. The playoffs ultimately decide who the best player in the league is for that particular season. In 2011, James had his worst statistical playoff run since '06. Similarly, I thought James was on whole different level from everybody else in '09 despite not winning the championship.

I guess it depends on what your definition of best player is and how you evaluate the concept. Even though James was underwhelming by his standards in '11, he was still the league's best player as far as upside and talent are concerned, but he wasn't the best player for that playoff year.

I just can't grant James best player status for '11 when he laid an egg like this:

this clown has 2 bad finals series, i dunno how some clowns can give him a pass ....
team he was exposed
good team still exposed...

[midnightpulp]

anyone can get hot for a stretch of games, lets not forget how nazi dirk came down to earth in the finals and shot a classic kobe stat line of 40%, if big daddy chandler wasn't there to save his ass and lebronze didn't choke in the final series, he wouldn't have his fluke championship...are you saying 2 years ago dirk was the best player in the league and now all of a sudden, he's a washed up bag, come on son, doesn't really add up, tbqh

On the same note, anybody can pad stats during the regular season (not saying James does that) and convince the masses he's the best player in the league until the playoffs expose him. '06 Kobe Bryant (held to 8 points below his average by the Suns ) and numerous David Robinson seasons come to mind.

[midnightpulp]

this clown has 2 bad finals series, i dunno how some clowns can give him a pass ....
team he was exposed
good team still exposed...

He gets a pass for '07, considering the entire Spurs' defense was focused on him and only him.

[HarlemHeat37]

1999- Duncan
2000-2002- Shaq
2003- Duncan
2004- Garnett
2005- Duncan
2006- Wade
2007- Bryant
2008- present - Lebron

Half this forum was still arguing for Kobe over Lebron from 2008 to 2010, tbh..a lot of them are using revisionist history now..

[Clipper Nation]

He gets a pass for '07, considering the entire Spurs' defense was focused on him and only him.

And his teammates were utter , and that team would have been a first round exit at best with a lesser superstar...

[Koolaid_Man]

man.... I guess everyone in this thread is smarter than me....I was actually thinking when his daddy got traded....

[Stalin]

On the same note, anybody can pad stats during the regular season (not saying James does that) and convince the masses he's the best player in the league until the playoffs expose him. '06 Kobe Bryant (held to 8 points below his average by the Suns ) and numerous David Robinson seasons come to mind.

so because nazi dirk outplayed him over a 6 game stretch(while shooting 41%) he immediatelly become the best player for that year? dont think that sample size is large enough, i get it, you throwing mavfan a bone, but you also have to look at the longterm, shooters go through hot and cold stretches on the regular, dirk has been in the last two years while leBald has been solidifying his status as best player in the game, alot of posters saying he's been the best since 07-08 or so, so again all of a sudden he isn't the best player for 1 year because of a 6 game stretch, lol come on brah

[Bynumite]

He gets a pass for '07, considering the entire Spurs' defense was focused on him and only him.

Too much double standards as usual. Who did the Lakers have in 06 that demanded defensive respect besides Kobe?

Your Lebron playing 1 vs 5 excuse and Kobe PPG drop in the playoffs logic can easily be applied in both players cases.

[TDMVPDPOY]

so because nazi dirk outplayed him over a 6 game stretch(while shooting 41%) he immediatelly become the best player for that year? dont think that sample size is large enough, i get it, you throwing mavfan a bone, but you also have to look at the longterm, shooters go through hot and cold stretches on the regular, dirk has been in the last two years while leBald has been solidifying his status as best player in the game, alot of posters saying he's been the best since 07-08 or so, so again all of a sudden he isn't the best player for 1 year because of a 6 game stretch, lol come on brah

1 or 2 games in a series disappearing act is acceptable, but the whole series?

[midnightpulp]

so because nazi dirk outplayed him over a 6 game stretch(while shooting 41%) he immediatelly become the best player for that year? dont think that sample size is large enough, i get it, you throwing mavfan a bone, but you also have to look at the longterm, shooters go through hot and cold stretches on the regular, dirk has been in the last two years while leBald has been solidifying his status as best player in the game, alot of posters saying he's been the best since 07-08 or so, so again all of a sudden he isn't the best player for 1 year because of a 6 game stretch, lol come on brah

Not just that six game stretch. He was underwhelming for the majority of playoffs.

And Dirk didn't have a fluke playoff run. He was firmly in the MVP race until a mid-season injury sidelined him and it took him awhile to round back into form.

[midnightpulp]

Too much double standards as usual. Who did the Lakers have in 06 that demanded defensive respect besides Kobe?

