I would take Pop esp if he was say 10 years younger. If we had Lebron right now Les would be broke. Lebron would have opted out, pissed off Morrey, made us sell ALL our assets, and probably Rich Paul would have signed Jones and Bev and made Morrey give them max contracts or he wouldn't resign.
LeBron James has been to the finals six times. Won two. Gregg Popovich as a coach has been to the finals six times. Won five. It is what it is.
The question is a crap question. Add Pops to a good team and what do you get? Add LeBron to a good team and what do you get? A case could be made for each. Neither is a slam dunk. It is what it is.
You put Lebron on any of the playoff teams they are going to the finals. Can you say the same with Pop? He didn't get out of the 1st round.
The NBA is without a doubt a players league. That is the rule. Phil Jackson would be the exception to the rule. How many championship do Jordan and Shaq win without The Zen Master? Certainly less. Phil Jackson like Pops is difference maker for a good team, especially one in the finals. How many championships does Jackson as coach win on an average team. Certainly none. Again, the original question is a crap question.
How did it work out for Pops the year before? LeBron gets you to the finals and gives a solid one on three chance of winning.
This is ridiculous. Lebron leaves Miami. They add Dragic, Deng, and Whiteside, and still cannot make the playoffs in the EAST. They got beat out by the Bucks and Celtics. Lebron goes to the team that just won the #1 pick. They make the finals despite the other two best players being hurt (I know, details with Irving), and gave the historic team the best run for their money. That same team, when Lebron was not playing, would be in the top of the lottery, with the record that it had. When Lebron left Cleveland the first time? They became the worst team in the League. It is absolutely ludicrous to say that any coach can be more valuable than a top 5 player of all time. Absurd. Adding Lebron has instantly given his team an extra 30 wins. You are telling me Pop makes that difference?
When pop had no duncan and no drob went 17-47. You put lebron on that team and they probably make the second round of the playoffs.
How many does Phil win without Jordan or Shaq or similar caliber palyers? Certainly zero, like he is winning with the Knicks.
The reason Miami didn't make the playoffs was because almost all their lineup was hurt. Not just Bosh. Also Lebron didn't just join the Cavs team that was bad without any change. They did make many trades. Added another Star and got Mozgov and Shump and Jr. Before the trade, even with Love they weren't that good. Certainly not contenders.
Depends on what the setting is. Are we starting over like NBA2k15? Or are we working with our existing players? If question is add Lebron or Pops today, then Lebron for sure. Lebron with our current team = championship If its a matter of starting all over and drafting players like fantasy basketball, I would select Pops over Lebron. Lebron has proven over and over that he needs multiple stars to get it done.
Miami faltered their first year before hitting a stride yet ultimately losing in the finals. It takes time to gel. Dwight, Nash, Kobe almost missed the playoffs.
And I point again to the Cavs record when Lebron wasn't playing? It was awful. The Rockets had injuries too. The Heat just were not a good team after Lebron left, period. Shump and JR were Knicks cast-aways. Mozgov was not considered an adequate starting center for Denver. Suddenly, Mozgov is viewed as a great role player, and Shump is getting paid as much as Danny Green. Tristan Thompson received an incredible pay-day for a player many were considering was an under-performing 4th pick. Lebron makes players good. Those players didn't come as established contributors. The above points are away from the argument, and I believe your response was away from the thread purpose. Question: Does Pop make this difference? Yes or no?
Lebron. We could use help at the point and at the 4. Lebron could easily play both. He'd be such a good fit here; it be like the Heat with a better Wade, a more defensive and less soft Bosh, a better Battier (in Ariza), and a better bench (Bev, Capela, Brewer etc. Are all mich better than those Heat role players they had). Pop wouldn't last here. He's a good coach, but it only works so well because Tim Duncan listens to him. Unless you had the absolute gurantee that Harden and Howard buy into Pops plans and schemes, they'd clash and you'd have to get rid of one.
