GOAT SF

Moderators: trex_8063, penbeast0, PaulieWal, Clyde Frazier, Doctor MJ

GOAT SF

Larry Bird
30
31%
LeBron
65
66%
Pippen
1
1%
Dr. J
2
2%
 
Total votes: 98

User avatar
MisterHibachi
RealGM
Posts: 18,657
And1: 19,075
Joined: Oct 06, 2013
Location: Toronto
 

GOAT SF 

Post#1 » by MisterHibachi » Mon Oct 14, 2013 3:23 am

Who do you have, career wise peak wise prime wise, whatever you measure you think is most important, as the greatest small forward in NBA history? Is Bird still top dog or has LeBron vaulted him. If he hasn't overtaken him, what does he need to do to over take him?
"He looked like Batman coming out of nowhere"
User avatar
GSP
RealGM
Posts: 19,561
And1: 16,036
Joined: Dec 12, 2011
     

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#2 » by GSP » Mon Oct 14, 2013 3:43 am

Still Bird for career. Lebron in prolly 2yrs will surpass him for me
User avatar
HornetJail
RealGM
Posts: 46,530
And1: 14,251
Joined: Feb 05, 2012
     

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#3 » by HornetJail » Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:07 am

Lebron in a landslide. I seriously don't think it's even close. Call me crazy, but he's a good ways ahead of Bird already.
investigate Adam Silver
User avatar
DHodgkins
Bench Warmer
Posts: 1,375
And1: 972
Joined: Jun 27, 2013
     

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#4 » by DHodgkins » Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:14 am

Bird
Doctor
Bron
Pipp
GTGTPWTW
mademan
RealGM
Posts: 31,983
And1: 31,085
Joined: Feb 18, 2010

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#5 » by mademan » Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:19 am

Lebron. Their accolades and longevity are nearly even right now (maybe even slight edge to Lebron), but Lebron is a flat out better basketball player.
Notanoob
Analyst
Posts: 3,475
And1: 1,223
Joined: Jun 07, 2013

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#6 » by Notanoob » Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:27 am

What, no Grant Hill?

Alright, this has to be LeBron. His defense has to make up for any advantage Bird has on offense. He's really incredible.

LeBron
Bird
Dr. J
Pip
User avatar
RayBan-Sematra
Assistant Coach
Posts: 4,236
And1: 911
Joined: Oct 03, 2012

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#7 » by RayBan-Sematra » Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:44 am

I still have Bird for Career & Peak.

Lebron is great but people forget all those years he disappointed in elimination (2013 was no exception).

He can probably surpass Bird in the next 2-3 years though.
mademan
RealGM
Posts: 31,983
And1: 31,085
Joined: Feb 18, 2010

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#8 » by mademan » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:16 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:I still have Bird for Career & Peak.

Lebron is great but people forget all those years he disappointed in elimination (2013 was no exception).

He can probably surpass Bird in the next 2-3 years though.


LOL, if you held Bird to the same standard that you hold Lebron, I'm not sure Bird would be an all-star in your eyes. Guess it says a lot about Lebron.
OnePostLegend
Senior
Posts: 596
And1: 185
Joined: Aug 20, 2013

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#9 » by OnePostLegend » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:31 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:I still have Bird for Career & Peak.

Lebron is great but people forget all those years he disappointed in elimination (2013 was no exception).

He can probably surpass Bird in the next 2-3 years though.


Bird had proportionately more "disappointing" playoff/elimination games than LeBron.
wallsfamily
Pro Prospect
Posts: 908
And1: 155
Joined: Jul 04, 2008

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#10 » by wallsfamily » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:31 am

Lebron because of versatility and because of his ability to defend. If Bias had lived, Bird would have moved back to PF I think.
User avatar
Rasho_libre
Analyst
Posts: 3,274
And1: 1,252
Joined: Dec 27, 2012

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#11 » by Rasho_libre » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:34 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:I still have Bird for Career & Peak.

Lebron is great but people forget all those years he disappointed in elimination (2013 was no exception).

He can probably surpass Bird in the next 2-3 years though.

Jordan's basically the only guy whose disappointments aren't as glaring as others. That analogy works just as much to bird as it does to Lebron. Factoring in defence, career, peak and consistency Lebron might have already surpassed him or is just on the verge depending on who you ask really.
kayess
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,807
And1: 1,000
Joined: Sep 29, 2013

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#12 » by kayess » Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:32 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:I still have Bird for Career & Peak.

Lebron is great but people forget all those years he disappointed in elimination (2013 was no exception).

He can probably surpass Bird in the next 2-3 years though.


I still think it's Bird, but you're really criticizing LeBron's performance in 2013 in ELIMINATION games?

Really?

His game 7 in the ECF wasn't uber transcendent or anything, but he led the Heat and crushed the Pacers.

His game 7 against the Spurs... 37-12-4, exceptional D, did pretty much everything, even drilled that jumper.

I mean, what else is there? Your boy Shaq got swept lots of times, I don't ever see you bringing up performance in elimination when it comes to him
User avatar
RayBan-Sematra
Assistant Coach
Posts: 4,236
And1: 911
Joined: Oct 03, 2012

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#13 » by RayBan-Sematra » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:20 am

kayess wrote:I still think it's Bird, but you're really criticizing LeBron's performance in 2013 in ELIMINATION games?

When I say "in elimination" I am referring to the playoff series (as a whole) that he got eliminated in.

