And if he stayed in Cleveland his entire career and never won a ring with them, people would say he couldn't possibly be in the GOAT conversation ever, regardless of how good he is/was, because no rings. LeBron just can't win with some people.
To form a big 3 in one off season like that and be guaranteed a much easier path to the finals because of how the East is stacked is why I hate... THE HEAT. Not really Lebron or Bosh. Wade... the way he's fighting back from injury is to be admired. Stack that against a SA team that has a big 3 they drafted AND DEVELOPED. Parker was a #28 pick and Ginobli was a second rounder. They don't have Hall of Fame type vets like Ray Allen coming over to chase a ring. A lot of times it's players who struggle elsewhere that they get to work in their system. Another crucial factor: Stars staying on for as long as they have and taking pay cuts to keep the system going. That's not to say Lebron and co haven't taken pay cuts but SA's people do it without half as much outside revenue as Miami's guys attract.
Its not a double standard. Its managements job to assemble the best teams. However its not healthy for the league when the best players decide to team up. This isn't about cheating, its about being a professional. You don't get the privilege of being called a GOAT when you take 3 of the best players with lots of veterans and still struggle to win a championship. This is what puts Jordan above all others. He didn't need the best players in the league to win. He needed solid players who he could influence. Just look at how terrible Pippen was once he came out from underneath Jordans shadow.
If Jordan had Mo Williams as his second best player, you'd think the Bulls would still beat Stockton and Malone or even get out of the conference?
It's so refreshing to see Rockets fans argue passionately (and irrationally) about LeBron James instead of Jeremy Lin.
No. Had he stayed in Cleveland and continued winning he'd have a legitimate legacy to stand on. But by quitting on his team midseason, and then joining his buddy Wade, who already won a ring prior, your right he can't win without that asterick.
LeBron is the best player right now and has been for the past several years but you have to account for the weak as **** Eastern Conference. I mean playing 13 other weak teams (besides Indiana) several times a season does help to inflate stats while not necessarily needing to go 100% out every game. The East is a cake walk for a team with 3 all stars like Miami that Lebron can pretty much coast all the way until the ECF. Now compare that to the West where it is a dog fight almost every night. Someone like KD has to play heavy minutes almost every game just to ensure that OKC finish in the top two at the least. Then comes the playoffs. A gritty 4-3 series with Memphis, another tough series with Clippers etc. It does wear a player down. Not taking anything away from Lebron, but I doubt he would have this much success playing in the Western Conference.
The east has been terrible for about 15 years now. That hasn't stopped the Lakers and spurs from winning the majority of championships in that time. Even Boston with their own super team "only" won one ring.
Jordan had 6mvp's and LeBron already has 4mvp's and LeBron has 2 straight MVP's so LeBron is going to be better and be the next but better Jordan..
How many rings do West teams have over the east since the MJ era? Apart from Detroit 1 year and Celts the other the rest of rings have come from the West. The west has always been better and it didn't matter before why is it an issue now?
I don't think I've mentioned the super team thing once when assessing James. Not once. But I do know that former all-time greats take offense to it and bring it up when discussing his greatness. All-time greats. Not fans. I've also never said Lebron isn't physical enough to withstand the old school game and officiating (I've also never came out against Lebron in general), but I do think Dwayne Wade would struggle not only now, but during his prime. Kobe would too but he can shoot.
Lebron is to individual greatness as San Antonio is to team basketball- prime exhibits. You can not love basketball and not appreciate the near perfection that is James as a basketball player. He has elite athleticism, determination, instincts and basketball IQ in a ideal body/frame. Basically, he is MJ 2.0 but bigger and stronger.
Pippen was pretty good with Jordan and he was good when Jordan left. Did you watch basketball in the 90s? He wasn't very good with the rockets, but he was old and also it was a bad fit at the time.
the argument is that Wade and Bosh aren't on those guys level, but if they were, Lebron would still have formed the trio with them. I havent seen this argument that much. and Wade & Bosh overall combined are the equal of, if not better, than Pippen & Rodman Yeah, this is stupid if people do this. Bulls played in an easy Eastern Conference during the mid 90s. Havent seen this complaint too much about LeBron. but if I did, I can guess that it probably comes from the amount of flopping that Lebron does.
and I would like to make note im really not a LeBron hater... well actually I take that back, YES I am a LeBron hater, but not because of his game... he is a good player, I cant stand him because he is such a whiny baby and arrogant as hell, he is almost worse than johnny manziel ( I am sooo glad that he didn't go to Oregon, or my Ducks would've had to put up with that crap) ... it has nothing to do with him as a player....
