people just like to discredit lebron b/c he used a bad way to go about it (the decision). had he done it in a "lower key" kind of way, this might not have been as bad. he's not going to be the man; it's going to be too easy... none of his championships (if he wins) will count as much.... if this guys wins a ton of championships, he'll challenge MJ for the GOAT, with wade and bosh or without wade and bosh. he's just that good.
First off, if you want me to continue to dialogue with you then I suggest you not call me an idiot, or any other type of name. That's just an easy invitation to my ignore box.* Yes, I "might" take KG over the other two. Might signifies that it's so close that I really can't decide. Which do I think is more valuable, the dominant scoring that Shaq brought or the all around versatility on both ends that KG brought. I'm not sure. You can clearly build a winning team around both. I've noted the strengths KG had over the other two, and the things they did better.* Yes, team accomplishments are the reason why most won't place KG over Shaq or Duncan. It's the same reason why most won't place Hakeem over Kareem, even though he was arguably just as good. Would I pick Hakeem over Kareem? I might. Which is more valuable, Caps unstoppable shot and longevity or Hakeems defensive impact? I'm not sure.* FYI, I would be an idiot if I said I "wouldn't" take him over those two even though I listed his strengths, not that I might not.*
"Might" is a cop out, and I'm sorry if it offends you, but it simply means you lack the analytical skills to make a decision.
No I won't admit anything. He's only going to have to expend energy half the time b/c he'll always have Wade to bail him out when needed. I fully expect him to put up great numbers and the team to be great. In fact I expect his buddy Wade to see to it that this happens, even sacrificing his own numbers so Lebron can get more glory. Anything less than a championship is a complete failure. Now had he gone to Chicago and won there, that would be a little more respectable. He would have had two other all-stars there as well and no "extra level of responsibility". He also won titles later on without a co-best player in the league on his team, thus proving how good he really was. We'll never know with LBJ unless something changes. Also, Kareem was already well past his prime when Magic the teenager joined the Lakers. It was going to be Magic's team very soon and I'm sure he was aware of that.
Kevin McHale was not a "1b" in the entire league. When I said 1a/b/c, that's what I meant, that LBJ/Bryant/Wade were clearly the 3 best players out there. I would also suggest looking at how Bird turned around the Celtics before McHale even got there, and what McHale ever achieved without Larry Bird on his team.
Jordan/Magic/Bird all won titles without a co-best player in the league on their team. Jordan/Magic/Bird never played on the same team. Also the top 50 list hasn't been updated in a long time and we don't really know what it looks like anymore.
Or it simply means it's too close to call, based on the different things each one brings to the table. If you consider that a cop out then so be it. Do you lack the skills of getting your point across without hurling insults?
That's a ridiculous claim. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league MVP in Magic's rookie year. He was a 25/11/5/3 player. For comparison, he was the same age as Hakeem when he was leading the Rockets to their second championship. Kareem still had six more years as a legitimate MVP candidate in him after Magic joined the team. Magic's greatness was probably a big factor in extending Kareem's career, but to say that he was already past his prime when Magic arrived is just wrong.
According to Charles Barkley, he was at "1b" type of player. Also, McHale only played one year without Bird, and he was past his prime.
"Might" could also mean that the players are so close that there is really no right/wrong choice. If you can't understand that, perhaps you should reconsider calling others idiots.
All you have to do is look at his numbers and his age (32 when Magic joined) to know that he was past his prime. He continued to score a ton, but that Laker team also scored a ton. The decline in his rebounding numbers is noticeable. Jabbar was still a great player though, not denying that. The main point was that Magic was winning titles in the late 80s when Kareem was 40.
I don't know what Barkley said but there are much better ways to determine a player's worth other than what Charles Barkley says/thinks. When Bird was a rookie, McHale was not on the team. Boston went from 29 wins to 61 in Bird's first year.
The problem with team accomplishments is they're not a fair way to assess players. The fact that most people think this way doesn't mean its right, didn't everybody think the world was flat 300 years ago? How right were they? KG's team is not under his control, and to handicap him for something he had no power over is just silly, and in fact a further indictment of LBJ's "decision". The hypocrisy of people really is amazing, on one hand they are declaring LBJ a "traitor", a 2nd banana for joining a power team, but on the other hand you have them handicapping KG for playing with a crappy team for most of his career. Well most of these arguments are moot anyway. People are quick to forget, and after a while they'll be glorifying James if he puts up stats like what he did last year. Wasn't Kobe the most hated NBA player when he was charged with rape? Look at him now LOL.
The fact that Boston was a 61-win team before McHale joined just shows that even if McHale was the second or third best player in the league, he wouldn't be able to improve the team's record that much because they were already too good.
Ok, this thread is super long, but I gotta stand up for scotty p, even though i hate the guy. you have to be pretty damn good to score 22 per playing alongside mr. ball hog himself. not an easy task. This Lebron mess will be settled when they do or don't win a title. Dwade and ChrisB will come out of all of this as zeros or heroes. I'd be surprised, though, if either one will end up being able to be compared favorably to Mr. Pippen.
You do realize that LeBron is only 25 and it's quite possible for him to be winning titles late into his career as a main option. You seem to be stuck on this crazy idea that he can't be the best player on the team immediately with Wade, and down the line if Wade ever declines (he isn't exactly durable). And please stop trying to rewrite history and downplay how good Kareem was. He won the MVP in 80. He finished 3rd in 81, 4th in 84 and 85 and 5th in 86. He also had 5 combined All NBA selections in that span. In other words, he was arguably better than Wade.
Yaya yada, if he's really that good. He won't need Wade to win it all. And it's not like he doesn't have a choice to not join Wade.
maybe he likes playing with wade and bosh as evidence by the USA championships? maybe he cherishes having a great time while have a great chance at winning as well? maybe wade is one of his closest friends in all of the NBA and it's a rarity that best friends get to play with one another in the NBA? and lebron HAD this choice. why go with popular belief? why go with what people say you have to do? why not PUT UP THE STATS, GET INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES, WIN RINGS, AND do it with your best friend at the same time? since when did lebron do what the world says he should do? who says he cannot write history doing what he wants to do? his career isn't over by next year, or 6 years from now. we all don't know how he'll be perceived when he retires. when he retires and he doesn't win any finals MVP, then you have a point.
If Kobe was really that good then he wouldn't have needed Gasol to win it all. It's not like he didn't have a choice to cry and demand to be traded to get himself more help.
if kobe was really that good, he would have gotten out of the 2nd round by himself at least. he couldn't even do that.