Sure he played well down the stretch of the 2013 Finals but he struggled in the first few games and let his team get in a hole which they barely managed to dig themselves out of.
If he & Wade didn't explode in G6 and if Ray Allen hadn't hit that shot I can only imagine the kind of flack he would have gotten. Would have been 2011 all over again.

Your boy Shaq got swept lots of times, I don't ever see you bringing up performance in elimination when it comes to him.

I don't like to use team success against individuals unless for some reason I feel it is logical to do so.

I have given Shaq plenty of flack for years like 97 & 99 where he underperformed individually in elimination series.
However in most elimination series and the other series he got swept in he was absolutely dominant individually and not worthy of blame.

I don't blame Lebron when he performed well in elimination series either like in say 2009 against the Magic.

Hope you understand now what I was trying to say.
User avatar
PaulieWal
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 13,909
And1: 16,218
Joined: Aug 28, 2013

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#14 » by PaulieWal » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:31 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:If he & Wade didn't explode in G6 and if Ray Allen hadn't hit that shot I can only imagine the kind of flack he would have gotten. Would have been 2011 all over again.


When did Wade explode in game 6? LeBron went bananas by himself in that 4th quarter and without him bringing them all the way back Miami would have down a lot more than 5 in those final seconds.

He should get blame for the two turnovers but without him going crazy in the 4th the Heat probably lose the game by 10-15.
JordansBulls wrote:The Warriors are basically a good college team until they meet a team with bigs in the NBA.
therealbig3
RealGM
Posts: 29,545
And1: 16,106
Joined: Jul 31, 2010

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#15 » by therealbig3 » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:36 am

This is LeBron for me. As far as the box score production goes, he's clearly superior to Bird. As far as his all-around ability, LeBron is a comparable offensive player, if less portable, to Bird, and he's a far superior defensive player. He's also much more durable/reliable.

I'm taking LeBron.
kayess
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,807
And1: 1,000
Joined: Sep 29, 2013

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#16 » by kayess » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:38 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:
kayess wrote:I still think it's Bird, but you're really criticizing LeBron's performance in 2013 in ELIMINATION games?

When I say "in elimination" I am referring to the playoff series (as a whole) that he got eliminated in.

Sure he played well down the stretch of the 2013 Finals but he struggled in the first few games and let his team get in a hole which they barely managed to dig themselves out of.
If he & Wade didn't explode in G6 and if Ray Allen hadn't hit that shot I can only imagine the kind of flack he would have gotten. Would have been 2011 all over again.

Your boy Shaq got swept lots of times, I don't ever see you bringing up performance in elimination when it comes to him.

I don't like to use team success against individuals unless for some reason I feel it is logical to do so.

I have given Shaq plenty of flack for years like 97 & 99 where he underperformed individually in elimination series.
However in most elimination series and the other series he got swept in he was absolutely dominant individually and not worthy of blame.

I don't blame Lebron when he performed well in elimination series either like in say 2009 against the Magic.

Hope you understand now what I was trying to say.


It's a little more understandable now - but it still doesn't quite hold up.

The "what-if" game in game 6 is so easy to play; here, I'll do that too - if Wade never went in and ruined the run the Heat were on, would we have remembered that as an epic LeBron game that would've eclipsed his game 7 performance?

The Heat came back through his drives and open 3s - he created almost everything during that run. Wade comes in, they're able to clog the paint again, and LeBron very nearly throws the game away with the TOs and the missed 3s (though he did hit one).

That's looking at the game as a whole - acknowledging his insane effort (even blocking Duncan once) to bring the Heat back, Wade ruining things, LeBron's TOs and missed 3s, and Ray Allen's 3.

You say quite rightly not to take team success against a player, but you didn't look at the game as a whole, too.
User avatar
MaliBrah
RealGM
Posts: 20,076
And1: 4,598
Joined: Feb 03, 2011
   

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#17 » by MaliBrah » Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:53 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:I still have Bird for Career & Peak.

Lebron is great but people forget all those years he disappointed in elimination (2013 was no exception).

He can probably surpass Bird in the next 2-3 years though.

lol bird has dissapointed as well , for all of lebron's disappointments he'll end off with a much better trophy room then bird.
User avatar
MaliBrah
RealGM
Posts: 20,076
And1: 4,598
Joined: Feb 03, 2011
   

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#18 » by MaliBrah » Mon Oct 14, 2013 8:56 am

This is lebron's title , and if you haven't seen the light yet then it will be signed , sealed and delivered by the end of lebron's career. There is no doubt
trex_8063
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 12,663
And1: 8,304
Joined: Feb 24, 2013
     

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#19 » by trex_8063 » Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:31 am

Bird for career (but ask me again in a year).

imo:

Bird
Lebron
Dr. J
Baylor
Hondo
Pippen

(my 4-6 all clustered pretty close together)
"The fact that a proposition is absurd has never hindered those who wish to believe it." -Edward Rutherfurd
"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire
User avatar
INKtastic
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 23,259
And1: 5,027
Joined: May 26, 2003
Location: Ohio
Contact:
     

Re: GOAT SF 

Post#20 » by INKtastic » Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:48 am

RayBan-Sematra wrote:I still have Bird for Career & Peak.

Lebron is great but people forget all those years he disappointed in elimination (2013 was no exception).


Isn't LeBron the all time NBA career leader in elimination game ppg?
http://www.inktastic.com/ Custom T-Shirts and more

Return to Player Comparisons