Your Lebron playing 1 vs 5 excuse and Kobe PPG drop in the playoffs logic can easily be applied in both players cases.

Lamar Odom.

Lebron James' number 2 was Bbie Gibson.

Also, Spurs defense>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Suns' defense.

[Stalin]

1 or 2 games in a series disappearing act is acceptable, but the whole series?

he was doing fine till the end of game two, when heat choked that lead away, obviously that meltdown stuck in his head and affected his play the rest of the series, and yeah youll have some trash games at times, and the chances increase the more pressure there is, so what? the other guy become the best player for the whole year all of a sudden, its not like nazi dirk was amazing, lol finals mvp while shooting 41%, he just had a better team around him to clean up his bricks aka big Daddy Chandler, kobe has shown us how its done on plenty of occasion, i'd say

[TDMVPDPOY]

Bynumite

htf are u makn up excuses for the rapists when his team was up 3-1 on suns...

[Ghazi]

at Dirk having a better team around him in 2011... more depth yes, but Wade/Bosh should've been enough for Lebron that year.

[TDMVPDPOY]

there shouldve been no exuse for lebron losing against a bunch of pensioners...

[midnightpulp]

For the record, LO average 20, 11, and 5 in that series.

But Kirby still had no help

[Koolaid_Man]

Too much double standards as usual. Who did the Lakers have in 06 that demanded defensive respect besides Kobe?

Your Lebron playing 1 vs 5 excuse and Kobe PPG drop in the playoffs logic can easily be applied in both players cases.

I'm light years ahead of Spur fan...check it.... most NBA fans at that...this bores me..I get way more a thrill outta pure talking...prime example of my advanced thinking --> every time these dip Spur fans try to denigrate Kobe and prop up Lebron in his place all they're really doing his ting on their own team.... Lebron setting records in a weak JV conference while Kobe is battling on a nightly basis dynasty teams like the Spurs, and record setting teams like the Suns, Mavs, the great Kings and Trailblazer teams in the early decade...is no comparison to the compe ion Kobe has faced...in fact the same Spurs teams that Kobe single-handedly gave ended up sweeping Lebron in the finals....Imagine if Lebron had to play against these type of teams in his prime, his whole career like Kobe did on a nightly basis to get to the finals. Lebron has literally had it easy as a player compared to Kobe...hate Kobe or not lets be real about the ..The West for the past 15 yrs or so has been a mutha er to get through...the east not so much... so Spur and Mav fan be my guest denigrate your own teams greatness by trying in vein to on Kobe....

it's pointless anyways...the NBA players have already spoken (Comments on Kobe - volumes 1-3) look it up on youtube.... and they revere Kobe the most since MJ...you losers can get lost

[TDMVPDPOY]

Koolaid_Man

h2h match stats dont favor kobe whether its against lebron or that turd wade...

so whats the excuse?

[Arcadian]

There is no concrete answer... But I would say 2009, his first MVP season.

[Koolaid_Man]

Koolaid_Man

h2h match stats dont favor kobe whether its against lebron or that turd wade...

so whats the excuse?

that actually can be said of other players that Kobe plays as well...but he plays these guys 2x a yr...he's not really jazzed to play them...but if he was in his prime he would have literally dropped 50 and 60 + on these cats like he routinely did Raja and Bruce Lee Bowen...

[midnightpulp]

that actually can be said of other players that Kobe plays as well...but he plays these guys 2x a yr...he's not really jazzed to play them...but if he was in his prime he would have literally dropped 50 and 60 + on these cats like he routinely did Raja and Bruce Lee Bowen...

owned by Timvpdpoy.

He shut you down, chimp.

[TDMVPDPOY]

that actually can be said of other players that Kobe plays as well...but he plays these guys 2x a yr...he's not really jazzed to play them...but if he was in his prime he would have literally dropped 50 and 60 + on these cats like he routinely did Raja and Bruce Lee Bowen...

to say his not really playing them....they get the best calender dates in the season, ur tellin me kobe doesnt look forward to playin these clowns even if its 2x a season only? that small sample size is good enough even when all 3 played on ty teams

[D-Wade]

Since that Wade dunk on Varejao...

[DeadlyDynasty]

Half this forum was still arguing for Kobe over Lebron from 2008 to 2010, tbh..a lot of them are using revisionist history now..

I'll own my part in this...it was my civic duty to on him while Kobe was still winning championships. His 2008 series against the Celts and 09 series against the Magic were amazing. To be fair, he regressed in the playoffs the next 2 seasons, though (although I never argued against him in 2011).