Of all the young guys that have peaked recently who would you say has already reached their peak (potential) I think Lebron / DWade / Amare have reached their peak and are playing out of their minds right now. what do you guys think? can they get any better? They are already nears the tops in the league in most categories can they get any better or is that it for them? analysts/experts and scouts always use the cliche so and so will change the game but that rarely happens if ever. all of those young guys are having solid season and their teams are playing very well. what do you think? have they peaked early and will they maintain this pace? can they get any better? how? J
I don't know how you can say these guys peaked given their young ages (aren't Amare and Lebron 20 and 19?). There is also room for improvement in both of their games, that much is obvious, even though they are both very good. But look at it this way, even if you assume that htey are statistically at their peak - which I don't believe they are- Michael Jordan put up 37 ppg in his 3rd season in the league in 1987, and his scoring gradually declined each year after that. But he didn't hit his peak back then. The 1992 Jordan (who by comparison only put up 30 ppg) was a far superior player to the 1987 one. Nobody in their right mind would argue different.
so right now I think those guys are doing great statistically. Amare is playing with a great cast which only makes him better. DWade is playing next to Shaq. Lebron is getting the stats but his team is not that hot. on ESPN they showed a very telling stat. that against the bottom feeders (NO, Atlanta, GSW, etc) they are 14-0 but against teams above .500 they are pretty crappy and they have benefit from an extremely easy schedule so far. J
It's hard to look at their stats and say they are not at their peak. But I can't wait to see Lebron in a couple years, the kid is nothing short of amazing. Once he figures out how to win big (which will only come with time), I don't see anything that could stop him.
but didnt they say the same things about Kobe/Garnett/Ebrand all stars with teams in the lottery. If KG/Kobe/Lebron dont make the playoffs for a few years in a row do they become like SAR/EBrand? really good players that cant get it done? put up good numbers but cant make teammates better? when and how then do players get that distinction? J
Kevin Garnett is the reigning MVP who averaged 24-14 last year as well as being among the best defenders in the game. I'd say he's both lived up to his promise as well as reached a level that Stoudemire has not even touched yet and has been there for a few years now. Kobe has scored 30 a game and has several rings as well as numerous clutch playoff moments under his belt, even if he had Shaq. Brand doesn't belong in the same category as the other two, but neither do James or Wade or Stoudemire, yet. Although James is doing more than the other two did at a similar stage.
When KG finally broke through the first round barrier last year and when Kobe got his rings, they permanently removed themselves from that category. Only things you can say about them if they were to never make the playoffs again would be that Kobe couldn't do it alone (sharing a room with nearly everyone in the history of the league, including Jordan) and that Garnett never was able to get his ring (sharing a room with Barkley, Malone, Ewing, and others). The idea that LeBron and Amare have already reached their ceiling is pretty silly. Especially Amare, given that he's still living off of raw ability. Wade can still get better with a steadier jumper and the veteran smarts that PGs have to develop. Evan
playing devils advocate. what if Kobe/KG/Lebron and others never even sniff the playoffs again. Their teams always being bottom dwellers. Im wondering how long that goes on before people begin to question their leadership, talent, etc. etc. Remember when Shaq was playing with Penny or EJones in LA and how much hype they got. They are not even mentioned anymore.. Kobe got this huge contract but if his team becomes a perennial lottery team then what? just food for thought. J
And reading that gives me so much gratification that Hakeem. The Dream. Olajuwon., circa 1994, is not in that same room with nearly everyone in the history of the L, including Jordan.
It's true that Wade is playing next to shaq but i don't think it has made him all that greater. He was good last year as a rookie and is just picking up from where he started. Shaq is making Damon Jones have a career year by dishing the ball out to him for 3's. That is who has benifited the most from Shaq being there. Not saying Wade hasn't but not as much as Damon Jones and the rest of the spot up shooters. Wade creates his own shot so he doesn't rely on Shaq as much. That was pretty Evident last year. Wade really needs to improve on his turnovers and he will be that much better. He rebounds, dishes out assists, scores and even has a good number of Blocks a game. Wade is up to 23 ppg, 7.3 apg, 5.3 rpg compared to last year 16.3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.1 rpg He is putting up monster numbers and i think he shuold stay right around that level with or without shaq. He is so talented at getting to the rim and all. Of course his assist numbers are higher since he can lob it up to shaq a lot more.
