If LeBron James is so great, why does he have to change teams and stack the deck with superstars

Because LeBron has already led teams to more titles than Kobe did and has better peak numbers and career numbers. And Kobe has nut-up moments like the 2011 Finals on his resume as well.

 

Kobe never should have won another MVP considering how they typically give the award out. You can't list one other season where he was more deserving than whoever won once you take individual stats and team record into account. Apparently, only avg a trip dub gets your team record ignored.

 

I can live with 2 GOAT.

The Closer GOAT and the Most Skilled GOAT (Hakeem is there).

 

Great job as usual!

 

The Pistons were remarkable, man.

Billups played like a generational talent in the Finals, Rip and Sheed shot well, and the others were defending like Allstars.

 

I agree those Pistons teams were amazing especially if you are a fan of defensive, grind it out type teams. The streak they had where they held like 5-6 teams in a row under 70 points was amazing. If I remember right when they beat a team that did score more than 70 the other team actually celebrated the fact that they did score over 70 (but they still lost the game!). Personally I enjoyed watching that Pistons teams a lot.

That Pistons team are the actual anomaly over the past 3 decades where they didnt have a generational type talent (though you could argue Ben Wallace could be that) but it was a mix of a lot of really good second 'option' type guys in Billups, Hamilton and Rasheed. Mix in one of the best defenders of all time in Ben Wallace and an amazing versatile role player in Tayshawn Prince. I think seeing a team like that in the future will be harder to come by than a team with one major superstar and a bunch of role players.

 

I agree LeBron is better than Kobe

He can do more offensively and he's a better leader

 

I knew you couldn't resist shooting that birdie.

 

What's weird about what you said -- this was a quote/line from Phil Jackson's last book, people can take it however or how they feel about Phil's credibility, but he said something to the effect that Kobe needed to "play more" like Lebron on offense. I agree, Lebron cannot out-shoot Kobe, or hit wild circus shots. But, the one aspect of the game that Lebron is superior to Kobe is running an offense and getting his teammates involved. LeBron is like the one of the quintessential point forwards in NBA history who is also one of the best scorers in NBA history. I don't really think you can compare the two, because their roles to a team is kind of different. But, Lebron's style is a little more effective for in regards to the team.

 

He’d still be a Hall of Fame player is what you’re saying?

 

I genuinely can’t fathom how people still question how great LeBron James is.

Throughout his career he’s always had some knock on him and he’s just proved everyone wrong each time.

Can’t shoot, can’t show up in the in the playoffs, can’t be clutch, can’t win a ring, can’t win a ring in Cleveland.

Someone will always find a reason.

He’s the greatest player of this generation and will go down in the top 3 players of all time. Deal with it.

 

Didn't Scottie Pippen almost lead the Bulls, past the Knicks (who almost won a title that year) in 94? Any team that has Lebron as it's 2nd best player would've been scary to think of. I agree with you.

 

I dont think many people question how great LeBron is. They question his ability to lead and close the deal. When you have star players not wanting to play with LeBron, that is an issue. If Shaq wasnt such a clown, him and Kobe would have done better together and won more rights. Kobe was tough to play with, but players respected his game. Jordan had the best of LeBron and Kobe w/out the baggage.

 

-Kobe Bryant won 2 titles with Pau Gasol as his best player
-Hakeem did it twice by himself
- The Spurs did it multiple times

 

I can’t believe Kobe won 2 titles with Pau as his best teammate either. He’s only been one of the most consistent and skilled big men in the league putting up 20/10 spanning over 14 years or so. He had a legit post up game, range, could play at the top of the key, was an excellent passer and pretty good shot blocker as well. A perfect fit for PJ’s triangle. Also, he went to the Lakers at or near his prime age 27-28. Pretty sure he’ll be a first ballot HOFer.

Hakeem in 93-94 was unreal but I don’t think he wins a second ring without my man Clyde the Glyde.

 

Pau has always been a solid bigman. But he's NOT elite and the Lakers weren't the most talented team in the NBA during those championships

 

This is a revisionist history BS. Do you remember how pissed people were when the lakers pau for nothing which ended u not being so bad because of Marc. Pau had more total win shares than kobe during their two Rings. His TS% was 56 which is Westbrook like.

 

The delusion of Kobe fans -- in 2018!

Kobe's best playoff run, statistically, was 2009: 26.8 PER, .238 WS/48, 7.5 BPM.
LeBron's career average in the playoffs: 28.0 PER, .244 WS/48, 10.9 BPM.

 

It's really only Kyrie Irving that didn't want to play with LeBron. A lot of that was probably because he didn't like that the team was considering trading him.

Otherwise, players seem to love playing with him. You can see this based on the number of teammates that have followed him from one team to the next.