Who would you rather build around: Durant or Lebron

does anyone understand or read the reports that lebron literally had his hand and approved every personell decisions. And that we are seeing as with teh super friends that lebron and the cavs posted better winning percentages than him dwade/bosh so far in two seasons. So the talent has risen, but the result hasn't. The idea is that cavs taeam, while not individually talented, was built to fit lebron like a glove. you had illgaskus blocking shots and spreading the court taking their big man out of the paint for him to drive. They had an energy guy, more guys playing defense and spreading the court. Very similar to how iverson played in 2001, not individually talented taeammate, but teammates who would playoff of him just right.

 

But it is still easier to attract better players with a Miami team than with the Cavs. You might doubt what he did with the whole media hocus-pocus but he did what everyone with his talent would do.
Go to the spot he feels has the better opportunity to win..... Selfish act?
Granted.
You switch some angry fans back home for the opportunity to win it every year anytime.

 

Did I say it was a selfish act? nothing wrong with going to a new place. He deserves that right. I don't think America hates the guy because of that. They might hate him because he marketed the hell out of it since 2008(literally while under contract and in the championship race saying tune in to july 1, 2012, biggest day in nba history yadayda...this was since 2008) maybe because he talks in 3rd person in most interviews or taht he guarantees 7,8 championships and wears check my stats jerseys and then feels ist wrong for people to judge a guy when he brings it on himself from his demeanor, lack of seriousness, and exuding his ego all over. The leaving team was just a small part that looked worse with all the otehr crap surrounding it. He is still the player who can do the most with least, but the nba isn't built that way nmore you gotta be able to have fundamentals to play offball and KD is better for that and team culture, humility, and winning. SEe tim duncan.

 

Duncan and Durant are a rare species.....
You could make the case for either one, James or Durant.
I am glad for the team that has one of them.

 

I'd build around James.

Sure, LeBron might not have all the offensive firepower that Durant has, but LeBron does everything else - he's the complete package.

 

i think you just said what people were trying to show you. Yes james maybe the best, but durant, like duncan, has a a rare breed mentality for a superstar that shapes teh culture

 

No doubt LeBron has sick talent with an amazing skill set, but it's Durant for me.

I like that Durant quietly goes about his business in every possible way. KD doesn't care about being in a big market with bright lights and the extra attention that means nothing. Dude just wants to play and win. Not to mention he's a flat out baller.

 

KD is not afraid to shoot when the game is on the line -- very telling.

 

This is just delusional thinking. Just because you had teams who fit your player "like a glove" doesn't mean you have to have bad players, which is what the Cavs had. The Celtics also have a team which fit Rondo "like a glove", but instead of having crap players like Booby Gibson and Mo Williams you have the Big 3. Also since when was Ilgauskaus a defensive player able to block shots? I guess I missed the part where he was Mutombo out there.


Having a player have control over your moves doesn't necessarily mean that its a good team, for example if the Lakers gave in to Kobe they would have traded Bynum for Jermain O'Neal a couple of years ago. With the heat, their collapse was inevitable aa Bosh was the other dude who got injured. If it was Dwade, they probably could have compensated as they have some good wing players (ie Battier). They have no other good PFs though, esp. with Haslem also banged up.

 

Also regarding KD vs LBJ, I think LBJ is still more talented, but if I can choose one I'd choose KD because he has no delusions of grandeur. LBJ wants to be the richest athlete, so unless you happen to be a glamor city like LA or NY there's no way he's staying on your team. KD,OTH, could be TD's spiritual successor. I think he's going to dominate and achieve both personal and team success the way TD did.

 

Then why did he go to Miami?

Like many have said, LeBron is a more complete and more dominant player. But I guess I'd take Durant.

1. The team culture he would create as a leader. He is already more mature than LeBron even though he is younger.

2. He would probably last longer. First, he is less likely to bolt to another team in his prime. Second, he is a better shooter. Shooting is one of the last skills a player can lose to aging. LeBron's dominant has a lot to do with his speed and athleticism (together with his size). Those are things that will first decline.

 

Imagine if Lebron's bigs went 18-20 in a playoff game.

 

I dunno. KD doesn't have the razzle dazzle game that Lebron has but I would put the ball in his hands at the end of a game instead of Lebron. But that being said, Durant is lucky enough in his young career to have 2 frachise players playing with him. If Lebron had the same thing, he would of won a couple of championships already.

 

+1

If I were choosing to build around a player and knowing what I know now, I'd definitely choose Durant. He can dominate with the ball and without it. LeBron is an amazing player and he can dominate and contribute in every category but you're forgetting he left an organization in the most classless way imaginable. As a "professional" you shouldn't go on national television to announce that you're going to sign with another team. Granted he did donate the proceeds to a charitable fund, its still wrong in all aspects.

I'd choose Durant hands down just because I know he's loyal and he's humble. He didn't even make a fuss about his contract and as far as I understand he could've demanded more money but he didn't. That definitely counts for a lot in my book.

 

the culture kd creates as a leader allowed serge ibaka to shoot 11-11. and also lead the league in blocked shots. as a leader he is able to turn low potential top 5 picks into good players. that's why i choose durant.

look at the way cleveland responded once lebron's poor culture and lack of leadership left. they really took off and the role players really blossomed into the types of guys that wouldn't go on a 26 game losing streak. same way miami really fell off after signing him.

 

Short-term: Lebron
Long-term: Kevin

 

You can't go wrong with either, but I'd take Lebron.

 

2008-09 Cleveland Cavs (66-16) Roster:


Mo Williams
Zyrdranus Illguaskas
Delonte West
Daniel Gibson
Anderson Varejao
Daniel Gibson
Wally Szcerbiak
Joe Smith
Sasha Pavlovic


Name one player in that group that's up to par with Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Manu Ginobili, Scottie Pippen, James Worthy, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, and Chauncey Billups. What Cavs player fits into that group?

 

What's your point? 09 Cavs had a group of role players who had good defense and good outside shooting. Sure they weren't star players but they complemented LBJ well. Coupled with a weak east and home cooking (only lost 1 home game practically) that's the result achieved in regular season. The 09 Magic weren't more talented, but they defeated Cavs nonetheless.

AI had a similar roster in 01 and made finals, Kidd made it twice with Martin and Jefferson being his best running mates. It wasn't like LBJ had achieved anything otherworldly. In fact, Cavs won 50 in 07, they would have been No.6 seed in west going against No.3 seed Spurs in first round. A sweep in finals would have been in first round.

LeBron couldn't win championship with that group and LeBron fanbois pointed out the lack of support. But the last 2 years with Heat should have exposed his weakness well. Sure he's a very efficient player but he's not flexible in offense to allow other star players to keep their most efficient game. In other words, he's turning the other star players to role players with his style. They could still win it all for the talents they have. But that they ain't even the favorite to win it all speaks the volume.

 

These days, I think it's impossible to have any analytical discussion about Lebron with most fans, casual viewers, or media personalities, like Skip Bayless and others. There's alot of henpecking that goes on. You would literally think that he f#cked some of these people in the butt gave them syphilis and a possible HIV infection, simultaneously, dumped them on the night before their wedding, stole their new car, left them with all the bills to pay, and pissed in their grandmother's homemade lemonade. Did I forget the part where he sold your wedding ring, so he could buy his mistress a new car? Yeah and he got it on with your mother a couple of times. She literally GOT high off of her Lebron candy.

People would be more unbiased, if they said ... I really don't like the guy (personally for whatever reason), because he's douchebag . . . who left his home city (of sorts) in peril . . . he gets favorable calls (no superstar ever does) . . . he had to go team up with two other stars (never happened in sports history) . . . he couldn't win with a real team, like real superstars do. . . and never-ending list of complaints, criticism, dismissive accomplishments, and questioning every single move regardless if it is economic, charitable, or recreation.

Wow, I wish I could find someone who could make me feel like that.

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